Leadership and Executive Coaching
Ricci Mann Victorio, MCC, CPCC, CSP
- Master Certified Coach (MCC), International Coach Federation, 2022
- President, ICF San Francisco Bay Area Coaches, 2015 - 2019, Past President, 2019-2020
- Certified Professional Co-Active Coach (CPCC), Coach Training Institute, 2011
- Certified Succession Planner (CSP), International Succession Planning Assoc., 2008
- Professional Dynametrics Programs (PDP) Professional, Trainer, Mentor & Licensed Representative, 2000
- Bachelor of Arts & Masters Graduate Studies, Theatre Arts, Directing/Dance, San Francisco State University (kudos to San Jose Sate University and University of California, Santa Barbara)
Welcome to Coaching!
I am a Master Certified Coach (MCC) through the International Coach Federation, and Certified Professional Co-Active Coach (CPCC) through the Coach Training Institute and have been coaching individuals for 25 years. I coach a variety of business owners, executives, leaders, professionals and creative individuals from all over the country to help them achieve their goals & objectives. Sometimes it is within their existing work environments, and sometimes it is to help them identify and implement a change they want to make in their lives. All coaching is done remotely via Zoom.
You will not find many coaches certified in coaching business owners through the challenges of succession planning. I provide leadership and executive coaching combined with a unique training approach in building synergistic teams and change management systems for organizations preparing for or going through rapid leadership change. Also a big part of my work with small businesses is in coaching and training their teams how to communicate and work together more effectively; defining clarity in the vision, strategic direction and purpose for the company & individuals involved; I provide tools for training in leadership, communication, hiring & motivating employees; and most importantly focus on building trust, respect and accountability.
With a rare combination of experiences - coaching actors through improvisational training for 25 years; running my own business since I was 24; diving into the business environment of succession planning and becoming a Certified Succession Planner (CSP) to work alongside financial planners, attorneys, CPAs, and other business transition professionals for 20 years; and then as a Master Certified Coach and Professional Dynametric Programs Professional (PDP) Trainer and Mentor. This wide array of experiences allows me to move between the creative, analytic and strategic very easily.
Most business owners that I work with have these common issues - they are experts in their field, but not as good in motivating, communicating and being able to redirect people for positive improvement. It is the core focus, no matter if we are working with a family business who is also looking at succession planning, or working with a team that wants to enhance the way they are performing together.
I love to coach small business owners and their teams.
I enjoy it because we work closely together with leadership to design the objectives, process and outcomes; coaching the business owner, managers & staff, individually, in their various work groups, and as a team. This is a great environment for bringing a team together, where they can experience a more round leadership model (rather than hierarchical, or top down) - which allows everyone to become aware that they are leaders at all times - it just depends upon where they are needed. Are they leading from the front? Side by side? Coaching from the back? It has created such profound growth for each of our clients - performance improves, morale goes up, retention improves, employee communication, understanding of expectations and therefore accountability starts from within. The model of The Boss holding everyone accountable is an old, tired paradigm of leadership.
My passion is in the transformation of leaders and their teams to move from simply working well together, to experience being "in a creative flow" - performing their tasks with ease, joy and clear understanding of the WHY they are doing it.
Once we understand WHO is the team, the WHY for the company and the individuals working together, it becomes easier to create the HOW we do things and WHO do we need/want to bring into the team. So, it also makes hiring the right people easier, and it usually helps to attract the kind of people you want.
I love making a difference for individuals and organizations. And what is amazing to me, is that it's not that hard and doesn't take that long, if everyone is engaged, feels safe (not vulnerable) and trusts that ownership is genuinely committed to change.
I am a Master Certified Coach (MCC) through the International Coach Federation, and Certified Professional Co-Active Coach (CPCC) through the Coach Training Institute and have been coaching individuals for 25 years. I coach a variety of business owners, executives, leaders, professionals and creative individuals from all over the country to help them achieve their goals & objectives. Sometimes it is within their existing work environments, and sometimes it is to help them identify and implement a change they want to make in their lives. All coaching is done remotely via Zoom.
You will not find many coaches certified in coaching business owners through the challenges of succession planning. I provide leadership and executive coaching combined with a unique training approach in building synergistic teams and change management systems for organizations preparing for or going through rapid leadership change. Also a big part of my work with small businesses is in coaching and training their teams how to communicate and work together more effectively; defining clarity in the vision, strategic direction and purpose for the company & individuals involved; I provide tools for training in leadership, communication, hiring & motivating employees; and most importantly focus on building trust, respect and accountability.
