Deb Markowitz - Empowering Women

Deb Markowitz offers individualized coaching to help experienced and emerging women leaders develop into authentic, confident, and effective leaders.

Successful leaders are grounded in purpose and bring their whole selves to work, so Deb starts by exploring the unique strengths and values of each woman she coaches. Using a variety of tools, Deb helps her clients identify and reconnect to their personal and professional values and goals.

Because Deb has decades of experience in top leadership positions, she is able to provide practical strategies to build effective teams, manage conflict, and improve organizational outcomes. She also works with clients to recognize and address “imposter syndrome” and manage the many personal stressors women face that can lead to burnout and get in the way of success.

With Deb's help, her clients develop resilience and adaptability to overcome obstacles that may arise on their paths to success as female leaders. Her clients learn to make strategic decisions with clarity and confidence and hone their ability to navigate complex professional landscapes.

Perhaps most importantly, Deb works with her clients to develop an authentic executive presence that inspires others and motivates them to be their best.

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Typical Coaching Program

I develop a personalized coaching program for every client.  This is a typical example of what the first six months will look like.

1. Initial Assessment: I work with every client to co-create a plan based on what she hopes to gain from executive coaching. This involves an intake and assessment process and could also include a mini-360 assessment, leadership style inventories, and personality assessments, depending on the needs and goals of the individual.
2. One-on-One Coaching Sessions; Provide bi-weekly one-on-one coaching sessions.  During these sessions, we work on the following:
   • Leadership Skills – I help clients develop particular leadership skills. For example; authentic communication, critical thinking, strategic thinking, problem-solving, decision making, flexibility, and conflict management.
   • Leadership Style - I help clients develop an effective executive presence.  This includes exploring leadership styles to identify and develop her authentic leadership style and provide practical tips and tricks to help her overcome the unconscious biases that women leaders often face.
   • Values – I believe the most effective leaders are grounded in “purpose”.  For this reason, I work with clients to clarify their values and create a personal mission statement that incorporates their personal and professional roles, values, and goals into an aspirational document to help guide their leadership journey.
   • Internal and External Contexts: I work with clients to recognize and address beliefs about themselves and mindsets that can help or hinder success.  This includes addressing “imposter syndrome,” perfectionism, and managing the many stressors women face that can lead to burnout and prevent long-term success.
   • Practical Coaching – I provide practical advice and mentoring based on decades of experience in top leadership positions.  This helps clients address the day-to-day challenges of the job and helps them work more effectively toward their long-term objectives.  This can include many things such as tips on giving and receiving feedback, effective delegation, solving problems, making difficult decisions, effective communication, managing budgets, inspiring and motivating teams, and fostering an active and engaged board of directors.

3. Homework and On-Call Assistance. I make myself available on an “as-needed” basis for short calls or emails between sessions.  I also provide resources and research from teaching graduate-level courses on Women and Leadership that clients can use to help continue their work between sessions.

4. Progress Tracking and Evaluation.  I regularly track and evaluate a client’s progress and adjust my coaching strategies and development plans as needed to ensure continuous progress toward the client’s goals.

What People are Saying about Deb

"As a first-time executive director, I knew it would be important that I had someone who understood the unique challenges I would inevitably have to navigate, especially as a woman leader. I met with several coaches and while they listened to me and had a lot of coaching experience, they hadn't been through it themselves and couldn't give me the practical advice I needed to grow as a professional. Deb has been a trailblazer and each time we met she could relate and draw from her own experiences to help guide me into discovering a path that was right for me. She listened, but she also offered real strategies. This has been invaluable and has made me a better leader. Deb is easy to talk with and connect to, and any woman in a leadership role would be lucky to have her guidance. I know I have been." - Shabnam

“There’s no manual for the things leadership throws at you, and having Deb in my corner has made all the difference in being able to nail those tricky situations. Deb's vision supports my growth and challenges me, pushing my boundaries and comfort level yet when I really mess things up, her compassionate redirection gives me the confidence to get back at it.  Everyone needs a Deb in their corner”.  - Kim

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How Executive Coaching Works

Executive coaching is a powerful tool for leaders who want to take their performance to the next level. With one-on-one coaching, you can reconnect with the values that matter to you, gain clarity, build new skills, and make meaningful progress toward your goals.

Some benefits include:

1. Increased Self-Awareness: Gain a deeper understanding of your leadership style, values, and strengths. Discover how your behaviors and attitudes impact your team and learn to make conscious choices that align with your vision.
2. Improved Organizational Performance: Develop a clear and compelling vision for your organization that enables you to prioritize resources and manage your time.
3. Heightened Influence and Impact:  Learn to motivate and inspire your team and build strong relationships with donors, partners, and stakeholders to increase your organization's impact and sustainability.
4. Stress Management and Work-Life Balance: Develop strategies to manage stress, maintain work-life balance, and prevent burnout. Achieve harmony between your personal and professional responsibilities.
5. Enhanced Leadership Skills: Develop the leadership competencies that are essential for success, including strategic thinking, change management, conflict resolution, and effective communication.