About Mary

My philosophy

I live with a few basic assumptions about leadership:

  • Great leaders create what matters most because of a strong set of internal assumptions that drives their behavior.
  • Great leaders tend to be competent in 5 areas: they achieve results, they are aware of how systems work, they are authentic, they are self aware, and they relate well to other people.
  • When we seek to comply with others, protect ourselves, or overcontrol situations, we are missing huge opportunities to lead.
  • What you focus on is what you create.
  • Leaders grow other leaders.  

 

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My Education and Training

 

While there have been lots of ways I’ve learned over the years, here’s my formal training:

Amherst College:
B.A. English 1981
http://www.amherst.edu/
 

Yale School of Management:
M.B.A. Organizational Behavior 1988
 http://mba.yale.edu/

Coaches Training Institute (CTI) :

(CTI is the oldest, largest, and most highly respected coach training institute in the world.)
-Trained and certified as a “Certified Professional Co-Active Coach” (C.P.C.C.) 2007 http://www.thecoaches.com/certification.html
-Completed the CTI Leadership Program 2008 

http://www.thecoaches.com/leadership.html

Center for Right Relationship (CRR):

(CRR is the worldwide leader in relationship systems intelligence.)

http://crrglobal.com/

 -Trained in Organizational and Relationship Systems Coaching 2008

The Leadership Circle

http://www.theleadershipcircle.com/

-Certified to administer the The Leadership Circle Profile (TLCP) and the Leadership Culture Survey (TLCS), the two most highly validated and respected 360 assessments on the market. 2009


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My Professional Background

Lots of different work experiences have influenced my coaching. After graduating from Amherst College in 1981, I taught English at Northfield Mount Hermon School, and conducted research about women and work at the research institute, Catalyst, in New York City. After returning to school to get an MBA at Yale in 1988, I worked as an internal organizational effectiveness manager and human resource development manager at Cummins Engine Company and G.E. Capital for six years. I then set up my own organizational consulting practice, and consulted for a dozen years to elementary schools, principals, and educational change organizations throughout Connecticut on leadership, organizational change, and school improvement issues.  Along the way, I also provided career coaching and counseling to students at the Yale School of Management Career Development Office.

In 2006, I began a journey to augment the coaching, advising, and consulting I had done for many years by getting extensive professional coach training (see My Education and Training). In the years since, I have been coaching leaders and organizations that are committed to furthering environmental and/or social sustainability in some way, shape, or form. They are highly educated professionals who are leaders in sustainable development, energy conservation, biofuels, cleantech, renewable energy, education, sustainable food production and distribution, journalism, consulting, and nonprofits. I also provide leadership development seminars as well as leadership and career coaching to PhD students in the Advanced Graduate Leadership Program at the Yale School of Engineering and Applied Science. In addition, I serve as a Distinguished Fellow at the Fowler Center for Sustainable Value at Case Western Reserve's Weatherhead School of Management, focusing on the topic of spirituality in institutions.

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On a Personal Note

My husband and I have two wonderful daughters who keep us honest and keep us laughing. As a family, we try our best to walk the talk of sustainability in our daily habits, our work focus, and our volunteer activities. My husband, Jon, has been working in the green tech, energy conservation, and renewable energy fields for over 30 years. (See www.greenmediaventures.com ) Jon helps launch and market Green companies while I develop Green leaders and their organizations. Sometimes we work together to support the same clients and sometimes we work with different clients. Both of us have also worked hard in our volunteer time to help start a new CSA farm in our community (see www.massarofarm.org ). We also co-teach a class of children conflict resolution and empowerment skills, support our local public schools in various ways, and contribute to a number of Green initiatives locally and globally. When we aren't working, we enjoy hiking, biking, reading, playing music, and spending time with family and friends.

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