CULTIVATING YOUR
CLASSROOM PRESENCE™
Program Overview
This program welcomes university and college educators—professors, instructors, postdocs, and teaching-focused staff, into the practice of facilitation as mastery. Designed for educators who want to deepen their authentic presence in the classroom, the program supports you to:
- explore the “inner place” that shapes how you show up in the classroom
- cultivate your authentic presence and unique style as a facilitator
- strengthen your capacity to co-create active learning spaces and relationships while fostering psychological safety at key course moments—opening, midpoint, and closing
- develop your own practice on the path of facilitation mastery
- integrate authentic presence as a meta-capacity that enhances your life beyond teaching
Teaching in today’s universities and colleges often means being overworked, underfunded, and under constant pressure. This program is designed as a sanctuary in the midst of that complexity—a space for you to pause and take a breath. Like tending a garden, it becomes a regular touchpoint to replenish your energy and feel more resourced—not just as an instructor, but as a leader, facilitator, and thought leader in your field. By strengthening your presence, you’ll bring renewed focus and clarity to your life and work.
At the heart of the program is a powerful executive group coaching model. This approach amplifies learning through connection, stretches thinking through exposure to diverse perspectives, and creates a safe, accountable container for meaningful transformation. Our faculty of coaches for this program are exceptional—explore their bios below.
Program Details
This program weaves together collective and individualized learning over the arc of a typical four-month university or college semester. By combining small, intimate coaching pods with a few timely full-cohort gatherings, the program creates the ideal conditions for instructors to cultivate authentic presence, enhance teaching impact, and build meaningful relationships with a like-minded/hearted global peer community.
Full-Cohort Gatherings
Three cohort-wide touchpoints provide shared experiences and alignment. The dates for these are scheduled as:
- Opening: November 13, 2025 | 1–2 PM EST / 6-7PM UTC
- Midpoint: January 21, 2026 | 1–2 PM EST / 6-7PM UTC
- Closing: March 11, 2026 | 1–2 PM EDT / 5-6PM UTC
Small-Group Coaching Pods
Six biweekly small-group coaching pods—three between each gathering—offer space for:
- Deeper reflection
- Inner alignment
- The power of peer insight
Each pod is intentionally small, with 4-5 participants, to ensure personalized attention and meaningful interaction. Guided by a certified developmental coach, these pods are where the real transformation unfolds. Sessions start with outcomes tailored to your goals and evolve responsively, supported by caring, collective accountability. The dates for these six sessions will be scheduled amongst the pod members once the pods are formed.
Program enrolment for Fall of 2026 is now closed.
Lead Facilitator
Samina Hashmi
Samina is a university instructor in the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Toronto, a master facilitator, executive coach, and award-winning educator. She holds a higher education teaching certificate from Harvard University and brings over 20 years of facilitation and coaching experience into the classroom—and now into this program.
Samina Hashmi
I made my way into executive coaching over a decade ago after holding senior leader roles myself and coming from an engineering background. I founded Drop Ocean Consulting; a boutique consulting practice that specializes in executive coaching, team development and strategy to support leaders and teams to step into their fullest leadership possibility.
My coaching approach is developmental and integrates adult learning, psychology, mindfulness, somatics and interpersonal neurobiology, among others. I am certified by Presence-Based® Coaching and the International Coach Federation. As well, I am certified to administer a number of leadership assessments, including the best-in-class Leadership Circle ProfileTM 360o Assessment and the team-based Collective Leadership AssessmentTM.
Developmental coaching focuses on cultivating inner mastery and new competencies that can serve for a lifetime. Along the way, clients build their leadership presence and resilience. Through coaching outcomes designed jointly with the client, and practices and exercises curated specifically for the client, they become more self-generative; able to choose effective and purposeful responses to whatever life offers.
In addition, I am a member of University of Toronto’s Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering, where I teach a popular leadership course to engineering students, for which I was awarded the inaugural Teaching Award in 2023 from ISTEP (Institute for Studies in Transdisciplinary Engineering and Practice).
Lead Coaches
Annie Simpson
Annie Simpson
For 20 years I have been developing leaders though coaching, training and facilitation.
At the University of Toronto, I was the Associate Director of the Troost Institute for Leadership Education in Engineering. I helped technically-oriented people become effective people-leaders. I led a team of 6 staff and convened 14 academic professors. I know first-hand how rewarding and challenging it can be to lead.
At Western University, my work is exclusively with people-leaders. I am privileged to bring communities of leaders together for learning and conversation that inspires their ongoing growth and impact. I have created and delivered customized professional education for Women in Capital Markets, Toronto Hydro, and the University of Toronto’s OPTIONS program among others. I enjoy working with leaders from various sectors including corporate, higher education and not for profit.
I received coach training from the College of Executive Coaching and I specialize in emotional intelligence, team leadership, and helping leaders to discover and reconnect with purpose. Values that guide my work include compassion, creativity, equity & inclusion, generosity, and integrity. I believe that leader wellbeing is essential to organizational success.
Dr. Reinoud Driebergen
Dr. Reinoud Driebergen
I have 35 years of international experience in the biopharma industry in various global and operational CMC roles and leadership positions. As a leader, I have successfully guided cross-functional, international teams in product development and registration, Rebif® Life Cycle Management, Process Control Strategy Development, Process Validation, Quality by Design, and Quality Control. I have also been involved in many reorganization projects, supporting the teams with content, facilitation, and coaching input.
