“The context was coaching as a ‘rookie’ Dean through his transition from Department Chair and Professor to being Chief Academic Officer for a Health Professions Graduate School.

In this process I learned a lot about myself; how to apply my strengths and abilities effectively in the contexts of the Dean’s Office, as well as respond appropriately to the challenges faced in high performance environments. I was fortunate to have had a highly experienced coach who was a previous University President, Provost, Dean and Faculty member, Peter Cimbolic. Coupled with his academic and clinical background in Psychology, I was confident that my coaching was backed by high levels of expertise and experience. The results of the coaching engagement were exemplary productivity, increased confidence in setting administrative priorities, strengthened emotional intelligence, and affirmation/learned support in successfully navigating unforeseen disruptions – such as the COVID-19 Pandemic…I had the privilege of having the best coach on the planet.”

“Nearly 8 months into a global pandemic as an academic chair of a large and complex clinical health department, I found myself as a stressed and frazzled person, having navigated the educational challenges of advancing a department and students through an online pivot, clinical delays, and working around the clock every day in my home office. I was nearly at the end of my own rope, and still had to serve as the stable leader that my large and complex department required. To that end, I decided to pursue the option of hiring an objective professional coach, one who understood my role and challenges in academics to assist me to regain my own person. The coaching sessions became much more than only tools to overcome the challenges of a global pandemic. In those sessions, I set the agenda, I had homework that frequently pushed me well out of my comfort zones, and over the course of 6 months, the sessions with Jennifer taught me how to make life changing approaches to my work as well as to my day-to-day activities. I learned about myself, identified my weaknesses in order that I could manage them, and played to my strengths. Importantly, Jennifer worked with me such that I could identify my professional goals and how they are entwined with my personal goals. With her coaching, I am working towards accomplishing my goals. As a coach, Jennifer’s style led me to my own discovery, without directives, but with guidance and insightful observations. In these short 6 months, I have grown more as a professional than in any other 6 month, or even 1-2 year period, of my academic career. I would give Jennifer the highest possible recommendation as a life-changing and incredibly effective professional coach.”

“I started working with Allison DiBianca because I desperately wanted to finish writing a long overdue book. Given too many other commitments and a hands-off editor, I had a hard time making the book a priority.

I needed to find a way to fit the project into my daily routine and create a plan for completing my goal. This is where Allison came in. She was always warmly encouraging and genuinely curious about my work; she also helped me hold myself to a high standard and a productive pace. I finished the book, but just as important, I regained my enthusiasm for the project. Allison DiBianca was an ideal coach, and I am happy to recommend her.”

“I had spent ten years unsuccessfully trying to scale up an educational model that won national awards for youth outcomes, Campus Mentors.

With my coach’s support, I learned to think differently about my efforts, to adapt my model, when necessary, to recognize that change takes time with repeated exposure, and to network with others such as business colleagues interested in social entrepreneurship. Most of us do not take dedicated time to determine how to see through one’s legacy, as a result of working with my coach, I now have a short- and long-term plan to scale up my model.”