With a rare combination of experiences - coaching actors through improvisational training for 25 years; running my own business since I was 24; diving into the business environment of succession planning and becoming a Certified Succession Planner (CSP) to work alongside financial planners, attorneys, CPAs, and other business transition professionals for 20 years; and then as a Master Certified Coach and Professional Dynametric Programs Professional (PDP) Trainer and Mentor. This wide array of experiences allows me to move between the creative, analytic and strategic very easily.
Most business owners that I work with have these common issues - they are experts in their field, but not as good in motivating, communicating and being able to redirect people for positive improvement. It is the core focus, no matter if we are working with a family business who is also looking at succession planning, or working with a team that wants to enhance the way they are performing together.
I love to coach small business owners and their teams.
I enjoy it because we work closely together with leadership to design the objectives, process and outcomes; coaching the business owner, managers & staff, individually, in their various work groups, and as a team. This is a great environment for bringing a team together, where they can experience a more round leadership model (rather than hierarchical, or top down) - which allows everyone to become aware that they are leaders at all times - it just depends upon where they are needed. Are they leading from the front? Side by side? Coaching from the back? It has created such profound growth for each of our clients - performance improves, morale goes up, retention improves, employee communication, understanding of expectations and therefore accountability starts from within. The model of The Boss holding everyone accountable is an old, tired paradigm of leadership.
My passion is in the transformation of leaders and their teams to move from simply working well together, to experience being "in a creative flow" - performing their tasks with ease, joy and clear understanding of the WHY they are doing it.
Once we understand WHO is the team, the WHY for the company and the individuals working together, it becomes easier to create the HOW we do things and WHO do we need/want to bring into the team. So, it also makes hiring the right people easier, and it usually helps to attract the kind of people you want.
I love making a difference for individuals and organizations. And what is amazing to me, is that it's not that hard and doesn't take that long, if everyone is engaged, feels safe (not vulnerable) and trusts that ownership is genuinely committed to change.
What is a Master Certified Coach?
The ICF Master Certified Coach (MCC) credential represents the highest level of achievement in coaching and identifies an expert coach. A MCC coach will evoke transformation for their client. At the end of 2022, only 4% of all certified coaches have earned the credential of Master Certified Coach (MCC) according to the International Coach Federation.
A Master Coach is someone who, through their conversations, helps others accelerate their learning and increase their performance. The Master Coach is not an advisor but, rather, a catalyst for sustained personal change in individuals.
Ricci Mann Victorio, MCC, CPCC, CSP is a member in good standing with the International Coaching Federation, and adheres to their Code of Ethics, as posted on their website at www.coachfederation.org
What is a CPCC?
A CPCC is a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach, trained by the Coaches Training Institute and recognized as the world's premier coaching institute. The Co-Active approach balances self-awareness, a keen agility with relationships, and courageous action to create an environment where individuals can be deeply fulfilled, connected to others and successful in what matters most.
The “Co” in Co-Active suggests relationship, connection, intimacy and collaboration. Thus, the “Co” in us is curious, listens deeply, hears nuance, holds space for others, intuits and nurtures.
The “Active” in Co-Active stands for power, direction, action and manifestation. So, the “Active” in us is courageous, has clarity and conviction, takes charge and achieves goals.
The transformation happens in the collaboration between “Co” and “Active” — action that arises from presence, deep relationship and context…and presence that is channeled into dynamic action and contribution. Balancing and blending these energies allows us to move out of an “either/or” paradigm into a “yes/and” paradigm.
How to Select a Professional Coach
- Interview several coaches. You want to make sure you have a rapport with your coach and can have the basis for respect and trust.
- Ask for a sample session. Ask for references. And at the end, trust your intuition in this process.
- Know your objectives for working with a coach.
- Remember, coaching is not therapy. Make sure you understand the difference between the two and are really seeking the right venue for your needs.
Helpful Questions to Ask a Prospective Coach
- What is your coaching experience? (number of individuals coached, years of experience, types of coaching situations)
- What is your coach-specific training? (acrredited training, credentials)
- What is your coaching specialty or areas in which you most often work?
- What is your philosophy about coaching? What is your specific process for coaching? (how sessions are conducted, frequency, homework)
- What are some coaching success stories? (how the coach has added value)
Whenever you have people being pushed at absolute top levels, performing on all 100-cylinders, all of the time, they run out of gas. And when they run out of emotional gas, negative behaviors start springing up, whether you like it or not.
