Academy Portal

Vahbiz Shroff
PhD, PCC, CALC

Vahbiz is an eternally curious person who exemplifies diversity in her personal and professional life. She not only comes from a multicultural heritage, but she also has over 20 years of fulfilling careers in science, business, and now, coaching.

Coaching is Vahbiz’s passion and how she gives back. Her focus is to help clients connect and unleash the genius within themselves through insightful conversations and perspective shifts. She supports her client’s goals and offers a confidential place for them to share and grow.

Vahbiz’s clients include the pharmaceutical and medical industry, major Universities in North Carolina as well as business and entrepreneurship training organizations. Most recently, Vahbiz serves on the Board of Directors for the International Coaches Federation, Raleigh Chapter.

Specialized Training

• Associate Certified Coach (ICF)
• Certified Authentic Leadership Coach (CALC)
• Executive Coach Certification (XCC)
• Certified Team Coach (WBECS-ICF global)
• Certified Career Coach (Career Coach Solutions)

Kathleen O’Grady
MCC, CALC

In 2008, Kathleen O’Grady capitalized on her expertise in authentic leadership coaching by launching her own strategic consultancy firm and turning it into an internationally recognized center of excellence for organizational development. Authentic Leadership Advisors (ALA) continues to push boundaries by honoring individual creativity and innovation while helping organizations get out of their own way.

Kathleen is driven to deliver high-touch coaching experiences through seamless cross-functional collaboration and high integrity consultation. She is known as a “transformational trouble-maker” who disrupts business models at every level. Whether it is revolutionizing internal communications, eliminating leadership blind spots, or building a company culture that attracts and retains top talent, she embraces all aspects of her work and truly cares about long-term partnerships that build on previous successes. She especially focuses on supporting C-suite executives, HR leaders, and trail-blazing entrepreneurs.

For over a decade, Kathleen has collaborated with some of the world’s best companies including Fortune 100 firms such as Deloitte, Cisco, BP, and Ivy League Schools. Part of her expertise lies in powerfully presenting her passion for authentic leadership in keynote speeches, commencement addresses, conference sessions, as well as custom company-sponsored educational or inspirational talks.

As a visionary in her field, Kathleen is a two-time past president of the International Coaching Federation Raleigh Chapter, and is listed as #1 in USA Today’s Top 10 International Coaches.

Specialized Training

• Master Certified Coach (ICF)
• Certified Authentic Leadership Coach (CALC)
• Certified Business Coach (NCSU)
• Certified Tilt Coach (CTC) Tilt 365
• Certified EQ-i and EQ-360 Emotional Intelligence Assessments Administrator
• Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (Duke)

Laura Haywood
ACC, CALC

Laura pivoted into coaching after relocating to the US from the UK, where she practiced as a psychotherapist for many years. This unique combination of experience, in addition to her own journey of relocation and change, has led Laura to become a deeply insightful, grounded, caring, and challenging coach. Laura has a great appreciation for people with diverse challenges who want to move forward in life.

Laura is an exceptionally skilled professional coach who can helps her clients move forward by increasing their confidence to navigate change. Laura passionately believes you don’t have to feel stuck, lost, or live in the past. She can help you embrace a more positive, authentic, and fulfilling life.

Laura’s mission is to empower clients to grow through creating positive, meaningful, and sustained changes in their lives. She enables you to have a different relationship with yourself, others, and life.

Specialized Training

• Associate Certified Coach (ICF)
• Certified Authentic Leadership Coach (CALC)
• Advanced Diploma & Certificate of HE. Psychodynamic Counseling

Jody Fletcher
BSHCA, MSEDM, CALC

Jody served three decades in the Navy, most recently working as the Command Senior Enlisted Advisor to Three-Star Commanding Generals responsible for more than 45,000 people. He spent the first two decades of his Navy career in the Special Operations Community.

Jody’s breadth of leadership and life experience range from elite special operations teams in combat to involvement with Heads of State and Foreign Dignitaries. He’s an avid surfer and loves anything that gets people outside to enjoy nature.

Jody’s mission is to create leaders who understand that true leadership extends beyond the office. He’s passionate about helping them deepen their relationship with their people to build happy and highly functioning teams.

Specialized Training

• Master Training Specialist
• Curriculum Developer
• Peer Mentorship Trainer
• USAID Joint Humanitarian Operations
• Certified Fitness Specialist – Cooper Institute
• TS/SCI
• CPI Certification

Vanessa Hagerbaumer

For the last 15 years, Vanessa has worked with startups, design agencies, and organizations such as WeWork and The Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC to develop high-level strategic events and initiatives that purposefully engage client, donor, and employee communities. Vanessa now applies her expertise in experiential journeys to help leaders create and achieve an exponential vision for themselves and their organizations.

Driven by curiosity, Vanessa brings a grounded, smart, and fearless approach to helping leaders transform their mindset to experience explosive growth. Her coaching is packed with creative exercises and practical tools to provoke new perspectives and actionable insights. Serene, introspective, and relentlessly positive, Vanessa is a champion for her clients to achieve legacy-level thinking.

From new managers to C-level executives, Vanessa offers an opportunity to step into your personal power and create transformative change within yourself, your organization, and ultimately the world.

Specialized Training

• Authentic Leadership Advisors Academy – Authentic Leadership Coach Training