President's Message

Recently, community members shared their appreciation for video content, highlighting its authenticity. In this newsletter, we're introducing the Message from our new President, Alex Wallash, in video form. 

Please let us know your thoughts. We hope leveraging visual storytelling enhances your connections to the San Francisco Bay Area chapter.

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Program & Event Spotlight

Thoughts on Attending the SFBAC Annual Holiday Party & Possibilities

by Carlos Prieto Jr, Communications Committee

In typical ADHD fashion, I arrived at the SFBAC Holiday Party about 1hr late.. I’m typically fine being social in places where comfort is established by way of knowing what to expect. As I walked up to the door at Barrelhouse, I found myself feeling the dread of the unknown. How many people will be there? Who will I know? Will I be the only ADHD coach there? Will I have anything interesting to contribute? Will it be worth the time and effort? 

Once inside, that fear of the unknown quickly started to melt away. Being greeted immediately by Events Director Monica Muraka, I found myself making friends with two other coaches while waiting for drinks at the bar. I could feel myself settling in a bit.

Walking to the back patio where everyone else was, more of the unknown was erased.I could see many people had shown up, and quickly saw several familiar faces. I could feel myself moving past settling in and into excitement for the rest of the evening.

From that point on, the rest of the night was a blur of introductions, icebreakers, and connections that highlighted the vast variety of coaches that are part of our chapter. Each coach that I met and connected with offered their own unique perspective and coaching focus. I became curious and wanted to hear from other members and  their various areas of focus and coaching methods. 

While I’m well versed in the world of ADHD coaching, I realized that I have so much to learn about all the different ways coaching can be done. I connected with a transitional coach, received a live demonstration of somatic coaching, and discussed various ways mindfulness can be implemented during a session.

One of the icebreakers we did was to think of one question and ask as many other coaches as possible this question, (a perfect icebreaker for a roomful of coaches by the way). My question was “what has coaching done for you personally?” It wasn’t until I was asked by another coach “what first got you into coaching?” that it hit me, coaching has opened up a world of possibilities for my future.

I did end up being the only ADHD coach there but the answer to the question of whether it was worth the time and effort is a resounding YES! 

As we begin the new year, let us reflect on how much we gain to benefit by being an active member of SFBAC. With so many different coaches bringing their unique perspective and experience, we can uplift each other and open up a world of possibilities for each other by simply being present and active.

The question I want to leave you with is what would you stand to benefit by being more present and active within the SFBAC community for 2026? Whatever that answer is, I guarantee that you will gain more than initially expected. I know I have so far and I’m excited for the possibilities that 2026 will bring. 

Pro Bono Coaching Opportunity at UC Berkeley

We’re excited to share an opportunity to be a volunteer coach for the 2026 UC Berkeley Next Opportunity at Work (NOW) Conference. In addition to the full-day virtual conference, volunteers will take part in Coaching HQ, a large-scale virtual coaching initiative during conference week, which supports up to 1,500 University of California staff. 

Interested? Learn more about CoachingHQ and volunteering as a coach. 

Last year Bay Area coaches didn’t just show up, we served over half of all the sessions. Let’s show up in force and break the records!!!

Why volunteer as a NOW Coach?

At the conference, coaches support participants with:

If you’re interested in volunteering as a virtual 1:1 and/or group coach, please complete the Volunteer Coaches Expression of Interest Form by Saturday, January 31, 2026. 

Coaches who are selected will receive participation details in February, onboarding in the spring, and conference bookings will open in April.

All coach selections and communications will be conducted by UC Berkeley. For any additional questions, please reach out to Monica at [email protected].

Call For Speaking Proposals at the 2026 UC Berkeley NOW Conference in June

Want to do even more to support the 2026 UC Berkeley Next Opportunity at Work (NOW) Conference? There is an opportunity to share your knowledge, insights, and expertise by presenting a 60-minute concurrent session.

If you’re interested, here’s what you need to do to apply for consideration:

Additional information available in the Call for Proposals Details document.

