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About this course
What you’ll learn
Elite executives cannot stay sharp if they neglect to properly coach their teams. Extraordinary teams require extraordinary leadership. Lead by example by earning your coaching designation through expert classroom instruction delivered in cooperation with The Sherpa Library.
Learn the foundations of executive coaching and why it matters, communication tools and styles that are most conducive to success, and best practices for negotiating with clients. This program asks the big questions that push beyond conventional standards. By examining the coaching process, the class can organically cover every square inch of the coaching process through expert weekly support. The client based practicum is an opportunity to put what you learn to action and gain a fresh perspective on building rapport with your clients.
As you take the class, you’ll have 60 hours in the classroom and 18 hours of expert weekly support with a practicum client assignment which continues after the two-week classroom phase concludes. The Sherpa process involves six phases, with comprehensive exercises, assessments, and activities associated with each phase. See the course syllabus (Opens in a new window) for more details.
Learning objectives
- Recognize the difference between executive coaching, therapy/counseling, consulting, and mentoring.
- Interpret the concept of metacognition as it relates to Why It Matters.
- Define and explain Impact on Business, the 6 phases, 2 routes, 10 paths, and 33 tools included in the Sherpa coaching process.
- Collaborate effectively with classmates to practice and examine the process.
- Understand and demonstrate the ten Characteristics of a Good Coach.
- Create client-mapping evidence for five program case studies.
- Manage 12-15 expert-facilitated coaching sessions with a Practicum Client and Certified Practicum Instructor.
- Given the decision-making tools, choose the route, path, and tools to guide the practicum client toward their Summit; including an action plan.
Who should attend?
This program benefits a wide variety of professionals including human resource managers, training and development professionals, corporate and career coaches, or practicing executive coaches who are not yet certified.
Continuing Education Information
Upon completion of the required assignments, you earn the designation of Certified Executive Coach from Sherpa Library LLC. Your efforts, aligned with our reputation, help you build your brand and realize your full potential as a coach. You earn 7.8 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) from The University of Georgia and a Digital Badge (Opens in a new window).
Visit the University of Georgia CEU (Opens in a new window) policies for more details.
Requirements & policies
Schedule
One-Hour Virtual Orientation: Monday, March 2, 2026, at 6:00 p.m.
Week 1: March 30 – April 2, 2026
Week 2: May 5-8, 2026
Participation in both weeks is required.
After the in-classroom sessions, you will complete a multi-week, asynchronous practicum client assignment with your Sherpa Coach.
Location
UGA Center for Continuing Education & Hotel
1197 South Lumpkin Street
Athens, GA 30602
See map: Google Maps
Fees & funding information
Standard fee includes lodging and instruction.
The registration fee includes all instructional materials, daily lunch and breaks, lodging, and parking. Our office will issue a final confirmation to you on or about February 26.
A commuter fee is available for participants who live in the Athens area.
Military
This classroom course has been approved by the Department of Veterans Services to receive GI Bill® funding (Opens in a new window). Spouses of active duty members eligible for MYCAA (Opens in a new window), Air Force TA (Opens in a new window) and Army TA (Opens in a new window) may contact their education service officer to apply for course approval. For more information regarding funding for this course, visit our Financial and Military Assistance (Opens in a new window) page or contact our office at 706-542-3537.
Cancellation or refund
We will issue a refund, minus a $250 processing fee, for cancellations made before February 23, 2026. No refunds for cancellations after that date. All cancellation and refund requests must be sent via email to gc-student@uga.edu. If the program is canceled by the Georgia Center, we will refund the full enrollment fee. Please note that the Georgia Center is not responsible for any cancellation or change fees charged by airlines or travel agencies. Our office will issue a final confirmation to participants around February 26.
Certification
Certified Executive Coach (CSC) designation from Sherpa Library, LLC.
The course’s CEU hours can be used toward International Coach Federation* (ICF) continuing education hours when you apply. If you would like to become credentialed and certified as an ICF Associate Certified Coach or renew an ICF Certification, this program allows you to earn up to 60 classroom Continuing Coach Education hours (CCE) that you can use as part of your ACC Portfolio Path application. ICF certification details are subject to change without notice.
Textbooks
The Sherpa Guide: Process-Driven Executive Coaching sets the standard for “how to coach” books and for the field of executive coaching itself. The textbook is packed with actionable items — tips, tricks, and techniques for an executive coach to use with any client. A copy of The Sherpa Guide: Process-Driven Executive Coaching is included in the registration fee.
People
Instructors
The program is based on the textbook, The Sherpa Guide: Process-Driven Executive Coaching. The following Certified Sherpa Coaches could be instructors/facilitators for the class; subject to change without notice.
DeCoffette Ward is a master executive coach, an author, facilitator, lead instructor, and Chief People Office with Sherpa Library LLC. DeCoffette brings 20 years of facilitation and leadership experience, which has allowed her to contribute to the growth and success of companies in the electric power industry, the military, and manufacturing. Along with Brenda Corbett, she is a Sherpa co-author of “Executive Presence: Humility” and her own book called, Dream. Write. Execute.
Danielle (Dani) Redder is the CEO at Sherpa Library LLC, as well as a Master Certified Sherpa Executive Coach. She received her coaching certification from the University of Georgia in 2015 and has a BA in Communications and Public Relations from the University of Cincinnati. As a coach and facilitator, she has worked with business leaders, C-Suite and hi-potential talent to build maximize their strengths and align their objectives with the organizations’ strategic goals. Through her engaging and energetic style and interactions, Dani is an expert in building self-awareness in her clients through focusing on improving client behaviors and how it manifests them into relevant action and results.
Prices, course details, dates, and times are subject to change.
Contact us + FAQs
FAQs
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Financial and Military Assistance
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Accommodations
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