Leadership Coaching Practice Lab

  • Saba Imru-Mathieu
  • Executive & Leadership Coaching
  • Monthly 90-minute Lab sessions
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Each 90-minute session structure 

 Interactive lecture by your instructor
Examine the concept, model or case together
 Exercises and practice in dyads or small groups in breakout rooms
 Debrief together
 Prepare to apply in your practice

overview
EVERY SECOND THURSDAY OF THE MONTH, 18:00-19:30 CET, FOR 8 MONTHS.

12 NOV. 2026 - 10 JUNE 2027.

Monthly 90-minute online live interactive  lab session on Zoom, plus worksheets, exercises, curated readings, a practical experiment to build new leadership and coaching habits in your practice.

Access to a private community page to exchange between the labs.

Once you enrol, you will access each Zoom session directly from the course.

Tuition

  • CHF 880.- for the full program
    or
    8 monthly installments of CHF 110.-

What this Lab is

The Leadership Coaching Practice Lab is an 8-month professional development programme for coaches who work with leaders, or coaches preparing to move into this field.

It brings together leadership understanding, coaching depth and deliberate practice, so you can work with greater confidence, nuance and effectiveness in complex leadership contexts.

The programme unfolds through four connected learning themes, moving from the coach, to the person behind the leadership role, to the organizational system, and finally to more advanced leadership coaching judgment.

Each month combines a 90-minute interactive session for learning, case exploration, practice, reflection and application in real-world coaching 

Between Labs, you will receive weekly practice and reflection prompts to help you apply the learning in your coaching work.

You will also have access to a private community page for exchanges amongst peers.
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Why I created the Coaching Lab

Saba Imru-Mathieu
I created the Coaching Practice Lab from a conviction that has grown stronger through my work with leaders and coaches: coaching and modern leadership are increasingly converging. They are not the same discipline, but they share foundations such as self-awareness, deep listening, thoughtful inquiry, trust, reflection and responsibility. I see them as two sides of the same coin.

I also wanted to bridge the gap between foundational coach training—which rightly focuses on core coaching competencies—and specialist leadership-coaching programmes that are not always accessible or easy to translate into everyday practice.

The Lab brings together evidence-based leadership thinking, advanced coaching approaches and practical application with peers. It broadens our lens beyond the coaching conversation to include leadership roles, organizations, systems, power, judgement and our own use of self.

It is neither a conventional course nor supervision, but a space for focused practice, reflection and dialogue—strengthening both our coaching practice and our own leadership capacity.
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Who it is for


The Leadership Coaching Practice Lab is for coaches who have completed foundational coach training and are already coaching leaders or beginning to work in leadership coaching.

We build on that foundation, so the program is not designed as an introduction to coaching.

The Lab is open to coaches from different professional backgrounds and affiliations. We are happy to welcome

  • Independent coaches working with leaders and executives
  • Internal coaches in organizations
  • Coaches moving into leadership or executive coaching
  • Experienced coaches who want to deepen their understanding of leadership and organizations

What you will develop


By the end of the programme, you will be better able to:

  1. Coach leaders with greater nuance in complex roles and systems
  2. Strengthen your leadership literacy and organizational awareness
  3. Deepen your coaching skills through practice and reflection
  4. Exercise better judgment about when to inquire, challenge, inform or step back
  5. Use yourself more intentionally as a coach
  6. Recognize patterns involving identity, pressure, power and organizational dynamics
  7. Apply practical approaches directly with clients
  8. Strengthen your positioning as a leadership coach


The overall aim: to bring together coaching depth and leadership understanding so you can work with leaders with greater confidence, discernment and effectiveness.
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The 8-Month Learning Journey

Theme - The Coach in the Room

Lab 1: 12 November 2026 - Purpose, Use of Self and the Coach’s Responsibility 
Explore how your presence, assumptions, values and reactions influence the coaching relationship.

Lab 2: 10 December 2026 - Do You Need to Understand Leadership to Coach Leaders?
Examine the role of leadership knowledge, expertise and curiosity in effective coaching.

Theme - The Person Behind the Leader

Lab 3: 14 January 2027 - Identity, Role and the Person Behind the Title
Explore how leadership roles shape identity, behaviour and self-perception.

Lab 4: 11 February 2027 - Patterns Under Pressure
Recognize recurring reactions and behavioural patterns when leaders are under stress.

