about c4
At the core of the c4 ethos on change lie two foundational principles. 1. Change does not occur without a disruption.
2. For change to be effective it must be realized by the individual or individuals seeking change.
Change will only happen when there is a perturbation to the system. Understandably, the thought of disruption causing change can produce some anxiety. That is precisely why an expert is needed, one who can shape and skillfully deliver only as much force as is needed in precisely targeted areas in order to affect the desired change without causing collateral damage. I am an expert in understanding how to shape our work in just this manner and do so with understanding and compassion.
While a disruption is a required catalyst for change, it will be ineffective if the need, nature, structure and implementation of said change is not understood by the client. Telling someone what to do is at best a short-term fix. To provide effective and lasting change, a coach must help someone see for themselves what issues are preventing them from exceeding their current capacity as leader, manager, human and be their guide as they discover the solutions that will best work for them. This process instills in the client a sense of ownership, not only of the problem but also the solution. This also imparts self-assessment and problem-solving skills that increase the return on investment for the individual and the organization.
about david makowski
David started his professional career in the U.S. Army as a Human Intelligence professional, which established an initial foundation and interest in human motivation, behavior, personality and decision-making. In his thirteen-year active-duty career he served in multiple operational and leadership roles which included a support role to a Special Forces Unit serving in Central Asia where David was a key advisor to senior U.S. Military leaders and head of liaison with foreign leadership from the Ministry of Defense on down.
David went on to a career in Federal service, working for the Defense Intelligence Agency, Naval Criminal Investigative Service and the Office of Naval Intelligence in positions which had him working with U.S. company C-suite leadership on national security matters, managing operational activities in the northeast and championing a culture of collaboration with Federal, State and local intelligence and law enforcement agencies.
In forming c4 Executive Coaching and Consulting, David combined his previous experience with his passion for working with people in bringing about personal, professional and organizational change and growth. His interest in and work with emotional intelligence, mindfulness and meditation practices, as well as the current understanding of the science of neuro-leadership provides for an eclectically strong foundation for his coaching and consulting work. At the core of David’s work is an approach that takes into account the uniqueness of every individual and their specific circumstances as well as the interconnectedness of everything within a system.
David holds a graduate degree in Organizational Psychology and Change Leadership from Columbia University’s Teachers College and an Executive Coaching certification from Baruch College’s Zicklin School of Business. David is certified in the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) personality inventory, Hogan Assessments HPI, HDS and MVPI, as well as other assessment tools, and is also a certified Qi Gong instructor.
David has provided consulting and coaching services to private industry, start-ups and non-profits. He is also a volunteer mentor at the Brooklyn Veteran Treatment Court, working with veterans struggling with the effects of PTSD and substance abuse.
COLLABORATION
For larger engagements, I work with a network of professionals to create a team that is responsive to the unique needs of each client. Some of my close collaborators include:
Hosanna Fox
Hosanna has worked in the non-profit sector for 24 years, including five years in humanitarian complex emergency environments and three years as a consultant for NGOs working in the humanitarian sector. She previously worked for Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) in DRC, Nigeria and South Sudan in a humanitarian affairs capacity. She has since worked in Nigeria, South Sudan, Central African Republic, Iraq and Jordan delivering trainings and conducting research on humanitarian topics.
Hosanna is currently an Adjunct Professor at Columbia University’s School for International and Public Affairs in the Human Rights and Humanitarian Policy concentration. She is also a Research Associate at Humanitarian Outcomes.
Her work focuses on organizational support and individual coaching, retreat design and facilitation, research and analysis, advocacy and communications support, and humanitarian access and negotiations support.
Hosanna holds a BA in International Affairs from American University of Paris, an MA in Human Rights Law from the School of Oriental and African Sciences and a Diploma in French Language and Culture from the Sorbonne. She is fluent in French. Hosanna can be reached at hosanna.fox@wearehively.com.
Cathy Chen-Rennie, CPCC
Cathy specializes in coaching leaders enabling development of their own skills in leading teams. She came from leading engineering teams in large tech companies as well startups launching product features as a manager and product manager. She has a master's degree in Organizational Psychology from Teachers college at Columbia University and is certified in coaching with CTI. She has an additional M.S. in Information Technology and a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from UC Berkeley. Cathy can be reached at cathyrennie@gmail.com.