The Innovative Edge programs have a certain interactive quality that makes them much different and better than other programs. I felt like the goals are clear and we got down to business. Be prepared to ask yourself some difficult questions and to be challenged; and expect to feel pretty exhilarated both as you're going through the program and
on your way out.
Kimberly Kupiecki, Senior Vice President
AR-Edelman, Redwood City, CA
The Leading Without Limits™ program is simply the best leadership program I have ever attended. Not only do I have a more complete grasp of the many competencies that make up a world-class leader, I now feel that I have a path towards mastering these skills myself.
Ken Nelsen, Vice President, Global Technical Services (GTS)
Synopsys, Inc., Mountain View, CA
The Leading Without Limits™ Program provided me a pathway towards the next level of leadership, in my life and my life's work. With my coach's intuitive guidance and coaching expertise, I was able to move my work here forward within the constructs of the program in very short time frame. Most importantly, I realized that the leadership passage for me is
one of my life's passions.
Lisha Driscoll, Vice President
in Private Wealth Management Technology
San Francisco, CA
The Leading Without Limits Mastery program has completely changed the way I think and the way I interact with people in my daily life. Through repeatedly practicing and reflecting the core competencies of an effective leader, I have gained much more confidence in my leadership style. I would like to thank Ruth, who was my coach,
for opening the door for a life-long learning experience.
Frank Lee, Ph.D
Vice President of Engineering, AMSG
Synopsys, Inc., Mountain View, CA
It is one thing to hear about leadership and understand it intellectually, but another to have it woven into our lives, in ways that are different than others, yet the same in its powerful impact on and within our beings. That's what I've experienced from participating in the exceptional leadership programs from The Innovative Edge.
Valerie Troy, Assistant Vice President, Community Lending
Federal Credit Union, Oakland, CA
The caliber and course materials and coaches/consultants with The Innovative Edge is the highest caliber I have ever seen in professional leadership development. I have sponsored probably 30 managers through the Leading Without Limits™ Mastery program and another 20 or more senior staff in additional programs The Innovative Edge offers. I have yet to have anyone come back and say it wasn't a tremendous value add for them in their role and in their career. Their programs are consistently of the highest quality.
Sue Flautt, Managing Director
Quality and Operations Support
The Permanente Medical Group, Oakland, CA
By the end of 3 months I became self-aware of my strengths and weaknesses as a leader, Ruth and Debra constantly challenged my assumptions, helped me write down my goals and create an action plan to achieve them. The program had a lasting impact since it was for an extended period of 3 months (unlike most classes where you are done in 5 days) and there was a lot of 1-1 interaction within the group and with the coach. I will continue to recommend this class to my friends and colleagues who could also benefit immensely from this program.
Sreelakshmi Kolli
Director, Global IT Operations
Align Technology, Santa Cara, CA
Leading Without Limits™ Mastery has provided me with tools needed to rise to the next level of leadership. The Innovative edge enabled me to discover my strengths and needs, understand the behavioral patterns of my own as well as of my peers, and negotiate. Though I had my doubts in the beginning, I came out equipped with a new perspective on leadership and tools needed to handle situations I come across everyday. Discovering and using my strengths has been a key aspect of my learning experience. I would recommend this course to anyone in a leadership position or aspiring be in one.
Neeraj Kaul
R&D Director, Implementation Group
Synospys, Inc., Mountain View, CA
Throughout my career I have been involved in many leadership programs that were good. The Innovative Edge programs were great. I attended the Leading Without Limits program six years ago and that program was not only phenomenal, but the women were amazing. And about coaching, I found a real mentor in my coach. Being a woman in a man's business world is challenging. Coaching provided the space and skills that allowed me to learn how to play here while maintaining my sense of self. Working with a coach changed my life and
I have exceeded my own career expectations.
Melanie Gill, Director of Marketing
Real-Time Innovations (RTI), Santa Clara, CA
Having completed leadership training programs at the Harvard Business School and the Steven Covey program, I was a little skeptical about the benefits of the Leading Without Limits™ (LWL) program. After participating in LWL, there were significant improvements in both communication and consensus building in our management team. I would like to commend The Innovative Edge for developing and leading an excellent leadership program.
Scott Gee, MD
Director, Prevention and Health Information
The Permanente Medical Group, Oakland, CA
I attended LWL Mastery in early 2005. I was, and still remain, surprised at how much I learned about myself and how much I've been able to incorporate in my work. The biggest change for me is that I've become much better at asking good questions and listening to others. I've improved my ability to work with others who have different personalities and styles and become a more effective delegator. I've become a big supporter of the program.
