Chuck Ainsworth

Chuck’s clients have included Ford Motor Company, Salesforce, NFL, Porsche, University of Notre Dame, Dropbox, and Target. While Head of Coaching at the Center for Creative Leadership, he grew one of the largest and most respected practices in the world. He has trained thousands of leaders over his career and was lead creator of Better Conversations Every Day™, with hundreds of facilitators globally.  Prior to that he was Head of Learning and Development for an international disaster relief organization with offices in 22 countries and a coach and leadership development facilitator in a $1.5B healthcare organization. Chuck is a Partner at Pilgrimage Professional Development Group, an elite boutique focused on assessment, coaching and leadership development. He is also a Strategic Advisor for AIIR  Consulting, a leader in large-scale, tech-enabled, data-rich coaching. He has been published by Forbes and written a chapter on Coaching and Mentoring for Academic Medical Faculty. Every Conversation Matters™ is his latest creation, a powerful experience designed to help others master conversations, bust bias, and win the inner game. 

Coaching Approach 

Chuck has a refreshingly authentic, practical, and inspiring style that reflects his deep understanding  of what it takes to build and lead high performing teams and create sustainable culture change. His  unique combination of grit, street smarts, emotional intelligence, and heart give him the ability to read  people and navigate challenge with exceptional finesse. An International Coach Federation (ICF) coach  since 2007, he holds certifications in team coaching, performance consulting, and human performance  improvement and is qualified to deliver a wide range of psychometric instruments and assessments for  teams and individuals. 

Recent Coaching Assignments 

• Chief Executive Officer, Hospital: New to CEO role and responsible for business turn-around • Chief Marketing Officer, Professional Services Firm: Leadership effectiveness 

• VP of People & Culture, Financial Services: Expanding DEI and preparing for C-suite 

• President and COO, Health Insurance: Leading culture development and launch of a new health plan • Chief Information Office & VP, University: Navigating change 

• VP Customer Experience; Education Technology: Preparing for C-suite leadership and larger impact • Executive Team, Manufacturing: Team effectiveness, trust, psychological safety and decision making • Executive Team, Healthcare and Technology: Team effectiveness with fast growing team 

Education 

Master’s degree in Organizational Leadership from Azusa Pacific University.

Dr. Zithobile Nxumalo 

Zithobile (Dr. Z) was born in Swaziland, southern Africa, and moved to Greensboro, North Carolina with her family when she was 4 years old. She grew up passionate about authenticity, stories, dance, and leadership, and has worked in a number of sectors including higher education, nonprofit, healthcare, and finance. No matter the role, every position has led her back to those same passions. 

Susan Perry, PhD, MSW, LCSW, SENIOR CONSULTANT at EXPLOELEVATE

Susan is a proven, experienced interdependent, and relational educational leader who thrives in the nexus of campus life having served in executive and leadership roles at independent schools (Governor’s Academy, Phillips Academy, Asheville School, Ravenscroft School, Westover School) and in higher education (Duke University, Smith College). 

Susan has been nominated and served on two NAIS Committees charged with examining best practices and providing recommendations to ensure the safety, health, and well-being of students, including being appointed to the NAIS/TABS Independent School Task Force on Educator Sexual Abuse Prevention and Response. Susan has also completed extensive training in leadership development and team facilitation with the Center for Creative Leadership (www.ccl.org) and utilized this interdependent leadership approach while serving as Assistant Head of School for Student Life at Ravenscroft School in Raleigh, NC. In 2014, Susan appeared as an expert panelist on PBS/UNC-TV’s Focus On: Educating Black Boys, which explored issues around education, opportunity, race, identity, and parenting in the 21st Century.  Additionally, Susan has completed the Racial Equity Institute Groundwater and Phase 1 training and The Principals’ Center (TPC) at the Harvard University Graduate School of Education (HGSE) program in Race, Equity, Leadership in Schools. Her clinical training has included two separate in residence internships at Duke University and has completed Advanced Clinical Certification in The Relational Model  Levels I & II at the Jean Baker Miller Training Institute, part of the Stone Center, Wellesley Center for Women (WCW) at Wellesley College, 

Susan is a published author and holds an earned doctorate in educational administration.  She has served as consultant/advisor/educator to Boards of Trustees, executive leaders, faculty, families, students and has traveled extensively as a conference speaker and trainer nationwide. She will be joining the Forsyth Country Day School community as the Associate Head of School for Belonging and Wellness as of July 1.