Leadership coaches | Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy

Leadership coaches

The Ford School has cultivated a diverse bench of over 20 International Coaching Federation-certified coaches who have experience in the public sector and are located in the U.S. or abroad. Coaches assist students in approaching workplace challenges with a growth mindset, curiosity and empathy, and with awareness—helping them become their professional best selves.

 

The coaching conversations with Ford students often focus on the same questions that I find my CEO clients confronting. That the students are grappling with these now means they are advancing in their leadership journeys to great advantage. I have much hope for the future, knowing this next generation of public sector leaders are developing this level of self awareness and leadership insight now."

Alan Booth, executive leadership coach

 

Get to know our coaches

  • Headshot of Anna Alvarez Boyd

    Anna Alvarez Boyd is an International Coach Federation (ICF), Professional Certified Coach (PCC), and the founder of Executive Horizons LLC. Anna has a passion for developing the next generation of leaders, and her coaching starts with the belief that every person has an innate wisdom that can be accessed through reflection and transformational leadership development. She supports her clients with a deeper self-discovery and a tailored approach that takes people on a journey to reintroduce themselves to their own power.

    Anna was named a Top Coach in Orlando by Influence Digest in 2021 and 2023 because of her strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and her extensive experience as a senior leader during times of crisis, including 9/11, the Great Recession, and the COVID-19
    pandemic. With over 25 years of executive leadership experience, Anna has led national policy initiatives, leadership development programs, and strategic planning efforts on a national level.
    Throughout her career, Anna has acted as an advisor for leadership development and DEI programs across government, corporate, and non-profit sectors, where she led housing, mortgage finance, and community development policy. Anna most recently held the position of Senior Associate Director at the Federal Reserve Board, where she was responsible for directing consumer and community development research, policy, and programs in support of Federal Reserve policymakers. Anna’s clients include Darden University Foundation -
    Customs and Border Protection leaders, Raza Development Fund, and individual senior leaders with Federal Financial Regulatory agencies.

    Anna has expanded her impact and her commitment to the next generation of leaders through her nonprofit, FairWays to Leadership. The innovative program, co-founded with her husband, is a leadership development program that serves women and students of color. Started in central Florida in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the racial reckoning in the summer of 2020, the program builds leadership skills through golf. She is co-author of the book, FairWays to Leadership, Building Your Business Network One Round of Golf at a Time, a guide to leadership lessons from the game of golf. Anna’s expertise in community and economic development has bolstered the efforts of bringing an immersive leadership program to students on collegiate campuses across multiple states.

    Anna is a native of San Francisco, California, and a graduate of San Francisco State University. She is a graduate of Georgetown University’s Transformational Leadership Coaching program and a member of the International Coaching Federation. She enjoys poetry, dance, and art.

    Headshot of Allegra Baider

    With 20 years of experience analyzing and advocating for policies that advance economic justice and racial and gender equity, Allegra is a coach and consultant who partners with mission driven organizations to support and retain staff, maximize the impact of leaders at all levels, and cultivate the development of creative and connected teams.

    Allegra is a leader whose deep experience across government and non-profits includes playing key roles in large-scale campaigns to expand access to health care, income support, child care, employment and training, and retirement security. Her expertise includes coaching, team building, leadership development, policy and program development and analysis, coalition building and advocacy.

    Allegra received her masters degree in Social Work from the University of Michigan, with a focus on policy and community organizing. Her practicum was at the Detroit City Council, where she served as a legislative aide to the Council President. Allegra's experience at the University of Michigan, including her practicum, solidified her interest in and commitment to public policy as a vehicle for social change. After graduating, she was awarded a Presidential Management Fellowship at the US Department of Labor. She then went on to work as a Senior Policy Analyst at CLASP, and at Community Change, where she was the Deputy Director of Public Policy.

    Allegra is thrilled to combine her love of coaching, leadership development and public policy in order to support University of Michigan students to continue to grow and develop as leaders.

    Allegra brings empathy and curiosity to her coaching. As a former improviser, she loves to combine a sense of playfulness and spontaneity with challenging and serious work. Allegra is the daughter of immigrants, who instilled in her a lifelong interest in learning about other cultures. She was born and raised in New York City and now lives in Maryland with her husband and two daughters. She is a certified coach through the International Coach Federation.

    Headshot of Alan Booth

    Alan Booth is an Executive Coach working with leaders at C-suite, Partner and Operational levels to discern how they can be their best selves as leaders and apply this insight to advance toward business and personal outcomes they consider important.

