Welcome Message From Our President, Valeska Martins |
| Dear ICF South Florida Community, |
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This year, we celebrate a milestone that fills my heart with deep pride and profound gratitude: the 25th Anniversary of ICF South Florida. Twenty-five years of vision, perseverance, and passion… And what a journey it has been!
What began as a small, ambitious gathering of coaches in South Florida has grown into something remarkable, a chapter with global reach, multilingual voices, and a community that spans continents. Today, our 540+ affiliate members represent the vibrant diversity of the world we serve, coaches offering their expertise in 9 different languages, members joining us from as far as Australia, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt. We are, truly, a chapter without borders.
The numbers tell a powerful story. In just the past year alone, we delivered 206 activities (virtual and in-person), offered 57 CCEUs to advance our members’ professional credentials, and provided more than 400 pro bono coaching sessions to nonprofits and communities across the globe. Our educational programming rivals that of ICF’s largest chapters, and our outreach to the community is unmatched. These achievements are not mine; they belong to every member, every volunteer, and every leader who has ever given their time and talent to this community. |
None of this would be possible without the leaders who came before us. They had the courage to plant seeds in uncertain soil, the wisdom to build structures that could sustain growth, and the generosity to pass on a thriving organization to those who followed. I stand on their shoulders, as do we all. To every past president and board member: thank you! Your legacy lives in every event we host, every coach who join us, and every life we touch through pro bono coaching.
As I reflect on our 25-year journey, I’m also looking forward. Our chapter is not a destination, it is a living, evolving movement. The foundation we are strengthening today will become the launching pad for the next generation of leaders. And I know, with complete confidence, that the best chapter of our story are still ahead.
To those who will one day step into leadership roles within ICFSFL: this community is yours to shape. Bring your boldest ideas, your deepest care, and your unwavering commitment to the coaching profession. The door is wide open. |
| Here’s to 25 extraordinary years and to everything still to come! |
Warmly,
Valeska Martins
President, ICF South Florida Chapter |
| Meet our Committee of the Month |
| Our mission is to design and deliver meaningful educational experiences that equip coaches with practical tools, emerging methodologies, and professional insights, fostering mastery, connection, and ethical coaching practice. |
| Programming Committee Team (2026): Claudia Flores Laucel (VP Programming), Katya Talavera, Nada Haddad, Aleksandra Heinrichs, Viviana Cervantes, Sarah Staley, Susana Callau |
| What’s Ahead for the Committee |
We are excited for the upcoming Core Competencies Spring Summit, where 17 professional coaches will come together and bring the core competencies to life. We will have 15 sessions covering all ICF Core Competencies. This year, we are incorporating Wellbeing presentations as part of our holistic coaching approach. All participants will receive up to 22 CCEUs.
ICW 2026 is also around the corner, and it will be a great opportunity to learn about new tools and coaching techniques. We have also partnered with marketing and business experts who will be bringing the latest marketing techniques for professional coaches and help our members build and expand their business. |
| We are proud to report that throughout this year, we are giving up to 50 CCEUs for everyone who attends our Masterclasses by Mastercoaches, the Core Competencies Summits (Spring and Fall) and other events that are coming to out Programming Schedule of events. |
| Celebrating Our Programming Member | |
Meet our Dedicated Programming Committee Member
Katya Talavera
Project Leader
Katya has been a very involved volunteer since day one. Her commitment, work ethic, and excellence shows up every time we work together in a project. She is always available to help create and works until all is done.
Katya has a passion for the coaching profession and has a unique gift for connecting people around the world. | | |
The Business Show Miami 2026
This is a leadership moment for our community.
ICF South Florida is making strong progress toward establishing a visible and impactful presence at The Business Show Miami 2026, one of the year’s most influential gatherings for the business community.
