president & EQ-i Executive Coach

John J. Hughes

After I completed my graduate degree in counseling at Iona College in 1984, my goal became applying these skills to coaching situations in business and corporate environments.  I was fortunate enough to get an entry level job with IBM which evolved into positions in international assignments and employee & leadership development. The international assignments role supported executives and managers who were living and working in Japan, APG and EMEA countries. This experience gave me insight into the demands of corporate leadership and the ability to distinguish the behaviors displayed by both successful and derailed executives.

When I first met Dan Goleman in 1995, I was working at the New York Times as a senior HR internal consultant supporting the business side of the newspaper in the advertising sales, production and circulation departments.  After reading his book, Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ, I was so convinced of Goleman's link between high emotional intelligence and effective leadership that I wanted to find a way to integrate his concepts into leadership development at the Times. 

Next, I received certifications in several emotional intelligence assessments, including the ECI, MSCEIT and ESCI, but by far the most effective instrument has been the Emotional Quotient Inventory, the EQ-i.  With over two decades of experience using the EQ-i for leadership and executive development, I am still discovering new ways to apply it to pre-hiring, talent development and inclusive leadership.

I established E. I. Assessments, LLC, in 2007 after leaving the Times with the objective of building and applying emotional intelligence measurements and concepts to individual, team and organizational development initiatives. Over the years I have had the pleasure of working in a wide range of industries and professions. Since the beginning of the pandemic in 2020, I have gathered EQ-i data which shows on emotional intelligence shift in the workforce. In the fall of 2021, I was invited to be a guest lecturer with Texas A&M University’s Master of Engineering Technical Management program. Part of this graduate program is focused on developing emotional intelligence skills in leadership.

Get in touch

Think about your own career and how your emotional intelligence has developed over the years. There is still more for you to learn about yourself and your relationships with others.  Please contact me a call if you are interested in answering the question, "what is my EQ?"