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ABOUT ME

I am a  Certified Professional Co-Active Coach (CPCC) and a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) credentialed by the International Coach Federation (ICF).

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About: About

АS A COACH AND MENTOR, I APPLY EXPERTISE IN THE FOLLOWING FIELDS:

LEADERSHIP

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My academic research and professional practice give me the privilege of profound insight in the psychological and social dimensions of professional cultures and the skills that leaders need to navigate them.


I provide leadership coaching and leadership training to new leaders at Rice University’s Doerr Institute for New Leaders, and I train and mentor leadership coaches in the CoachRice program.

I conduct applied research on leadership as well as theoretical research on intellectual and political leaders and elites.

ADULT LEARNING

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My coaching and mentoring are informed by a deep understanding of the advantages and challenges that adult learners face in mastering a new skill set and the concepts that inform it.


I have designed and delivered hundreds of hours of face-to-face experiential learning, front-of-the-room lecture, and online instruction, and I have trained hundreds of adults in a variety of skills, from coaching to conflict management to writing.

ANTHROPOLOGY

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I hold a PhD in cultural anthropology from Rice University. Anthropology taught me profound respect for the point of view of other people, cultures and societies. I apply my anthropological interest in the field of professional cultures and leadership to support clients, who are already in leadership roles or who are emerging leaders.

My anthropological research in the fields of gender, creativity, and professional cultures was supported by the European Commission, University College London and Rice University, among others. I taught anthropology and writing to Rice University students for approximately 10 years.

HEALTH, WELLNESS AND THE MEDICAL SYSTEM

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As a former researcher in medical ethics at the Baylor College of Medicine and a social science consultant for ongoing research studies in the Houston Medical Center, I know from experience the opportunities and challenges of medical professionals, including demanding schedules, emotional drain, and institutional politics.

I help medical and wellness professionals become even better leaders and healers. Until 2019, I taught healing presence and coaching skills in conventional and integrative medicine, including at the Maryland University of Integrative Health.

CROSS-CULTURAL EXPERIENCE

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My personal immigrant experience and my academic training equip me to help clients dealing with the challenges of cross-cultural transitions, culture shock and the expatriate experience.


I was born and raised in Bulgaria, and I have lived in the United States for more than 20 years. I know from experience the challenges of learning a new language and a new culture, and of straddling life between countries.

About: Projects
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