Kande McDonald - President

Leadership Coach
Consultant
Facilitator
I began my career as a coach, facilitator and consultant at MIT in the early 00’s. While there, I developed the institute-wide employee recognition program, coached leaders in MIT’s nationally recognized leadership development program and led an initiative to create a developmental framework for performance management, among other projects and roles. The work I felt most drawn to was helping managers and leaders develop by expanding their practical toolkit, enhancing their self-awareness and adopting new behaviors and practices to improve their confidence and impact. In 2011, I began working independently as a coach and consultant to leaders in Higher Education, as well as other non-profit and for profit organizations. The focus of my practice has evolved to include a systems-centered perspective to team coaching and development, and the integration of myriad communication frameworks, positive psychology, mindfulness and embodied change. My path to this work was neither direct nor intentional. And yet, it has followed naturally from my previous careers as an Iyengar yoga instructor, modern dancer, and writer, as all of these disciplines involve reflection, experimentation, practice, vulnerability, creativity, the ability to sit with discomfort, and a willingness to trust one’s inner resources. It was at MIT that I had the good fortune to meet Francine Crystal, founder of Crystal Clear Consulting. I joined her at CCC as Vice President in 2016 where we enjoyed many years of fruitful and joyful collaboration and learning together. I am honored to have succeeded her as President of the firm in 2025.
 
Most satisfying work
I genuinely enjoy working with leaders at all career stages on their personal/professional development goals and interests. My most gratifying work is that which engages the whole person through the use of mindfulness and embodied practices to help a client build awareness of physical, mental and emotional patterns. Through this work, clients learn to create profound shifts that result in a new experience of themselves and their capabilities in relation to their work and others.
 
Frequently used theories and tools
I enjoy incorporating a wide array of tools, practices, and theories to support leaders with improving team performance and cohesion, navigating organizational culture, delegating and providing feedback, managing change, conflict management, self-care and stress management, presence and focus. A few specific examples include: 
  • Yvonne Agazarian’s systems-centered practice to help clients explore and integrate differences. 
  • A broad and practical communications toolkit including Torbert’s Parts of Speech, Argyris’s Ladder of Inference, Center for Creative Leadership's Situation-Behavior-Impact feedback model and Agazarian & Simon's SAVI framework. 
  • Mindfulness and somatic approaches coming from many sources including Amanda Blake's embodied change, Leadership Embodiment, yoga and many years of movement and mindfulness experience and training. 
 
Degrees, Certifications and Training
B.F.A in Dance Performance and M.F.A in Creative Writing.
Certifications: Corentus's Advanced Team Coaching Certification; SAVI Communications Trainer Certification;  Certified Internal Coach, Babson College; Associated Certified Coach, International Coach Federation.
Training programs: Center for Creative Leadership’s Coaching Fundamentals; Fundamentals of Organization Relationship Systems Coaching (ORSC); Advance Group Coaching Practicum; NTL Human Interaction Lab; Leadership Embodiment Level I; Positive Intelligence Coach training.
Assessment tools: Myers-Briggs Type Indicator; Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument; Harrison Assessment; KornFerry 360; Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI Assessment); Positive Intelligence Assessment
“Kande McDonald is a talented professional with deep expertise in various aspects of leadership, team development, and organizational culture change. I had the pleasure working with her and benefited tremendously from her knowledge as well as the breadth of tools, practices, and materials that she incorporates in her work. I value her collaborative approach and the continuous adaptation to tailor the work to her clients’ needs."

Ed Aractingi, CIO, William and Mary
​Kande's picks:
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BOOKS
A More Beautiful Question by Warren Berger
This engaging read explains and explores "question thinking," illustrating how it can open untapped creativity, problem-solving and potential in individuals and organizations.

Your Brain At Work: Strategies for Overcoming Distraction, Regaining Focus, and Working Smarter All Day Long by David Rock
Through a set of characters living through a typical day at work, Rock illustrates the current findings in neuroscience and what they tell us about how the human brain operates optimally versus when under stress, perceived threat or low on energy. He offers helpful practices to improve focus, decision making, empathy and performance.

​Thanks for the Feedback: The Science and Art of Receiving Feedback Well by Douglas Stone and Sheila Heen
After many years of studying and teaching how to navigate difficult conversations with more grace, the authors recognized that often the challenge of feedback conversations is on the receiving end. This book offers a mental framework for characterizing all types of feedback from offhand comments to formal critique. It empowers the feedback receiver to ask for what she needs and take it all in with healthy curiosity.
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ARTICLES
​"How Managers Become Leaders: The Seven Seismic Shifts of Perspective and Responsibility," by Michael D. Watkins
This article offers conventional corporate examples but still translates to higher education. It outlines several ways in which managers need to shift mindset and focus when transitioning from functional area expert to leader across multiple, diverse operations.

"Management Time: Who's Got the Monkey?" by William Oncken, Jr., and Donald L. Wass
While this 1999 article definitely feels dated in its portrayal of workplace roles and culture, its message for leaders is timeless: stop taking on everyone else's issues and instead develop the capacity for decision-making and problem-solving in others.
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TALKS
​Brené Brown: The Power of Vulnerability
This researcher shares how her work led her to understand her own humanity and fear of vulnerability. She shows us how ultimately human connection and a sense of self-worth stem from our willingness to reveal ourselves to others.

Celeste Headlee: 10 Ways to Have a Better Conversation
Most of us don't converse very well and yet our jobs depend on it. This radio host shares what she's learned over the years about listening, being curious and staying present with others.