Ricci Victorio
The primary objective of the Coach is to work with you in a collaborative process to clarify your goals and design a plan, so you can take action:
The Coach’s primary objective in this relationship is to coach you in a co-active and collaborative process to clarify your goals and objectives, develop a roadmap and assist you in the process of achieving the desired outcome; to help you achieve a healthy work/life balance; be available to brainstorm, strategize and implement an action plan; to listen objectively and supply objective feedback and ideas.
The Coach’s primary objective in this relationship is to coach you in a co-active and collaborative process to clarify your goals and objectives, develop a roadmap and assist you in the process of achieving the desired outcome; to help you achieve a healthy work/life balance; be available to brainstorm, strategize and implement an action plan; to listen objectively and supply objective feedback and ideas.
Coaching is proven to work when two factors are present:
1. You are willing to grow.
2. There is a gap between where you are and where you want to be.
1. You are willing to grow.
2. There is a gap between where you are and where you want to be.
What is the difference between coaching, consulting and therapy?
Professional Coaching is a professional partnership between a qualified coach and an individual or team that supports the achievement of extraordinary results, based on goals set by the individual or team. Through the process of coaching, individuals focus on the skills and actions needed to successfully achieve their goals.
Consulting approaches vary widely, however, there is often an assumption that the consultant diagnoses problems, prescribes and sometimes implements solutions. The coaching relationship assumes that individuals or teams are creative, resourceful and capable of generating their own solutions, with the coach supplying supportive, discovery-based approaches and frameworks.
Therapy is different from coaching. In therapy, one “works to achieve well- ness,” whereas in coaching we focus on action - increasing capacity and reaching goals. The coach is there to help the client achieve results. We help clients to create a strong action plan to move forward and set personal and professional goals that will create their desired outcomes.
Professional Coaching is a professional partnership between a qualified coach and an individual or team that supports the achievement of extraordinary results, based on goals set by the individual or team. Through the process of coaching, individuals focus on the skills and actions needed to successfully achieve their goals.
Consulting approaches vary widely, however, there is often an assumption that the consultant diagnoses problems, prescribes and sometimes implements solutions. The coaching relationship assumes that individuals or teams are creative, resourceful and capable of generating their own solutions, with the coach supplying supportive, discovery-based approaches and frameworks.
Therapy is different from coaching. In therapy, one “works to achieve well- ness,” whereas in coaching we focus on action - increasing capacity and reaching goals. The coach is there to help the client achieve results. We help clients to create a strong action plan to move forward and set personal and professional goals that will create their desired outcomes.
How can coaching benefit a company?
It’s amazing what people can do when they feel acknowledged, excited, motivated and energized about the mission and about what their role is in it. A coach can help give people a clearer perspective on what they can control and magnify who they are and the contribution they are making, leading to a renewed sense of vision and appreciation for those they work with.
It’s amazing what people can do when they feel acknowledged, excited, motivated and energized about the mission and about what their role is in it. A coach can help give people a clearer perspective on what they can control and magnify who they are and the contribution they are making, leading to a renewed sense of vision and appreciation for those they work with.
What is the cost of stress?
Like a rubber band, we all can handle stress. We get a shot of adrenaline, we go into performance mode, we adapt and we circumvent our fears to handle the bigger cause. But also like a rubber band, if you don’t relieve that stress and the tension continues to build, people will snap. And when people snap, you see increased stress levels which lowers productivity and satisfaction.
Stress robs individuals of mental energy, their problem-solving capabilities are reduced, their fuses become shorter and they snap at trivial things. They lose sight of the big picture and feel like they’re drowning, to the point that they can’t even see the path that they’re on. They’re so busy removing stones from their path that they don’t feel like they’re moving forward. They lose sight of the vision and goals that were so painstakingly created by leadership. When the stress gets too great, people are going to do something to reduce it, whether that is quitting, blowing up, firing someone, getting sick with a stress-related illness or taking it out on their families. And all of those results are damaging to the company.
An executive coach can help identify the root of the problem - where the predictable stress related to the business collides with additional factors may can compound and derail a focused, productive team.