Our presence means:
- Visibility for professional coaching
- Stronger positioning with the business community
- New opportunities for members, partners, and sponsors
- A unified voice for leadership, ethics, and growth
Date: April 29–30, 2026
Location: Miami Beach Convention Center
We invite you to take action today, register, share, and encourage others to do the same. When we move together, we grow together.
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| ICF South Florida would like to give a warm welcome to our newest members this month! |
Safi Naz Vaheed
Masha shidlovskaya
Beatriz Nicolau
Veronica Maggio
Kimberly Gibson
LeAnna Carey
Annette Berkowitz
John Arnold |
| Spring Into Renewal
Consider this: one of the most powerful resource in our personal and professional lives, is renewal at our core.
According to dictionaries, renew means to regenerate, revive, replenish, restore. These words speak to the return of energy, clarity, direction and purpose – foundational elements to our holistic wellbeing. Across cultures, renewal is often celebrated in spring – when nature awakens in visible growth and transformation. Inspired by external cues, renewal occurs quietly from within.
Just as nature thrives through seasons of renewal each spring, we too benefit from intentional moments of reflection, learning, and recalibration. Through the lens of a professional coach, renewal is less seasonal and more a practice. It embodies reconnection to the qualities at the heart of coaching: openness, curiosity, presence, compassion, and service.
When making space for renewal, something powerful happens in our work with clients. Our presence strengthens. Our listening deepens. Our impact expands. Emotionally, we’re more available. In that space, clients often feel more seen, supported, and willing to explore meaningful change. The coach’s renewal becomes the soil in which client transformation grows.
| | The ICF Core Competencies guide how we practice our craft, and renewal helps us bring our full humanity into that structure. Our experiences, insights, and energy enrich the coaching relationship and strengthen more authentic partnerships.
Coaching is a profession grounded in growth and transformation. As we continue to learn, reflect, and renew ourselves, we expand and deepen our capacity to help others do the same.
Where in your life might a deeper intentional focus on your renewal impact you and those you serve?
Lisa Bell
Shakti Radhakishun
ICFSFL Wellbeing Committee
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Spring is here — and just like busy bees, the ICFSFL Outreach Committee is buzzing with energy! From initiatives already in motion to exciting new programs taking shape, there is a lot happening and we couldn't be more thrilled to share it all with you.
🟢 In Full Swing
- WEvolution / empowering women — Matching is complete and 1-on-1 coaching is officially underway through June. Our coaches are already making an impact!
- United Way Miami / supporting the pillars of our communities — Matching is also complete and 1-on-1 coaching sessions are in progress, while group coaching and workshops are being scheduled and designed. Big things coming!
- Coast-to-Coast (ICW 2026)/ creating impact through 3 coaching conversations — Our volunteer coaches are locked in and ready to go. Participant registration is still open through April 15th — so if you haven't already, please check your inbox for our dedicated emails about this initiative and help us spread the word. Every share, every referral, every personal message counts. Let's fill those spots!
Simply share this participant's link with your network: https://forms.gle/wqQWfFnYSiPxxdSU8
- ICW 2026 Outreach Events — We are actively designing our International Coaching Week programming and would love to have YOU involved. Interested in joining as a speaker, presenter, or host? Reach out — we want to hear from you!
🌱 Incubating & Coming Soon
- HR + Coaching (2026 Edition) — Following a successful pilot, we're moving forward with this year's cohort of this powerful initiative designed to support HR professionals through coaching. Pre-enrollment is now open — don't miss your chance to be part of this!
- Leadership + Coaching — The evolved successor to our former Step Into Coaching program is here. Combining 1-on-1 and group coaching with workshops and webinars, this initiative will be offered to business and for-profit organizations. Watch this space!
- Outreach Prospecting Team — We're building something new and we want you in on it. Leveraging the momentum of our growing portfolio of initiatives, we're establishing a dedicated prospecting team to expand our network, cultivate new partnerships, and continue showcasing the transformative power of coaching across South Florida. If you love connecting people and opening doors, this one's for you.
