As part of the Coaching, Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving Skills course, Verena brought exceptional energy and deep coaching expertise into the classroom. Drawing on her extensive international background and leadership expertise, she offered insights into advanced coaching practices that went far beyond theory. Her exploration of techniques such as Appreciative Inquiry gave students powerful tools to understand and apply strength-based coaching in diverse contexts.  

A highlight of the masterclass was how interactive and practice-oriented it was: students didn’t just learn concepts — they lived them through engaging exercises, reflective practice, and peer interaction. This experiential approach helped deepen their understanding and build confidence in applying coaching skills immediately. 

Verena’s ability to seamlessly blend evidence-based theory with hands-on learning not only strengthened our students’ grasp of coaching fundamentals, but also inspired them to integrate these tools into their future leadership and management roles with confidence and curiosity. 

About Dr. Verena Kugi, MPA 

Dr. Verena Kugi, MPA, is a leadership expert, coach, and organizational consultant with over 20 years of international experience advising and coaching senior leaders and teams. Her career spans consultancy with McKinsey & Company, advanced leadership studies at Harvard Kennedy School, and coaching certifications from Columbia Business School. Verena’s work focuses on leadership development, team effectiveness, culture diagnostics, and strategic alignment.  

She has worked with leaders across sectors and geographies, including financial services, private equity, and corporate strategy roles, bringing a deep blend of analytical rigor and human-centered leadership development.  

We are deeply grateful for Verena’s time, passion, and generosity, and for the meaningful impact she made on our students’ learning journey.