Client Experiences & Testimonials working with Ricci:
“We had a very successful experience together. We set clear, measurable objectives and established the tangible results I wanted, and determined the intangible results I wanted as well. Ricci was great with:
- Great communication and feedback
- Identifying problems
- Supplementing existing staff
- Initiating change
- Providing objectivity
- Teaching and training employees on personality compatibility
- Paid attention to our action plan.
“Not everyone has ready answers to the typical sort of questions that are asked when discussing personal business development. Questions like, “what are your goals?” and “where do you see yourself in 5 years?” can quickly shut people down and make them feel stuck. That’s where Ricci comes in. She knows how to reach people where they are. She creates a safe place where one can dream and think and plan. And then what she does next is so critical and so rare: she nurtures the fragile ideas. She helps strengthen them and gently shepherds them from idea to plan to steps in the plan. And then, somehow, you are moving along in your 5-year plan and have goals and are taking steps to achieve them! The key thing is she understands that in order for it to be your 5-year plan, it has to have your buy-in and reflect your skills and visions. (And it also has to realistic and fit the business.) Having a coach who can help you on a path for authentic growth for yourself is a wonderful thing indeed.” L.R., San Francisco, CA
“1/2 years ago my life as I knew it blew up a bit. I had so many caring, kind, generous friends and family rush to my side to hold me up at that time. I reached out to someone I already knew as a pioneer in motivation and moving forward, I hired Ricci Victorio as my Life Coach. [And became a Life Coach] Today, Ricci added my name as a coach to a company she co-founded called Creative Agility. During our work together, I envisioned working as partners with Ricci, today is another step, one more step, a step together. Thank you Ricci, and to all the Creative Agility Partners, I am honored to be among you.” E. D., Rochester, NY
“There have been a few times in my life when I realized that, in order to push through a barrier to reach the next level on my journey, I was going to need to bring in some assistance. Twice now, I have achieved the clarity, plan and motivation I needed by partnering with Ricci Victorio. The first time was many years ago when Ricci was facilitating Breakthrough Weekends. I was at a crossroads, I needed to make a big decision, by the end of that weekend, and that experience, led by Ricci, I was certain of my path forward and I executed it. Fast forward 15 years and Ricci is still helping people clarify their goals and break through barriers to achieve them. I reached out to her again. Through incredible professionalism, organization, wisdom and insight I am once again on a more certain path due to our work together. Thank you, Ricci for all you do!” K.W., Chicago, IL
“Ricci and I worked together in a professional coaching capacity for about 1 1/2 years. During that time period, we went over my ProScan, discussed what my 3-5 year professional goals were and identified what roadblocks might prevent me from achieving those goals. Then we developed strategies for dealing with those roadblocks including building on past successful tools as well as development of new tools that are actually "doable" given my life experience. The result is very satisfactory in that not only do I believe I have a plan as to how to achieve my goals but I also have a toolbox of strategies that I actually believe will work. The sense of confidence is there.” S.B., San Francisco, CA
“Ricci has been a pivotal part of my transformation. She led me from a glimmer of “maybe I’ll become a coach” to full blown “I’m a certified coach, owning my own practice and traveling the nation doing workshops,” in less than a year. She made me accountable for my truth and allowed me to experiment and grow without judgment… always walking beside me. She was always able to move me forward in each session and held a safe space for exploration. I KNOW that I would not be where I am today without her!” J.D., Orlando, FL
“I had dreams and visions and a desire to want to accomplish great things in my life one day, but I did not know how to get started. I did not know how to move forward on my own to live out my dreams. Then I realized one day that I needed a life coach to help me sort out some things in my life and help me figure out how to dump the garbage to reveal the gold nuggets. Ricci Victorio is helping me to do just that! I am now soaring to heights that I did not realize were possible! Since my connection with her I have been able to set appropriate boundaries with my spouse. I have taken on so much courage to conquer some things that I use to be afraid of.” D.F., San Francisco, CA
“In thinking about a way to best describe my relationship with my coach, Ricci Mann Victorio and the effect her coaching has had on me and my life…is that her way of steering this old dog back in the right direction, reminding me that, “I am at choice” and occasionally the “jet engine” in a creating session. Ricci is all of that and more. Her ruthless compassion keeps our sessions on target with a declared goal in mind. Sometimes we discover magic in our time together, unearthing old belief systems which have kept me stuck for years; other times we steamroll straight ahead into a dilemma that is occurring right before us. The small treasures are those moments when, together, we wed the “old me” with the “new me” and have them actually talk with each other.” K.B., Naples, FL