For any additional questions, please reach out to Monica at [email protected]

 Pro bono coaching & Resume Review at the March Virtual National Conference for Women (Apply by Jan 15)

An incredible opportunity to give back and grow your network at the 2026 National Conference for Women. The Conference for Women isn't just another professional event. It's a movement dedicated to promoting women's influence in the workplace, closing the pay gap, eliminating gender discrimination, and achieving leadership parity.

Applications close January 15, 2026, with 25 volunteers selected by lottery. You'll need to attend a platform training on January 21 or 22 (or watch the recording).

The conference is looking for ICF-credentialed coaches to provide virtual coaching and resume reviews to attendees from March 5-7, 2026. As a volunteer, you'll conduct at least three 30-minute virtual sessions with conference attendees who are seeking guidance on their career journeys.

This is a rare chance to make a meaningful impact while expanding your professional footprint. The value exchange is clear: a few hours of your expertise for significant visibility and the opportunity to help advance women in the workplace.

If you're passionate about coaching and supporting women's professional development, this is your moment to step up.

For any questions, reach out to Monica Murarka at [email protected] .

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Calendar of Events

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Chapter News

A New Year Rooted in Belonging

By Charles Reader, Director of Inclusion and Belonging 

The New Year often invites reflection. Not the glossy, highlight-reel kind, but the honest kind. What did we learn? Where did we stretch? Where did we fall short? And just as important, who did we become along the way?

As a community of coaches, reflection is familiar terrain. We know the power of pausing, asking better questions, and creating space for insight to emerge. As we step into this new year, I find myself feeling deeply grateful. Grateful for the commitment, care, and generosity that so many of you bring to this community. Grateful for the way we coach clients, colleagues, and one another with presence and intention.

Belonging is not something we declare once and move on from. It is something we practice. As coaches, we practice it by listening deeply, honoring lived experience, and staying curious, especially across differences. These same practices are what make this community strong and what allow us to grow together.

The year ahead holds real possibility. Not because everything will be easy, but because we have momentum. We are learning together. We are strengthening our relationships. We are becoming more intentional about how we build community, how we support one another, and how we live our values in action.

My hope for this year is both simple and ambitious. That we continue to lead with humanity. That we make space for reflection and renewal. And that we remember we are all coaches here, shaping not only our clients’ journeys, but the culture of this community itself.

Thank you for being part of this shared journey. I am excited for what we will build together in the year ahead.

Special Interest Groups Launching in 2026

Our Programs Committee is launching Special Interest Groups (SIGs) in 2026 based on member survey feedback.

These SIGs will be member-focused communities led by committee members, meeting from monthly to several times per year starting in February.

We're excited to launch with four initial groups: Business Building, Credentialing Support, AI, and Neurodiversity.

Each SIG creates space for deeper exploration, connection, and growth in specialized areas that matter to our coaching community.

Want to lead a SIG? We're looking for passionate members to help guide these groups. Simply reach out to [email protected] to express your interest.

This is your chapter, and your voice matters. Let's build programming that truly meets your needs.

Navigating the ICF SF Bay Area website

As we look ahead to 2027, welcome if you’re new to our chapter.  If you’ve been with us awhile, we’re excited to have you back. 

To begin the year, here are a few onboarding tips in case you’re new or are seeking a refresher to the San Francisco Bay Area Coaches (SFBAC) website. Here’s a quick guide to help you access your member benefits.

Go to sfbayareacoaches.org homepage and click “Member Area” in the main navigation OR click “Log In” in the homepage.

Enter the email address you used when you joined the chapter and your password. If this is your first time logging in (or you don’t remember your password), click “Forgot password?” and follow the instructions in the email to reset it. Once logged in, you can update your profile, view member-only resources, and register for member events at the member rate.

If you are unsure if you are a current member of the ICF, take the following steps.

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Social Media

Stay in the know, connect with fellow coaches in the Bay Area, have meaningful conversations and get access to all things SFBAC!

ICF San Francisco Bay Area Charter Chapter Company Page

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