Whether you want to volunteer, get involved, or simply learn more about any of these initiatives — we'd love to hear from you. Reach out at outreach@icfsouthflorida.org and let's keep the momentum going together! 🐝💛
The ICFSFL Outreach Committee | Book Corner by Bari Schanerman |
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A Whole New Mind
Why Right-Brainers will Rule the Future
Daniel H. Pink
I recommend this book to get a clear picture of some of the ideas that might be helpful to understand what is important today especially with all the focus on AI.
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In Brene Brown’s book Strong Ground she mentions Daniel Pink’s book A Whole New Mind as “early to just about everything” – he shares the concept of “Symphonic thinking – putting together the pieces – the idea about L-Directed Thinking (Driver) and R-Directed Thinking (Passenger) and how today the R-Directed Thinking is grabbing the wheel, stepping on the gas and determining where we’re going and how we’ll get there”. Seeing relationships between unrelated things and sorting out what really matters are important today. Analogies are necessary to make the connections and to speak the different languages, to connect the dots, are skills that we need to use to see the big picture and keep it in mind.
As always, if you decide to read this book, I welcome hearing your thoughts and having a conversation about what you learned. Have a great month. Bari@yourmeetingplace.com |
| ICF Converge Summit 2026
Paris, France
May 17-19, 2026
Do you believe in the power of shared growth? Are you ready to turn conversations into insights and ideas into action?
ICF Converge Summit is an annual gathering where coaching professionals come together to learn, co-create, and empower. A complement to our global ICF Converge conference, this event offers a more personal, interactive experience to facilitate deeper engagement. Learn more . . | ICF Converge Summit 2026
Washington, DC
October 28–30, 2026
Collaborate. Grow. Inspire. Whether you're looking to elevate your coaching practice, network with peers, or explore the future of the profession, ICF Converge ignites inspiration and empowers you to make a lasting impact on your clients and the world.
ICF Converge is where the world of coaching comes together. This annual, large-scale conference is designed to ignite innovation, foster growth, and strengthen connections across the global coaching community. Learn more . . . | | | | Catch up on what you have missed!
Now is the perfect time to experience the transformative insights and expert advice from Master Coaches and speakers from our past events. Dive into highlights of these powerful sessions and discover why ICF South Florida is the key to unlocking your true potential!
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Invitation to the Core Competencies Spring Summit 2026
At ICF South Florida, we are thrilled to invite you to the Core Competencies Spring Summit 2026. This event has been thoughtfully crafted by our dedicated team of coaches and experts, who volunteer their time with the Programming Committee. They have curated an incredible lineup of professionals from the coaching industry to share their methodologies, expertise, and tools that will elevate your coaching practice.
Register today and earn up to 22 CCEUs from April 6th to 10th, with 15 engaging sessions packed with valuable insights. The Summit will cover informative topics such as:
- The Neurological Approach to Coaching
- What AI Can't Decode
- Mastering the Art of Professional Branding
Join renowned speakers, including Elias Scultori, Paulette Rao, Fernando Celis, Tijen Genko, Fran Fisher, Marion Franklin, Laura Berman F, and Zsofia Juhasz.
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| Meet our Core Competencies Spring Summit Speakers |
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ICF South Florida's Meet & Greet Social In-person!
We’re bringing our community together in two locations—at the same time—to connect with you wherever you are. Join us on April 2, 2026, from 6:00–8:00 PM ET for a relaxed evening of conversation, connection, and community.
📍 North: Barnes & Noble Café
👉 Register here for Barnes & Noble Cafe
📍 South: Books & Books
👉 Register here for Books & Books
Choose the location that works best for you and come ready to connect, engage, and enjoy the energy of our coaching community. Bring your curiosity—and a fellow coach—we can’t wait to see you there! ✨ |  | |
Walk to Wellbeing
March 14, 2026, the ICFSFL Wellbeing Committee enthusiastically facilitated members and guests on a mindful Walk to Wellbeing. Following a dramatic, rain-soaked Friday the 13th, participants arrived to a misty, refreshed landscape - as if nature hit a gentle reset button, just for us.
