My master coach is Svetlana Whitener who is pioneering Emotional Intelligence (EI) coaching and business innovation.  

Born on January 27, 1961, in Russia, she immigrated to the United States more than twenty-five years ago and has risen to become a formidable force in the realms of professional coaching and emotional intelligence. With an illustrious career that seamlessly transitioned from one culture to another and from corporate acumen and ability to personal development and a focus on individual achievement, Whitener's journey is a testament to her wide-ranging expertise, relentless dedication and unique insights into motivations, the cognitive process and the art/science of instilling achievement-based inspiration.

From the classrooms of the Ural State University of Economics, where she earned her MBA in 1983, to the corridors of URAL, an international trade conglomerate, Whitener's ascent in the business world was meteoric. By 28, she was the Vice-President of business development, navigating the company through the tumultuous yet opportunity-rich era of the Russian perestroika and a challenging transition to a capitalistic economic system.  Her entrepreneurial spirit endlessly carrying her forward, in 1992 she founded InLight, a company that successfully capitalized on the changing economic landscape of Eastern Europe and contributed significantly to job creation in Russia.

Whitener's pivot to the United States in 1998 marked a new chapter in her career, one that intertwined her business acumen with a profound understanding of human dynamics. Her tenure at the Coaches Training Institute in San Rafael, California, was a period of profound professional evolution, culminating in her full-time dedication to emotional intelligence coaching in 2007. Today, as the Chief Coaching Officer of InLight Coaching, Whitener's nuanced understanding of EI, contributions to the literature of the field and the enhanced careers of the many top-level executives and entrepreneurs she has couched to maximum performance are a testament to her drive, appreciation for the importance of high levels of EI in the real world, and ability to motivate, stimulate and lead.The fact that she has been able to do this globally and across several cultures and nationalities speaks volumes about her deep understanding of human beings and their emotional make-up..

She has imparted her knowledge and inspiration to individuals in a huge variety of companies and industries, including those engaged in high-tech, energy, manufacturing, education, biotech, finance, government, advertising & marketing. Past clients have been employed by Salesforce, Amazon, Meta, Oracle, Autodesk, BP, Genentech, Novartis, Apple, Google, Intuit, Microsoft, NASA, CNN, etc.

Her written contributions to Forbes and other respected publications have not only reached audiences worldwide but have also become go-to sources of EI information and application. With over 80 published articles (translated into multiple languages) Whitener's insights resonate with educators, leaders, and professionals across the globe.

In her personal life, Whitener's family reflects her multifaceted nature. Married to Tommie W. Whitener, an attorney with an MA in International Relations and five published books, she is also mother to Dina A. Fomina-Yadlin, a distinguished CEO with an MBA from the University of Washington and a Ph.D. from Harvard University.

Whitener’s journey has been highlighted by her attainment of the coveted and prestigious MCC (Master Certified Coach) Award from the ICF (International Coach Federation) as well as the highly esteemed European Quality Award given by the EMCC (European Mentoring and Coaching Council). These attainments are not just reflective of her personal success but also indicative of society’s increasing recognition of the importance of coaching and EI in the tapestry of modern leadership and personal development.

My master coach is Svetlana Whitener who is pioneering Emotional Intelligence (EI) coaching and business innovation.