I have been involved in creative leadership development since 2015 and have led a collective leadership development program for 140 leaders in middle-management positions for three years.
My leadership and coaching style is down-to-earth, authentic, pragmatic, and transparent, with a touch of humour. This unique blend fosters psychological safety, trust, and empowerment, ensuring a supportive and productive work environment.
As one of the Top 15 Coaches in Zug in 2024, nominated by Influence Digest Media, and as a Leadership Circle® Certified Practitioner, my clients are in good hands.
I firmly believe in psychological safety, trust, and transparency.
Jackie Crispin-Brown
Jackie Crispin-Brown
With over 20 years of experience, Jackie has had the privilege of working alongside leaders and teams from many different industries. She understands that organisations are complex systems made up of individuals and teams holding immense potential. Jackie’s passion is helping people tap into that potential, expand into their leadership roles, and create meaningful, lasting impact through their work.
For Jackie, leadership isn’t just about strategy—it’s about the whole person: mind, body, and heart. She supports leaders in finding calm amidst the chaos, reconnecting with their sense of purpose, and making thoughtful decisions that lead to progress.
Jackie has coached many professionals, from C-Suite and executives, healthcare workers to engineers, lawyers, and business owners, always tailoring her approach to meet their unique needs. Her work spans industries such as manufacturing, healthcare, non-profits, and many more, always focused on making a real, positive difference.
Dr. Clarence R. Crane
Dr. Clarence R. Crane
Dr. Reggie Crane is a retired Air Force Chief Master Sergeant, former Booz Allen Hamilton Organizational Development Consultant, former federal government Chief, Human Capital Development, Management, and Sustainment, and current Founder, Next Level Coaching and Consulting. He is an experienced communication effectiveness coach, executive coach, Group Coach and public speaker.
He has provided over 200 hours of facilitating conflict management workshops and senior leader coaching for the Federal Executive Institute, and over 300 hours of coaching to senior and C-suite leaders.
While in the role of Air Force Technical Applications Center (AFTAC) Chief, Human Capital Development, Management and Sustainment, he developed and implemented a 1,000 hour 3-tier leadership program focused on self-awareness, collaboration, and strategic goal achievement.
He is a certified associate coach (ACC) by International Coaching Federation, certified in a wide range of coaching methodologies, and certified to administer a number of assessments, including the Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), of which he has debriefed over 1,000.
Lisa Howard
Lisa Howard
I offer experiential and mindfulness-based training, facilitation and coaching for leaders, educators and teams seeking to shift their energy from surviving to thriving.
My intention is to create transformative learning experiences that foster authentic presence, deepen connection, and create freedom from the barriers that hold us back.
My commitment to this work emerges from my passion for experiential learning, my dedication to mind/body practice, my love of nature, and my belief in the power of human connection to transform lives.
I hold a M.Ed in experiential learning, am a Presence-Based® Coaching practitioner, and have a number of certifications and training that include; Kripalu® Outdoor Guide, Kripalu® RISE™ Facilitator, Kripalu® Restorative Yoga Teacher, and Navigating Challenging Dialogue®.
FAQ
We invite you to browse our Frequently Asked Questions to learn more about the program. If anything isn’t clear or you’d like to connect, we’d love to hear from you at [email protected].
We are aiming to offer a Spring 2026 program in May 2026. Please stay tuned to this page for when the exact dates will be announced and registration will be open. You are also welcome to send us an email and we’ll contact you right when dates get finalized. Thank you for your interest.
Each coaching pod will be made up of 5-6 participants, plus a certified coach. The power of group coaching is well known for deeper developmental work, especially when guided by a masterful coach – and that’s just how we’ve set things up!
If you need to withdraw 15 or more days before the program begins, you’re eligible for a full refund minus a small administrative fee of $50. Because spots are limited and the group experience is carefully designed, no refunds are offered once the program has begun.
That said, we understand that unexpected things happen. If you’re facing extenuating circumstances, we’ll do our best to work with you. This might include a credit toward a future program or the option to transfer your spot to someone else (with approval). We’re committed to holding a supportive space while honoring the time, energy, and preparation that goes into creating this experience.
We offer a 10% discount if you have 2 or more people from your department attending the program. Please contact [email protected] to arrange your personalized payment link. If you have 25 or more participants, we recommend a tailored program offering specific to your group and invite you to email us to explore further.
Well, for one, this is not a workshop or training model. The design of this program is based on adult learning principles and a developmental coaching model. It uses the clearest research on neuroscience and on how adults really learn, by integrating the learning with your real-time and real-life experiences. A small group peer coaching group, guided by a certified developmental coach, accelerates and deepens the individual learning by going below the surface in a safe and trusted space. As well, it leverages the wisdom of peers to deepen learning.
After the first cohort-wide touchpoint, you will be placed and introduced to your small group coaching pods. Guided by your coach, it will be up to you and your coaching pod to find the times that work best for your shared schedules. Ideally all six dates will be scheduled immediately following the first touchpoint.
Absolutely! We will provide a certificate of completion upon request.