Welcome Message From Our President, Valeska Martins |
| Dear ICF South Florida Community, |
November arrives dressed in gratitude's golden hues, and my heart overflows with profound appreciation for the extraordinary community we've built together. As we approach Thanksgiving, I find myself reflecting on the countless gifts that make our chapter truly exceptional, and at the center of it all are our remarkable volunteers.
Every achievement we celebrate, every connection we foster, every transformative moment we create, none of it would be possible without the generous dedication of our volunteers. These passionate individuals give countless hours of their time, expertise, and heart to elevate our chapter and advance our shared mission. To each and every volunteer: your contributions are not just appreciated, they are the very foundation of our success!
I want to extend my deepest gratitude to our entire Board of Directors, whose tireless commitment has made ICF South Florida the preferred chapter for 540 Global members. Your visionary leadership and relentless dedication inspire us all.
October brought spectacular highlights that showcase the excellence of our volunteer teams. Our Core Competencies Fall Summit was nothing short of masterful, gathering over 520 coaches worldwide for five days of learning and inspiration, offering 20+ CCE credits and featuring 16 expert speakers. This extraordinary event was brought to life by the brilliant work of Claudia Flores, Katya Talavera, and Chelo Talosig. I also want to honor our volunteer hosts who gracefully welcomed speakers into our Zoom home, and the speakers themselves who generously shared their wisdom, elevating the standard of coaching in our community. |
Beyond our chapter, last week's ICF Converge in San Diego was a powerful reminder of the global coaching community we belong to. Coaches from around the world gathered to learn from world-class speakers and share experiences and best practices. These connections with chapter leaders globally strengthen our perspective and inspire fresh possibilities for our own community.
As we look ahead, November promises beautiful opportunities for continued growth and connection. Our Wellbeing Committee is preparing “HeartLines: Connect. Reflect. Restore.” an intimate storytelling and gratitude experience to close the year with meaningful reflection. The Outreach Committee continues advancing powerful initiatives in HR + Coaching and Coaching in Education, while Strategic Alliances builds exciting partnerships that extend our reach and impact. |
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As we enter this season of thanksgiving, I invite you to reflect on your own journey within our community. Perhaps you're considering stepping into a volunteer role… your unique gifts are needed and welcomed. Together, we're creating something far greater than any individual effort could achieve.
Let's embrace this final stretch of 2025 with gratitude in our hearts and renewed commitment to our collective vision. Here's to a golden closing of the year, filled with meaningful connections, transformative growth, and the profound satisfaction of contributing to something that truly matters.
With deep gratitude and warmest wishes, |
Valeska Martins
President, ICF South Florida Chapter |
| Community Compassion: Join the Jamaica Relief Effort |
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Support Jamaica: Hurricane Melissa Disaster Relief
Organized by PAVE Centre
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A Call to the ICF South Florida Community – #ICFSFLCompassion
Our hearts go out to Jamaica as Hurricane Melissa continues to bring devastating winds and flooding, leaving many families facing loss, displacement, and urgent need.
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The PAVE Centre has launched a Hurricane Disaster Relief Drive, and we’re inviting our ICF South Florida community to come together in support. Your donations — whether monetary or essential supplies — will help provide first-aid kits, hygiene products, non-perishable food, and other necessities to those affected.
Contribute directly to the relief fund here:
JAMAICA HURRICANE DISASTER RELIEF
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🛒 Amazon Relief List
Send priority items directly through the curated Amazon list here:
👉 Amazon Relief List |
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📦 Physical Donations
Drop off supplies at:
Kendall United Methodist Church
7600 SW 104th Street, Miami, FL 33156
🕓 Monday–Friday | 10:00 AM–4:00 PM
☀️ Sunday | 9:00 AM–12:00 PM
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| Every contribution—big or small—makes a lasting impact. Let’s stand together as a community of care and compassion, helping Jamaica rebuild hope and restore lives. |
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| Reflecting on the 2025 Core Competencies Fall Summit |
The ICF South Florida Core Competencies Fall Summit 2025, which took place from October 13th to 17th, was an inspiring global gathering of coaches and leaders united by a shared mission — to enhance mastery of the ICF Core Competencies and raise the standards of our profession.
This year's summit attracted 522 participants from around the globe, featuring 16 speakers, 15 immersive sessions, and offering over 20 Continuing Coach Education (CCE) credits.
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| A Global Learning Experience |
Our esteemed speakers — including Marcia Reynolds, Sophia Casey, Katherina Capra, Adriana Rodriguez, Fernando Celis, Meredith Kimmel, Katya Talavera, Jimmy Glenos, Jonathan Passmore, and many others — provided cutting-edge insights into the updated ICF Core Competencies, the increasing influence of systemic team coaching, and the evolving role of artificial intelligence in coaching practices.
