The premier forum on the future of executive and organization coaching in an AI-driven world.
Columbia University | New York City | October 14-16, 2025
The premier forum on the future of executive and organization coaching in an AI-driven world.
The premier forum on the future of executive and organization coaching in an AI-driven world.
500+
global thought leaders, scholars and practitioners in executive and organization coaching.
About the Conference
October 14-16, 2025 | Columbia University, NYC
Theme: High-Impact Coaching: In an Era of Hybrid Intelligence
The 5th International Columbia Coaching Conference returns in 2025 as an in-person, bi-annual gathering hosted by Columbia University’s Coaching Center of Excellence, a globally recognized institution dedicated to advancing coaching education and research. This premier global forum brings together over 500 thought leaders, professional coaches, scholar-practitioners, academics, researchers and industry professionals from Human Resources (HR), Learning and Development (L&D), and Organizational Development (OD), across sectors, to explore cutting-edge research, innovative practices, and complex questions in executive and organizational coaching.
This year’s theme, “High-Impact Coaching: In an Era of Hybrid Intelligence,” explores Hybrid Intelligence—the evolving collaboration between human and artificial intelligence—and its role in shaping the future of coaching. We’ll examine how coaching practices are being redefined in an increasingly tech-augmented world through a dynamic, intimate experience designed for meaningful networking, fresh insights, and real-world impact.
Research & News
In another thought provoking piece, Julia Bunyatov highlights the uniquely human capabilities critical in an era of AI.
Day 1 Closing Keynote
Richard E. Boyatzis—Distinguished University Professor at Case Western Reserve University, Professor in the Departments of Organizational Behavior, Psychology, and Cognitive Science, and co-author of the international best-seller Primal Leadership—is our Day 1 Closing Keynote Speaker.
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Research & News
This article by Puja Brahmasmi and Dr. Deep Bali explores the development of a coaching-native AI as a case study in hybrid intelligence — it highlights how principles of coaching, ethics, and psychological safety can guide AI design for human development at scale.
Research & News
Dr. Rachel Fichter and Dr. Saskia Eschenbache, reveal how AI can act as a reflective partner for coaches — deepening transformative learning, enabling premise reflection, and helping leaders reimagine the coaching conversation.
Research & News
Julia Bunyatov, Executive Coach and Founder of Sirmio Inc., presents timely research that aligns with the conference theme in her article: "We Built the Machine. Now We Must Build the Mindset: How Emotion, Neuroscience, and AI Are Rewiring Leadership."
Foreword by Dr. Etienne van der Walt MD, Neurologist Neurozone CEO & Founder.
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5th Biennial International
Columbia Coaching Conference
This year’s theme, “High-Impact Coaching: In an Era of Hybrid Intelligence,” explores Hybrid Intelligence—the evolving collaboration between human and artificial intelligence—and its role in shaping the future of coaching. We’ll examine how coaching practices are being redefined in an increasingly tech-augmented world through a dynamic, intimate experience designed for meaningful networking, fresh insights, and real-world impact.
AMY C. EDMONDSON
Opening Keynote Speaker
Day 1 | October 14
Amy C. Edmondson is the Novartis Professor of Leadership and Management at the Harvard Business School. She is best known for her groundbreaking work on psychological safety in the workplace. Recognized by the biannual Thinkers50 global ranking of management thinkers since 2011, Amy was ranked #1 by that organization in 2021 and 2023.
Inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2024, she has published scholarly articles in numerous academic journals, and her books have been translated into more than two dozen languages. She received her PhD in organizational behavior, AM in psychology, and AB in engineering and design from Harvard University.
RICHARD E. BOYATZIS
Closing Keynote Speaker
Day 1 | October 14
Richard E. Boyatzis is Distinguished University Professor of Case Western Reserve University, and a Professor in the Departments of Organizational Behavior, Psychology, and Cognitive Science. He has a BS in Aeronautics and Astronautics from MIT and Ph.D. in Social Psychology from Harvard. His more than 200 scholarly and 50 practitioner articles examine sustained, desired change on leadership, competencies, emotional intelligence, competency development, coaching, neuroscience and management education.
He is ranked in the top 2% of all scientists worldwide by PLOS Biology based on his citations; and the top .05% of all worldwide scientists by Scholar GPS, January 25, 2025. His Coursera MOOCs have over 1 ½ million visitors and enrolled from 215 countries. His 10 books include: the international best-seller, Primal Leadership with Daniel Goleman and Annie McKee; Helping People Change with Melvin Smith and Ellen Van Oosten; and the new The Science of Change: Discovering Sustained, Desired Change from Individuals to Organizations and Communities.
