Teresa Schwab, LMSW, PCC
Teresa grew up in rural Western Kansas, in a small town of about 500 people—literally a one stoplight town. She grew up riding horses, hanging laundry on the line in the summer and enjoying the ease of small town living. Her parents were involved in the community and taught her that “showing up” is always the right thing to do even when it isn’t easy. Once she graduated from high school she had a need to press her boundaries and see the world through a different lens. She married her high school sweetheart, and together, they made the decision to sell everything they owned and join the Peace Corps. They moved to the South Pacific country of the Solomon Islands in 1995 where they spent two years doing rural community development work in extremely challenging (and fun) conditions.
Because of her early experiences with leadership through 4-H, her subsequent experiences in the Peace Corps, and with a driving personal value for social justice, she went to graduate school to get a Master’s Degree in Social Welfare (MSW). All of this led her to an early career in policy and systems change work that allowed her to use her skills to make a difference in the lives of others.
She found coaching as a profession by working with her own coach through a leadership development program. It was a powerful experience that allowed her to make sense of what she was learning in an environment that was challenging, supportive and confidential. That is what she aspires to do for others. Give them a space to be totally open to explore and challenge themselves to meet whatever goals they have for themselves.
Her individual coaching work has expanded to included team coaching, group coaching and peer coaching, as well as leadership development training and capacity development work. Her ultimate goal is to support others to get better at what they do, and she finds her clients benefit most from a totally customized approach that is designed based on their needs.
In addition to having an MSW, Teresa is a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) through the International Coach Federation. She is a trained process facilitator, licensed as a TotalSDI facilitator as well as being licensed to utilize Robert Kegan and Lisa Lahey’s Immunity to Change approach.
Teresa lives in Lawrence, Kansas, with her husband of 26 years, their three school-age sons, a cat named Skippy John Jones and a dog named Dozer. She spends her free time watching soccer, doing yard work, being outside and doing DIY projects around the house.
Episode 10: The Intersection of Leadership and Risk – Teresa Schwab