About Goal Imagery® Coaching Academy

Marianna Lead, MCC

Marianna Lead is an internationally-recognized Master Certified Coach (MCC), ICF Mentor, and Credentialing Portfolio Assessor with the International Coaching Federation (ICF) since 2008. In 2024, she also became an ICF Advanced Certified Team Coach (ACTC). She is also the Founder/Executive Director of Goal Imagery® Coaching Academy (formerly known as Goal Imagery® Institute)—a leading global provider of ICF-accredited coach training and mentoring programs. Her Holistic Life, Career & Executive Coach Training™ is currently taught in 6 different languages around the world.

Twice-elected President of ICF’s flagship NYC chapter, Marianna brings over 20 years of experience in coaching, public speaking, designing, and teaching curriculums. She designed a number of innovative courses at New York University – including her own Goal Imagery® method – in addition to teaching a multitude of coaching courses at NYU’s Master’s Degree and Certificate Program levels. She also co-designed the “ Competitive Advantages of Women in Leadership ” program at Columbia University and was the first expert to introduce coaching at the world-renowned Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC.

Marianna has been an Expert Life Coach for Fitness Magazine, collaborated with Dr. Candace Pert (best-selling author of Molecules of Emotion) on her Psychosomatic Wellness CD, and was the creator/host of Life Coach TV on Manhattan Cable in NYC, as as well as Life Coach Radio with Progressive Radio Network. She has frequently been featured on national TV (including NBC morning news) & radio, in magazines such as Natural Health, Time Out, and documentaries—both as a coach and personal/professional development expert. She was featured on the cover of INSIGHT Magazine in June of 2011 for her groundbreaking work in creating her Goal Imagery® Method.

A sought-after speaker and active SAG (Screen Actors Guild) member since 1994, Marianna has also taught many courses on presentation and communication skills, lectured at the 92nd Street Y, co-hosted/produced Laughter as a Life Skill with comic Yakov Smirnoff at the American Airlines Theater on Broadway and served on the 2013 Screen Actors Guild Award Nomination Committee.

Marianna’s background in the performing arts enhances her skills as a coach, mentor, and teacher—and makes her an engaging host, presenter, and on-camera guest. A classically-trained pianist and former stand-up comic, for many years, she served as the Acting Instructor and Theater Director at Shorefront YMHA in Brooklyn, NY, coaching teens and young adults on acting and presentation skills.

Marianna co-authored Me, My Brand and WHY (available on Amazon)—a Self-Coaching Guide for Building a Personal Brand, and is writing her next book about coaching mastery. She is also the author of over a dozen audio programs, including Letting Go of Your Weight, Becoming a Non-Smoker, Stress Release, Improving Your Memory, Discovering Your Yoga Master Within, Freeing Your Creativity, Conquering Stage Fright, and Creating Happiness,

Currently, Marianna serves on  ICF’s MCC Assessors Community Programming Taskforce, teaches at her school and maintains an active coaching practice with clients across the USA. Her impressive list of clients includes a wide range of corporations (Ernst & Young, American Airlines), business leaders, entertainers, nonprofit organizations (Society of Women Engineers, The New York Urban League), and government agencies including Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Marianna created a LinkedIn group called ICF Coach Mentors and ICF Coaches that has over 17,000 members. Her LinkedIn profile boasts 200+ recommendations from her alumni and clients.

In the words of Linda M Davis, Federal Government Attorney and Director of Professional Development (FEMA): “As a teacher she personifies excellence; as a coach she exemplifies mastery and extraordinary coaching presence. As a businesswoman, Marianna is simply a success story. If you’re looking for an exceptional coaching experience or  awesome teacher, you’d be wise to let Marianna help bring out the best in you as she has for me!“

Allexis Tuccio, MCC

Allexis Tuccio is a Master Certified Coach with the ICF. She has a national reputation in sales and marketing, coaching executives at companies like Samsung, Apple, AT&T, and Verizon.

In her role as Regional Manager for Zagg, Inc., she significantly increased Samsung’s market share through training and educating sales representatives. She has been a spokesperson for Samsung North America, appearing on Fox5 Business and CNET. Allexis joined the academy in 2018 as VP of Sales, Marketing, and Training.

Her humor and dynamic presentation style make learning enjoyable.

John M. Ward, Jr., PCC

John is an accomplished ICF Professional Certified Coach (PCC), a Coach Training Instructor, a Certified Team Coach, and a Certified Grief Educator.