    Alan approaches each coaching engagement on its own merits, reflecting a client’s unique background, strengths, aspirations, goals and environment. Clients will experience coaching rooted in Alan's commitment to a safe, supportive environment of mutual respect and trust in support of self-discovery and new perspectives on themselves and how they lead. In this context clients can uncover new perspectives in validated data and observation across intellectual, emotional and physical dimensions and apply these in service to their leadership aspirations and professional and personal goals.

    Alan commits to his clients to be present and curious; posing new questions and offering non-judgemental observation to support them to transform their understanding of themselves as leaders, recognise opportunities for greater impact and apply and sustain new leadership behaviours. He invites clients simply to commit to the process, frame objectives that are important to them, consider new insights and put new awareness into action.

    Alan’s executive coaching and related practice includes:

    • Personalised leadership coaching for executive and operational leaders seeking to increase their leadership strength and impact
    • Coaching leaders transitioning into new roles
    • Advising executives on developing leadership capacity in themselves and their teams
    • Engaging executives and corporate boards in executive succession planning
    • Advising on leadership development programming at the partner and executive levels.

    Alan's professional experience spans almost four decades in leadership roles across a broad range of Talent disciplines in the Financial Services and Professional Services sectors, including Labour and Employment Law, Training/Development and Corporate HR. He was a partner at Deloitte for over 14 years, leading various innovations in learning and development and serving as an advisory partner to the firm and its clients on Leadership and executive succession matters.

    Alan holds a BA in English from the University of Toronto and an MBA from the Schulich School of Business at York University. He completed his professional coach training at the Institute for Transformational Leadership at Georgetown University in Washington, DC, and holds a Professional Certified Coach designation from the International Coaching Federation. He is certified to deliver The Leadership Circle(TM) leadership effectiveness assessment, the Hogan(TM) Personality Inventory, Development Survey and Motives, Values and Preferences Inventory and the Business Chemistry(TM) assessment.

    Headshot of Sandra Buteau

    Sandra P. Buteau is the Founder and President of L2T Global Consulting, LLC, a Virginia-based certified women-owned small business serving individuals, companies, and organizations by providing executive leadership development, executive coaching, multicultural training, and career coaching services. She brings over 20 years of experience coaching clients across the United States and around the world. Before establishing her own company, Sandra worked in the legal field, at a consulting firm, as a senior administrator in academia, and at a global career management and talent strategy company.

    She provides personalized coaching sessions to students, and professionals to assess their strengths, achieve their professional goals, and develop individualized leadership development goals. In addition, Sandra helps leaders communicate effectively, build trust in relationships, navigate transitions, and develop personal effectiveness in the workplace. Her coaching philosophy is based on staying focused on the client’s objectives and believing that clients are inherently resourceful, creative, and whole. As a career coach, Sandra provides clients with the proper tools to implement an effective career management strategy. She feels strongly that her role as a coach is to help clients unlock their full potential and achieve their desired outcomes.

    Sandra holds a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) Certification from the International Coaching Federation (ICF). She is certified in the Six Domains of Leadership Survey by Delta Leadership, the Hogan Assessments Leadership Forecast Series, and Using Type in Career Counseling. Sandra is also a Mindfulness-Based Strategic Awareness Teacher Trainer (MBSAT-TT), a Trauma-Informed Coach, a Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® Practitioner, and a Corentus Team Coach. She received extensive training in Mentor Coaching and is a Value-Added Associate for TTI SI [behaviors (DISC), motivators, acumen, competencies, and emotional intelligence assessments].

    Her international background and her ability to speak English, Spanish, and French enable her to excel in specialized and diverse contexts.

    Headshot of Michael Cassidy

    Michael Cassidy enjoys nearly two-decades of experience working across the Department of Defense (DoD) and Intelligence Community in various analytical, operational, program management and leadership coaching roles.

    While serving as a China military analyst for the Defense Intelligence Agency, Michael drafted numerous assessments for military commanders, senior policymakers and the President’s Daily Brief. At the US Embassy in Tokyo, Japan, he provided in-depth analysis of ongoing geopolitical events, advising the U.S. Ambassador to Japan and other senior leaders on critical policy decisions.

    As a strategic planner for the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence (OUSD(I)), Michael led a multi-functional team that developed tailored, intelligence-driven strategies for senior DoD policymakers, warfighters and the acquisition community. He was hand-selected to lead the drafting of the strategy for a 150+ person organization that commands a ten-figure budget.

    In addition to these experiences, Michael founded NatSec Careers, LLC where he and his team of career and executive leadership coaches help individuals and organizations in the security sector and other industries overcome challenges and achieve important professional goals. 

    Michael holds a Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service from Georgetown University and Master of Arts in International Affairs from The Fletcher School at Tufts University. He studied at the Joint Forces Staff College and Georgetown University’s Institute for Transformational Leadership. He was commissioned as an infantry officer for the U.S. Army in 1998 and served in Afghanistan as part of OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM in 2003. He is also an award-winning screenwriter and film producer.