Each session encouraged reflection, dialogue, and hands-on application, equipping participants with practical strategies to enhance presence, curiosity, and awareness in their work with clients and organizations. |
A Summit that Embodied Connection and Growth
In addition to the learning experience, this event celebrated community and professional excellence. Coaches from various countries, backgrounds, and languages connected through a shared purpose — reinforcing the idea that our strength lies in diversity, ethics, and ongoing development.
The Core Competencies Summit served as a reminder that coaching is a dynamic practice — one that evolves alongside us. Together, we are shaping the future of coaching with clarity, compassion, and systemic awareness.
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Gratitude and Forward Momentum
We extend our heartfelt appreciation to all our speakers, facilitators, volunteers, and attendees who contributed to making this summit enriching and memorable.
Let’s continue to integrate the insights we gained, expand our impact, and move forward — together — toward a more conscious, connected, and competent coaching community.
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| Book Corner by Bari Schanerman |
The Coaching Habit:
Say Less, Ask More, and Change the Way You Lead Forever
Michael Bungay Stanier |
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“Stay curious a little longer, rush to action and advice-giving a little more slowly”.
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The Seven Essential Questions -
that are relevant to all and not used by many.
- The Kickstart Question – What’s on your mind?
- The Awe Question – And what else?
- The Focus Question – What’s the real challenge here?
- The Foundation Question – What do you want?
- The Lazy Question – How can I help
- The Strategic Question – If you’re saying yes to this, what are you saying no to?
- The Learning Question – What was most useful to you?
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“To build an effective new habit, you need 5 essential components: a reason, a trigger, a micro-habit, effective practice and a plan”. If you like these questions, use this process to go through these components to build the new habit of using them with your clients.
The author shares so many amazing resources that other authors have shared in their books that are also worth reading or knowing about.
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Note:
When you are working in your business as coaches, finding curated resources that can support your growth gives you a way to stay current on many different topics that are useful to you as the coach and for your clients.
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| Please reach out if you would like to discuss this book further, or any of the other books I have recommended this year. Books are a great place to get ideas and open our minds to what is possible. bari@yourmeetingplace.com. I look forward to hearing from you and if you have any recommendations! |
| Meet our Board of Director Member - Vanessa Medeiros |
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Vanessa Medeiros
Psychologist and professional coach with 20 years of experience supporting individuals and groups in personal development and life transitions. She helps clients reinvent themselves, build confidence, and create meaningful change. Her work spans multiple fields—tech, pharma, academia, NGOs, and health.
Before coaching, Vanessa served as a university professor, research supervisor, and vice director of a psychology department in Brazil, where she also held leadership roles in the State Department of Health.
Originally from Brazil, she has lived in Miami for over a decade with her partner, two teenage kids, and their dog.
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Education: B.A. and M.A. in Psychology (UFRN, Brazil); Specialist in Clinical Psychology (Existential-Phenomenological Approach); Professional Coach Certificate (University of Miami, U.S.).
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One project or accomplishment I am particularly proud of. . .
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I’m very proud of being able to reinvent myself – many times – personally and professionally, living abroad. From Psychology to Coaching, from divorced/solo mom to building a blended multicultural family, among other things.
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| Fun fact that always surprises people. . . |
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Some people get surprised to know that playing music and singing are one of my main hobbies. Growing up, I used to play and sing at church and with friends, and nowadays, I still sing in a vocal group for women. Music can connect and heal; it’s powerful and amazing.
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| My favorite something [coaching experience, quote] with the team. . . |
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It’s always special to witness an a-ha moment, to see the bright eyes, the sense of wonder, and the realization that happens many times in the coaching process.
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| ICF South Florida would like to welcome our newest member to the chapter! |
Monique Da Sant-Crawford
Gloria Duke
Kristen Migliano
Adella St. Rose
Michele Wallis |
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Power Coaching Program 2026 –
Pre-Launch & Volunteer Coach Registration Now Open! |
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We’re thrilled to announce the pre-launch of the Power Coaching Program 2026! This transformative initiative, powered by ICF South Florida in partnership with WEvolution, is designed to create meaningful impact through coaching for women and participating coaches receive special recognition from WEvolution.
This time, Hayley Fretwell and Olena Fedorchenko, will be co-leading this initiative, suppported by other volunteer to help them with coordination, communication, and other tasks as needed! If you want to get involved, please reach out to them at icfsfoutreachcommittee@gmail.com.
We are planning to begin earlier the 2026 edition, starting in January with some webinars for coaches and participants and running the individual coaching component from March through to the end of June, and will once again include six (6) transformative 1-on-1 coaching sessions.
