Member Spotlight - September 2025

Favorite Quote: “Develop enough courage so that you can stand up for yourself and then stand up for somebody else.” Maya Angelou
 
Can you introduce yourself to the community? 
Hi, I’m Ellen Wagner. I’m a Social Impact Entrepreneur, Keynote Speaker, Workshop Facilitator, Coach, Moderator, and Author. At ellen wagner unlimited, which I founded in 2019, our mission is to transform how we work together. We are passionate about educating and empowering individuals and standing up for ourselves and our communities. Through tailored workshops, keynotes, and digital event and facilitation solutions, we engage with business professionals, small startups, and large global enterprises across Europe, the United States, and beyond.

For the ICF New Jersey Charter Chapter, I am a member of the IDEAS Committee, part of the IDEAS Campaign Pod, and the Co-Lead for the DEIB/IDEAS Community Group.

Before your coaching journey, could you share earlier roles or roles and how they have shaped your coaching approach? 
Before I became a coach in 2019, I worked in corporate Germany and higher education for over a decade. During this time, I learned a lot about leadership—the good and bad aspects of it. When I learned how impactful coaching can be and how it can support leaders, I pursued my coaching education and got certified in Germany in the same year my family and I moved to the United States.

Could you provide an overview of your coaching training journey? 
In the year of coaching training, I grew in many ways. I learned about myself and how to help others reflect on themselves. For me, that is the most crucial first step for change. I intentionally chose systemic coaching as it focuses on the interdependent relationship that includes me to co-create the insights needed for a positive change for the coachee and the interrelated systems they are a part of.

Who has been a significant influence or mentor in your coaching journey, and how have they impacted you? 
There is not only one person that has impacted me. From the beginning of my coaching journey, it has been a whole community of coaches that offered support, connection, and a space where I can grow and belong. To name a few: Tim Doherty, Jeanette Iglesias, Kelli Kombat and Walter Slade.

Could you describe a coaching program or method that you have developed or apply in your practice? 
One of my favorite Coaching tools is the 'Inner Voices' framework by the German psychologist Schulz von Thun. His concept is part of his ‘Inner Team’ model, which helps us understand and manage the different ’voices’ or perspectives we have within us. These voices represent the different parts of ourselves - like the cautious, critical, or supportive part - that can often have conflicting opinions or emotions, especially in challenging situations.

What are your coaching values or philosophy that guide your coaching work? 
Boldness, Growth, and Community are not only my coaching values but also the values of my business and in life. They represent the boldness of generating new ideas and challenging the status quo, the continuous growth achieved through lifelong learning and open dialogue, and the strong community fostered through connection and collaboration.

What is a valuable lesson you have learned, and how it has shaped your coaching practice approach? 
The center of my work is and always has been Empowerment. My second book will be published this month. Liebe. Trotz. Widerstände. (Love. Despite. Resistance.) is a German-language anthology of 36 essays about family – told from perspectives that are often excluded: Black, queer, neurodivergent, trans, chronically ill, and working-class people. I have learned that we need a community, we need people who support us, and who believe in us. That can be hard if you think you are the only one who struggles. Therefore, my mission is to make voices visible for folks to feel seen and others to learn and gain awareness about what we think is “normal”. The focus of my coaching practice is Empowerment and strengthening individuals and teams to break through limiting beliefs and build confidence.

What are some of your preferred resources for staying updated in the coaching field? 
Community, community, community. I like trainings and conferences, but my favorite way to connect is with the coaching community.

What interests or activities do you enjoy outside of coaching? 
Any but especially outdoor activities with my wife and three kids (twin toddlers and teenager), my garden, and podcasts.

Could you share an opportunity you gained through the ICF New Jersey Charter Chapter?
Just one? ;-) I have met amazing coaches and gained many coaching skills. 

Is there anything else you wish to share beyond the questions asked? 
I got chosen to speak at this year’s ICF Converge Conference in San Diego from October 23-25. My 90-minute Learning Lab called “Coaching for Connection: Helping Clients Overcome Othering and Find Belonging at Work” helps coaches deepen their understanding of how othering, microaggressions, and discrimination show up in workplace environments, their impact on clients, and how to support clients facing these challenges.

Ellen co-leads the DEIB/IDEAS Community Group Meetings, along with Walter Slade, on the last Monday of each month at 12:00pm ET. You can reach out to Ellen on ICF Engage or Linkedin, if you choose.

Let’s keep planting seeds for meaningful transformation, nurturing connections, and building a vibrant, supportive community. - Member Engagement