Ariana Leon
Leadership Coach
“Authentic leadership begins with self-awareness and growth. Coaching provides a safe space for deep reflection, development and clarifying purpose. It is my passion to partner on this journey of transformation with leaders.”
Ariana brings extensive experience in senior management, leadership development, management consulting, research and cross-cultural education into her work coaching leaders to be their best selves and have a positive impact.
Ariana’s 25-year career has primarily been with nonprofits and higher education in the fields of international development, environment, and cross-cultural education. Now she dedicates her time to supporting leaders and teams to improve communication, step into confidence, build an inclusive culture, clarify vision and strategy, and manage with authenticity. She is a Congressional Excellence Partner, providing leadership development to senior executives and their teams in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Ariana’s clients appreciate her ability to create a comfortable working relationship and quickly build trust, champion their strengths, and walk side by side as they grow and stretch into their full potential. Ariana has been especially inspired by projects where she created safe spaces for women of diverse cultural backgrounds to learn from each other and build their leadership capacity often under challenging circumstances on the front lines of international development work. That transformational work led Ariana to commit to supporting change agents through leadership development.
As a coach, Ariana attracts clients who are inspired to think big and yearn to align their work and life with their values. Her clients report growing their confidence, going from “surviving to thriving”, improving their communication skills, gaining executive presence, feeling more balanced, building better team connections, and getting clear about priorities.
Experience
- Seasoned coach for individuals and groups of mid to senior-level professionals in Fortune 500 companies, federal agencies, universities, and nonprofit organizations on communication, difficult conversations, leading others, prioritizing, team-building, influence, wellness, and strategic management
- Facilitates team and leader retreats to align values, build collaboration, improve communication, explore new perspectives, and set goals
- Previously she held senior executive (COO, Acting Executive Director), research, and philanthropy positions with the UN, global nonprofit institutions, and universities, and co-founded a human rights non-profit organization in India.
- While in a research faculty role, she co-led a government-funded project to build a community of women leaders from five Central and South Asian nations working on water sustainability. Despite historical conflicts and significant language barriers, she successfully fostered bridges of understanding.
- Former Board Member, ICF Metro DC Chapter
- Pro bono coach, ICF Metro DC Chapter
Education, Training, Certifications
- Master of Arts in International Affairs (Ohio University)
- Bachelor of Arts in International Studies (Ohio University)
- Certified Professional Co-Active Coach (CPCC)
- International Coaching Federation Professional Certified Coach (PCC)
- Executive Certificate, Organizational Development & Change Leadership (Georgetown University)
- Certificate in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Workplace (University of South Florida)
- Assessment Certifications: Everything DiSC, Leadership Circle Profile 360
Personal
- An avid hiker – going for 50 hikes this year
- Has lived, worked, or traveled in 23 countries (and counting) and loves how travel expands her mind and perspective of the world
- Lives in Northern Virginia with her husband, teenage son and rescued dog and cat. Step-mother of two.
- Enjoys designing jewelry through silversmithing in her home workshop
Learn more about Nebo’s services.