Ana Maria Barella

I have 20 years of experience as a Learning and Development leader - designing and facilitating leadership programs and curricula for professional services firms. I am an ICF Professional Certified Coach (PCC) with a Bachelors Degree in Communications and Media and a Masters Degree in Design Thinking. I am also certified with several behavior assessment tools including Hogan, Myers Briggs, Insights Discovery, TTI Success Insights DISC, TTI SI Emotional Intelligence, and TTI SI Driving Forces. I'm very familiar with Clifton StrengthsFinder 2.0. And, I’ve been coaching TED and TEDx speakers since 2011.

As a learning and development leader and executive coach with professional services firms and pharmaceutical companies, I have led learning initiatives, facilitated large programs, and coached individuals and teams through the best and worst of times - including culture transformations, acquisitions, SEC investigations in tandem with a flip of the C-suite, FDA investigations in tandem with arrests and billions of dollars in fines, and massive layoffs. I have partnered and surfed times within a wide range of industries including, but not limited to, financial services, legal, healthcare, higher education, advisory, pharmaceutical, technical, human resources, etc.

The work I find most fulfilling revolves around coaching executives and leaders. The opportunity to guide individuals in discovering their potential for growth, supporting them in navigating complex challenges, and witnessing their transformational journey is incredibly rewarding. My passion lies in fostering leadership excellence, whether it's by honing clarity of purpose, communication skills, or enhancing strategic thinking. Collaborating with high-performing individuals and teams to achieve their goals energizes me. My strengths lie in my ability to listen actively, empathize, and provide tailored guidance. I thrive in creating safe spaces for open dialogue, fostering trust, and facilitating meaningful discussions that lead to clearly defined expectations, measures of success, and actionable outcomes. Adaptability is another cornerstone of my approach—I tailor my coaching style to meet the unique needs of each individual or team I work with.

The methodology, theoretical basis or philosophy of my work is underpinned by 20 years of experience in Learning & Development, 10+ years coaching TED and TEDx speakers, a Bachelors Degree in Communications, a Masters in Design Thinking (MDM), Co-Active Professional Coach Certification (CPCC), and ICF Professional Coach Certification (PCC). My background equips me with the ability to take individuals, teams, and groups on a smooth journey from ABSTRACT awareness and insight to CONCRETE aligned direction and action.

Together with LIW, we embrace the privilege of collaborating with highly committed, competent, and compassionate professionals. We engage in human-centered work that holds significant value, aligning with the cultures and missions of companies we deeply believe in.

Participants often describe my presentation style as captivating, creating a warm and open space throughout our sessions.

Here are the top three quotes from participants:

"Ana Maria’s presentation style is captivating as she knows how to sustain interest - and she creates a warm and open space throughout! Great session - learned so much - bravo!"

"I loved this ... I am a systems thinker also, so this reinforcement was so fun and appreciated. Ana Maria was an organized presenter, clearly explained her content, gave good examples, and engaged the audience to participate and reinforce the learnings."

"I’d like to be more helpful, but frankly, that was absolutely one of the most brilliant and uplifting presentations I’ve ever seen …anywhere. I’m going to watch it again, take copious notes, and use the content."