Coaching For Executive Representation

Organizations with more diversity at the top tend to achieve better results in terms of performance, productivity, innovation, and profitability.

Coaching For Executive Representation is a year-long, cohort-based leadership accelerator designed to help men of color that are one or two layers removed from the executive level, advance toward executive leadership roles.

Latinx and African-Americans make up 17% and 10% of the labor force, but only 4% and 3% of the executive roles.

African Americans and Latinx individuals are grossly underrepresented in positions of power, and the higher you go, the less represented they are. Yet, organizations with diversity at every level have a leg up, and are ultimately better positioned to effectively meet their business goals.

Coaching for Executive Representation doesn’t just help men of color become executive level leaders; it helps their organization achieve their goals.

Is this for you?

Are you:

A Man of Color

(e.g. Latino, Black/African-American, African, Caribbean, Asian, American Indian or Alaska Native, Middle Eastern, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander)

1-2 Levels removed from the Executive Level of your Organization

Do you:

Work at a Non-Profit or Philanthropic Organization

(e.g. Corporate Foundation, Family Foundation, etc)

Have Aspirations of Executive Level Leadership

Want to “up your game” in the coming year

If you answered yes to these questions, then this program might be just what you are looking for.

How it Works

Participants receive a rigorous executive readiness 360 review.

Participants attend an in-person gathering in Washington DC.

Participants receive bi-weekly one-on-one executive coaching.

Participants engage in monthly management and leadership sessions (including case studies, skill-based trainings, panel discussions with subject matter experts, leadership simulations).

Participants receive support, best practices, problem solving and encouragement from a peer learning community.

Participants have access to a curated library of leadership and management resources.

Participants leverage support, mentorship and championship from the executive sponsors each organization provides.

When

This program will kick off in September 2025 and run through May 2026.
Participants will be required to do 3–5 hours of pre-work prior to the program kickoff.

This Program Helps You

Understand how others perceive you so you can better understand your superpowers, growth areas and take greater control over your professional brand.

Build the skills needed to be a more effective manager and leader.

Cultivate the hard and soft skills needed to be an authentic and conscious leader.

Better understand how your personal identity and lived experience as a man of color are showing up in how your leadership is experienced by others.

Create a more upward-facing career trajectory with achievable mileposts.

Cost and Commitment

Thanks to the generous support of our program sponsors, this $25,000 program is being offered for $12,500.

Participant Commitments

Pre-Accelerator

Complete intake survey
One-on-one kickoff call
Pre-reading and pre-work for in-person kickoff
Engage in Executive Readiness 360 Assessment

During-Accelerator

60-minute bi-weekly coaching engagement
120-minute monthly cohort engagement
Respond to Post Session and MidPoint Survey
Between-session experimentation and practice of new tools and skills
Asynchronous engagement with cohort

Post-Accelerator

Post-program survey
18 month follow-up survey and interview

Participating Organization Commitments

The organization that employs each participant will select an executive sponsor to support each participant throughout the duration of the pilot program. Once selected, the executive sponsor attends three one-hour engagements (at the beginning, middle, and end of the year), and provides ongoing support/mentorship to the participant throughout the year.

Application

The application will launch early March 2025 and will close May 30, 2025. Check back for updates.

APPLY HERE

Or, if you know someone else who would benefit from the program, refer them here.

REFERRAL FORM

Schedule a Call

Participating Organizations

Kwame guided me in systematically and honestly identifying the hurdles I needed to leap over to take my leadership to the next level. He held me accountable for asserting myself to achieve the change I wanted to see, and he consistently checked in to ensure I was making choices that I truly believed in and prioritizing self-care throughout the process. I had never encountered such a deep and discerning coaching experience like what I received in the CFER Program.

— Alan Royal, Director of Communications, Jack Kent Cooke Foundation

Kwame’s coaching has been nothing short of transformational for me. Through his incredibly sharp thinking, and tailored support, Kwame helped me realize that I was operating at the wrong altitude due to lack of confidence and self-limiting thinking. Kwame’s brilliantly structured whole group and one-on-one coaching sessions (and the 360 degree feedback) helped me realize that I have all the skills necessary to excel as an executive; I just needed someone like Kwame to help me raise the expectations of myself and provide guidance as I strive to achieve them.

— Vance Lewis, Associate Partner, Promise Venture Studio

The CFER program brought me into a community with other leaders of color to support each other in our professional growth. The group worked together well and pushed each other to think differently, opening up my perspective in important ways. I highly recommend this experience to anyone as an important investment in yourself.

— Kirat Doshi, Senior Managing Director, OneGoal

As a participant in the CFER program, I have experienced growth and development that is far different from any program because of the focus on supporting men of color. Because of the cohort approach, you’re challenged with different ideas and perspectives that can prepare you to always have that presence that’s needed. The emphasis on diversity has benefited me personally, but it has also translated to direct improvements within my org. This program addresses the gaps in my professional development that will empower people like myself to contribute and have that executive presence that will support my journey to the boardroom and beyond.

— Chris Wright, Vice President, Member Impact, Common App

I had an amazing experience with the program, which presented valuable networking opportunities, thought partnerships, and practical resource tools that I continue to utilize frequently. I highly recommend this program to anyone looking to get realistic about their career and leveling up to an executive role.

— Cesar Cedillos, Deputy Chief of Operations, Yes Prep Public Schools