ICF Thought Leadership Institute Board of Directors

At the ICF Thought Leadership Institute, we strive to inspire professional coaches and global leaders to envision a better future for work, education, planetary ecology, and coaching itself. 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 address the needs of underserved communities? 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 diverse voices are essential to fostering innovation, understanding, and meaningful impact. We are searching for individuals who are:

• Passionate about our mission and possess a great deal of enthusiasm and creativity to help us achieve it.
• Motivated to contribute their expertise to the ICF Thought Leadership Institute’s capacity and impact.
• Eager to envision the future of coaching.

There will be at least one open position for the ICF Thought Leadership Institute Board of Directors starting in January 2024.

The ICF Thought Leadership Institute is currently implementing our second strategic plan (FY2024) for building awareness, expanding reach, and building impact partnerships. While all individuals interested in serving on the 2024 ICF Thought Leadership Institute Board of Directors are welcome to apply, we are particularly interested in candidates who can bring specific expertise to complement our work.

Experience Requirements

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. A professional coach, preferably with senior-level experience.

We seek an experienced coach, preferably with a senior-level background in coaching, who is passionate about helping individuals unlock their full potential and can contribute their extensive knowledge and expertise to our board.

2. An international perspective.

To enrich our board’s global perspective, we welcome applications from candidates outside the United States. As part of our commitment to promoting diversity, an ideal candidate would bring an African background, enabling us to better understand and address the unique challenges faced by this region.

3. Experience with underserved populations.

To expand our coaching reach and ensure that our programs are inclusive and accessible to all, we are looking for someone who has worked with underserved communities. Firsthand experience and insights will be invaluable in developing strategies to empower and uplift individuals facing barriers to personal growth.

4. Expertise in coaching for the planet.

Environmental concerns and sustainability are critical issues in today’s world. We are seeking individuals with specialized knowledge and experience in coaching for the planet, whose perspective will help us integrate environmental consciousness into our coaching initiatives and drive sustainable practices within our organization.

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 other ICF family organizations 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 ICF and/or coaching.
   3. Experience in acquiring and/or managing funding: grant, corporate and/or academic partnerships, sponsorships, etc.
   4. Experience and influence on a global level.
   5. Experience and influence in the research/academic world.
   6. A network of thought leaders, academics, and researchers.
3. Competencies
   2. Conceptual thinking.
   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.

The ICF Thought Leadership Institute Board of Directors is a governance board in the startup 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 the startup phase, ICF Thought Leadership Institute Directors are expected to dedicate 5-10 hours per month working on ICF Thought Leadership Institute business. This includes attending a monthly conference call with fellow board members, 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 annual board meeting in person; time of year and location are to be determined. The ICF Thought Leadership Institute shall offer each board member compensation to cover travel-related expenses to attend the annual in-person board meeting. The 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 Institute 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 work per month related to the ICF Thought Leadership Institute, depending on activities.
• Play an active leadership role in delivering on the ICF 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.
• Make every reasonable effort to bring financial support to the organization annually from external sources, e.g., identify and introduce sponsor prospects and secure sponsorships.
• Leverage personal relationships with others (including corporations, professional service firms, vendors, foundations, and individuals) to assist the staff of the organization with implementing fundraising strategies, including adding names of potential sources of support to the organization’s mailing list.
• Actively participate in ICF Thought Leadership Institute fundraising efforts.
• Attend one annual board meeting in person; time of year and location are to be determined. The ICF Thought Leadership Institute will cover related travel expenses for board members.
• Directors cannot be compensated.

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