    Headshot of Frieda Cheslow

    Frieda Cheslow brings 20 years’ experience in management, human resources, legal representation, and conflict resolution to her role as a leadership coach. She has expertise in training, mentoring, and optimizing talent to achieve results in large organizations.

    Frieda is a Director at the Social Security Administration’s Office of Analytics, Review and Oversight in Arlington, VA. She leads a 150-person legal division that resolves nationwide disability insurance benefit appeals. Frieda is passionate about creating conditions for people to thrive. She develops her employees through skill-enhancement and competency building initiatives, creates strong teams, and is enthusiastic about supporting growth in leadership positions. Frieda has served in broad operational roles at SSA, including Acting Deputy Associate Commissioner, Office of Public Service and Operations Support in the Washington, DC headquarters area, and Acting Assistant Regional Commissioner for the New York region.

    As a coach, Frieda finds joy in partnering with people as they focus on their goals, discover new strengths, and grow in their chosen domains. Frieda helps clients see options and expand the range of possibilities for their lives. She is drawn to leaders at all stages of their professional journeys. Frieda coaches in a wide range of industries including the arts, IT, journalism, law, healthcare, and financial services. Her clients range from interns at Georgetown University and The University of Michigan Ford School of Public Policy, to senior corporate leaders. She works with leaders in think tanks, start-ups, family run businesses, small businesses, large corporations, not for profits, and the federal sector. 

    Frieda completed the Leadership Coaching Certificate program at Georgetown University’s Institute for Transformational Leadership. She received her B.A. and J.D. degrees from Rutgers University. In her spare time, Frieda practices yoga, cycles, and takes long walks. Creative pursuits include drawing, painting, and printmaking. 

    Frieda can debrief and interpret assessments including Leadership Practices Inventory; Positive Intelligence and Mental Fitness (PQ); Clifton Strengths; OPM Leadership 360 and Leadership Pathfinder 360; Six Domains of Leadership 360 (certified). She is available for one-on-one and group coaching engagements.

    Photo of Claire Davidson

    Claire Davidson is a certified Gallup Strengths and Six Domains of Leadership Survey (SDLS) Coach.

    She works as a Career Development Specialist at Wilson Sonsini in San Francisco, CA. In her role, she helps to manage a career development program for junior associates in Wilson Sonsini's corporate practice. She supports associates as they transition out of law school, coaching them on topics such as professional and leadership presence, project management, and networking. 

    Claire previously worked at the Ford School from 2018 to 2023. Most recently she supported key curricular and extracurricular programs and projects for the Leadership Initiative, including leadership coaching for Ford School MPPs and MPAs. She was the lead facilitator of the CliftonStrengths assessment and managed other leadership assessments and tools for Ford School students. Prior to her work with the Leadership Initiative, Claire was a member of the Ford School’s Career Services team providing career counseling to graduate students. 

    Claire completed her Master of Arts in higher education at the University of Michigan and received her Bachelor of Arts in communication studies at the University of Nebraska—Lincoln.

     

    Headshot of Jonathan Drew

    Jonathan is an experienced executive coach who has been a leader in his own right as a successful British diplomat who became an Ambassador and High Commissioner. As a coach he has had a wide range of clients, from those stepping up to leadership positions for the first time to people looking forward to their next major career move in their 60s, from small start-ups to major FTSE100 companies. Jonathan’s clients have ranged across a wide variety of sectors including tech, finance, mining, engineering, healthcare, education, security, non-profit and government. He understands the demands of working at pace whilst thriving and as a coach Jonathan is warm, engaging and attentive whilst providing useful and productive challenges. In addition to coaching, Jonathan also facilitates the induction of new senior public servants in the UK, helping them to understand senior leadership attributes and styles and to gain a better knowledge of systemic thinking. Jonathan's passion for diversity, driven in part by his own experiences as a child and young adult, is shown by workshops that he runs on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion for organizations both in the UK and overseas. 

    Jonathan has recently completed a term as the Vice President of the UK Chapter of the International Coaching Federation, leading almost 3,000 coaches. During his tenure on the Board the Chapter almost doubled its membership, reformed its administrative practices and Jonathan led a team that designed and produced a course focused on neuroscience & coaching, which became the Chapter’s best reviewed and fastest selling product. Jonathan holds the ICF’s ACC credential, EMCC's coach practitioner and team coach practitioner accreditation and the Global Team Coaching Institute's Practitioner Team Coach accreditation. 

