Mission Statement
ReInvive is a nonprofit organization devoted to the provision of evidence-based scholarship, publications (as stewards of Dynamic Leadership and Coaching: A Handbook for Developing Exceptional Leaders in Turbulent Times), learning and practice for coaching grounded in behavioral science, focused on effective leadership that guides, inspires, and influences others to achieve common goals, and drive success. Its purpose is to increase the professional capabilities of workplace coaches, coaching organizations, leaders in for-profit and nonprofit organizations, educators, and students. ReInvive shall at all times be operated exclusively for educational purposes.
Our Story
ReInvive did not begin as a boardroom initiative.
It began with a question that could no longer be ignored.
In the midst of global uncertainty during COVID in 2021, a group of coaches, scholars, and leaders came together through the Institute of Coaching to explore a growing gap in the market:
How do we help leaders and coaches truly meet the moment we are living in?
What began as a conversation soon evolved into something far deeper. This was not a predefined project. Ours was a magical four-and-a-half-year journey of co-exploration. It unfolded through challenge, uncertainty, and a shared commitment that deepened not only in the work, but in how we showed up to it – and to each other.
A global team of more than 45 practitioners, drawn from diverse disciplines and geographies, came together as a self-directed collective, offering their time, energy, and expertise in the spirit of service. This voluntary effort was sustained not by obligation, but by a desire to give back – to strengthen leadership and coaching practice for a turbulent world.
Along the way, we navigated shifting priorities, evolving structures, and real-life demands, supporting one another through both progress and uncertainty. What held us together was perhaps best captured in the words of our late colleague, John Lazar:
“Stronger and Stronger… Together.”
As we progressed, it became clear that we were not only writing about leadership – we were living it. Through collaboration, trust, and shared ownership, we embodied the very principles we sought to advance. The journey became as meaningful as the outcome: one of co-learning, resilience, and human connection.
This one-of-a-kind global collective gave rise to Dynamic Leadership and Coaching: A Handbook for Developing Exceptional Leaders in Turbulent Times. It is a practical, research-grounded compass and companion – created by practitioners, for practitioners facing real-world challenges – and offered in the spirit of service to busy leaders and coaches everywhere.
ReInvive, a non-profit organization, emerged as the steward of this work, carrying forward not just a handbook, but the values that shaped it: service, community, and the belief that leadership can be a force for human flourishing.
This is more than a book. It is a shared journey – of service, learning, and what becomes possible when people come together in commitment to something larger than themselves.
Grounded in research. Designed for practice. Created with heart.
Meet The Authors
Cynthia M. Acree, DNP, APRN, is a master-certified health and wellness coach with a career in neonatal intensive care nursing at an academic children’s hospital. With a transformational leadership mindset, she optimized care for critically ill newborns and their families. Her own experience with burnout influenced her adoption of applied positive psychology. Cindi was recognized for leadership, research, and education by the National Association of Neonatal Nurses and Nurse Practitioners. She has authored numerous articles and chapters on leadership, succession planning, acuity tracking, and neonatal patient care.
Jaspal Bajwa, founder of Sunya Circle, is an executive and team coach. He partners with CEOs to ignite and celebrate excellence. He is passionate about co-creating significant and sustainable value through Transformative Growth and Organizational Vitality. His practice is informed by an MBA and three decades of international experience in MNCs. In addition to ICF certification as a PCC, his specializations include Team and Stakeholder-centered Coaching, Cultural Intelligence, and Self-Actualization. For this handbook, he led the Project Coordination Cell.
Marderé Birkill, MBL, CEC, is a master certified executive coach known for guiding senior leaders through transformational change with clarity and purpose. Her specialty is executive transition, leadership resilience, and cross-cultural dynamics. With over 25 years of global experience, she has helped leaders reduce conflict, enhance strategic focus, and sustain growth. Her centered, trust-based approach empowers clients to unlock their full leadership potential and drive meaningful, lasting impact in their organizations.
David S. Bright, PhD, served as the chief editor for this book. He is a tenured professor of organizational behavior and organization development and the former department chair of the Department of Management at Wright State University. He received a Ph.D. from the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University. He is passionate about helping people discover and reach their full potential.
Phillip Brooks is a professional speaker and executive coach who helps business families thrive across generations. With a warm, grounded approach, he combines leadership agility with deep family insight to foster alignment, resilience, and a lasting legacy. As founder of Fresh Potential LLC and a Fellow at the Institute of Coaching, Phillip draws on decades of experience —including leading a $100M fresh foods enterprise—to guide families toward enduring success and harmony in both life and business.
