Professional Development Session - Beyond the Agenda: Secrets to Leading Gatherings the Matter with Marissa Lifshen Steinberger, Ed.M., PCC

As coaches, we are often invited to step into the role of facilitator. Whether leading a professional development workshop, guiding a team through strategic planning, or presenting at a conference, how people are convened can be the difference between a gathering that energizes and one that could have been an email.

This interactive session draws directly on the ICF Core Competencies, particularly establishing trust and safety, maintaining presence, and cultivating awareness. Participants will learn practical tools, modalities, and frameworks to design gatherings that reflect a coaching mindset rather than a directive approach.

Grounded in Jewish communal values such as kavanah (intentionality), areivut (shared responsibility), and b’tzelem Elohim (honoring the dignity of each person), the session explores how coaching-informed facilitation can strengthen trust, invite diverse perspectives, and support more meaningful engagement within Jewish organizational contexts.