Academics

Professional coaching for PhD students

“We all have goals we want to reach, challenges we’re striving to overcome and times when we feel stuck. Partnering with a coach can change your life, setting you on a path to greater personal and professional fulfillment.“

The CSE graduate programs office offers professional coaching to PhD students in CSE. Coaching sessions are available for individuals and small groups:

INDIVIDUAL COACHING (available the PhD students second year and beyond). In a one-on-one meeting with a coach you will explore a particular topic of your choice and plan a strategy and accountability for reaching your goals.

If you are interested in individual coaching sign up here for an introductory session.

GROUP COACHING
First year PhD students – In a small group setting you will grow self awareness and a sense of community with others who, just like you, are embarking on this journey. You will define your values, discover what is holding you back from reaching your goals, and determine what you can do to change it. The group meets four times during the Fall semester.
Registration for this group is closed. If you are interested in group coaching, please contact Magda Calvillo: [email protected]

Impostor Syndrome
If you are experiencing a feeling that you are not good enough to be here or that everyone around you is more skilled and smarter it might be a sign that you are struggling with impostor syndrome. Feelings of inadequacy and doubting your own abilities can impact not only your confidence but also your effectiveness at work and the quality of your life. If you are not sure if what you are experiencing is impostor syndrome take this assessment. If you score in the frequent to intense range (score higher than 60) it means that the Impostor Syndrome often affects your life and it would be a good idea to consider participating in this program to learn how to cope with it.
In a very small group (up to 3 students) you will meet with others who want to overcome impostor syndrome. You will discover how to combat fear, recognize your strengths and build confidence in who you are, and celebrate your accomplishments. 
The group will meet on Thursdays, every three weeks, 4 times throughout the semester. 
Registration for this program is closed. If you are interested in Impostor Syndrome Coaching, please contact Magda Calvillo: [email protected]

COACHING FOCUSED ON A SINGLE THEME (group meetings + individual coaching; available the PhD students second year and beyond):
Leadership Coaching
Leadership comes without a title. Everyday you lead yourself and others, you lead projects and meetings without a formal title. Step into your leadership potential with our Leadership Coaching Program. Designed to equip you with the skills and confidence to lead in various aspects of your academic and personal life, this program will guide you through the core pillars of effective leadership.
The group will meet 4 times during the semester, every two weeks on Thursdays. In between group meetings you will have 4 individual coaching sessions scheduled at your convenience. 
Registration for this program is closed. If you are interested in Leadership Coaching, please contact Magda Calvillo: [email protected]

Get Thing Done! Achievement Accelerator
As a researcher you mostly work on your own and it can be really challenging at times to maintain motivation to work and to be productive. This program is designed for students who often find themselves racing against the clock or struggling to maintain their motivation. Through group support, expert guidance, tools and individual coaching, you’ll develop the skills to manage your workload, meet your deadlines, and maintain a healthy balance in your life.
The group will meet 4 times throughout the semester, every three weeks on Thursdays. In between group meetings you will have 4 individual coaching sessions scheduled at your convenience. 
Registration for this program is closed. If you are interested in Time Management Coaching, please contact Magda Calvillo: [email protected]

WHAT IS COACHING?

Coaching is a process of facilitating another person’s learning, development, well-being and performance. Coaching helps raise self-awareness:  individuals identify goals and create their own strategies to achieve them, develop their own skills, and change their own attitudes and behaviors to reach their full potential.

The International Coaching Federations (ICF) defines coaching as “partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential. The process of coaching often unlocks previously untapped sources of imagination, productivity and leadership.“

How is coaching different from therapy, mentoring and advising?

Coaching is different from advising and mentoring. Professional coach does not tell the coachee what to do but helps them clarify the issue, identify solutions and develop strategy for achieving goals, also, keeps one accountable for moving forward. In contrast to an advisor or a mentor, coach does not offer a solution but supports the client in figuring it out for themselves. That is one of the reasons the coaching process is so powerful: the coachees gain self awareness, they get to experience the spectrum of their own strengths and capabilities.

Therapy is focused on addressing emotional, psychological, and mental health issues. It aims to explore and heal past wounds, traumas, and patterns that may be causing distress and negatively impacting a person’s mental and emotional well-being.

Advising:  in an academic setting an advisor supervises the research work students do. There is a clear agenda and an advisor’s role is to make sure students know what steps they need to take to make progress.

Mentoring implies that an experienced and knowledgeable individual provides guidance, support, and advice to someone less experienced, typically referred to as a mentee. The mentor’s role is to share their expertise, insights, and life lessons in order to help the mentee develop their skills, knowledge, and personal growth.

Coaching can help to:

• improve communication with your peers 
• improve communication with your advisor
• set goals for academic work – discuss priorities, plan strategy and demonstrate accountability
• get clarification on career dilemma – academia vs. industry
• reach/maintain work-life balance
• address imposter syndrome
• set up healthy boundaries- get better at time management and navigating competing interests
• maintain work motivation
• get support in facing many other challenges you encounter in your journey as a PhD student.

Meet the coach – Magda Calvillo

When people ask me what coaching is, I often refer to Jenny Rogers’ insight: “Coaching is about closing the gap between people’s potential and their current state.”

This captures the essence of what excites me about coaching—the ability to raise self-awareness that reveals how resourceful you truly are and the untapped potential you possess. Coaching is all about taking purposeful action. I help my clients set meaningful goals and devise strategies to achieve them, while keeping them motivated and accountable throughout the journey.

I am an ICF Certified Executive Coach, holding a Master’s degree in Literature from the University of Gdansk, Poland, and a Bachelor’s degree in General Studies with a focus on Human Services from the University of Connecticut. My career has been rooted in education, where I have served as a teacher, trainer, coach, and adjunct faculty. I firmly believe that incorporating coaching as a form of support for graduate students empowers them to reach new heights and grow holistically—both professionally and personally—preparing them for success beyond graduation.

If you have any questions about coaching initiatives in CSE, please contact Magda Calvillo: [email protected]