Elizabeth Cox, MBA, RN, has expertise in education and healthcare, as well as certifications in executive, health, and well-being coaching, and leadership assessments. Her most recent roles, beyond her coaching practice, have been in faculty positions for leadership continuing education programs at MGH Institute of Health Professions and at Harvard Division of Continuing Education. She previously spent 20 years in international health systems development at Harvard Medical School and in the Mass General Brigham System.
Loretta L. Donovan, MA had a career in organizational learning and development with senior roles in healthcare, higher education, IT, and national nonprofits. She completed graduate studies in organizational leadership at Columbia University, Teachers College. Her coaching of physicians and healthcare executives is grounded in appreciative inquiry, transformative learning, and participatory development. A PCI Certified Physician Development Coach, credentialed in Immunity to Change Coaching, and an IOC Professional Fellow, her clients include the AHA, Northwell Health, and NYU-Langone.
Kevin Dunal assists leaders in creating resilient, high-performing organizations centred on purpose, innovation, and human connection. As a leadership and executive coach, he focuses on developing creative, emotionally intelligent leaders who drive meaningful change. With decades of executive experience from roles at Adobe, Alias, and Autodesk, Kevin offers practical insights and tools. He is the principal at Launch Centre Inc., has a global coaching practice, and serves on several advisory boards in leadership and innovation.
Rhonda Foster-Smith, Ed.D., is an authentic and visionary healthcare consultant and coach. She is known for driving change and quality improvement. She has provided expertise to hospitals and healthcare systems in the US, Brazil, Abu Dhabi, and Qatar. Dr. Foster is committed to making a difference through leadership development and coaching. She has held executive and leadership roles in academic medical centers and specialty hospitals with a penchant for driving change, quality, and organizational improvement.
Patricia Hinton Walker, PhD, RN, is a coach, consultant, speaker, and author. She is a nationally certified coach (ICF recognized MCC) and was involved at the beginning of the development of the National Board for Health/Wellness Coaches (NBHWC). She is a former Dean, Vice President-education and hospital administrator, providing organizational development consultation and coaching in Europe, Saudia Arabia, Asia. She has authored a number of publications in healthcare, management, informatics and coaching textbooks.
Jean Johnson, PhD, is dean emerita and professor at the George Washington University School of Nursing (GWSON), and a certified executive coach. Her extensive background in healthcare leadership informs her coaching philosophy, which is based on the critical element of self-awareness. She coaches leaders in health care systems and academic institutions and is a co-author of three recently published books: Organizationally Minded Leadership, Advancing Relationships in Health Care, and Advancing Health Care Quality: Protecting Patients, Improving Lives.
Tanya Kleindienst of Ready to Reach, LLC, is a certified coach and organizational development practitioner with 25 years of experience in corporate and consulting roles, specializing in leadership coaching, team development, workplace culture transformation, cultural intelligence, and strategic workforce planning. Her approach, rooted in the conviction that personal growth and collective well-being are inseparable, provides strategic guidance to leaders, enabling more profound commitment to both individual advancement and the shared journey toward sustainable organizational change and a better, more connected human experience.
Krishna Kumar is the founder of the Intrad School of Executive Coaching (ISEC). He holds degrees in engineering and management from India’s top League universities. Over a diverse career, Krishna has served as a senior corporate executive, an award-winning tennis coach, a published author, an entrepreneur, a B-school professor, and a leadership coach. A former Global President of the International Association of Coaching, he has delivered the keynote address at leading global coaching and leadership conferences.
James Lamberti is a doctoral candidate in Applied Organizational Psychology at Hofstra University. His research examines how the concept of “challenge” is understood across various domains, including organizational, educational, coaching, clinical, and sports psychology. He has presented peer coaching research at the Society for Industrial-Organizational Psychology (SIOP) and completed multiple respected coach training programs, including Co-Active, Wellcoaches, and ACE. A contributor to the servant leadership chapter, James brings a values-driven, purpose-centered lens to leadership, drawing on lived experience and a deep belief in people’s capacity to grow.
John Lazar, MA, was the founder and CEO of John B. Lazar & Associates. He provided leadership coaching, team development, and performance improvement consulting to C-suite executives, senior leaders, and their teams, as well as business growth coaching to business owners. John’s clients described him as warm, insightful, direct, engaging, client-centered, and focused on their progress, outcomes, success, and satisfaction. A coach and consultant for 40 years, he was also a published author and international speaker.
