inspirational leadership is in our dna
Let’s Make it Part of Yours
For Mike Brunnick, leading the charge to create VALR Advisors came naturally. You might even say he was born for it. For starters, he’s a proud, 3rd generation Irish American. His grandfather, Tom Brunnick (Tomar Breatnact in Irish Gaelic) was a hard working farmer in Araglan Ireland, a village on the border between counties Cork, Tipperary, and Waterford. During the fight for Irish Independence in the early 20th century, Tom and a small group of faithful followers seized the local police barracks, armed with little more than pitchforks and shovels, in a demonstration of strength and support for Irish independence.
Tom's leadership role in the "anti-treaty" movement landed him in the old Cork city jail, in a tiny stone prison cell that he shared with one of his brothers and two other men. He would have been released sooner had he agreed to denounce the movement and encourage his followers to stand down. Instead, his grit and resolve inspired several surrounding communities to also stand tall for independence.
Tom’s leadership, fortitude and bravery are still legendary in and around the Araglan community today.
braving the new world
Upon his release from prison, Tom was forced to leave his beloved country. Along with his brother and his new bride, he decided to embark on his next brave adventure, emigrating to America in the early 1920s and settling into his adopted home city of Boston.
Tom’s work ethic, drive, and devotion to his family, friends, and co-workers continued to earn him immense respect in America, where he worked as a dock worker and a carpenter. But it was the resolve he demonstrated while imprisoned that was the frequently repeated storyline at Brunnick family dinner tables. The stories of his grandfather stuck with Mike, and formed the foundation of his character, and the spirit of VALR Advisors.
Our Founder’s First Proving Ground
Country First
Mike knew at a young age that he would one day serve in the US Marines like his father and older brother before him. Upon graduating from college, Mike was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Marines and was selected to join the Infantry—the most prestigious and most coveted assignment for Marine officers. He was regularly ranked as the top Lieutenant in his unit and received numerous awards and citations. He would lead infantry and reconnaissance units throughout Europe, Oceania, Asia, and Africa, where he was part of the Marine contingent that secured the US embassy during the civil war in Liberia, Africa.
Mike would later lead an armored reconnaissance unit across the sands of Kuwait during Operation Desert Storm. For his actions during this conflict, Mike was awarded one of our military’s most distinguished honors, a Bronze Star with Combat "V" for exceptional valor in combat.
Mike would go on to lead combat units in both the active duty and reserve forces and was promoted to the rank of Major.
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Mike’s stint with the CIA & Then His Toughest Challenge
After seven years of active duty in the Marines, Mike made an impact in the US Intelligence community, where he spent several years doing classified work for the Counterterrorism Center in Langley, Virginia.
Mike would then take on his most challenging assignment to date, as he accepted the role of Executive Director of a nonprofit outdoor adventure program for at-risk teenagers. Here he was tasked with moving onto an abandoned 500-acre Boy Scout camp and turning it into a functional and certified facility with a large staff that needed to serve 500 at-risk kids — in just 12 months. Yes, this mission would be completed successfully, too.
applying his skillset to Growing b2b software revenue
The next chapter in the VALR Advisors story started when Mike took his skills and knowledge and transferred them to business leadership and, in particular, leading and coaching sales teams. Over the course of the next 25 years, Mike would take on and excel in multiple senior executive roles in the enterprise software industry. It was throughout these years that he would shape and develop some of the signature approaches and methodologies that make up VALR Advisors' service offerings today.
be a part of the next chapter in the valr story
There are many options for you to consider when you're ready to hire a business consultant or coach. But there aren't any quite like VALR. Read on and learn more about our offer for a free initial discovery and consultation with our founder, Mike Brunnick.
the launch of VALR Advisors
While Mike’s career includes several roles as a Chief Revenue Officer (CRO), his approach at VALR blends his collective expertise across every major department of an organization—from sales and marketing, to operations, technical support, and service delivery.
Mike left the corporate world to become a Focal Point certified executive coach and consultant in 2023. With his cross-functional experience and proven consulting, coaching, and leadership development frameworks in his arsenal, he formally launched VALR Advisors in October 2024.
Today, VALR's customers include senior partners at private equity firms, as well corporate executives at tech companies. Mike and his team are assessing and actively fixing personnel and pipeline problems, coaching up and rallying sales teams, creating sustainable revenue growth models, and repeatably producing increasing valuations for enterprise software companies throughout the US and Europe.
an inspiring mentor
"Mike made a true impact on our Professional Services organization and helped us transform the way we work and, most importantly, the way we think."
Book a Discovery Call with Mike
With this kind of experience, you can trust Executive Coach Mike Brunnick and VALR Advisors to uncover the best path forward for your organization, and to empower your teams to take command, and lead you into the future. Contact us today and set an appointment for a Free Initial Discovery and Consultation.
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