Soon we will be start calling for participants referred by the WEvolution member as well as past participants and this time we are going to offer three (3) main coaching options for them to choose as their primary option: |
- Life Coaching: with focus on topics such as relationships, transitions, life-stages, family/parenting, etc.
- Career/Business Coaching: with focus on topics such as executive coaching, career, business, communication, cross-cultural adaptation, etc.
- Wellbeing/Spiritual Coaching: with focus on topics such as confidence and self-esteem, transitions, health and wellness, grief/loss/bereavement, etc.
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Stay tuned for upcoming info sessions to learn more details about this initiaitve.
Any comments or questions, please reach out to Hayley or Olena at icfsfoutreachcommittee@gmail.com |
| | How Media Exposure Can Grow Your Practice
You likely spend time scrolling on local news sites, exploring articles and interviews focused on local businesses, which include insights from local experts on a variety of topics. But what if you could be the expert quoted in the news? What if you were called upon to share the benefits of coaching with your community?
Media coverage can range from an article in a local paper to a post on a business blog, a mention in a podcast, or a TV interview. And this exposure can play an important role in growing a coach’s practice — and advancing awareness about coaching in general.
Let’s look at how you can achieve this. Learn more . . . | ICF Converge Summit 2026: Where It All Begins
After a successful ICF Converge 2025 in San Diego, we’re thrilled to announce ICF Converge Summit 2026 in Paris, France! 🇫🇷
📅 May 17–19, 2026
📍 Paris Marriott Rive Gauche Hotel & Conference Center
Join coaches and thought leaders from around the world to connect, learn, and shape the future of coaching.
🕐 Submission deadline: November 7, 2025 — don’t miss your chance to be part of this global experience!
| | | ICF South Florida Community—Your Vote Counts!
ICF members, it’s time to help shape the future of our global coaching community! Cast your vote for the 2026 ICF Professional Coaches Board of Directors before November 14, 2025 (11:59 p.m. New York).
Nominees:
Global Board Chair: Jihane Labib, MCC, ACTC
Returning Director: Graziela “Gra” Cajado-Ogland, PCC
New Directors: Dawna Atamanchuk, PCC | Ron Cheshire, PCC | Sunil Deshmukh, ACC, ACTC | Jennifer Mayo, ACC | Mhairi McEwan, PCC
Learn more: ICF Election Information
Cast your vote today and let’s make our ICF South Florida voices heard! | | 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!
| | | Sponsor of the Month - Zsofia Juhasz |
| What does it really take to become an MCC? |
It’s not about ticking boxes or perfecting a formula. It’s about who you become along the way.
To understand what that journey truly looks like, I spent the past few months speaking with ICF Master Certified Coaches. They shared honest reflections: the doubts, the breakthroughs, and the moments that reshaped how they see coaching and themselves.
Through these conversations, clear themes began to emerge: letting go of ego, staying determined through challenge, and finding strength in community and mentoring. Every MCC described mastery not as the end, but as a continual evolution — one that begins anew with every client, every conversation, every pause. |
| First, let go of your ego |
One of the most striking insights from every MCC was the quiet confidence that comes from letting go of the need to prove anything.
At the PCC level, many coaches still focus on doing things right: asking the right questions, following structure, demonstrating competencies. But the MCC level calls for something deeper: being fully present and allowing the client’s wisdom to lead.
MCCs often describe this shift as a kind of surrender. True mastery means releasing the ego — the part that wants to impress, perform, or be seen as an expert — and replacing it with openness, curiosity, and deep respect for the client’s process. |
| Find strength in the setbacks |
Another common thread was perseverance. Every MCC faced moments of doubt; recordings that didn’t pass, feedback that stung, clients that didn’t click. But they all kept going.
The process tests not only skill but resilience. It requires patience to slow down, listen deeply, and integrate learning over time. Each obstacle — whether it’s a failed assessment, a difficult client, or personal burnout — becomes part of the mastery itself. |
| You need others to see what you can’t |
While coaching can seem like a solitary practice, none of the MCCs I spoke with walked the path alone. Every one of them emphasized the importance of community.
The MCC journey is demanding technically, emotionally, and spiritually. Mentoring and peer reflection create the kind of growth that self-study can’t.
In the MCC community, there’s a shared understanding that mastery is collective. It grows through dialogue, reflection, and shared learning. |
| Remember, mastery is a lifelong journey |
Every MCC I spoke with said the same thing in their own way: none of them feel they’ve arrived. Even after decades of coaching, they keep learning, being mentored, and allowing every conversation to shape them.
Because mastery isn’t a title. It’s how you show up in each moment, not how many moments you’ve mastered.
To become an MCC, you need courage to let go.
You need curiosity that never fades.
And you need the community to walk beside you.
