Coaching History – Laura Whitworth – from Accountant to Coach Pioneer

Laura Whitworth helped shape the coaching industry with her boldness, creativity, humanness, and asking only that each person find meaning in life by playing their “Bigger Game”.

Her accomplishments are many: co-founder of the Coaches Training Institute (CTI), founding member of the Personal Professional Coaches Association (PPCA), co-founder of the Alliance of Coach Training Organizations (ACTO) and co-founder of The Bigger Game Company.

In 1998, Laura co-authored “Co-Active Coaching”, which continues to be one of the most recommended coaching books of all time. Notice how everything that Laura did was in collaboration with others and in support of humanity. This was apparent when in 2000 she successfully led the effort to take the Co-Active Coaching model into the federal and California state prison system.

Though I knew of Laura for many years, I first met her in April 2006 when I interviewed her for my PhD dissertation on the evolution of coaching. Being such a pioneer we ended up having two lengthy interviews about the early days. Laura was genuine, gracious, humble and very generous as I came to know during our interactions over the next year.

I attended The Bigger Game workshop she co-led in mid-April 2006 and my admiration grew for her as a human being and true leader. After a two year battle with lung cancer (http://laurawhitworth.blogspot.com/), Laura passed away on February 28, 2007.

She is with me in spirit, and with the many others whose lives she impacted. As she signed her last email to me on Valentine’s Day February 14, 2007, “Love and hugs, Laura.” I welcome other shares on the difference Laura made in your life and the coaching industry.

Vikki G. Brock, PhD, MCC, EMBA
Director, History and Archives Division

This post is reprinted from the February 1, 2008 post.