Our Diploma Coaches and Mentors
Throughout your Diploma program, you’ll receive one-on-one mentorship and guidance via 3 personalized coaching sessions. You’ll be matched with one of our qualified coaches to help you develop your strengths, identify any challenges and co-create a path forward.
Every one of our coaches have been hand-picked based on their ability to listen empathetically, their professional profile and their strong knowledge of the program itself. Some are certified coaches with years of experience, and others are social entreprenuers poised to act as mentors. We match you based on your responses to a questionnaire about your goals and background in order to ensure you have the coach most suited to move you forward. Based on the list below, if you have a strong preference, let us know and we’ll do our best to pair you with the person you’re most drawn to!
And the best part? If you like how it’s going, you can always add on additional sessions!
Abhinav Khanal facilitates the Entrepreneurship, Innovation & Social Change and the Design Thinking course. Abhinav is the Co-Founder & Executive Director of Bean Voyage, a non-profit social enterprise that provides training and market access to smallholder women coffee producers in Costa Rica and Nepal. He is also the Co-Founder & Chief Thought Officer at Little Big Fund, which provides knowledge, networks, and micro-grants to early-stage non-profit leaders around the world. He is a Cordes Fellow, Resolution Fellow, Trust Scholar, Watson Scholar, and a One Young World Ambassador. Abhinav has a B.A in Political Science from Earlham College. He is not a certified coach, but is a wonderful mentor.
Amy Schmidt is a writer, editor, activist, and facilitator with the UPEACE Centre for Executive Education. She is from North Carolina and settled in Costa Rica after earning her MA in International Peace Studies from UPEACE. She also facilitates empowerment self-defense, communication, and leadership courses for women and teens. All of her work come through a trauma-informed and intersectional feminist lens. She seeks justice for all beings and the earth and loves dancing, sunshines, and juicy, tropical fruit. Amy is not a certified coach, but routinely works with people at different stages of their careers to help them find the path forward.
Arathi Ramappa is a certified executive and spiritual coach, Forbes Coaches Council member, speaker, and management consultant who helps individuals thrive in life and business. Using the concepts of emotional intelligence, self-compassion and mindfulness, Arathi has helped clients reduce stress, increase productivity, execute business strategy, diminish conflict, and increase confidence. Arathi’s background as a serial entrepreneur and a veteran in the start-up space has provided her with extensive cross-functional knowledge. She is currently the Chair of the Board for The Women’s Fund Miami-Dade, the DE&I Council Chair at the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce, and is on the advisory board for WWU’s Entrepreneur and Innovation Program. With Arathi, you can expect and experienced and certified coaching experience!
Arthur Sherwood facilitates the onsite and online Positive Leadership course. He is the David Cole Professor of Entrepreneurship, Director of WWU’s Entrepreneurship & Innovation Programs. He teaches and researches human-centered entrepreneurship and innovation education with a focus on well-being and coaching promoting flourishing practices for lifelong changemaking. He is an experienced entrepreneur and certified executive coach and is actively engaged as co-founder of Reimagine by Design, LLC and member-owner of Columinate, a cooperatively owned consulting business. Arthur has years of coaching experience, but also happily crosses the line to mentorship when it helps.
Brandon Bennett is a Mindful Leadership Coach, supporting purpose-centered executives, entrepreneurs, and non-profit leaders in reclarifying their life’s vision, so they can live more peacefully productive, balanced, and emotionally authentic lives. Holding a Bachelors in Exercise Sport Science & Sport Management, as well as having certifications in Holistic Health, Positive Leadership, Mindfulness based Meditation, and Mind-Body Psychology, he assists individuals and teams in creating sustainable strategies to enhance mental clarity and well-being, in order to focus their energy on what matters most and create an even greater impact in the world. Having previously worked as a Senior Sales Executive for the Dallas Cowboys of the NFL as well as the Arizona Diamondbacks of the MLB, in addition to the educational space as a Mindfulness Teacher & Mentor within the private school sector, he has a diverse knowledge on the inner workings of the corporate, non-profit, and educational segments. A world traveler at heart, Brandon has been to over 30 countries and now currently resides in Costa Rica, which he absolutely loves and is grateful to call his home for the past three years. His mission is to be a deeply present bridge in the world, so that individuals who feel called to step into a higher expression of themselves, live more meaningful and personally fulfilling lives, as well as create a positive impact in the world, can be supported with great intention and presence on the path of doing so.
