Alison Smith, M.Ed., PCC, BCC is an executive and leadership coach, coach educator, and systems thinking practitioner with more than 5,000 hours of coaching experience. She is a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) through the International Coaching Federation, a Board Certified Coach, and an ICF Mentor Coach.
Alison serves as Director of Systems Thinking Engagement at the Waters Center for Systems Thinking, where she helps leaders, coaches, and organizations build their capacity to navigate complexity, deepen awareness, and create meaningful change. Her work brings together professional coaching competencies and systems thinking, helping coaches look beyond the presenting issue to explore the patterns, perspectives, relationships, and structures shaping a client’s experience.
As a coach educator, Alison is passionate about helping coaches strengthen both the art and discipline of coaching. Her approach is practical, experiential, and grounded in the belief that powerful coaching expands how people think—not simply what they do next.
In addition to her work with the Waters Center, Alison is the founder of The Thrive Designer, where she has coached executives, organizational leaders, educators, and helping professionals. She brings warmth, curiosity, and a deep respect for the client’s own wisdom to both her coaching and her work developing other coaches.