    In addition to his coaching work Jonathan is employed as the Chair of Gatwick Airport’s Noise Management Executive Board which brings together diverse stakeholders from across national and local government, industry and communities to agree voluntary ways to reduce noise from aviation. Jonathan also is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh and acts as an ad hoc advisor to its International Executive.

    During his extensive diplomatic career, Jonathan dealt with trade, trade policy, international finance, counter terrorism, conflict and peacebuilding and piracy amongst other issues. He also dealt with issues of diversity and inclusion in the workplace during his career and was awarded an MBE for this work in 2010.

    Jonathan remains a strong public speaker and has spoken to a number of key entities including the CBI, the Caxton Group, Save the Children and St Andrews University.

    Jonathan has led an internationally-focused life. His parents are from England and India, he was born in Canada and he has lived in several more countries including Singapore, Papua New Guinea and Mauritius. He is equally at home with domestic matters in the UK and enjoys walking up and down the various hills that can be found in the countryside. Jonathan is based in London, UK.

    In addition to his coaching credential, Jonathan completed his Masters (MA) at the School of Oriental and African Studies and his Bachelors (MSc(Econ)) at the London School of Economics. He has also studied International Trade Policy at Harvard. 

    Nicole Fernandes headshot

    Nicole Fernandes is a proud Ford School & SEAS graduate (MPP/MS ‘08) and an International Coaching Federation Associate Certified Coach. She brings twenty years of policy, science, and teaching experience in the federal, NGO, and academic sectors in her role as a coach. Nicole currently serves as a policy analyst at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

    Nicole provides coaching, leadership development, and mindfulness services at NOAA and within the federal government. As a federal coach, she has helped dozens of colleagues identify their deeper purpose; navigate challenging work situations; strengthen leadership skills; gain confidence in the workplace; transition to new jobs and leadership roles; build trusting relationships; balance work and home life; get mentally “unstuck”; and set and achieve their goals.

    Her philosophy is that we are all naturally whole and resourceful, and coaching is a tool to unlock one’s own intuition, creativity, and wisdom. She approaches coaching with warmth, non-judgment, and forward-leaning momentum.

    Nicole cares deeply about supporting all people in their growth and development. Throughout her life, Nicole has been committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion and has received federal awards for her efforts to create more equitable, accessible, and inclusive work environments. Additionally, she is a certified mindfulness facilitator through UCLA’s Semel Institute of Neuroscience and Human Behavior and supports colleagues with mindfulness practices, educational opportunities, and resources to improve workplace culture.

    For more information about Nicole, please visit her LinkedIn site

    Sadia Ghazanfar Headshot

    Sadia Ghazanfar brings 15 years of experience in operational leadership in the higher education sector to her role as a leadership and career development coach, corporate trainer and facilitator.  

    In her private coaching practice, Slay Your Dragons, Sadia dedicates her coaching expertise to championing early career and emerging leaders. It’s not just about boosting career confidence; it's about helping you find your authentic self and fostering genuine workplace happiness.  Her mission is a heartfelt commitment to guiding individuals in shaping careers that truly matter, boosting well-being, and deepening human connection.

    As a coach, Sadia serves as a catalyst, compassionately disrupting habitual thinking patterns to instigate transformative behaviour change.  Her joy lies in providing clarity, building self-belief, and developing confidence, enabling individuals to present their best selves.  Incorporating positive psychology, guided visualisation, and neuroscience tools, Sadia brings a unique approach to coaching.  A creative and curious thinking partner, Sadia delves beneath the surface, facilitating sustainable growth and transformation.  Her coaching style is steeped in wisdom, empathy and a focus on mind-body wellness. 

    Sadia is a proud member of the International Coaching Federation (ICF).  She is a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) and a Certified Positive Intelligence Coach (CPQC).  With a Bachelor's Degree in Business Studies, Sadia brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to her coaching practice.

    Being the daughter of immigrants, Sadia understands the value of diverse perspectives and creating cultures where people feel accepted, included and valued.  Sadia lives in Bristol, UK and spends her spare time hiking in nature, exploring global cuisines and cultures and learning to play the bass guitar. 

    You can learn more about her on LinkedIn.

    Reem Labib Tyson headshot

    Reem Labib Tyson serves as an executive coach for entrepreneurs, mission-driven leaders, and individuals who are ready to pivot, transform or looking to get “unstuck.”

    Reem prides herself on being authentic, compassionate, and light-hearted while consistently delivering results. She believes in disrupting the system and challenging boundaries to support clients in their personal and professional journeys.