Theme  - Coaching in Organizations

Lab 5: 11 March 2027 - Power, Influence and the Organizational Reality
Work with authority, influence, stakeholder dynamics and organizational politics.

Lab 6: 08 April 2027 - Seeing the System, Not Just the Leader
Expand your lens to include culture, structures, relationships and systemic patterns.

Theme  - Advanced Leadership Coaching Practice

Lab 7: 13 May 2027 - Challenge, Accountability and Courageous Coaching
Explore how to combine trust and support with challenge and accountability.

Lab 8: 10 June 2027 - Complexity, Judgment and the Mature Leadership Coach
Integrate your learning and strengthen your professional judgment in complex coaching situations.

How the monthly learning rhythm works

Every month your learning is structured in an easy rhythm, and integrated comfortably in your coaching practice. 

IN THE LIVE LAB

1. Learn — a focused conceptual input
2. Examine — a case, dilemma, demonstration or research example
3. Experiment — practice, reflection or structured peer work
4. Integrate — connect the learning to your own coaching

IN BETWEEN LABS

5. Monthly Action — one practical experiment to apply before the next session.

The emphasis is always on turning ideas into better practice.

If you miss one session, you can watch the replay of the presentation of the concept. The group discussions are not recorded, but with the worksheets and selected readings, you will be able to practice during the month until the next meeting.
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Write your awesome label here.

What's included


  • Eight live, interactive 90-minute Practice Labs — 12 hours in total
  • Eight recordings of the conceptual input
  • Sixteen practice and reflection worksheets
  • Sixteen curated readings or videos
  • One guided experiment after each Lab
  • Access to a private peer community facilitated by your instructor
  • A Certificate of Completion for participants who meet the attendance requirements
  • ICF CCE allocation to be confirmed, subject to approval

Certificate and CCEs

To receive the Certificate of Completion, participants must attend at least seven of the eight live Labs and take part in the interactive practice.

Watching the recording supports missed learning but does not replace live attendance for certificate purposes.
________________________________________________________________

The programme is designed with ICF Continuing Coach Education requirements in mind, with selected sessions intended for submission for CCE accreditation.

Final CCE allocation will be confirmed once accreditation is approved.

Participants who meet the programme completion requirements will  receive a Certificate of Completion from Leaders Today Academy.

Fee and Enrollment

Time frame: 12 November 2026 to 10 June 2027
8 monthly, interactive  live online sessions
90 minutes per session
Programme fee: CHF 880

Payment options
Pay in full: CHF 880
OR
Pay by instalments: 8 monthly payments of CHF 110

Whichever option you choose, you are enrolling for the full 8-month programme.  The instalment plan simply allows you to spread the cost over the duration of the Lab.

Places are limited to keep the sessions interactive and practice-focused.

Dates

Meetings on
2nd Thursday of the month, 18:00-19:30 CET
12 November 2026 - 10 June 2027

  • 12 November 2026
    10 December 2026
    14 January 2027
    11 February 2027
    11 March 2027
    08 April 2027
    13 May 2027
    10 June 2027

90-minute interactive meetings
Zoom meeting accessible directly from the course

Your Instructor

Saba Imru-Mathieu, MA, PCC

Executive Leadership Coach, Senior Coach Trainer
ABOUT 
Saba is CEO and Co-founder of Leaders Today where she designs and delivers executive coaching programs, coaching skills training and coaching culture projects.

The purpose of her work is to create the conditions for individual leaders, organizations and society to flourish.

Saba has a rich international career in the UN, where she was the Head of HR for the Standards Bureau, designing HR strategy and developing a coaching culture. 

In the education field, she was a Senior Trainer at the Institute of Coaching in Geneva, leading the program in English to train professional certified coaches.  

She was a Lecturer on leadership and international careers at the University of Applied Sciences, Switzerland, and at EDHEC Nice and EMLyon Business Schools, where she also coached the international MBA students.

She has an MA in Leadership, is a certified Master Coach in Leadership and Communication, and an ICF Professional Certified Coach.

Saba is the author of "Leading with Coaching", launching the Scribd series on Coaching, and writes extensively on her blog. 

She is an inspiring and passionate keynote speaker who talks about leadership, coaching, change and human development.   

She gave a TEDx Talk that has over 150k views "Leaders who coach are creating better workplaces, and so can you" in Lausanne at the Homo Futuris session.

Saba volunteers at International Coaching Federation as Leader for the Valais Community and for International Organizations and NGOs.   She is volunteer President and co-Founder of Coach for Peace.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Practice Lab?