Clodagh Beaty is an experienced Co-Active Coach, an Institute of Leadership & Management Trainer and a certified trainer and Master Practitioner of Neuro Linguistic Programming. She is also the co-creator of The Emotional Salary Barometer, a unique tool that helps individuals identify what they value most in their work. Clodagh works with leaders and organizations internationally to help them create a culture and working environment aligned to their purpose, values and vision of the future. She regularly designs and delivers training programs focused on communication, cultural change, leadership, personal and team effectiveness and happiness at work. Clodagh has a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of London (2002) and a Master’s in Human Resource Development from the Middlesex University (2005). She is currently based in Madrid, Spain.
Dionne Clabaugh EdD is a mentor and coach with a human-centered approach that’s grounded in dignity, metacognition, self-mastery, and self-regulation. Her work is grounded in Self-Determination Theory, constructivism, collaborative relationships, and reflective practices for personal and professional growth. Dr. Dionne has taught in community colleges and universities, most recently at Pacific Oaks College, School of Human Development (2013-2022). She is now the VP for Learning, Teaching, & Engagement with Coherent Educational Solutions, and serves as Board Chair for Izzi Early Education (Head Start). She is also a contributing member in Educators for Peaceful Classrooms and Communities. She loves what she does, and actively builds others’ capacity for life-long success!
Flor García Mencos facilitates the onsite workshop Positive Leadership. She is a Clinical Psychologist and has worked as a therapist, university professor and as manager and organizational consultant. Flor graduated from the Academy for Leaders of the Center for Courage & Renewal in the United States and from the Executive Education program at INCAE as Executive Coach. She is a certified trainer in Restorative Practices and a member of the International Institute of Restorative Practices Board of Directors. Flor is co-founder and Executive Director of the Association for Leadership in Guatemala, where she facilitates training processes for a network of 120 organizations and leaders from different parts of Central America.
Gabriela Cevallos, facilitates the Designing Your Life course. She is also a Certified Life and Leadership Coach and has a background in Peace Education, Social Innovation Management, Communication and Positive Psychology. Gaby is the founder of The Life Experiment where she designs experiences for organizations to increase the well-being of their employees. She also helps individuals connect with themselves, their purpose, and design a life and online business they love through personalized workshops, coaching sessions and transformational online programs. Gaby will hold a safe and brave space for you to overcome your blocks, feel grounded and confident to lead your life and career with more joy and ease
Gabriela Montalto is a coach, mentor, speaker, and facilitator in subjects such as Happiness, Conscious Leadership, and Emotional Intelligence Skills. With more than 1,000 hours in coaching, training, and workshops, she is also a partner and founder of Media Masters S.A. Costa Rica, a consultant company focused on talent management, communication, and innovation. She studied at the University of Costa Rica and has a bachelor in Information Systems. She shares with many people her passion for emotional intelligence skills, being the producer and host of the radio talk show “Camino en Positivo” (Positive Paths) on 89.1 Radio Costa Rica.
Reshma Aziz Khan is a Kenyan of Indian origin who was born and grew up in Nairobi. She did her undergraduate degree in Calgary, Canada. Over the past decade, Reshma has worked in development and humanitarian aid in many roles, including communications, leadership, strategy, and culture, and has led leadership and strategy workshops globally. More recently, Reshma has been actively involved in inclusion work to ensure that large non-profits think and act on issues of race, diversity, gender equality, and other divisive factors. As a result of her work, she was elected as the President of the Staff Association at CARE International. In 2020, Reshma set up her own leadership coaching and consultancy company K’enso Consulting, and collaborates with social impact leaders globally to work towards a more just world where it doesn’t matter what colour, religion, or gender anyone is.
Shelley Bragg facilitates the Entrepreneurship, Innovation & Social Change course. She is the co-founder and Director of Development of GOOD Travel, a New Zealand based social enterprise focused on transforming the tourism industry into a force for GOOD. For over a decade, Shelley also worked for international schools in China and Thailand, as Director of Marketing and Communications and currently consults with schools in various countries. She has also been involved in various non-profit organizations and social enterprises, supporting with fundraising, events and communications. Shelley has her Honours in Development Studies and a B.A. in Language and Literature, both from the University of South Africa. She is based in Cape Town, South Africa but is often in the U.S. Shelley is not a certified coach, but serves as an excellent mentor.