    • 20+ years as a leader in the education sector
    • 10+ years as an entrepreneur
    • Certification, Leadership Coaching, Georgetown University’s Institute for Transformational Leadership
    • PCC certified, International Coach Federation
    • Partner with universities, charter schools, mission driven non-profit organizations and entrepreneurs to provide coaching for executives and leaders
    • Provide 1-1, group and team coaching experiences
    • BIPOC Coach Collective, Founder
    • Georgetown University Alumni Association, Career Coaching Partnership Program, Coach Certified practitioner: EQi-2.0 and EQi360
    • Bachelors in Psychology, The George Washington University
    • Masters in Education, George Mason University

    Headshot of Isabelle Moses

    Isabelle Moses has nearly 20 years of experience working with nonprofits, foundations, Fortune 500 companies, and federal agencies as an executive, coach, consultant, facilitator, and trainer.

    Her expertise includes organizational transformation efforts and designing and delivering multi-faceted and multi-year leadership development programs to increase the impact of national networks of organizations at the individual, organizational, and network-wide levels. She particularly enjoys working with social justice leaders and organizations working to disrupt the status quo and achieve thriving and joyful communities of color.

    Prior to joining ProInspire as Co-CEO in 2024, Isabelle served as Senior Advisor, Executive Office at Faith in Action, co-leading their organizational transformation initiatives centering on leaders of color and deepening racial and gender equity throughout the organization. Isabelle previously held consulting roles with Community Wealth Partners, The Management Center, Accenture, and Eagle Hill Consulting.

    Earlier in her career, she managed investor communications with The Calvert Foundation and served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Cameroon. Isabelle holds undergraduate and M.B.A. degrees from Georgetown University and is a certified leadership coach from Georgetown’s Institute for Transformational Leadership. She serves on the board of the Hamlin School, her alma mater, in San Francisco.

    What is your favorite form of self-care?

    Kayaking and paddleboarding on lakes and in the ocean meet a lot of self-care needs (movement, meditation, exercise, time in nature).

    What is something that you’re learning about?

    These days, I’m in an ongoing process of unlearning and relearning – unlearning white dominant culture ways of being (especially ultra-independence) and knowing and remembering the wisdom of collectivism and interdependence that also lives within us.

    Why do you do what you do?

    I grew up with two nonprofit executive directors – my parents. I am called to support and champion the aspirations of mission-driven leaders who see a way to transform society so it is more accountable to our communities and are seeking an external partner to help bring that vision to life through well run organizations. My mom often says that she was my first client.

    Headshot of Adam Schmidt

    Adam Schmidt comes to the field of professional coaching and development with more than 15 years of leadership and consulting experience. Throughout his career, people development has been a passion for Adam. He has an exceptional ability to guide others to overcome obstacles—both real and perceived. His capability to translate the diverse work and personal experiences of his clients into tangible resources for personal and professional growth allows him to succeed with individuals from varied backgrounds and professions. 

    Adam is an International Coaching Federation (ICF) Professional Certified Coach (PCC).  As a PCC, his coaching style is shaped by the fundamentals of ICF Professional Coaching—powerful questioning, authentic listening, accountability and being fully present for his clients.  He endeavors to successfully merge and leverage his professional coach training and professional, academic and personal experiences to effectively help people grow and optimize their full potential. Adam is fully committed to the ICF Code of Ethics, ensuring that clients experience coaching in a confidential, ethical and comfortable way.

    Professionally, Adam was an Army officer with assignments in both the Middle East and European theaters for nearly 10 years. During that time, he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious service during combat operations in Iraq.  More recently, Adam has served as a Senior Consultant in International Policy for both the United States and International Organizations.  In his role as Senior Consultant, Adam has a track record of helping professionals become more effective leaders, communicators, and change agents within their organizations.  Adam is also a certified Project Management Professional (PMP).

    Academically, Adam is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, the University of Michigan's Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy and Georgetown University's School of Continuing Studies. At West Point, Adam learned and applied fundamental tenants of effective leadership such as strategic thinking, goal setting, and communication.  At Michigan, Adam complemented those leadership skills with a Master’s in Public Policy, gaining an understanding of the policies, politics, and prose that are required to create meaningful change. At Georgetown, Adam was professionally trained as a Leadership Coach through Georgetown University’s Leadership Coaching Program. While there, Adam concentrated on a co-active approach to Leadership and Executive Coaching. 

    Personally, Adam is a licensed private pilot, a certified SCUBA diver, and seasoned international traveler. An avid outdoor enthusiast, Adam enjoys mountaineering (the namesake of Smart Summit Coaching) and has summited renowned peaks in Europe, North America, Africa, and Asia. He is very active in his community as a Veteran Ambassador for Team RWB (a Veterans support organization) and as a Coach for Leadership Fairfax, an organization dedicated to training and developing leaders in the Northern Virginia Area. He lives with his wife, Ashlee, in Northville, Michigan, and their very spoiled Beagle, “Huck”.

