Maliik Baraka
Former Google HR Strategist & Executive Coach
Studied at International Coaching Federation
Works at Authenticity Unleashed Coaching
Available tomorrow at 1:00 PM UTC
Book your free discovery session here: https://calendly.com/info-4s4/auc-discovery
Questions? Start chatting with this coach before you get started.
Maliik's Offerings
Custom hourly · $250/hr
Get help with HR Strategy.
Maliik’s Human Resources Qualifications
Coaches professionally
Experience level: Director
60+ people coached for Human Resources
Maliik's perspective is shaped by more than two decades of experience spanning education, talent leadership, executive coaching, and organizational development. Before dedicating himself full-time to coaching and consulting, Maliik held leadership roles at Google and Cox Enterprises, where he led talent, operations, and leadership initiatives that supported teams and leaders across diverse functions, regions, and organizational levels. Today, he coaches leaders from emerging managers to senior executives, helping them navigate complexity with clarity, courage, and emotional intelligence.
Maliik can help with:
HR Strategy
About Maliik
Maliik Baraka helps leaders do the inner work that transforms how they show up in the outer world. He is a leadership coach, consultant, speaker, and co-host of the Beauty in the Beast podcast, where he explores leadership, vulnerability, identity, and personal growth. Maliik partners with leaders who want to strengthen self-awareness, build trust, navigate change, and lead with greater confidence and intention. His perspective is shaped by more than two decades of experience spanning education, talent leadership, executive coaching, and organizational development. Before dedicating himself full-time to coaching and consulting, Maliik held leadership roles at Google and Cox Enterprises, where he led talent, operations, and leadership initiatives that supported teams and leaders across diverse functions, regions, and organizational levels. Today, he coaches leaders from emerging managers to senior executives, helping them navigate complexity with clarity, courage, and emotional intelligence. Maliik holds a B.A. in English and Sociology with a Minor in Black Studies from Florida State University. He is an Associate Certified Coach (ACC) through the International Coaching Federation, a Certified Professional Diversity Coach (CPDC), and a Google-certified g2g Coach. Known for his warm, thoughtful, and practical approach, Maliik creates spaces where people can have honest conversations, challenge limiting beliefs, gain clarity, and grow. Those who know him best often describe him as a trusted thought partner who helps people reconnect with who they are so they can lead with greater purpose and impact. When he’s not coaching, speaking, or facilitating workshops, you’ll likely find him listening to an audiobook, cooking, traveling with his wife, or enjoying conversations about football, music, culture, and leadership.
Why do I coach?
For longer than I care to remember, I drank the corporate kool-aid that compelled me to shrink myself and forgo my values to achieve other people’s versions of success. I ambled from company to company looking for community and acceptance. I built my professional tribe along the way who in time helped me accept the realization that my biggest problem wasn’t the orgs, it was me. And no matter where I went, there I was. Through mentoring, therapy and self-study, I broke through to a space internally where I found the courage to allow my authentic professional self to thrive. I began to trust my values as my compass. I unlocked a deep sense of empathy that had been shrouded by ignorance and fear. Unleashed, I evolved exponentially as a leader in the workplace, with my family and amongst friends. Prior to corporate HR leadership, I served as an educator at the middle school, high school and community college levels. This experience not only connected with my purpose but has transferred to my authentic approach to leadership. I thrive in opportunities to educate, train or mentor. Over the years, I’ve been fortunate to pour into hundreds of lives. Now as a certified coach and consultant, I leverage my lived experiences, education and insights to help folks untangle the internal knots that keep them from evolving into self-aware, empathetic, and inclusive leaders. I've also co-created Beauty in the Beast, a podcast dedicated to Black men healing, emotional intelligence, and redefining masculinity through honest, culturally rooted conversation. The show reflects my broader commitment to helping people live, lead, and grow with authenticity, emotional depth, and purpose.
