Leadership Development

Marj has served as an executive coach to more than one hundred social justice leaders, primarily heads of nonprofit organizations. Her coaching contracts range from one to two hours a month, and run from several sessions to many years. Marj coaches her clients in:

  • self-awareness and self-management
  • improving communication skills
  • building stronger professional relationships

Marj has provided coaching services through the Horizon’s Foundation Strategic Partnership Program, for collaborative research teams in the California Breast Cancer Research Program, to participants in the UCSF Center for the Health Professions Clinic Leadership Institute and the Health Care Leadership Program, as well as for over sixty nonprofit organizations throughout California.

To guide her coaching. Marj draws primarily on the work of two experts. They are Daniel Goleman, author of Emotional Intelligence and Primal Leadership, as well as John Gottman, author of The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work. She often asks her clients, “Would you rather be right than in this relationship?” This helps them see that it is often more important to step back from one’s own position in a conflict, in order to preserve a relationship. In order to do this, we often have to stop taking things personally and learn to self-manage our own emotions, especially our emotional triggers and gremlins. Leadership is about impact, not intention.

PCCMarj is a trained and certified coach through the Coaches Training Institute, with additional formal training in organizational systems and relationships through the Center for Right Relationships. Marj has achieved certification as a Professional Certified Coach through the International Coaching Federation.

Marj is also trained in The Leadership Circle Profile, a true breakthrough among 360 degree assessments.

“Marj has been a blessing in my life for the three years she’s been my coach. What I value most is Marj’s honest feedback, which I know comes from a place of believing in me.”

—Rachel Weinstein
Oakland, California