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Insights from Converge 2025
66 Plays6 days ago
“Connection. Celebration. ICF Converge 2025.”
In this special episode, Elias Scultori, MCC, takes you straight to the heart of ICF Converge 2025 in San Diego, California — the ICF global gathering of professional coaches. Experience the energy, wisdom, and warmth of this worldwide community through a lively collage of interviews with coaches, leaders, and innovators who are shaping the future of our profession.
From emotional reunions to deep reflections on learning, presence, and diversity, these voices remind us of the power of connection that defines coaching — beyond screens, beyond words.
Episode Highlights
- 00:50 - Lyssa deHart, MCC – On connection beyond Zoom and the beauty of the “wonder of words.”
- 01:46 - Robin Stueber, ACC – Finding global unity and inspiration in her first Converge.
- 04:16 - Dan Freehling, PCC – Elevating word choice and staying at the cutting edge.
- 05:27 - Claire Bamberg, PCC – Exploring “Ubuntu” and the heart set of coaching.
- 07:44 - Carrie Abner – ICF leadership reflections on community and connection.
- 09:31 - Cheryl Procter-Rogers, MCC – Honoring in-person energy and shared journeys.
- 11:04 - Brian Grisso, ACC – From virtual to real: the magic of meeting fellow coaches.
- 11:58 - Robert Garcia, ACC – The legacy of ICF presidents and the call to leadership.
- 14:13 - Aikyna Finch, PCC – Championing diversity, inclusion, and belonging at ICF.
- 16:20 - Khyla Freeman – The joy of hearing coaches support core competencies.
- 17:29 - Mariela Tirado Rivera – Putting faces to the accreditation process.
- 18:41 - Stan Ajemian, ACC – Finding confidence as a new coach and embracing flexibility.
- 20:32 - Camila Cesari, MCC – Celebrating 30 years of coaching from Bologna to San Diego.
- 21:54 - Paul Sanbar, MCC – The art and science of language in coaching.
- 22:57 - Ann Fogolin, MCC – Lessons from the mastery panel: “The less I say, the more profound I am.”
Elias closes the episode with a heartfelt reflection on the spirit of the ICF community — a reminder that coaching thrives when we gather, listen, and grow together.
#ICFConverge2025 #ProfessionalCoaching #CoachingCommunity #LeadershipDevelopment #PRIMESPACE #EliasScultori #CoachLife #GlobalCoaching #MCC #ICF #CoachingConversations
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Transcript
Introduction and ICF Converge 2025 Overview
00:00:03
Speaker
Welcome to Prime Space, Prime Coaching Academy podcast. with your host, Elias Scultori Coaches, I am just back from icf Converge 2025, the ICF Global Convention held in San Diego, California and over the last few days.
00:00:26
Speaker
I had so many wonderful conversations with coach professionals from all over the world.
Highlights from Converge: Personal Connections and Keynotes
00:00:34
Speaker
and I wanted to share some of their thoughts during today's episode I hope this shows you the power of this community and perhaps will inspire you to engage in the community even more so here they are so hello everyone I'm here with Lisa DeHart, MCC coach and Lisa what is your impression of Converge so far?
00:00:59
Speaker
I have so much enjoyed getting to meet people without a Zoom screen in between the two of us. Getting to hug people and meet people and sit next to people and just get to spend time in the presence of other coaches and and with the people that you meet on Zoom all the time has just been absolutely 100% the best part of this Converge.
00:01:22
Speaker
I will say that that keynote yes was amazing with Heather. And then I went to Haysen Moon's um conversation around what the wonder of words.
00:01:34
Speaker
It was so good. i just Both of those have been just stellar. Excellent. Thank you for this, Lisa. Thank you. crowd So coaches, I have with me here, Robin Stuber.
00:01:49
Speaker
She is an ACC coach and the president elect of ICF Hawaii here in San Diego, California. Robin, first of all, wonderful to see you in person because we've known each other for a long time.
00:02:04
Speaker
What has been your experience at Converse so far? First of all, Elias, aloha. And it's been great to give be able to give you a hug. So first of all, thank you so much. I'm just thrilled to actually meet you in person.
00:02:19
Speaker
This is my first experience at Converge. And especially as a chapter leader, i have to say that the experience has been phenomenal. The best thing about it is meeting so many coaches, not just...
00:02:35
Speaker
coaches who I um our medium meeting for the first time just because we're here and we're sitting next to each other in sessions, but coaches who I feel like i are my friends already, but we've only engaged online in different ways and being able to actually see each other and hug each other and you know have a meal together and have long conversations, that has been the best.
