Amy Holdsman is the founder and president of Essential Leadership, a leadership coaching and philanthropic advising firm based in Philadelphia. She coaches individuals and families in establishing, expanding, or refining philanthropic vehicles, such as family foundations, and in engaging the next generation in philanthropy.  

Holdsman is a chartered advisor in philanthropy, a 21/64 certified advisor for multigenerational philanthropy and a professional certified coach. With 30 years of nonprofit leadership experience, she served as the inaugural executive director for the Green Family Foundation and the Maguire Foundation, and spent 11 years as executive director of White-Williams Scholars. She previously worked at Leadership Philadelphia, where she introduced board service concepts to hundreds of executives. 

Holdsman earned her Master of Arts degree in Urban Studies from Temple University and her Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from George Washington University.