Barbara Foley
Director, Quality and Operations Support
The Permanente Medical Group, Oakland, CA
Leading Without Limits™ was an extraordinary experience with an appropriate name. The unique approach of class work, peer collaboration and coaching supports you on your journey to becoming a more effective leader. I found the program both challenging and highly rewarding and Ruth Varney was a fabulous coach and teacher. It has been more than year since I took the program and I'm still leveraging the learning from the experience both professionally and personally. It is well worth the investment!
Michael Guenet
Director of Applications Engineering, Northeast Region
Synopsys, Inc., Marlboro, MA
Debra opened new horizons to my thinking through her subtle and excellent coaching. Her quiet method of navigating through the process definitely made a positive impact on my learning experience. I highly recommend Debra to you.
Djahida Smati
Manager, R & D
Synopsys, Inc., Mountain View, CA
The information and support I got from the Leading without Limits program have helped me take responsibility and action for continually improving my performance as a leader. I learned a great deal from the self-assessment and the goal setting made it very practical and measurable. Materials for most training programs I have attended sit on the shelf but I refer to and use to the concepts and tools from this program regularly. Ruth is an inspiring coach!
Jennifer Torresen
Manager, Regional Health Education
The Permanente Medical Group, Oakland, CA
Being a leader in today's volatile business climate is often challenging. But when the stress levels get high, I find that I return continually to the insights gained through my Leading Without Limits™ Mastery experience. As a recently promoted senior manager, LWL helped me identify and overcome potential obstacles to leading at a higher level. The 1:1 coaching was invaluable in helping me stay focused on my strategy in the midst of significant organizational and personal change. I would heartily recommend the programs of The Innovative Edge to anyone looking to take their leadership to the next level.
J. Peter Nixon
Consulting Manager
Quality and Operations Support
The Permanente Medical Group, Oakland, CA
Participating in the Leading Without Limits™ program helped me to decide what kind of leader I want to be. In LWL I gained a better understanding of my strengths and I was able to focus on ways to develop my leadership skills by identifying what was really important to me. What was most valuable to me was realizing how I could apply this experience to my life, not just to my profession. The coaching process was an integral part of the program that helped me to "peel the onion" and get to the root of what I wanted to achieve. Working in a small group with other leaders made the program very intimate, and Ruth always
kept the process open, honest, lively and fun!
Tony Riccobono
Senior Technical Manager
Synopsys, Inc., Irvine, CA
Debra Scates' personalized coaching was an invaluable complement to my Leading Without Limits™ coursework and peer discussions. Her insightful, assumption-illuminating, and often difficult questions always proved an effective catalyst to my mix of immediate real-world challenges, growing leadership awareness, and ongoing action plans. The results were consistently deeper understanding and awareness, improved focus, and encouragement for embracing new challenges. Debra's good humor and focus on individual balance and choice reinforced wonderfully those themes found throughout the LWL program.
Joe Sousa
Technical Innovations Manager
The Permanente Medical Group, Oakland, CA
I have recently transitioned to a senior leadership role in my department. Debra's coaching has been instrumental in helping me through this transition. Her coaching techniques has allowed me to identify behaviors in myself that, with a little fine tuning, will help me become a more successful leader. Through coaching, Debra has also enabled me to identify my underlying needs in hesitating to provide critical feedback to direct reports. I now see providing critical feedback as a "gift" to be used to constructively coach and mentor my direct reports. Not only am I benefiting from Debra's coaching but so are my direct reports! I would highly recommend Debra to anyone seeking coaching assistance.
Sonya M. Struc
Consulting Manager, Quality Demonstration Team
Quality and Operations Support
The Permanente Medical Group, Oakland, CA
The leadership programs and coaching offered by The Innovative Edge and Hairpin Turns are phenomenal. Before my path intersected with Denise and Ruth, I was passively operating in business without a map or compass. The simplistic tools and techniques I've learned have been instrumental in my leadership development and professional/personal growth.
I am equipped with a confidence I never knew I had and a set of skills
to help guide me through life's journey.
Jenni Raley, MPA, MSG
Senior Managerial Consultant
Quality and Operations Support
The Permanente Medical Group, Oakland, CA
I went through the Leading Without Limits™ Essentials program with The Innovative Edge and was really impressed with their course design. I now have four direct reports which includes two veteran employees and two new hires. My transition phase from peer to supervisor is now behind me. I received Ruth's consultation on how to handle the transition. I was able to take the learning to work and my personal life. I highly recommended The Innovative Edge.
I trust them.
Lydia Wang Koerner, MS
Senior Data Consultant/Supervisor
Quality and Operations Support
The Permanente Medical Group, Oakland, CA
It (the program) takes you just enough out of your comfort zone so that you have significant "aha moments" and then challenges you to create a path forward that is both inspirational and life-changing.
Maura McGinnity, Director, Major Gifts
Office of Development
Stanford University
Company