Calendar of Online and Onsite Events

10:15-10:30 - Open the day of coaching at IRU

Katie Klein, Director of HR at IRU and Saba Imru-Mathieu, ICFS Lead for International Organizations and NGOs, open the coaching day at IRU which starts with a morning session reserved for IRU Staff and guests.

The morning session is by invitation.

For the afternoon sessions, please register.

10:30-12:00 Onsite by invitation

From Tension to Clarity: Brain-Smart Resilience You Can Use Today

In this highly interactive 90-minute session, we will explore what resilience looks like in daily work and life, beyond theory and into real-life pressure moments. You'll connect with peers, reflect on your stress responses, and exchange your most helpful strategies in a safe and energizing setting. Together, we'll uncover how to support your brain and body through challenges using powerful, science-backed strategies to restore and maintain balance. Expect fresh insights, simple tools, and small shifts that make a big difference.

You will leave with:

• Your brain balance profile

• A 4-strategy resilience map created by you

• A practical handout to revisit when it counts most

13:00-13:15 Welcome

Katie Klein, Director of HR at IRU and Albina Koch, President of International Coaching Federation Switzerland, launch the afternoon sessions open to employees of International Organizations and NGOs. 

Registration is mandatory.

13:15-13:45 Onsite

Building an Internal Coaching Cadre

Details coming soon

13:45-14:45 Onsite

Unlocking Your Inner Sage: Building Resilience and Leadership through Positive Intelligence

In coaching, one of the greatest shifts we can facilitate—whether for ourselves or others—is moving from a place of judgment and self-doubt to one of curiosity, empathy, and clear-headed action.

In today’s constrained and uncertain environment within international organizations, stress and complex challenges are a daily reality. Yet even amid disruption, we have the opportunity to tap into a deeper, steadier part of ourselves—our Inner Sage.

In this interactive session, Sabine McCarthy will introduce key concepts from the Positive Intelligence (PQ) framework, focusing on how to shift from negative mental patterns ("Saboteurs") to activating the Inner Sage—the part of ourselves that brings clarity, compassion, and confident action, even in difficult moments.

Participants will explore how Sage powers like empathy, curiosity, creativity, and decisive action can deepen personal leadership, strengthen adaptability, and foster healthier, more sustainable workplaces—even in times of challenge and change.

Whether you are navigating change yourself or supporting others, this session offers a dynamic and practical introduction to using Positive Intelligence principles to move through uncertainty with greater clarity, resilience, and purpose.

14:45-15:15 - Everyone is an Expert in Change

Change is not always easy, but it’s something we’re all deeply familiar with and we're actually good at it. In this talk I'll help you reconnect with your natural ability to navigate change and adapt. I'll offering practical tools to manage personal reactions to organizational change, and tips on and support your colleagues along the way. 

Blending insights from William Bridges, Daniel Goleman, Joseph Campbell's Hero’s Journey framework, and some of my childhood memories, the session explores the emotional and cognitive impact of change and how to move through it with purpose. 

15:15-15:45 From the Summit and Back Again: Finding Strength in Every Step

An inspirational talk to conclude this wonderful coaching day at IRU!

In mountaineering, just like at work and in life, reaching the summit is only halfway. The descent often requires even more strength, awareness, and energy. It's a powerful reminder not to burn out our inner engine, but to pace ourselves, refuel, and stay capable of bouncing back for the next challenge.

To close this enriching day — and mark the end of International Coaching Week — this inspirational and interactive talk offers a story of resilience grounded in Melanie's mountaineering experiences. Blending movement, metaphor, and reflections on the day's themes, Melanie creates a space to reconnect with your own inner compass, leaving you feeling inspired, grounded, and ready for what's next.