University of Washington Human Resources

Collaborative Brain Trust

PHILOSOPHY STATEMENT

CBT thrives in working with higher education professionals, as all of our coaches and consultants have worked in higher education, predominantly at the senior ranks. These professionals have “sat in the seat” and know what it is like to make the tough decisions when hands are tied, budgets are tight, and options appear to be few. Our team of over 200 consultants has a depth of degrees and credentials, with the average CBT consultant having well over 30 years of university experience.

But a large number of coaches does not simply mean that any coach can be placed in any situation. Our coaches want to ensure that they are indeed the perfect fit for each engagement. We work closely with you to customize each solution to your needs. Each coach has led large organizations in higher education and has mentored and coached many future university leaders. They understand the importance of the coaching process to create a perspective that applies knowledge in tough situations and gives confidence to see it through.

The depth and breadth of our team enables them to view the policies, practices, and overall environment at the University of Washington with experienced, third-party perspectives. Moreover, CBT recognizes that the talented administration, faculty, and staff at the university are working under the constraints of ongoing, daily educational responsibilities and pressures. The team’s job is to augment that talent and provide the needed skill development at the right speed and at the right times.

 AREAS OF EXPERTISE/RESULTS

EXPERIENCE / SELECTED PROJECTS

• Dean Coaching at a Large Private University: CBT is a primary coaching provider at a premier private research university in New England. The CBT Coaching Pool provides a comprehensive approach to coaching a large number of deans who each have a different background, perspective, and goals. CBT does an in-depth analysis on both the coaches and coachees to ensure that the right “fit” is found for each engagement, whether the purpose of the coaching is for professional development, strategic planning, or newly appointed oversight. To date, CBT has provided numerous successful coaching engagements for the university.
• Creation of a Leadership Acceleration Program: After a face-to-face conversation with the Dean of Online at a Midwestern university, and a phone conversation with the Provost, the identified leadership priorities of the college fell into three categories:
  1. Leadership Coaching for the Dean to build a high performing team and to also develop a sound leadership strategy. This work was designed to support the transition to campus status and ensure the college continues to grow and support student success
  2. Team Development to create a high performing team that will continue to grow the college
  3. Leadership coaching for the Assistant Dean of Student Affairs, as he/she on-boards. The Leadership Acceleration Program was developed to seize the current opportunities created by reorganization to not only survive but THRIVE.

  The ability to thrive is highly dependent on the creation of a strategic vision and the execution of that vision through a collaborative leadership approach.

• Strategic Planning: CBT assisted the President of a large, southern university to “facilitate the revisions by the University of its comprehensive Strategic Plan.” As a part of the project, CBT completed an exhaustive Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) analysis including the following areas:
  1. Institutional finances
  2. Enrollment growth
  3. Diversity of faculty and students
  4. Student success
  5. Graduates’ success in the job market
  6. Degree program offerings
  7. Faculty ratios
  8. Research performance

  —all developed against peers and aspirational peers. In the concluding efforts of the project, CBT advised the leadership of the Strategic Planning Task Force (SPTF) and the SPTF Sub-committees on vision, mission, and goals’ development.

CREDENTIALS & RECENT AWARDS

• International Coaching Federation (ICF) certified coaches: Associate Certified Coach, Professional Certified Coach, Master Certified Coach
• CBT coaches have served in various roles in higher education institutions, including president, chancellor, vice president, vice chancellor, provost, vice provost, dean and faculty. Each CBT coach has well over 30 years of university experience.
• DISC, StrengthsFinder, Team Coaching International (TCI): Team diagnostic, 360 View, Team Leader View, Organization View

SELECTED CLIENTS

• Northeastern University
• Yosemite Community College District
• University of Wisconsin System
• Hartnell Community College District
• Cerritos College
• Northwestern Health Sciences University