00:02:59
Speaker
Excellent. yeah I always say that these conferences, sometimes I don't even know what the workshops are, but the idea of meeting people and having conversations and building community is to me the most rewarding.
00:03:10
Speaker
Of the workshops that you have attended and the keynotes or all of the events that you have experienced so far, what would be one thing that you want to remember?
00:03:23
Speaker
The keynote session from yesterday was really impactful because all of the countries that were being represented with coaches got recognized.
00:03:37
Speaker
And i knew, of course, ICF is a global organization, but then to be in the same room with people from around the world was just an awe-inspiring experience. Yeah, I have a ah little video that I put on LinkedIn of the moment that, or part of the moment when they are calling all of the countries and people are standing up and everybody's clapping and cheering each other. It's always, for ICF Converge, it's always ah an impactful moment there. Well, Robin, thank you so much.
00:04:11
Speaker
Thank you, Elias.
Advanced Learnings and Workshops at Converge
00:04:13
Speaker
crowd Hello, everyone. Now I have here Dan Freeling, BCC coach. Thanks to Elias. So, Dan, what has been your impression at Converse so far? I've been pleasantly surprised so far. A lot of kind of next level ah learnings here where there was a conversation on word choice and and how to really elevate that this morning that I found really insightful. And then talking about the new core competencies and and what those really mean. And I found it great to be able to stay on the cutting edge with that.
00:04:44
Speaker
What would you like to say to the people that are listening to this podcast and we had not the had the opportunity to come to Converge? Yeah, I think look up some of the sessions that you'd be interested in, see if there's other materials that are available online for those. Always be looking to to push that that edge and and grow in that way.
00:05:00
Speaker
That is a great reminder here because even if you were not able to come all the way to San Diego, you still can get the benefit of watching some of these workshops online. And you can just go to the ICF website and purchase some of these workshops ah and get to listen to some of what we're saying here.
00:05:20
Speaker
Dan, thank you so much. Thanks, Elias. Keep the great work. crowd not So I'm here now with Claire Bamberg. Claire is a PCC coach and she lives in Vermont.
00:05:34
Speaker
And Claire, what was the highlight for you at Converge this year? The first is putting names or faces to names and watching people do that.
00:05:46
Speaker
ah There was one woman who greeted you, in fact, who was so moved at seeing you in person that she was moved to tears. And the other part is the expanding network, that there are more people at the next Converge you can say hi to, or people in the nation that we are reaching out for some subject matter or you're interested in getting to know them better. You can expand that network.
00:06:05
Speaker
Also, one person said she liked knowing that I also was running a training program, so she had one more to refer to that she could trust, which was honor it was an honor. The other thing, and there is one workshop that stood out for me and will be one to which I return.
00:06:21
Speaker
again and again and again, the feeling and the and the substance of it. It was Ubuntu for them to unpack that, yes, we talk about coaching mindset, but what about the coaching heart set and the opportunity to really experience that and what it's like to connect beyond words.
00:06:42
Speaker
I do that. I have never done that in such a structured way. It was beautiful. I was ambivalent about coming. I am very glad I came.
00:06:53
Speaker
Excellent. appreciate that. Yeah, that Ubuntu workshop was so beautiful. The way the three presenters were presenting themselves throughout the whole workshop, it was lots of presence, lots of space. They were embodying the concepts that they were offering. That was so beautiful and see.
00:07:13
Speaker
And in the very beginning, they talked about the first responder trauma, etc. that taught them this place of stillness inside when they were working with that, that brought them together by accident.
00:07:26
Speaker
Yes, they were respectful. They gave space. They were considerate. They did not jump into an answer. They considered what they were hearing. It was beautiful to see it modeled.
00:07:38
Speaker
Well, Claire, thank you so much. i will see you in the next Converge. Yes, you will.
Significance of In-Person Interactions
00:07:44
Speaker
And I'm here with Carrie Abner. She is the Vice President of Credentialing Standards for the ICF. Carrie, thank you so much for being here. What were the highlights for you of Converse this year? There's so many highlights, Elias.
00:07:59
Speaker
the learning, the networking, the great events surrounding the conference. But I have to say the best part for me the connection with each individual attendee, the hugs that happen, the learning that I get through our individual conversations above and beyond even the great content in the sessions. It's such a gift.
00:08:22
Speaker
Yes. Coming from the ICF, what is where has been the ICF take on everything that has happened for Converge this year? I think from the ICF perspective, I'm just um'm going to be walking on cloud nine for about six weeks at least just from the energy in this room. it's's It's been great.