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DR ETIENNE VAN DER WALT
Opening Keynote Speaker
Day 2 | October 15
Dr Etienne van der Walt is a neurologist, founder, and global authority on integrative neurobiology and human performance. He is the founder of Neurozone®, a neuroscience-based company optimizing leadership resilience, and AmazingBrainz™, supporting brain development in young children. Etienne blends deep clinical experience with his knowledge of living systems to help leaders thrive in complexity.
A gifted communicator, he simplifies cutting-edge brain science into practical tools for performance, wellbeing, and adaptive leadership. In addition to his Medical and Clinical Neurology degrees, Etienne also holds a BSc degree in Chemistry and Mathematical Statistics, as well as a BMedSc degree in Integrated Physiology and Virology.
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HITENDRA WADHWA, PH.D.
Closing Keynote Speaker
Day 2 | October 15
Hitendra Wadhwa is the author “Inner Mastery, Outer Impact: How Your Five Core Energies Hold the Key to Success”. He has been a lifelong student of the world's mystic traditions, and his mission is to discover, codify and teach the laws of success in life and leadership. As Professor at Columbia Business School, he has won the Dean’s Award for Teaching Excellence for his teaching on Personal Leadership & Success.
He is the founder of the Mentora Institute, dedicated to offering a scientific path to pursuing material and spiritual success in life and leadership, accelerating performance at work, and building exemplary leaders and cultures. Previously, Dr. Wadhwa worked as a strategy consultant at McKinsey and Company, and was the founder and CEO of a Silicon Valley startup, Paramark. He received an MBA and PhD in Management Science from MIT’s Sloan School of Management and BA (with Honors in Mathematics) from St. Stephen's College, Delhi.
Our panels will offer invaluable insights into how hybrid intelligence is reshaping the coaching landscape, exploring both its current state and future possibilities. Spanning all three days of the conference, our panel discussions provide a fluid learning environment via papers, experiential learning sessions and coaching demonstrations.
Program preview
Presenters
Track Sessions
Experiential Sessions
Conducting the Future
Dr. Michael
Brenner
Right Chord Leadership
Papers
Who Has Your Back at Work?
Devon
McConnell
The University of Oxford
Coaching Demonstrations
Uniquely Human
Phoebe
Jonas
Mirror Board Institute
Papers
HALOS
David
Marcovitz, MD
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Papers
Beyond the Training Data
Maggie
Marzec
International Coaching Federation
Papers
Beyond Human vs. Machine
Dr. Jennifer
Park
Three River
Experiential Sessions
Robots in the Room
Dr. Dana
Kirchman
Columbia University
Papers
Coaching the Future
Nicolas
Bassan
Omind
Experiential Sessions
Creating a Thinking Environment
Natasha
Velikoselskiy
Leading While Human and Columbia Business School
Papers
Coaching the Future
Bruno
Raynal
Blue Thinking International
What to Expect
Spanning all three days of the conference, our panel discussions provide a fluid learning environment:
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Days 1 & 2: Morning and afternoon sessions will feature deep-dives into key topics (e.g., via organizational case examples, including exploration of supporting tools).
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Day 3: Culminates with additional panel discussions, including engaging TED-talk style presentations and practical tool demonstrations from leading experts in coaching and innovative tech firms.
Our panels will offer invaluable insights into how hybrid intelligence is reshaping the coaching landscape, exploring both its current state and future possibilities.
Attendees Are Saying
I appreciated the mix of theory and practice. The discussions were relevant, engaging, and well-facilitated.
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Attendees Are Saying
The energy and professionalism at the conference were inspiring. I walked away with new insights and valuable connections.
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Research & News
Original research, community insights, and timely updates from the Columbia Coaching Conference.
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Attendees Are Saying
I appreciated the mix of theory and practice. The discussions were relevant, engaging, and well-facilitated.
“
“
Attendees Are Saying
The energy and professionalism at the conference were inspiring. I walked away with new insights and valuable connections.
“
“
“
A Global Community
Attending the Columbia Coaching Conference, means you’re joining a dynamic network of leadership and organizational development practitioners from around the world.
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500+ global thought leaders, scholars, and practitioners
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Premiere forum for executive and organization coaching
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Groundbreaking research with real-world application
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Inspiring keynotes, panels, demos and presentations
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Intimate by design. Big ideas. Meaningful connections.
Thank You to Our Sponsors
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