ICF Thought Leadership Institute Board of Directors

At the ICF Thought Leadership Institute, we look at the future of coaching and beyond to equip and empower the International Coaching Federation and the coaching ecosystem to prepare for the future and possible disruptions. Through collaboration, research, and dissemination, we seek to advance the profession of coaching and its contribution to society’s well-being and human development. 

Serving on the Board of Directors allows you to: 

• Engage in global connections with distinguished professionals. 
• Gain access to knowledge and expertise from academics, coaches, and thought leaders from various disciplines worldwide. 
• Elevate your leadership skills to the next level. 
• Experience and embrace diverse cultural backgrounds while promoting inclusivity in the board’s initiatives. 
• Volunteer with the ICF Thought Leadership Institute, part of the One ICF ecosystem, providing an opportunity to develop and understand management skills for a member organization with 50,000+ members. 
• Attend the annual in-person Board of Directors meeting with all expenses paid. 

Are you passionate about making a difference and driving positive change? Do you possess valuable expertise and perspectives that can help us expand our reach and create positive impact? If so, we invite you to apply for a position on our board! 

At ICF Thought Leadership Institute, we are committed to creating an inclusive and diverse board that represents a variety of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. We believe that diverse voices are essential to fostering innovation, understanding, and meaningful impact. Individuals who are inspired by our mission and have a high level of energy and creativity to make it happen should apply. We are looking for individuals who are motivated to contribute their expertise to grow ICF Thought Leadership Institute’s capacity and impact. We seek individuals with a willingness to contribute to envisioning the future of coaching. 

As a start-up family organization of the International Coaching Federation (ICF) and in its third model iteration, ICF Thought Leadership Institute’s current initiatives focus on transitioning from a content creator to a futurist function by implementing a futures thinking framework, enhancing stakeholder engagement, executing strategic projects, developing innovative products and assets, and measuring impact and outcomes. There will be at least (1) one open position for the ICF TLI Board of Directors starting in January 2025. 

While all individuals with an interest in serving ICF Thought Leadership Institute are welcome to apply, this year we are particularly interested in candidates who can bring specific expertise to complement our work. For the upcoming nominations cycle, we are seeking individuals who have experience in social impact. In addition, we will prioritize candidates who have experience in one or more of the following areas:  

1. Connector (ICF): An ICF member with a working knowledge of the One ICF ecosystem or its historical foundations. 
2. Scholar-Practitioner: An academic researcher who practices coaching to create practical knowledge, skills, and tools for real-world applications, such as research-to-practice and participatory action research. 
3. Futurist Mindset: An individual who applies futures thinking to generate new ideas, methods, programs, and products. 
4. Networker (Market): A person with a wide network to share connections and increase visibility. 

1. Board Criteria 
   1. We begin with candidates who have a passion for the future of coaching and in looking for ways to have coaching lead the future. 
   2. Directors may be active (but not a board member) in one of the FOs or a member of the public at large. 
   3. Be recognized as thought-leaders in areas including and other than coaching by their respective organizations or fields, academic or otherwise.  
   4. Be objective and unaffiliated with organizations considered unsuitable for partnership due to their values or activities.  
2. Experience 
   1. Significant involvement and proven leadership in creating a thought leading project or institute, ideally to have the regional or global reputation of being a thought leader. 
   2. Knowledge of and experience in the ICF and/or coaching. 
   3. Experience and influence on a global level. 
   4. Experience and influence in the research/academia world. 
   5. A network of thought leaders, academics and researchers. 
3. Competencies 
   1. Innovation 
   2. Conceptual thinking 
   3. Entrepreneurship 
   4. Ability to bring an idea to market  
   5. Ability to connect and leverage different fields of knowledge  
   6. Capable thought leader for trend spotting and horizon scanning  
4. Universal Competencies for All ICF Boards of Directors and Trustees  
   1. Business and Financial Acumen  
   2. Problem Solving Skills  
   3. Analytical and Systems Thinking  
   4. Relationship Building and Self-Management  
   5. Leadership Experience in Complex Organizations  
   6. Global Cultural Awareness and Experience  
   7. ICF Knowledge and Interest  
   8. Communication Skills  
   9. Strong Ethical Governance  
   10. Ability to Identify and Articulate Opportunity  
   11. Values are Consistent with Organization’s Values  
   12. Collaborator and Consensus Builder  
   13. Experience Engaging a Volunteer Workforce  
   14. Successful Practice of Performance Management  

ICF Thought Leadership Institute’s Board of Directors is a governance board in a start-up stage of development. This means that in addition to being fiduciary guardians of this 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, our board members roll up their sleeves, put on their thinking caps, and dedicate a good portion of their time taking an active role on one or more of our board committees or task forces. 

As a governance board in start-up phase, ICF Thought Leadership Institute Directors are expected to dedicate about 5-10 hours per month working on ICF Thought Leadership Institute business. This includes attending a monthly conference call with fellow board members, in addition to other committee or task force meetings and follow-up tasks related to those functions.  

ICF Thought Leadership Institute board members are expected to attend one (1) annual board meeting in person: time of year and location to be determined. ICF Thought Leadership Institute shall offer each board member compensation to cover travel related expenses to attend the annual in-person board meeting. ICF Thought Leadership Institute will cover expenses related to any necessary board retreat. Such retreats, for instance a strategic planning retreat that occurs every three years, are in addition to the annual in-person board meetings.  

Once appointed, ICF Thought Leadership Institue Directors serve a two-year term and not more than two consecutive terms before a one-year break in Board service. For reference, we invite you to familiarize yourself with our Bylaws.  

Our Onboarding Handbook outlines expectations and responsibilities:  

• 5 – 10 hours of Thought Leadership Institute-related work per month, depending on activities; 
• Play an active leadership role in delivering on Thought Leadership Institute’s overall strategy in general and on assigned strategic priorities specifically; 
• Attend and prepare for each board meeting; 
• Be prepared and willing to lead the board and/or a committee and/or a task force; 
• Join and participate actively in the activities of at least one committee or task force; 
• Follow, participate, and contribute to online board discussions in a timely manner; 
• Leverage personal relationships with others (including corporations, professional service firms, vendors, foundations, and individuals) to assist the staff of the organization with implementing engagement strategies; 
• Attend one (1) annual board meeting in person: time of year and location to be determined. Thought Leadership Institute will cover related travel expenses for board members;  
• Directors cannot be compensated. 

Svetlana Dimovski, Ph.D., PCC, NBC-HWC (United States)   

Yene Assegid, Ph.D., MCC (Zambia)  

Alicia Hullinger, Ph.D. (United States  

Donna P.A. Eiby, MBA (Australia)
Chair

Svetlana Dimovski, PCC PhD, NBC-HWC (USA)
Vice Chair

Kaveh Mir, MCC, MBA, MSc, MAPPCP (United Kingdom)
Treasurer

Yene Assegid, MCC, PhD (Belgium/Zambia) 
Secretary and Global Board Representative

Pinar Dolen, MBA (Switzerland) 

Melvin Smith, PhD (USA) 

Woody Woodward, PhD, PCC (USA)

Ex-Officio

Alicia Hullinger, Ph.D. (USA)
Executive Director/ Vice President, ICF Thought Leadership Institute

Dumisani Magadlela, PCC, PhD (South Africa)
Global Board Chair

Magdalena Nowicka Mook (USA)
CEO, ICF