00:08:39
Speaker
Well, thank you so much for all the hard work that you and all the staff of the ICF has put to make this happen. Throughout the years, everything that you're doing, we are highly appreciative.
00:08:50
Speaker
Thank you so much for that. But you know what? i will say, we We do work hard. Our team works hard to create the space, the vehicle, but we can't create that energy, learning, and connection without every single person who comes and attends and engages. So it's really thanks to the community for making bringing this space to life over the last three or four days. And we have over 50 countries represented? Over 50 countries represented. That's amazing. And about 1,300 individuals who are here who are who are contributing. We're co-creating at a great scale, and it's so exciting.
00:09:27
Speaker
Thank you so much. Thank you.
00:09:31
Speaker
And I'm here with Cheryl Proctor Rogers, MCC. Cheryl is the 2025 Distinguished Coach Award winner. Congratulations, Cheryl.
00:09:43
Speaker
Thank you so much. Well, you it's well deserved because you have given so much to the organization and we are very appreciative Cheryl was a member of the general board for many years and it still gives a lot to the organization. So thank you so much, Cheryl.
00:10:01
Speaker
what What are the highlights of this Converse Convention here today? I would say, oh my gosh, it's amazing programming, amazing activities and events.
00:10:12
Speaker
But the highlight is connecting with my peers. and having the opportunity to not be virtual, but to be in person.
00:10:24
Speaker
Feel the energy, get caught up how they're experiencing life, how they are experiencing their coaching journey. For me, that's really the highlight. I totally, and I'm not surprised because Every single person that I have interviewed, that's the very first thing that they have that they say.
00:10:43
Speaker
Exactly. And when we do that, the there's a trance transfer of energy that you just can't match on screen.
00:10:53
Speaker
Yes. So Cheryl, thank you so much. Congratulations again for the award. And thank you so much for everything that you do for our community. um I'm here now with Brian Grissel. Brian Grissel is an ACC coach from Cleveland, Ohio, and this is Brian's first Converge. Brian, thank you so much for being here. ah It's great to see you, Elias. Yes.
00:11:19
Speaker
Brian, what are the... highlights for you of Converge. So two years ago, I joined the Florida session and it was ah virtual only for me. And this is so much different.
00:11:30
Speaker
And I like the format in that there's tables and there's some interaction. And oh my gosh, my LinkedIn is just blowing up with like people that I've met and and want to follow up with.
00:11:42
Speaker
Excellent. Yes, i actually, I was just talking with someone and they were saying that the organization of Converge seems very high end and they were very appreciative of that.
00:11:52
Speaker
Thank you so much, Brian. ah This has been great. Thank you.
00:11:57
Speaker
And right now I am with Robert Garcia, ACC. Robert is the vice president of coaching in in organizations for the ICF. Robert, first of all, thank you so much for all the work that you do behind the scenes. I know that putting this convention together is not an easy task and you might be very, ah very tired right now.
00:12:17
Speaker
Thank you for the time of talking with me. What are the highlights for you Converse this year? Absolutely, it's a pleasure. And actually one of the highlights is running into you. yeah Always wonderful. Always wonderful and and connecting with people.
00:12:31
Speaker
One of the really, really one of the great highlights is I travel a lot throughout the world and it's seeing people together, having meaningful conversations, one on one, having a little more time.
00:12:44
Speaker
and then And then we've gone to dinners, we've sat at lunch and interacted with different people from different parts of the world, different cultures, all really working and talking about coaching.
00:12:57
Speaker
Also another highlight actually is seeing the past presidents on stage and all the work that ah ICF has done for the coaching profession is gets me gives me chills just thinking about it and I said to Magda Mugar, our CEO, I said I look at all of those past presidents and they're all very successful coaches so if you haven't thought about being a volunteer leader yeah That's an encouragement there. An encouragement. If you want your career to flourish, become a volunteer leader. volunteer leader from ICF. And interact with ICF because we have so many tools and resources for you as a professional coach or for coaches within organizations that it's wonderful now that the conference is going be on an annual basis because I think we need more of this.
00:13:43
Speaker
Beautiful. It really felt like a long journey between Orlando and San Diego. So I'm glad that we are going to have more of these conventions. It's wonderful that moment with all the the past presidents so on stage was so powerful and the the power of this community and how much we have grown in in this moment of time.
00:14:04
Speaker
Thank you so much for the work that you do, Robert. Always wonderful to talk with you. Absolutely, Elias. Thanks so much. Great to see you.