    Headshot of Bridget Seymour

    Bridget Seymour developed a passion for leadership and organizational development from her experience serving as a Naval Officer. In her early career, she served as a P-3C Orion Pilot and Aviation Maintenance Quality Assurance Manager. Bridget continued her journey in higher education where she held positions at the United States Naval Academy (USNA) as a Master Leadership Instructor and Assistant Deputy Director of the Leadership and Education Division (LEAD).

    After leaving active military service, Bridget taught as an Adjunct Instructor at James Madison University and for the Navy Leadership and Ethics Center (NLEC). As an independent contractor, she delivered leadership development workshops for various government, Fortune 500, and non-profit organizations spanning industries in healthcare, financial management, hospitality, consumer goods, aviation, engineering, manufacturing, agriculture, and technology. After receiving her International Coach Federation (ICF) accredited training from Georgetown University, Bridget established her own Executive Leadership Coaching practice, and continued her career as a pilot, flying an RQ-4 Global Hawk Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) for Northrop Grumman. 

    As an Executive Leadership Coach, Bridget has partnered with high potential leaders at all levels in the workforce from various government, for-profit, and non-profit organizations. She has served as a coach for the Office of Personnel Management’s (OPM) Leadership Assessment Programs (LAP levels I and II) and the NSA’s Executive Assessment Program. Bridget has also provided coaching for the Department of Justice, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the Navy Undersea Warfare Center, Microsoft, and faculty at USNA. Clients have worked on a variety of topics to include work-life balance, conflict management, values alignment, emotional and social intelligence, finding their authentic voice, and presence. She is certified in Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® (MBTI), FIRO-B®, WorkPlace Big Five™, Hogan assessments, CCL 360-degree assessments, PROFILOR®, KF 360 assessments, and has extensive experience with Strengthsfinder 2.0®, DISC®, EQ-I 2.0®, OPM 360, Thomas Kilmann Conflict Profile (TKI), Conflict Dynamics Profile®, Change Style Indicator™, Influence Style Indicator®, Leadership Circle Profile™, and Pathfinder 360 assessments. Bridget embraces the idea that everyone can impact the world in a meaningful way; she encourages her clients to remain fully present, to stay curious, open-minded, and to experiment with newfound possibilities.

    Bridget is currently a Leadership Solutions Partner at the Center for Creative Leadership working with global clients across industries and sectors. She is recognized for expertise in customized design and delivery of leadership development solutions, curriculum development, experiential instruction abilities, and empowerment of individuals and teams to lead and manage change. Bridget utilizes her unique blend of practical experience and continuous academic scholarship to effectively serve her clients.

    Bridget earned a MS in Management from the Catholic University of America, a BS in Ocean Engineering from the United States Naval Academy, and two graduate certificates in both Organization Consulting and Change Leadership, and Leadership Coaching from Georgetown University. Bridget currently lives with her wife, two sons, and mini-golden doodle in Richmond, VA.

    Headshot of Janeen Shaffer

    Janeen Shaffer is a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) accredited by the International Coaching Federation, recognized for her exceptional ability to guide individuals and teams through transformative experiences. Her coaching journey began with training at the Georgetown University Leadership Coaching program in 2008, which set the stage for a career dedicated to guiding individuals through pivotal transitions.
    With 15 years of coaching experience, Janeen brings a strategic and transformative touch to her coaching, specializing in helping leaders and teams navigate transitions with grace, clarity, and confidence. At the heart of Janeen's coaching philosophy is the belief that leaders can not only weather transitions but emerge from them stronger. Her niche lies in collaborating with individuals and teams to enhance results, amplify influence and impact, and cultivate capabilities. Clients appreciate Janeen for her grounded, strategic, and insightful coaching style and for fostering transformative connections. Janeen holds certifications in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) from the UMass Memorial Medical Center, a team coaching certification from the Global Team Coaching Institute, and a conscious business communication certification. These certifications exemplify her commitment to a holistic coaching approach that addresses the unique needs of her clients.

    As the founder of Shaffer Coaching + Consulting, LLC, Janeen serves clients in a range of organizations including Microsoft, EY, Salesforce, FDA, and NIST. Beyond her professional commitments, Janeen actively contributes to the community by providing pro bono coaching support to military veterans, Women in Technology, and small business entrepreneurs.

    Prior to her current role, Janeen held senior leadership positions at Booz Allen and Deloitte. In these roles, she led teams in talent acquisition and performance management, earning accolades for her success in delivering strong results, driving organizational change, and developing underperforming teams.

    Janeen lives with her wife of eight years in Virginia and enjoys her journaling, meditation, and energy practices, along with carving out time to visit friends and family around the U.S., Africa, Latin America, and Europe.