But above all, you need presence — the kind that listens so deeply that change happens in the silence. |
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Zsofia Juhasz MCC has over 8,300 coaching hours and 20 years of global coaching experience, Zsofia empowers leaders to transform by aligning purpose, values, and action. Partnering with senior executives, and emerging leaders, she combines deep business insight from 18 years in leadership roles at AstraZeneca and The Walt Disney Company with advanced coaching expertise. As co-creator of the ICF Level 3 “Becoming a Masterful Coach” program and active leader within ICF Australasia and globally, Zsofia mentors and supervises coaches worldwide; she is fluent in English and Hungarian and helps leaders achieve authentic, purpose-driven, and lasting impact. |
| Celebrate Success of Past Events |
ICF South Florida proudly celebrates the success of ICF Converge 2025, held October 23–25 in beautiful San Diego, California. This global gathering brought together coaches, thought leaders, and change-makers from around the world to explore the future of coaching through inspiring keynotes, interactive sessions, and meaningful connections. As ICF celebrated its 30th anniversary, participants reflected on three decades of growth, learning, and impact—while envisioning the path ahead for our profession. It was a powerful reminder of the strength of our community and the shared commitment that continues to elevate coaching worldwide. |
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Coffee & Connections (Virtual!)
In October, “Coffee & Connections” brought together chapter members from across Europe, Australia, and South America for a lively virtual gathering. The diversity of locations was matched by the rich stories and experiences shared along with networking, creating a vibrant space of global connection.
Join us for the next Coffee & Connections on November 13th at 8:30 AM EST—an opportunity to meet fellow members, welcome new faces, and experience the positive ripple effect of connecting coaches across cultures and borders. |
| Register here |
| President’s Call for Volunteers |
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Your Invitation to Shape the Future
(Personal invitation from President)
At ICF South Florida, our success is powered by passionate volunteers — professional coaches like you who give their time, ideas, and heart to grow our community and elevate the gold standard of coaching.
Every day, I see volunteers transform our chapter — and themselves. Some lead bold initiatives; others bring projects to life with their creativity and energy. All leave their mark. |
Why Volunteer?
• Lead meaningful projects and grow your leadership.
• Build visibility and credibility in the coaching world.
• Connect with an inspiring, diverse community.
• Shape the future of coaching in South Florida and beyond. |
Valeska Martins
President, ICF South Florida Chapter |
| | Get Shift Done: Coaches Accountability Call Series
with Sophia Casey, MCC
November 4 & 18 | 1:30 PM
Happening 1st & 3rd Tuesday of the Month!
ICF South Florida and Sophia Casey, MCC, invite you to the biweekly Get Shift Done: Coaches Accountability Call—a dynamic power hour to refocus, connect, and take action!
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MasterClass by Master Coaches
with Nobantu Mpotulo, MCC
Ubuntu Coaching and Alignment with ICF Core Competencies
November 5, 2025, 8:30 AM
| | MasterClass by Master Coaches
with Ann Fogolin, MCC
MCC Coaching Demo
November 5, 2025 | 5:30 PM
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Emerging Leaders Sessions
From Coach to Leader: Bridging the Skills Gap
Ready to expand beyond coaching skills to unlock the best leader you can be?
Join our thriving community of coach-leaders every 2nd Tuesday of the month at 7 PM ET.
November 11, 2025 | 7:00 PM
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Outreach Committee Monthly Call
Join us for the ICF South Florida Outreach Committee Monthly Meeting — open to all ICFSFL members!
📅 Friday, November 14 | 9:00 PM
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The ICF South Florida Barter Coaching PRACTICE Lab
Join us every 3rd Friday of the month for a dynamic Barter Coaching session with Fernando Celis, MCC — a space for practice, learning, and new insights on competency development.
📅 Friday, November 21 | 8:30 AM
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Join us for Coach-A-Latte In-Person! — a cozy coffee meetup with Dr. Loubna Noureddin for connection, conversation, and inspiration.
Friday, November 21 | 1:30 PM ET
📍 La Boulangerie Boul’Mich | 1549 Sunset Dr, Miami, FL
Free parking | Conveniently near US 1 & I-95
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3 Coaching Group Super-Vision Opportunity with MCC Coach Paulette Rao
4 Get Shift Done:Coaches Accountability Call Series
5 MasterClass by Master Coaches with Nobantu Mpotulo, MCC
5 MasterClass by Master Coaches with Ann Fogolin, MCC
11 Emerging Leaders Sessions
14 Outreach Committee Monthly Call
18 Get Shift Done: Coaches Accountability Call Series
21 The ICF South Florida Barter Coaching PRACTICE Lab
21 Coach-A-Latte In-Person!
| 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. | Jobs Opportunities
Members – we now have a page on our website with jobs/work opportunities for you. When you log in to our website, you can find the link with posted opportunities.
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