For more than 20 years, John served as a business management professional with extensive experience supporting nonprofit research and human development organizations.  He brings a deep understanding of the challenges organizations and their leaders face today.  Having served as a management and leadership team member for many years, he specifically understands the shifting landscape of the workplace, and the need for managers and leaders to be flexible, adaptable, and resilient in organizations.

As a Coach Training Instructor with Goal Imagery Coaching Academy, John brings his passion for coaching and teaching into the virtual classroom. Students in John’s classroom are provided with an exciting and safe learning environment where they are taught the art of masterful coaching through the Goal Imagery coach training programs. Students in John’s classes describe him as an authentic, compassionate, relatable, and enthusiastic instructor.

Along with his extensive leadership and development background in coaching teams and individuals, John also supports clients who are currently experiencing major life and career transitions. John helps his clients gain deeper awareness and insight into their behaviors, beliefs and values; and empowers his clients to create the change they are seeking in order to transform the quality of their personal and professional lives.

In 2022, John was named one of the Top 15 Coaches in Washington, DC by Influence Digest.

In addition to his work as a professional coach and instructor, John is an inspiring and engaging arts educator and expressive arts facilitator for children and older adults of all ages and abilities.

John has also served as a volunteer providing compassionate comfort and support to hospice/transitions patients, to individuals living with Alzheimer’s, dementia, and other neurocognitive disorders, and to children and adults who are experiencing grief.

Mareike Walter Paschkowski, PCC

Mareike Walter-Paschkowski is a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) with the International Coaching Federation (ICF) and Honors Graduate of Goal Imagery Coaching Academy, certified as Holistic Life, Career and Executive Coach. Mareike’s expertise extends to Organization and Relationship Systems Coaching (ORSC™), which supports her holistic approach to teaching. This knowledge allows her to adeptly navigate complex organizational dynamics and foster healthy, productive relationships within individuals, couples, teams and organizations.

As project, coaching and talent management professional with more than 14 years experience in managing complex projects in Europe and Middle East, Mareike has been a passionate trainer and mentor for the Goal Imagery® Coaching Academy in English and German.As an active member of the German ICF Mentor Coach Group, she is committed to fostering growth and excellence within the ICF coaching and mentoring community.  Her approach is known for being challenging, structured, and fun, ensuring that her students not only achieve their goals but also enjoy the journey towards coaching success.

Eduardo Villegas PCC, ICF Assessor

Eduardo Villegas is a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) with the International Coaching Federation (ICF), and Honors Graduate of Goal Imagery Coaching Academy, certified as both Holistic Life, Career and Executive Coach and Team Coach.

As a finance executive in the Pharma industry, Eduardo worked for more than 25 years in Latin America, South Asia, and the USA. Combining his passion for developing leaders with his prior experience and knowledge, he has helped many corporate leaders to successfully transition into new roles enabling them to quickly adapt and perform at their best.

Originally from Venezuela and now living in the USA with his family, Eduardo is teaching at Goal Imagery Coaching Academy in Spanish.

Andre Ribeiro, MCC

Andre Ribeiro is a Master Certified Coach with the ICF and Senior Practitioner by the European Mentoring and Coaching Council (EMCC).

His corporate background includes developing international businesses in e-commerce, travel, and online marketing, and he has served as Director of Communications at a Nasdaq-listed company.

Andre brings 20 years of experience coaching teams and organizations to the academy.

Mohamed Hamza, PCC

Mohamed Hamza is an international leadership development expert and coach who has worked across the GCC, Europe, and Africa.

He manages the coaching business line in Elm, a leading organization in coaching and leadership development services, and is Training Director, Middle East, for the academy.

Sofia Denel, Executive Coach & Business Owner Mentor

Sofia Denel has over 18 years of experience as a business trainer and mentor, conducting more than 2,000 training sessions and webinars to help over 20,000 individuals worldwide. She founded DenelCoach in Germany in 2021 and has since guided over 160 business clients across 50 industries, with two clients achieving multi-million-euro revenues.

Sofia completed a year-long program at Goal Imagery® Coaching Academy and specializes in guiding market leaders, top executives, and notable bloggers in Europe and America to launch and scale their projects effectively while minimizing financial risks.

Sofia focuses on strategy and identifying limiting beliefs that hold clients back. Her clients highly recommend her, with 90% extending their coaching contracts or returning for new outcomes.