Michelle Thompson, PCC, ACTC, is the Senior Director of the Executive Coaching and Consulting Program at Concordia University Irvine’s Townsend Institute, where she leads curriculum development and advanced training for graduate students to earn an MA in Executive Coaching or a Professional Executive Coaching Certificate. Serving on the Accreditation Advisory Committee for the International Coaching Federation (ICF), she contributes to elevating professional standards and accreditation processes globally. With a robust career spanning executive coaching, nonprofit board leadership, and academic instruction, Michelle has educated and mentored hundreds of future leaders and coaches. Passionate about promoting evidence-based practice and ethical standards, she is recognized for dynamic presentations that blend scholarly rigor with practical application. Michelle is committed to actively shaping the future of coaching education through her writing, speaking, and work with the ICF and the Townsend Institute.