Gathering under warm greetings and easy embraces revealed a wonderfully diverse group - spanning ages, cultures, intentions, and...species (a loving pet attended with joy!). After a brief, impactful stretch and grounding mindfulness practice, we set off on a 2+ mile walk around Coral Gables golf course.
Along the way – as we deepened connections in nature – we experienced appreciation, reframed perspectives, curiosity, gratitude and awe.
Shared light nourishment and thoughtful dialogue led to us parting ways with light hearts and renewed energy.
Participant feedback echoed joy, inspiration and fulfilment - signifying that sometimes, a simple walk goes a long, meaningful way.
Our gratitude to all who made this experience possible. With the positive participant feedback we’ll continue offering well-being gatherings for our community and guests!
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MasterClass by Master Coaches
with Clare Norman, MCC
Cultivating Coaching Readiness: Drawing Forth Masterful Thinkers
📅 Wednesday, April 1 • 8:30 AM
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MasterClass by Master Coaches
with Dr. Tolu Akande, MCC
MCC Coaching Demo
Wednesday, April 15, 2026 • 5:30 PM
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ICFSFL WE Power Coaching Program
Creating a First Impression That Turns People’s Heads
Learn how to master the first seven seconds of any interaction by using body language, presence, and nonverbal cues to create strong first impressions, build instant rapport, and project confidence and credibility.
No CCEUs provided.
📅 Thursday, April 16 • 12:00 PM
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MasterClass by Master Coaches
with Fernando Celis, MCC
Join our 3rd Friday Barter Coaching sessions with Fernando Celis, MCC, where hands-on practice, shared learning, and fresh perspectives on developing coaching competencies come together.
Friday, April 17, 2026 • 8:30 AM
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1 MasterClass by Master Coaches with Clare Norman, MCC
2 Meet and Greet Social In-Person Event (North)
2 Meet and Greet Social In-Person Event (South)
6 Core Competencies Spring Summit with Victoria Bigio MCC
6 Core Competencies Spring Summit with Katie Drescher, MCC, ESIA, JD
6 Core Competencies Spring Summit with Fran Fisher, MCC
7 Core Competencies Spring Summit with Elias Scultori, MCC
7 Core Competencies Spring Summit with Emily Felt
7 Core Competencies Spring Summit with Laura Berman Fortgang, MCC
8 Core Competencies Spring Summit with MCC Paulette Rao
8 Core Competencies Spring Summit with Krista Lain, PCC
8 Core Competencies Spring Summit with Marion Franklin, MCC
9 Core Competencies Spring Summit with Tijen Genco, MCC
9 Core Competencies Spring Summit with Gema Ballesteros
9 Core Competencies Spring Summit with Zsofia Juhasz, MCC
10 Core Competencies Spring Summit with Katya Talavera, PCC, ACTC & Ingela Camba
10 Core Competencies Spring Summit with Dana Benarroch & Katy Cuartas
10 Core Competencies Spring Summit with Bobbie Sue Wolk, MCC
15 Group Super-Vision Opportunity with MCC Paulette Rao
15 MasterClass by Master Coaches with Dr. Tolu Akande, MCC
16 ICFSFL WE Power Coaching Program: Creating a First Impression That Turns People’s Heads
17 The ICF South Florida Barter Coaching PRACTICE Lab
29-30 The Business Show Miami 2026
| Thank You to Our Partners and Sponsors
| Advertising and Partnership Opportunities
Want to share your story? Become a partner and share your unique program or service in all ICF South Florida's media outlets, including, email, Facebook, and Instagram. | Job Posting
Hiring? Share Your Opportunity with Our Community.
If you’re interested in learning more about how to include a job posting, please contact us at icfsfl.assistant1@gmail.com for details.
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