    Headshot of Jane Sommers Kelly

    Jane Sommers-Kelly is an Executive Coach working with Leaders in transition who want to keep improving their impact and self-fulfillment. Jane helps each Leader identify what they want to be known for, and what practices would help them achieve their Goals, starting with their next step(s).

    Past Clients include: Michigan County Health Dept. top team; the World Bank; Non-profits; NYC-based Kenyan NGO Exec Dir. & Board; Solar Energy CEO. Having lived and worked internationally for half of her life, Jane has coached Leaders for 10+ years and advised global organizations on their leadership development for over 18 years.

    Approach: Jane knows that each person is unique. You the Client know yourself and your differentiators – I the Coach prompt you to reflect, reconsider and be intentional. Together we identify which skills you want to strengthen, and which practices you might want to adapt for your next Phase.

    Professionally, Jane worked with JPMorgan and Bankers Trust, then ran INSEAD’s Executive Education Business before moving her family to NC where she was a Managing Director @ Duke CE for ten years.

    Academic background: MBA, INSEAD; Summa cum Laude BA, UNC @ Chapel Hill; Graduate, Georgetown University Leadership Coaching Program

    My Community involvement includes having served as: Chairwoman DV Compass Center; Board member, Hotchkiss School; Finance Committee and Trustee of my Church. Sports are a personal passion, as I am the parent of two professional athletes.

    LinkedIn

    Headshot of Anna Sparks

    Anna Sparks provides leadership coaching to executives and rising leaders and employee experience consulting services to clients around the world. Companies and individuals trust Anna to draw out their potential and support them in leveling up as leaders and teams. Rising leaders come to her for support in defining their next career moves including finding their next roles and transitioning from doing to managing others. As a former management consultant, she brings strategy and laser focus to move intractable problems forward leveraging the strengths of her clients.

    She has served the US Federal government in seven countries over the past 20 years in Europe, Africa, South America, and North America. She holds a Bachelor’s in Communications and Sociology, a Master’s in Public Administration, and an Executive Certificate in Leadership Coaching.

    You can learn more about her on LinkedIn and reach her at [email protected]

    Headshot of Anne Steen

    Anne Steen is an ICF PCC Certified leadership coach who founded Keybridge Coaching and Consulting to provide growth-minded business leaders and entrepreneurs with the tools and strategies they need to transform goals and visions into realities. Anne specializes in advising executives and emerging leaders who understand that thriving in a global economy and tech-oriented culture means evolving ahead of change. Her client portfolio has a global footprint and includes leaders in the private, public and non-profit sectors. Her clients work across a wide range of industries including social impact, energy, education, finance, compliance and consulting.

    An established leader in the nonprofit sector, Anne developed her deep expertise by leading large and small teams through challenging situations in their respective organizations. From departmental mergers and downsizing to management changes, Anne offers steadfast leadership and empathetic approaches to ensure management benchmarks are aligned with larger business objectives. Anne’s coaching philosophy is built on the premise that the coach/client relationship is grounded in trust, respect and the desire to grow. While coaching often occurs in an organizational culture, transformation occurs when the focus is on the whole person. As a coach, Anne uses a range of tools including inquiry, reflection, assessments and candid self-awareness to unlock one’s personal and professional potential in life.

    Anne earned her Leadership Coaching Certification through the Institute for Transformational Leadership at Georgetown University. She holds a M.Ed. in Counselor Education from The University of Virginia and a BA in Economics from the University of Mary Washington. Anne integrates service into her life as a mentor coach with the Coaching Fellowship and the Arlington Community Foundation Scholarship Committee. She is a wife, mother of two adult children, a diehard Washington Nationals fan, and two-time veteran of the Camino de Santiago in Spain. Anne believes that professional fulfillment begins with a personal commitment to larger connections in life.

    Headshot of Jamey Stowell

    Jamey Stowell is a professional leadership coach, strategy consultant, and group facilitator with a diverse background in academic, nonprofit, and business environments. At Georgetown University, African Leadership University, and INSEAD, Jamey designed academic and professional development curricula in collaboration with world-class faculty.  A founding partner of Netcito, Jamey facilitates professional peer groups in a thriving community of entrepreneurs. 

    Following a 25-year career in leadership development, Jamey now serves as a trusted coach for MPP students at the University of Michigan Ford School of Public Policy, an advanced facilitator for the Interpersonal Dynamics course in the Stanford MBA program, and a certified leadership coach utilizing the Six Domains of Leadership Model and a Coactive approach to coaching. By combining Jamey's diverse expertise and passion for driving positive change, he brings a unique perspective to leadership development, strategy consulting, and facilitation.