DEIB and International Representation at Converge
00:14:13
Speaker
So I'm now here with Akina Finch. She's a PCC and she is the Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for the ICF, which is a wonderful position.
00:14:26
Speaker
Thank you so much, Akina, for all that you do to bring this topic and bring more consciousness of diversity to our community. Akina, what are the highlights of Converge for you?
00:14:38
Speaker
Oh my goodness, we were able to feature each one of our underrepresented um MRG groups. What's MRG? Member Resource Groups. We had Young Professionals, we had Kaleidoscope, and that's our LGBT community. We also had ah Persons with Disabilities, BIPOC, that is our Black, Indigenous People of Color.
00:15:00
Speaker
And of course, we had our International Military Veterans, Of course, ah each one of my team did a session. We had a a session on demographics, telling how we have grown as an underrepresented community. Then we had a session on how to integrate DEIB into your practice.
00:15:21
Speaker
And today we're going to be having a session on holding the line. That's right. Holding the line, how to be an ally in this society today. So, I mean, my goodness, if you weren't here, you missed a treat. And then, of course, because I'm here, i got to meet with my friend here because, oh my goodness, you know, I'm living. soon as I saw him, it was like, I'm living. So,
00:15:43
Speaker
I'm so glad I'm here and I'm so glad that ICF is moving in this direction representing culture, representing diversity, representing differences.
00:15:56
Speaker
I'm just so pleased right now. Wow, you are busy, busy, busy and thank you so much for all that you're doing, especially putting the highlight and the focus, the spotlight in this very important topic. We are diverse.
00:16:11
Speaker
Yes. And we need to be mindful of our diversity. So thank you so much for this, Aquina. Thank you.
00:16:21
Speaker
So I'm here with Kyla Freeman. Kyla is from Miami and she is the assessor manager for the ICF. Kyla, it's so wonderful to see you in person. We have had so many conversations online.
00:16:34
Speaker
Yes, it's so nice to meet you in person as well. I know we always talk through the screen, so it's very nice to see you. Kyla, what are the highlights of Converge for you this year? I feel like the biggest highlight is always talking to coaches and seeing how committed they are and how happy they are to like flaunt their credential.
00:16:52
Speaker
um But one experience is I attended the core competency workshop, and I know that we've been getting mixed reviews on that. But what made me really happy is that everybody stands behind us. yeah um and that hearing those voices and hearing people support it was very encouraging. So that was something that I really enjoyed and it made, I could like skip out of the room after that. I was so happy to hear. Wonderful. And absolutely, we are here in conversation. We are here learning from each other and we are tremendously appreciative of all the work that you do behind the scenes. So thank you so much. Thank you so much.
Reflections on Coaching Community and Experience
00:17:29
Speaker
And now I am here with Mariella Tirado Rivera and Mariella is from North Carolina. Mariella, give me your title again, Mariella. My title is Accreditation Excellence Manager for the North America, Latin America and Caribbean regions.
00:17:44
Speaker
And Mariela was tremendously helpful and supportive when Prime Coaching Academy was getting our level one and level two accreditation. So thank you so much, Mariela. Mariela, what is the highlight of Converge for you this year?
00:17:58
Speaker
Well, this is my first Converge, which I have been so excited to be a part of. But my highlight has been getting to finally meet all the people that I help through the accreditation process in person and getting to hug them and just have conversations in person. I feel like...
00:18:14
Speaker
Everything is so online and remote. It's more humane, more in person, more kind and warm to finally see some faces. Yes, definitely. Thank you so much for all the work that you you have done for Converge, but all that you know throughout the year and your commitment to the community. We highly appreciate your your work.
00:18:35
Speaker
Thank you. I'm honored to be of service for all of the coaching profession. So I'm here with Stan Ajemian. He is an ACC coach and the incoming president of ICF Colorado.
00:18:48
Speaker
Stan also is the host of the podcast. Stories on Purpose. Thank you so much. We ah we had a wonderful conversation, Stan. Yes, Elias was my my guest on the podcast a couple months ago. It was a wonderful, amazing experience. So wonderful to meet you in person. Stan, what are the highlights of Converge for you today?
00:19:10
Speaker
For me, the biggest highlight is I'm a fairly new coach. I've been coaching just for a couple of years. So it's actually meeting in person people like yourself, a Elias, the people who I've heard on podcasts, I've read books and have a dialogue, which is hard out there when you're when you're listening to to people like yourself, Elias.
00:19:33
Speaker
What is one learning that it was important and something that you would like to carry with you after Converge? I'm learning that I'm here to make an impact in the in coaching on a bigger scale than I ever thought.
