Meet Martin Mendelson | A speaker, author, and executive coach who uses mindset science (and a little humor) to help people stress less, lead better, and create the kind of cultures where everyone can thrive.

We had the good fortune of connecting with Martin Mendelson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Martin, is your business focused on helping the community? If so, how?
At its core, my work exists for one simple reason: people are overwhelmed, and it’s costing them their joy, their confidence, and their ability to lead well. After a medical disability ended my clinical dental career, I had to rebuild not just my life, but my identity, and in that process, I learned firsthand how powerful our thoughts are in shaping our reality.

Today, through Metamorphosis Coaching, my book One Move Makes All the Difference, workshops, and speaking, I help leaders and teams understand that mindset isn’t fluff, it’s neuroscience, emotional intelligence, and the foundation of every choice we make. When professionals learn how to shift their thoughts, regulate their emotions, and take intentional action, everything changes: workplaces become healthier, cultures become stronger, and people start showing up as the best version of themselves.

My impact shows up in the exam room, the boardroom, and the living room. I’ve watched teams rediscover trust, executives make decisions with clarity rather than stress, and individuals who once felt stuck finally move forward with confidence.

My mission is to help people realize that transformation doesn’t require perfection, just one move. And when people feel empowered, emotionally safe, and grounded in optimism, they make their communities better, too.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If my best friend flew in for a week, my goal would be simple: give them the kind of Phoenix experience that makes them check flight prices “just in case” they want to stay longer.

We’d kick things off with breakfast at The Joy Bus Diner, because nothing sets the tone like great food that also supports an incredible cause. It’s the perfect blend of comfort and purpose, very on-brand for Phoenix.

From there, I’d introduce them to one of my non-negotiables: good coffee. That means a stop at 32 Shea for something cozy and local, or Press Coffee for the kind of cup that convinces you you’re more productive than you actually are. Either way, caffeine becomes a core memory of the trip.

At some point, I’d absolutely whisk them up to Sedona for a quick day trip because you can’t visit Arizona without staring at red rocks and briefly considering becoming a full-time hiker.

Back in Phoenix, we’d mix adventure with relaxation: a spa day at The Phoenician, dinner at The Mission (where the guac is practically a spiritual awakening), and an afternoon wandering the Heard Museum or taking photos in Roosevelt Row like we suddenly became culture influencers.

We’d fit in a sunrise hot air balloon ride, a mandatory pizza stop at Pizzeria Bianco, a Papago Park sunset that looks suspiciously like a filter, and a show at Gammage or the Phoenix Theater Company to round out the week.

And throughout it all, good coffee, good conversations, and the reminder that Phoenix has a way of slowing you down just enough to enjoy exactly where you are.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Extraordinary people have shaped my journey, and the first group I have to acknowledge is the dental community. When a medical disability ended my clinical career, it felt like the floor disappeared beneath me. The colleagues, students, and teams who welcomed me into new roles, speaker, facilitator, and educator, gave me purpose at a time when I needed it most. Their trust helped me see that I still had something meaningful to contribute, even if it looked different than before.

As I began rebuilding my identity and exploring what leadership, mindset, and personal transformation could look like beyond dentistry, one person had a profound early impact: Justin Patton. He was the first coach who truly saw me, not just the former dentist trying to figure out what was next, but the person I could become. His guidance helped me find my footing, clarify my strengths, and understand how to translate my lived experience into meaningful work. Justin didn’t just coach me; he helped me rediscover my confidence and direction at a time when both were in short supply.

Later in my journey, two remarkable mentors, Jenn Barley and Karen Sullivan, helped elevate everything that came next. Their mix of inspiration, strategy, humor, and loving no-nonsense accountability pushed me to grow in ways I never expected. They refined my understanding of mindset science and emotional intelligence and helped me transform what I’d been through into the mission I now share with leaders and teams across industries.

And of course, I have to acknowledge the thinkers whose work underpins so much of what I teach today: Viktor Frankl, Shawn Achor, and Tal Ben-Shahar. Their wisdom and research gave me language for ideas I’d lived long before I articulated them: that our thoughts shape our emotions, our actions, and ultimately our outcomes.
My story is living proof that transformation is a team sport. I’ve been lifted, believed in, and challenged by extraordinary people, and any impact I make today sits firmly on the foundation they helped build.

Website: https://martinmendelson.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/docmartinempowers/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/metamorphcoach/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/metamorphcoach

Other: Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/wellness-in-dentistry/id1743260809

Image Credits
Headshot: Gabriel Goldberg