Recognizes individuals who advance awareness, access, and impact of coaching through meaningful service, volunteering, and championing underserved communities.

2026 Winner: Kathy Harman, MCC 

The ICF Virginia Charter Chapter is proud to honor member Kathy Harman, MCC with the prestigious Coaching Excellence award. 

Kathy serves as Director of Training and Master Coach Trainer with Radiance Partners, LLC, an ICF Level 2 Accredited Coach Training Program. In addition to her work as a Coach Mentor, Leadership Coach, and Team Coach, she guides aspiring coaches through full certification and serves as a Certified Coach Mentor. Kathy teaches Leadership Coaching, Coach Mentoring, and Team Coaching programs across the United States and Europe, consistently elevating the standards of professional coaching education.

With a career in information technology that began before personal computers were commonplace, Kathy brings a rare depth of understanding to coaching technical and business professionals. She seamlessly integrates her extensive industry experience with coach training to create the PRISM Team Coaching approach a framework designed to help teams uncover their unique path to high performance. More than a trainer, Kathy develops coaches who graduate from her programs fully prepared to coach with confidence, competence, and integrity. 

Her belief in the next generation of coaches extends beyond the classroom, as she actively seeks and creates opportunities for new coaches to engage in meaningful coaching work throughout the state and beyond. Kathy’s commitment to the coaching profession is further reflected in her extensive service to the coaching community. 

She served as President of ICF Virginia from 2013-2014 and as President of the Association of Coach Training Organizations (ACTO) from 2017-2018, contributing to the advancement and credibility of coaching on both regional and global levels.

An accomplished author, Kathy wrote PRISM Teams: Coaching Prolific, Radically Innovative Self-Managed Teams and The ABCs of Living Well, further extending her impact and thought leadership within and beyond the coaching profession.

As Director of Education at Radiance Partners, LLC, Kathy Harman has played a pivotal role in advancing the quality, credibility, and reach of professional coaching. She led the effort to ensure that Radiance Partners not only earned, but consistently maintains, its ICF accreditation demonstrating an unwavering commitment to excellence and ethical practice. Kathy remains at the forefront of evolving ICF standards by actively engaging in meetings, trainings, and working discussions as competencies and accreditation requirements are developed. Her contributions extend beyond participation; she was selected as an author for the most recent ICF publication on Coaching Competencies, helping shape the very framework that guides coaches worldwide.

Kathy's dedication to expanding access to coaching is exemplified through her work with the ABC Society, a nonprofit organization providing coaching to underserved communities. Through Radiance Partners, Kathy has helped transform the ABC Society from a concept into a sustainable and impactful program. Her involvement spans vision, mentorship, program design, and financial advocacy ”ensuring that coaching reaches those who need it most. First, Kathy serves as an ongoing mentor to the coach who leads the ABC Society, having supported both the individual and the mission since the organization's earliest stages. Her guidance has strengthened leadership capacity, operational effectiveness, and long-term sustainability. 

Second, Kathy played a key role in designing the program's coaching delivery model, which offers free or low-cost coaching to individuals who otherwise would not have access. This model simultaneously creates meaningful, supervised coaching opportunities for members of the Radiance Partners community, expanding service while supporting coach development. 

Third, Kathy initiated and institutionalized an annual financial contribution from Radiance Partners, LLC, to support the ABC Society's operations and outreach. This commitment reflects her belief that expanding the profession's footprint requires not only volunteerism, but tangible investment in community-based solutions. Through these efforts, Kathy has increased both awareness of coaching and trust in its value within underserved populations. Her work demonstrates how professional coaching can be leveraged as a force for equity, empowerment, and sustainable changes' while maintaining the highest professional standards. Kathy Harman's leadership bridges excellence and access. By shaping accreditation standards, mentoring emerging leaders, and building scalable models for community impact, she continues to extend the reach of coaching far beyond traditional settings, strengthening both the profession and the lives it touches.

Congratulations Kathy!

Celebrates outstanding results through strategic coaching integration — sustained excellence, employee engagement, leadership effectiveness, and organizational performance.