What could be a single word or phrase for the one who helps people to achieve their goals?

Question

I was just wondering about this word to suggest it to my friend to use it for the NGO he is going to start soon.

Answer 1

So, there are plenty of words available to accomplish this aim, however you should use them in the proper situation. I mention some of them here (please note that some of these words have other meanings too, but I just focus on the related meaning here):

Coach: Someone who trains a person or team in a sport.
e.g.: A tennis coach.

Lecturer: Someone who gives lectures, especially in a university.
e.g.: She's a brilliant lecturer.

Instructor: Someone who teaches .
e.g.: A driving instructor.

Trainer: Someone who teaches people particular skills, especially the skills they need to do a job.
e.g.: A teacher trainer.

Governess: A woman who lived with a family and taught their children in past times.
e.g.: As a governess, Charlotte Brontë received twenty pounds a year.

Educator: (formal) Someone whose job involves teaching people, or someone who is an expert on education.
e.g.: Most educators agree that class sizes are still too big.

Mentor: An experienced person who advises and helps a less experienced person.
e.g.: Auden later became a friend an mentor.

Professor: A teacher in a college or university. In Britain, a professor is a high-ranking university teacher, especially one who is head of a department.
e.g.: She was professor of linguistics at Cambridge University.

Leader: The person who directs or controls a group, organization, country, etc.
e.g.: The leader of the local black community.

Guide: Someone whose job is to take tourists to a place and show them around.
e.g.: A tour guide.

Guru: Someone who knows a lot about a particular subject, and gives advise to other people.
e.g.: A management guru.

Counsellor/counselor: Someone whose job is to help and support people with problems.
e.g.: Are you seeing a counsellor?

Consultant: Someone whose job is to advice on a particular subject.
e.g.: A management consultant.

All the meaning and examples borrowed from the Longman dictionary.

Answer 2

I would say facilitator or guide.

Answer 3

The first word to my mind is mentor:

-- an experienced and trusted adviser.

Answer 4

Enabler, one who enables. Not commonly used in British English.
It can also have negative connotations, meaning someone who allows an addict to keep up his addictive habit. (ref psychcentral.com, wikipedia.com )

Answer 5

How about guide?

Especially if "your goal" is a literal mountain peak.

Answer 6

I live in Granada, Nicaragua. When we got our residency, we got help from a professional local who knows the ropes. He is referred to as an 'expeditor'.