Meet the founder
Dr. Candice
McClendon
Industrial Psychologist.
Executive Coach. Organizational Advisor.
PhD-qualified · HPCSA-registered
More than 18 years of HR & organizational development experience
The perspective behind Aquila
Psychological depth.
Executive experience.
Human connection.
Aquila brings together the rigor of industrial-organizational psychology and the practical realities of leading people.
Dr. Candice holds an M.Com in Industrial Psychology and completed her PhD at Stellenbosch Business School. She is registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa as an Industrial Psychologist.
Her professional background includes responsibility for the strategic direction of human-capital functions in the IT sector, alongside talent and organizational development work with organizations including BCX, Deloitte, Aspen Pharmacare, PwC, Media24 and the University of the Western Cape.
Today, she is based in the United States and serves clients virtually in the US and internationally. Her work connects individual leadership development with the organizational context in which people need to perform.
A professional philosophy
Understand the person.
Honor the context.
Lead with purpose.
Growth is not about becoming someone else. It is about bringing more intention to who you are and how you lead.
Aquila is built around a commitment to human potential and professional contribution. The approach combines reflection with practical context: what matters to you, what your role requires and how your choices affect the people around you.
Beyond Aquila, Dr. Candice founded Releasing Eagles, a South African nonprofit focused on mentoring and coaching young people. That commitment to development is part of the founder story behind the practice.
Women’s leadership
An assessor’s perspective on leadership development.
Dr. Candice serves as an assessor for Yale School of Management’s Women’s Leadership program.
This is her individual professional role. Yale School of Management does not endorse Aquila Talent Solutions, its coaching services or its digital products.
Aquila’s own work remains grounded in Dr. Candice’s qualifications, executive HR experience and independent professional practice.
Professional foundation
Expertise with substance.
PhD, Stellenbosch Business School
M.Com in Industrial Psychology
HPCSA-registered Industrial Psychologist
Brain-Based Coaching, NeuroLeadership Institute
Completed ICF coach training
Board Leadership Core Program, GIBS Business School
MBTI, EQ-i, OPQ and CPP assessment accreditations
Career recognition
Leadership shaped
through practice.
- World HRD Congress: 501 HR Leaders of the World, 2020
- Top Pan African Award: Africa’s Most Influential Women in Business and Government, ICT sector, 2019
- World HRD Congress: 100 Global Most Influential HR Professionals, 2017
- HR Future Awards: HR Rising Star award winner, 2016
- Standard Bank Businesswoman of the Year: Woman Under 40 finalist, 2016
- Institute of People Management: HR Director of the Year Excellence Award finalist, 2016
Professional features
Recognition & published features
Work with Aquila
Let’s explore your next leadership chapter.
Bring your professional context and the question you want to work through.
Book a Consultation