Work Experience
g2g Coach
July 2024 - November 2024
Coached emerging and senior leaders on communication effectiveness, performance enablement, and team leadership within Google’s internal coaching ecosystem. Key Impact • Strengthened cross-functional collaboration and leadership presence structured coaching engagements. • Contributed to scalable coaching delivery using session tracking, measurement frameworks, and program consistency. Emotional Intelligence, Executive Coaching and +5 skills
Executive Coach, Founder
Authenticity Unleashed Coaching
August 2023 - Present
Executive coaching for senior leaders navigating complexity, organizational change, and high-stakes decision-making. Focused on strengthening clarity, emotional steadiness, communication, and cross-functional influence. Key Impact • Coached 40+ executives, directors, and high-potential leaders across technology, media, and industrial sectors. • Delivered 10+ leadership workshops on emotional intelligence, psychological safety, and team trust. • Improved leadership confidence scores by 40% across coached clients. • Guided 6 leaders to measurable performance gains resulting in promotion within 12 months. • Designed onboarding, manager readiness, and leadership capability programs that strengthen retention, engagement, and internal mobility. Emotional Intelligence, Executive Coaching and +6 skills
Executive Coach
Institute for Coaching Innovation
August 2023 - Present
Transactional coaching focuses only on performance. At the Institute for Coaching Innovation, we dive deeper using our unique POWERS™ framework. Through executive empowerment coaching, I help individuals connect with their power, clarify their purpose and vision, and execute on their vision. My focus is to develop inclusive leadership which promotes efficiency, creativity, innovation and better bottom-line performance. Key Impact • Coach leaders across industries to improve decision clarity, leadership presence, and organizational influence. • Support development of inclusive leadership practices that enhance collaboration, innovation, and performance outcomes. Emotional Intelligence, Executive Coaching and +8 skills
Global Process Owner, Hiring Equity
August 2023 - November 2024
Partnered with senior leaders to strengthen inclusive hiring systems, leadership behaviors, and cross-functional alignment across 12+ countries. Key Impact • Increased interview completion rates by 18% while reducing escalations and decision friction. • Advised leaders on equitable decision-making, feedback culture, and inclusive people operations. • Embedded inclusive leadership principles into onboarding and manager development at scale. Emotional Intelligence, Cross-functional Team Leadership and +5 skills
Staffing Operations Lead, Americas
October 2021 - August 2023
Led multi-regional recruiting operations and people leadership across the Americas, managing performance, engagement, and leadership development. Key Impact • Managed and developed teams of up to 15 direct reports within a complex, matrixed environment. • Introduced peer coaching and engagement initiatives that improved team engagement scores by 22%. • Built high-performing operational teams that consistently exceeded quarterly performance metrics. • Aligned learning and development strategy with enterprise DEIB priorities. Emotional Intelligence, Team Leadership and +6 skills
Executive Recruiting Coordinator Manager
Cox Enterprises
January 2018 - October 2021
Developed leaders, strengthened team capability, and shaped inclusive culture across multiple business divisions. Key Impact • Designed and delivered manager development programs that improved communication and coaching skills. • Chaired the Talent Acquisition Diversity Council, embedding inclusive leadership practices across teams. • Led engagement and learning initiatives that improved performance and readiness. Emotional Intelligence, Leadership Development and +5 skills
Senior Executive Recruiter
Cox Enterprises
April 2017 - December 2017
Partnered with senior leaders across Tech, Marketing, HR, and Finance to identify leadership talent, shape hiring strategy, and consult on organizational needs. Focused on strengthening leadership pipelines, communication, and readiness across teams. Key Impact • Advised executives on talent gaps, succession planning, and leadership transitions. • Coached hiring managers on decision-making, candidate evaluation, and communication clarity. • Developed talent strategies that improved leadership quality and reduced reliance on external agencies. • Strengthened hiring processes to ensure consistent, inclusive, and values-aligned decision-making. Emotional Intelligence, Communication and +5 skills
Operations Manager, Talent Acquisition
Cox Enterprises
January 2016 - April 2017
Led national recruiting operations supporting technical, operational, and corporate teams. Key Impact • Managed recruiting operations and developed leaders across a national function. • Designed manager development programming that strengthened coaching, communication, and decision-making. • Improved onboarding, engagement, and leadership readiness through coordinated learning initiatives. • Enhanced cross-divisional collaboration by aligning systems, workflows, and communication. Emotional Intelligence, Team Leadership and +4 skills
Education
Florida State University
English and Sociology
International Coaching Federation
Associate Certified Coach (ACC), Coaching
Institute for Coaching Innovation
Certified Professional Diversity Coach (CPDC), Coaching