Biography

Certified NLP Coach
Member International Coaching Federation
BA English and Philosophy

Jean Russell

Jean began coaching in 2004. She received her certification as an NLP Coach in 2005. Jean coaches executives, nonprofit leaders, and social entreprenuers across three continents.To her coaching, she brings a double bachelors of arts in Philosophy and English. Jean focused her studies on identity, transformation, the performance of everyday life, and power dynamics. In 1997 she organized a regional conference, Performance Margins. In 1998 Jean curated an art exhibition, Text and Territory: Navigating through Immigration and Dislocation, which acted as the background for the annual international interdisciplinary confernece, Border Subjects. Jean has led and spoke on art and academic panels.

Moving to Chicago in 1999, Jean continued her striving to learn by training in conflict management and negotiation. And later that year, she earned the corporate Global Vendor Ace Award for superior efforts on the yearly Strategic Plan for Heller Financial's Global Vendor Finance Division.

Since taking her business, Spinorb, to Bloomington, Illinois, in 2002, Jean has worked closely with Drake Zimmerman, a leading charitable planner, socially responsible investment advisor, and coach, on presentations, white papers, websites, and books about making a difference. Websites include the informational portal for child survival, SaveKids.org, as well as MADmavens for people who want to make a difference. For MADmavens, Jean has written articles about coaching. In 2005 she began working with inspirational philanthropic leader Tracy Gary on a new nonprofit, Inspired Legacies, dedicated to helping creating holistic legacies by collaborating with donors, advisors, and nonprofits. She actively participates in the online community of Omidyar Network, a virtual gathering place to discover the individual and collective power to do good. Additionally, Jean blogs about her coaching at Flow Catalyst. She volunteers with the Catalyitic Communities based in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Jean has an intense curiousity that helps lead her to discover and encourage the best in people. Her Kolbe test confirms her mode of operation as a manager with strengths as a fact finder and quick-start. And her Myers Briggs test claims she is an INFJ. According to Joe Butt:

"INFJs have a knack for fluency in language and facility in communication. In addition, nonverbal sensitivity enables the INFJ to know and be known by others intimately. INFJs readily grasp the hidden psychological stimuli behind the more observable dynamics of behavior and affect. Their amazing ability to deduce the inner workings of the mind, will, and emotions of others gives INFJs their reputation as prophets and seers."

In her free time Jean likes to read about leadership, change, and critical theory as well as modern fiction and poetry. She writes poetry. In her reading group, they focus on systems theory, organic models, network theory, and currencies. Jean plays with her two kids several hours every day. She loves organic gardening. As a family, the Russells enjoy nature walks, camping, and kayaking. Jean collects abstract art and mid-century modern furniture.

Spinorb — where I help you create your world your way.