Susan Leggett-Johnson, M.D., is a seasoned physician leader, certified coach, and DEI advocate with over 30 years of experience in patient care and healthcare leadership. She specializes in equity-centered coaching, physician wellness, and professional development. As a healthcare executive, she led the launch of a residency program and wellness initiatives to combat burnout. She continues to give back through board service and national mentorship, supporting the next generation of inclusive, resilient healthcare leaders.
N. Adeboye Martins is a certified coach and a master trainer of Neuro-Linguistic Programming. He works as a leadership development agent in the West, East, and Central Africa sub-regions, as well as in the United Kingdom, helping to bring to fruition the potential in aspiring leaders. His present focus is on business leaders and recent entrants into the workspace. His overriding purpose is to awaken people to the power and value of true humanity.
L. Gregory Pawlson, MD, is passionate about extending our understanding of coaching and leadership and in coaching leaders. He is a Hudson Institute-certified executive and life coach, as well as a Lodestar Trauma-Informed Coach. Prior to becoming a coach, Greg was a physician and healthcare executive who held senior leadership positions in academic medicine and with nonprofits such as NCQA and BCBSA. He is the co-author of two books and more than one hundred peer-reviewed papers.
Kay Peterson helps leaders and teams grow by placing experiential learning (EL) at the center of coaching, transformation, and change. She integrates EL with Gestalt coaching, polarity thinking, and adult development to foster learning agility and self-awareness. Co-author of How You Learn Is How You Live and the Kolb Team Learning Profile with David Kolb, Kay founded the Institute for Experiential Learning. She holds an MBA, an MS in Positive Organization Development, and a Master of Nursing.
Sophia Petrides, with over 36 years in leadership roles across S&P 500 and FTSE 100 organizations, pioneers human-centric solutions that integrate AI to transform Human Capital and Human Equity. An award-winning advocate for education, she is dedicated to empowering graduates as they transition from academia to employment. Sophia’s strategic vision and deep industry insight help organizations and individuals thrive in a rapidly evolving workforce.
X. Carmen Qadir, PhD, MBA, specializes in coaching within healthcare, STEM organizations, and higher education. With over 23 years of experience, she is a trusted advisor to those seeking to enhance their leadership skills, navigate complex organizational challenges, and drive transformational change. Her unique background as a healthcare and STEM leader provides her with a deep understanding of the intricacies and demands of technical contexts. She tailors her coaching to the specific needs and goals of her clients, ensuring maximum impact and sustainable results.
Celia Sikorski Godinho is a transformational force in global leadership and human development, with a professional presence spanning more than 50 countries. She is the creator of Liquid Resilience, a concept that invites conscious adaptation through intention, courage, and depth. Recognized among Germany’s Top Leaders, Celia believes that meaningful transformation begins with deep inner listening — and unfolds as we align who we are with the change we are called to create in the world.
Yasmina Suleyman Halawi, PCC, is an internationally certified leadership and self-development coach, specializing in context-specific servant leadership development. With a background spanning government, education, and corporate sectors, she leverages coaching as a tool for leadership development. Yasmina is also a published author, contributing a chapter on coaching for servant leadership and writing insightful articles on millennials in the workplace.
Bernhard Schaller, MD, DSc, is a professor at the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina, and a lecturer at various other universities worldwide. Being passionate about both medicine and business administration, he strives to combine these two worlds in his work.
Kemia M. Sarraf, MD, MPH,
is the President & CEO of Lodestar and adjunct faculty at Southern Indiana University School of Medicine. She leads a nationally renowned team of professionals, providing trauma-responsive advanced leadership development, organizational alignment, and acute incident response. A powerful speaker and leadership coach, “Dr. K” guides both teams and individuals through the pain of collective experiences toward aspirational hope about what is possible—and she does so with both gentle humor and searing honesty.
Michele J. Weston, MA-HWC, is the founder of MJWellbeing: Beyond the Diagnosis, and is a certified health and wellbeing coach with advanced training in bioethics, health policy, and mental health mediation. Her focus is on coaching individuals living with chronic conditions to adjust their lifestyles. She supports healthcare leaders in navigating best patient care, whole-centered communication, and professional resilience. A published author and frequent speaker, she concentrates on coaching clients/patients on the healthcare landscape, building tenacity, perseverance, and integrating lifestyle shifts when living with chronic illness.