I came into the Emergent LEADForward retreat needing a reset, and I got something much more than I expected.

After six months in a new leadership role that has been both exhilarating and exhausting, I knew I needed a pause. Not a vacation,  a real step back to recharge, reflect, and reconnect. I didn’t need to be sold. Ralph Simone has been my coach, and I trusted him and Bill to create something meaningful. I signed up knowing it would be good.

But “good” is an understatement.

From the moment I shut off my phone and closed my laptop, I felt something shift. The quiet hit first; no noise, no urgency, just the sound of nature and the space to breathe. That alone would have made it worthwhile, but the real impact came in everything that followed.

I made deep, genuine connections, not just with people from my own company but with total strangers. And it didn’t feel like networking. It felt like being human, like we were all in different chapters of the same book, learning from each other and showing up fully. I know some of those relationships will last a lifetime.

Ralph and Bill led with intention and generosity. They gave everyone room to speak, reflect, and learn without pressure or performance. It wasn’t about fixing anyone; it was about finding what’s already there and bringing it forward.

And maybe the biggest gift? I reconnected with my own mission; the thing that’s easy to lose in the middle of big goals, fast moves, and constant decisions. It came back to me, clearly and quietly. I won’t forget it this time.

This retreat gave me exactly what I needed and more than I knew to ask for.

Leader as Coach has opened my eyes to the potential impact we have as leaders to our organizations and beyond. The program is a perfect mix of classroom and one-on-one practice. Collaborating with other leaders in the CNY area, and sharing experiences and ways they coach others has been instrumental in the development of my coaching. I would highly encourage anyone that is looking to gain self-awareness and evolve their leadership to join the Leader as Coach program.

I wanted to share that the experience I had with Emergent still carries with me today (from a 2-day workshop to Explore Emotional & Social Intelligence ~2015). The time and training that I did with you and your team are still invaluable to me in my day-to-day job. One of the most important aspects learned was journaling about how I handled difficult situations that came up, both in and out of work. Going into the situation, I frequently remember that I have to answer to the journal and when it is over, enter how well I did in the moment. Frequently, I ask myself, how do I want that journal entry to read? Answering that question often times recalibrates me and my approach before I enter the situation. (BTW, that journal sits to the left of me in my office each day, holding me accountable.)

Leader as Coach is a program that will amplify the skills you’ve acquired on your journey as a Leader. Through a transformative process of self-discovery, you will learn strategies to shape the mindsets, beliefs, and the energy you bring to every personal and professional interaction. If you’re committed to delving further into the depths of your potential and helping others do the same, I highly recommend this program.

I cannot emphasize enough how impressed I am with this course. Having held management positions for the past 20 years, I can confidently say that this is one of the best classes I have ever taken. It has taken my management skills to a whole new level, teaching me how to build trust in my team and become a better manager, employee, and coworker. What’s more, I can apply what I’m learning in both my professional and personal life. The on-site training is particularly noteworthy, as the small class size and three instructors per class make it feel almost one-on-one. The course is also very hands-on, with practice sessions in between classes.

I just wanted to share a note of thanks to you for all the effort and time throughout this Emergent Leader course.

When Dani signed me up for this, I don’t think either of us could fully picture what the next year would entail. Going through this course truly could not have come at a better time! I’m so grateful to have had the opportunity, and I’ve taken so many valuable skills and strategies from it. I know I’ll rely on many of these throughout the rest of my career.

Thank you to you & your team!

I spent a year in the leadership program with the emergent team. I developed relationships and read materials that help me realize that I wasn’t just getting a promotion, I realized that leadership is a lifestyle and new stage of life that requires me to make choices about my life. The emergent team and my cohort members helped me understand that leadership is a path upon which I am walking and it is up to me to manage myself and my life differently.

INFICON has partnered with Emergent for many years, and their Emergent Leader Program is a great example of one of their high-quality programs. We have our 5th group of individuals participating so far in their public program and are very pleased with what we are seeing. All of this in the midst of COVID really showed that their virtual programs are successful and engaging for our participants. Participants liked the interaction with individuals from other companies, and said it added to their experience to have outside perspectives.

About a month after they complete the program, we ask participants to report out to the business leadership team on the following:

• Key learnings and how to sustain them
• Three declarations for their Values as a Leader
• Action Plans
• Their “ask” for support going forward and ideas on how to keep the internal group connected
• Ideas on how to keep the internal group connected

Participants have all enthusiastically shared their information, and some have really wowed us with their presentations. Best of all, we are seeing past participants help mentor newer participants, and the list of proposed participants continues to grow. Seeing examples of the concepts they have learned showing up in our daily business is a win for INFICON!

We have gotten great reviews of the facilitation and coaching involved in the program and are excited to continue offering it to our current and future leaders.