ABOUT AVANTI STRATEGIES
Avanti Strategies uses the
highly acclaimed Sherpa Coaching process to help clients make positive
changes in their behavior that accelerate their career development and
advancement.
Janice M. Sabatine, PhD, CSC, President
As a Certified Sherpa Executive Coach with a PhD in biochemistry, Dr. Janice
Sabatine brings executive coaching to women in science and medicine because she
believes they deserve the same support that corporate executives have enjoyed
for years—the benefit of an executive coach.
With over 30 years experience in biomedical research, Janice is uniquely
positioned to help her clients. She earned a BS in chemistry from the University
of Notre Dame and a PhD in biochemistry from the University of Pittsburgh School
of Medicine. As a director of publications for several biomedical research
programs and as an independent publications consultant, she has been influential
in the publication of over 50 journal articles and book chapters and nearly 30
funded grant applications. Recognizing that her clients could benefit from
coaching in addition to help with publications, Janice became a Certified Sherpa
Executive Coach through Penn State University’s Smeal College of Business.
As an executive coach, Janice has helped numerous scientific and healthcare
professionals become stronger, more effective leaders and successfully publish
and secure funding. Her coaching approach focuses on behavioral change to
improve workplace effectiveness.
Janice has used her coaching and teaching skills as a guest lecturer for the
University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, an adjunct associate
professor at Carnegie Mellon University, an associate professor at Rocky
Mountain University of the Health Professions, and as a workshop leader for
numerous scientific and medical professional associations.
She is a member of the International Coach Federation, the 2012 President of the
Pittsburgh Coaches Association and a primary faculty member in the Duquesne
University Professional Coach Certification Program.
Avanti Strategies is
complemented by excellent associate coaches Dr. Susan M. English, Dr. Judith
A. DePalma, and Ms. Diane M. Brown.
Susan M. English, OSB, EdD, CPCC, Associate Coach
Dr. Susan English helped to found Duquesne University’s Professional Coach
Certification Program where she is Co-Director and primary faculty. She also
maintains a private practice where she specializes in developing greater
emotional intelligence, overcoming negative self-talk, improving
communication skills, creating good habits, and finding life balance in
service of a client’s career. As an Educational Leadership Coach, some of
Susan’s favorite clients are faculty, chairs and university staff working on
life balance and project completion. Susan has a particular fondness for
helping graduate students who are struggling to complete their
dissertations.
Dr. English has over 30 years of experience in the field of education and
holds a doctorate in education. She taught or supervised in grades K-12 in
public school, developed educational programs as an academic specialist in a
prison setting, and was an Instructor and Assistant Professor for 12 years
with Indiana University of Pennsylvania. She is an award winning student
mentor, program developer, and social justice advocate. Dr. English is a
member of the International Coach Federation and is a Past-President of the
Pittsburgh Coaches Association.
Judith A. DePalma, PhD, RN, Associate Coach
Dr. Judith DePalma, PhD, RN is a recently retired tenured Professor and
Department Chairperson. She is currently a full professor, teaching part
time in the non-traditional Nursing PhD program at Rocky Mountain University
of Health Professions in Utah. Judy coaches academic and healthcare
professionals with a focus on Evidence-Based Decision Making, leadership,
and scholarly activities, especially research related activities. Her target
audiences in academia are department chairs, junior faculty and doctoral
students at dissertation. With department chairs the focus is on integrating
coaching into their leadership approach and the use of evidence in decision
making. With junior faculty the focus is on being successful with attaining
promotion and tenure and with doctoral students the focus is on working with
those who are struggling to complete the dissertation.
Her decision-making expertise earned an invitation to the Evidence-Based
Management Collaboration formed and sponsored by the Carnegie Mellon
University Tepper School of Business and the Heinz School of Public Policy
and Management, Pittsburgh, PA. This international group is promoting the
use of evidence in the teaching of management at the graduate level and the
decisions made by managers in academic, healthcare, and business settings.
Judy has delivered numerous presentations and has published extensively on
evidence-based decision making and teaching for educators, clinicians, and
administrators. She has held several research positions, which include
Director of the Collaborative Research Center at Duquesne University,
manager of major grant funding for the Oncology Nursing Society, and
coordinating evidence-based research for the West Penn Allegheny Health
System.
Diane M. Brown, MBA, Associate Coach
Diane M. Brown, Human Resource Development Center Associate for The
Pennsylvania State University and Certified Sherpa Executive Coach, strives
to make a difference. Her practical approach and belief that everyone wants
to grow professionally and personally is at the core of her training
approach. In this role, Diane oversees the Office Professional Certificate
Program, the Women's Leadership Conference, and New Employee Orientation.
She also is the liaison for the 23 Commonwealth Campuses to arrange for
training programs.
Prior to joining HRDC, Diane was the Director of Admissions for South Hills
School of Business & Technology. Her career path includes working for
Eastern College as the Director of Marketing & Recruitment for the School of
Professional Studies and as an Assistant Vice President/Accounting Manager
for Marsh & McLennan, Incorporated. Since 2002 she has been an affiliate for
HRDC. Diane has also been an adjunct instructor for Saint Francis
University, Eastern College, South Hills School, and Penn State Continuing
Education. Diane is a 2005 graduate of Leadership Centre County and an
active member of the State College Toastmasters Club 1219. In addition to
her Sherpa Executive Coaching certification, Diane holds a B.A. in
Organizational Management and M.B.A. from Eastern College.