    Jamey's expertise aligns with the interests of Ford School students in various areas, including:

    • Consulted on projects in the World Bank, focusing on results measurement across a broad set of programs.
    • Established collaborations with organizations in the NGO, government, and quasi-governmental sectors across three continents.
    • Delivered executive leadership programs for hundreds of nonprofit executives throughout the U.S.

    In addition to his professional pursuits, Jamey is a dedicated father of three boys and indulges his (and his kids’) passions for outdoor adventures including fossil hunting, open water swimming, and international travel.

    Headshot of Parker Tracey

    A Congressional committee staffer-turned-lobbyist, Parker Tracey spent twenty years in public policy roles, primarily in Washington D.C. Her time on Capitol Hill focused on American Indian and Alaska Native issues, sparking an interest in energy and environmental policy. 

    Outside of negotiating climate legislation and advising decision-makers, Parker is known for advancing cross-collaboration and mutual mentoring across multigenerational workforces.

    A former competitive figure skater and Division I athlete at the University of Michigan, Parker's coaching career began in college. Introduced to the world of leadership development through the LeaderShape Institute, Parker has served as a mentor, coach and facilitator for the past 25 years. 

    An ICF Associate Certified Coach, Parker studied under Martha Beck and is a leadership advisor to public-facing top performers in sports, public service and the arts. Her specialty is helping clients negotiate seasons of uncertainty and exploring intentional transitions between what was and what's next. 

    Parker profoundly cares about our next generation of leaders and is committed to opening doors to those who traditionally haven't had access. Through her pro bono work, she is proud to support change-makers who operate in spaces resistant or hostile to change.

    Headshot of Natalia Vayner-Heyraud

    As a certified professional coach, Natalia Vayner-Heyraud combines co-active and positive intelligence coaching skills with unique problem-solving tools honed in over 15 years as an international communications and marketing expert in the financial services sector, where she continues to hold a corporate role.

    Discover, refine, ignite

    Natalia works with high potentials at a crossroads in their lives and careers by helping them to discover their unique strengths, refine their ambitions and ignite their passion in order to achieve enduring impact as they become the kind of transformational leaders they aspire to be. For highly rational, analytical thinkers who apply their razor-sharp focus to achieving business goals, Natalia’s coaching style provides a complementary toolkit for accessing intuition, empathy and resilience—key aptitudes for achieving long-term success. Natalia’s mission is to help people tap into their wisdom and find lasting fulfillment in their lives, both personal and professional.

    A unique story

    Originally born in Russia, Natalia moved to the US at the age of 7, which gave her life-long insight into cultural adaptation and deep curiosity for the ways in which individuals navigate profound changes in their lives. She began her career in academia, which brought her to France in 2000 as a researcher and lecturer, then made a transition to the corporate sector. In coaching clients, Natalia draws on her first-hand experience of reinvention and of overcoming cancer, which have shaped her views on how we attain clarity and courage even under the most challenging circumstances.

    Credentials

    Certified Professional Co-Active Coach (CPCC), Co-Active Training Institute Associate Certified Coach (ACC), International Coach Federation (ICF) Certification in progress: Positive Intelligence Mental Fitness Coach (CPQC), Positive Intelligence, Inc. MA in Comparative Literature, University of Pennsylvania

    Headshot of Paula Di Rita Wishart

    Paula Di Rita Wishart brings 32 years of leadership and coaching across various sectors, including higher education, policy, and industry. Specializing in supporting graduate students, postdocs, and mid-career professionals in their leadership and professional development. Her overarching objective as a coach is to partner with clients to foster joy and enthusiasm for work and strengthen their ability to be who and how they want to be in this world. She collaborates closely with clients to become the leaders they aspire to be, with an emphasis on personal growth and peace of mind.


    Paula's academic background includes a Master’s in Higher Education from BGSU and a Bachelor’s in Economics from the University of Michigan. She also holds her Professional Certified Coach (PCC) Certification from the International Coaching Federation (ICF). In addition to her coaching practice, she played pivotal roles in creating and leading university career initiatives, developing professional development programs in various sectors, and leading diverse and inclusive teams within higher education.


    In her coaching, Paula uses the following approaches:


    Collaborative Partnership: She engages clients in defining their success parameters and draws on their input to shape the coaching process.

    Structured Approaches to Professional Development: Paula utilizes tangible methods to support her clients’ professional development, respecting the client's identity and goals.

    Emphasis on Possibility: She fosters a learning mindset, employing methods that bolster clients' confidence and self-efficacy to pursue actionable goals.

    Anticipatory Problem-Solving: Using anticipatory problem-solving methods, she works with clients to develop the skills and mindsets needed to navigate future obstacles effectively.