Robin Postel

Robin Postel, Ph.D., is a globally experienced executive and team coach, organizational consultant, and facilitator who has spent over 30 years helping individuals and organizations expand their possibilities, enhance performance, and elevate the quality of working life. With a background spanning six continents and partnerships with corporations, UN agencies, and humanitarian organizations, she is known for her strategic, human-centered approach to leadership and organizational transformation.

Robin holds a Ph.D. in Learning and Change in Human Systems from the California Institute of Integral Studies and is a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) through the International Coaching Federation. Her academic foundation is enriched by postgraduate studies in expressive arts, coaching supervision, and developmental theory. She is certified in a wide range of tools, including the Leadership Circle Profile, the Immunity to Change™ framework, and several assessments of adult development stages.

Robin's work blends theory with deep practical insight. She is particularly known for her use of experiential and somatic learning in leadership development, her innovative application of applied improvisation, and her skill in surfacing the unspoken dynamics that shape team and organizational culture. She designs and facilitates leadership learning journeys, coaches executives and teams, leads strategic retreats, and supports large-scale organizational change.

Her client list includes global corporations like Microsoft, BG Group, Goodyear, and Logitech, as well as NGOs and UN agencies such as UNICEF, UNHCR, and the ILO. Whether supporting a team in conflict or coaching a country director stepping into a crisis environment, Robin brings clarity, compassion, and creativity.

She is also a certified coaching supervisor, offering supervision to coaches, consultants, and facilitators. Robin serves on the faculty of an ICF-certified coaching school, teaching classes in powerful questions and ethical maturity. She has taught at institutions such as NYU Wagner School and Webster University Geneva.

Fluent in English and French, Robin is a global citizen, having lived on three continents and worked in over 30 countries. Her multicultural fluency is matched by a deep commitment to social justice and equity, informed by training in nonviolent communication and creative strategies for change.

Robin currently lives in Arizona, where the desert landscapes continue to inspire her. Known for her incisive yet humble approach, she often begins with what she calls “a naïve question”—one that opens space for honest dialogue, deep reflection, and transformative learning.

Robin’s Approach and Philosophy Around Coaching/Work

I’m deeply aligned with ontological coaching and the belief that we are all unique observers of the world. Exploring what we can and can’t see is a powerful path to transformational growth. I pay close attention to what is said—and what’s left unsaid—and I ask into that space. I support clients in leaning into their growing edges and exploring the possibilities that emerge there.

Education / Certifications / Industry Experience

Academic Degrees:

• Ph.D., Learning and Change in Human Systems – California Institute of Integral Studies

• Graduate Studies in Expressive Arts – European Graduate School (Switzerland)

• M.Ed., Curriculum – UCLA

• B.A., Linguistics – UCLA

Certifications and Trainings:

• ICF Professional Certified Coach (PCC)

• Certified Coaching Supervisor – Coach Supervision Academy

• Certified in Leadership Circle Profile, Leadership Development Profile, Global Leadership Profile

• Immunity to Change™ process facilitator

• Newfield Network Certified Coach

• Center for Generative Leadership (3-year program)

• Executive Coaching – Gestalt International Study Center

• Certified in: MBTI, PTI Elements, TESI, Table Group Team Assessment, FIRO-B, TKI, and others

• Training in: Holacracy, Dynamic Facilitation, Nonviolent Communication, Creative Strategies for Change, Photovoice, Applied Improvisation, and more

I'm Learning ...

• Completed the Humility Project with the Gestalt International Study Center, focused on race and personal identity as a white person

• In progress: Ghost Light Leadership with Valerie Livesay, applying stage-acting metaphors to fallback behavior

• Exploring neurodivergence (including ADHD) in myself and how to support clients on similar journeys

• Completed a 12-session AI for Coaches program—curious about AI's possibilities and ethics

• Also learning watercolor, drawing, and social dancing (my partner loves to dance—I got lucky!)

I'm Proud Of …

Personal:

• My daughter and granddaughters—each brilliant and uniquely herself

• Hosting elaborate food experiences, including a 12-course Thanksgiving that spans the day with food, games, and music

Professional:

• The quiet moments when clients experience a breakthrough or see something in a new light

• Developing creative tools and methodologies like “Think on Your Feet” for difficult conversations, a learning culture survey, and AIM (Accelerated Improvement Methodology) for complex, multi-stakeholder challenges

Did You Know?

• At 18, after months of solo travel through Europe, I hitched a ride on a 112-foot yacht from the Canary Islands to Barbados—13 days and 23 hours at sea—to make it home for Christmas.

• I’ve only held a full-time job for three years of my life (two of them before I turned 21). My mom says I turned out okay.

• I started school in Mexico and was bilingual in English and Spanish—until French scrambled my brain.