00:19:48
Speaker
And it's around how... beginner coaches learn to be coaches without being so critical of themselves, like within the context of the core competencies, but not so rigidly like we're all forced to be. We all feel like we're forced to be rigidly adhering to the core competencies, but it's really just softer than that.
00:20:07
Speaker
And speaking with master coaches like yourself, I'm learning that there's there is a disconnect. The master coaches often don't recognize how difficult it is for beginner coaches to to navigate this world of coaching.
00:20:20
Speaker
That is such a wonderful insight, Stan. I so appreciate that. And thank you so much for all that you are already doing for the coaching world. Thank you, Elise.
00:20:32
Speaker
So right now I'm with Camilla Cesari and she is an MCC from Bologna, Italia. And Camilla was actually a guest in one of my Culturing Coaching episodes just a few weeks ago. So Camilla, what was insightful for you in this Converge conference this year?
00:20:54
Speaker
I'm not sure if insightful, but definitely inspiring is being in a beautiful place here by the ocean and having the possibility to be in the energy of people I've been working with and liaising with for a long time online, on Zoom, over the telephone that are based in the US. s This is really the reason why I came all the way here, besides the fact really that this was the 30th year anniversary of coaching.
00:21:27
Speaker
I'm in love with coaching and coaching coaching totally changed my life. I'm so grateful for this and I really wanted to honour and celebrate the 30th year anniversary of this profession. Yeah, this is beautiful. Thank you so much for coming in all the way from Italy to spend some time with us and for me to see you in person for the first time. With so, so, so much pleasure. Thank you, Camilla. Thank you.
00:21:54
Speaker
So I'm here with Paul Sambor, MCC coach, and you may recognize Paul because he was a guest of our podcast, Prime Space, a few weeks ago. And Paul is the specialist Lego series play. Paul, what is the highlight of Converge for you today?
00:22:14
Speaker
One of the highlights was Sun Moon's session on words. And I consider myself a word nerd and I love words. And I love how when you if you change even a single word as part of a question, it changes the impact and how their client receives them.
00:22:31
Speaker
And just going deeper into her research on the dialogic quotient that she's created, it was really it was really impactful and just great to see so does somebody speak in person as somebody that I've of course seen virtually speak.
00:22:46
Speaker
It's so nice to be able to do that in person. Thank you so much, Bo, and wonderful to connect and meet you in person. Yes. Thank you.
Insights on Coaching Language and Mastery
00:22:57
Speaker
And i am here with my dear beloved friend, Anne Fogelin. Why are you laughing when you say that? Because you have a ah soft place in my heart, my friend. Ditto, ditto, and ditto.
00:23:14
Speaker
And, you know, with all of the years that we have worked together, ah this is the third time that we meet in person. So thank you so much for being here. And everybody knows Anne. Anne is an MCC, a fabulous coach trainer, a fabulous mentor coach, supervisor, and all ah an assessor. And she is a foundational aspect of all of the certification process with the ICF because you have ah donated so many hours of your time to support the Certification Trust. So thank you so much for that. Just like you. i haven't done anything you haven't done. God bless you. I appreciate it. Thank you.
00:23:50
Speaker
So Anne, what were the highlights of Converge for you this year? Apart from finally meeting some people that I had not met before, which was great, and then the connections, because that's always the highlight.
00:24:02
Speaker
There was a piece that was offered through the mastery panel. And the line was, the less I say, the more profound I am.
00:24:14
Speaker
And that really resonated for me. There was another line, too, that it's not the path to mastery. It's the path for mastery. And that just highlights language and the significance of that. And so that has been a huge highlight for me.
00:24:35
Speaker
Thank you so much for that. And we're going to have you back at Prime Space again and to share more of your wisdom with us. Anytime. Thank you, my friend. Always like that.
Conclusion and Call to Action
00:24:46
Speaker
And you have, coaches.
00:24:48
Speaker
A little longer episode than usual, but I thought it was important for you to get a little flavor of this wonderful time that we spent together in San Diego at ICF Converse this year.
00:25:00
Speaker
We are the ICF, and we are the ones who are pushing this community and this profession forward. and your voice is so crucial. I hope this inspires you to join us next time, but if not converge, perhaps an event at your ICF local chapter or an online workshop, your voice must be heard. We are better and more powerful when we are together.
00:25:27
Speaker
So thank you for participating. Thank you for listening. Don't forget to subscribe and share this episode with other coaches. I'll talk to you next time.