An eight-session live online, interactive program for leadership and executive coaches. Across four themes, we explore ideas, examine coaching practice and experiment with new approaches.

Who is the Practice Lab for?

The Practice Lab is for coaches who have completed foundational coach training and are already coaching leaders or beginning to work in leadership coaching. We build on that foundation, so the program is not designed as an introduction to coaching.

Is this coaching supervision?

No. The Practice Lab is an interactive professional development program. We may explore anonymised coaching situations, but we do not supervise individual client engagements or assess your practice.

How do we protect confidentiality?

All of us are coaches and adhere to some form of professional ethical standards.  Our learning environment is not different. When we start the programme we will all agree to keep fellow participants’ contributions within the group, anonymise any client examples, and not take screenshots or make recordings. What you learn can leave the room; who said what stays in the room.

When do we meet?

We meet on the second Thursday of each month, at 18:00 CET, for a 90 minute session, from 12 November 2026 to 10 June 2027.  These eight meetings are scheduled on our secure Zoom platform and can be accessed from the course page. 

The sessions are in meeting format, so that you can all engage with your instructor and each other. It is not a webinar, where you can sit in the background and just listen.

Will I need to participate?

Yes. We meet in a Zoom meeting because conversation and practice are part of the learning. You will be able to see and speak with other members, contribute to discussion and, depending on the session, work with colleagues in breakout rooms.

You won’t be asked to perform, but please come ready to contribute and work with fellow coaches. That's how you will make the best of it.

What if I miss a session?

The teaching portion will normally be recorded so you can catch up. Discussions, peer practice and breakout rooms are not recorded. Session resources will also be available in the Academy..

Will I appear in the recordings?

Only the teaching portion of the Lab is recorded, so no, you will not appear in the recordings. Recording will stop before we move into member discussion, peer practice or breakout rooms.

How does payment work?

You can pay in full (CHF 880) or choose the instalment option (8 monthly payments of CHF 110) as shown at checkout.

Whichever option you choose, you are enrolling for the full 8-month programme. The instalment plan simply allows you to spread the cost over the duration of the Lab.

What is your refund policy?

You enrol for the full eight-session program, so fees are normally non-refundable. But if you decide within 30 days of the first session that the Practice Lab is not right for you, let us know and we’ll refund everything you’ve paid. We’ll do the same if a major life event prevents you from continuing later in the program. Any remaining instalments will be cancelled.

If you’re unsure whether the Practice Lab is right for you, or would like more information before enrolling, please contact me. I’ll be happy to talk it through with you.

What do I get when I sign up for this program?

12 hours of live interactive online Practice Lab
8 recordings of the presentation of the key concepts
16 worksheets for practice or reflective practice
16 selected readings or videos
One monthly guided experiment to take into your coaching practice
Access to a private community page for exchanges amongst peers facilitated by your instructor
1 Certificate of completion
ICF CCEs as applicable

Will I receive a Certificate?

To receive the Certificate of Completion, participants must attend at least seven of the eight live Labs and take part in the interactive practice.
Watching the recording supports missed learning but does not replace live attendance for certificate purposes.

Will the program offer ICF CCE credits?

We have prepared the application for ICF Continuing Coach Education (CCE) accreditation.   The program is not yet ICF accredited, so we cannot currently promise CCE credits or confirm how many may be awarded. We’ll update participants as soon as ICF has made a decision.

The Leaders Today Academy certificate of completion has a separate attendance requirement.

Who owns the materials and models used in the Practice Lab?

The Practice Lab draws on established research, theories and models from coaching, leadership, psychology and related fields. Sources and authors will be acknowledged wherever appropriate.
It also includes original Leaders Today and Saba Imru-Mathieu frameworks, models, teaching materials, worksheets and other resources.

Unless a resource specifically says otherwise, membership materials are provided for your personal professional learning and development. They may not be copied, republished, sold, distributed, uploaded elsewhere, incorporated into your own training programmes or presented as your own work without permission.
Some practical tools may specifically be made available for use with your own coaching clients. When that is the case, the resource will say so clearly.

One last thing...

This is a professional learning community.
We welcome different perspectives, thoughtful disagreement, curiosity and experimentation. Members are expected to contribute respectfully and to protect the confidentiality of colleagues and clients.
The aim isn't to discover the one “right” way to coach.
It is to keep becoming more knowledgeable, perceptive and skilful in the way we practise.