Since I started this business over 20 years ago, there have been several coaches and consultants that have worked for The Red Baobab supporting our clients. Although I do most of the Executive Coaching work, when our client’s scope of work requires research, additional coaches or consulting work, I call upon the best in class to participate in the engagement. Sometimes this is one person, at times it can be a team of ten. Our most active collaborator is Christian Filli, a coach himself, world class strategist, multicultural advisor, beautiful writer and a good friend.    

  • When I work with clients, I am not wanting to fix or change anything in them. I am curious about the issue they bring and the unique potential that wants to unfold. Through open ended questions, I guide them through the discovery of what their inner world wants to say, and, through practices, I support them on how to bring more skillful means to how they are in the world- be it in business, family or community. I am also curious about which intelligence predominates in this particular individual - the mind, the heart, the body - and which one may want to manifest more so that this person can show up with more of the fullness of who they are, becoming perhaps more Boldly Human Leaders.

    The IN WAY is the pragmatic approach I use in working with clients. It blends the use of integral development, inquiry, neuroscience, somatics, and mindfulness to support inner transformation and with this, the development of more skillful means for how to approach the desired outcomes.

    Over the past 20 years I’ve heard my clients say that some of the qualities that I bring as a coach are trust, humanness, depth, caring, and transformation - both of their inner world and their business. I understand what makes a human develop and a business succeed. My experience in leading multinational marketing communication firms for more than a decade in countries with different cultures, plus being an entrepreneur at heart, helps me understand the challenges that leaders face daily.

    Being fully bilingual, I coach in English and Spanish. I hold a PCC ICF certification, graduated as an integral coach from New Ventures West, where I was a faculty member for 10 years. I attended the Enneagram certification process with the Enneagram Institute, and I am currently a teacher of the Diamond Approach, a path of inner realization.

    Currently living in Austin, Texas, I enjoy walks in nature, music, photography, art, learning, and dance. And of course, being intimately in touch with my own inner world and potential.

  • I have always been driven by a deep passion for personal development, creativity and leadership. Over the years, the essence of my work has been to understand patterns of human motivation, uncover structures of interpretation, decode cultural narratives, and examine how these might shape individuals, organizations, brands, and society at large.

    During the first part of my professional journey, I played a variety of leadership roles in the field of strategic planning, marketing communications and brand consulting. I worked for top multinational conglomerates - Publicis, WPP and Omnicom - and oversaw commercial operations at Reebok. In 2015, I decided to take a break from the corporate world and try my own wings.

    In my current capacity as a life and leadership coach, communication strategist and researcher, I frequently collaborate with other coaches and consultants on different assignments, seeking to help individuals and teams align words, actions and desired outcomes.

    Oh, and yes, people find it hard to resist asking me about my accent … I am of Swiss-German-Italian-Cuban descent, born in Mexico, raised in Brazil, and currently based in Asheville, North Carolina.

Testimonials

  • “As a communications professional for a leading global self-perform contractor, we often find it challenging to connect in meaningful and consistent ways with our Craft/trades employees. While navigating the complex communications landscape of field employees with language differences who also lack of access to company-issued technology, we engaged the Red Baobab to help us on a communications improvement journey. Christian and Janice provided us with a clear vision and led us on a multi-phased discovery process that concluded with realistic and tangible recommendations to help us build our strategy. What we valued most is the deep level understanding of the language and cultural nuances of our Craft teammates that Christian and Janice considered while guiding our work. We are grateful for the partnership of the Red Baobab that will result in more engaged, informed and inspired employees."

    Communications Leader in the Construction industry (2023)

  • “Working alongside Christian has been an absolute pleasure. As a researcher, Christian has consistently brought a fresh perspective to the table, enriching the projects with his insightful analyses and strategic mindset. What sets Christian apart is not only his ability to generate innovative strategies, but also his remarkable talent for presenting complex ideas in the most friendly and accessible manner. This skill has been a game-changer in the collaborative discussions, fostering clearer understanding and more productive and genuine exchanges. Moreover, Christian's focus on understanding the human experience has been a driving force behind his contributions. His insights have consistently resonated with the audience, making the work more impactful. In essence, Christian is an extraordinary professional– a researcher, a strategic thinker, and a communicator. It's been a fantastic experience working alongside him, and I'm excited to see where his expertise takes him in the future.”

    Carolina Cortés Sotomayor, MBA | Project Manager | Talent Management | Global Dexterity Certificated (2023)