Golden Mean Growth
Empowering leaders to flourish through practical wisdom and intentional growth.
GMG Values
I stand on three pillars that guide every conversation, course, and coaching partnership. Together, they form the foundation for redefining what it means to lead effectively and ethically.
Curiosity
Curiosity keeps leadership alive.
It invites us to move beyond certainty, to ask rather than assume, and to see each moment as a chance to learn.
Curiosity turns challenges into opportunities and conversations into discoveries.
It’s how we expand what’s possible — for ourselves and for those we lead.
Presence
Leadership starts with awareness.
Presence means being fully engaged with what is here and now, seeing both yourself and others clearly.
It’s the foundation for insight, empathy, and grounded decision-making.
Respect
Respect is the heart of ethical leadership.
It means honoring both your own perspective and the dignity of others.
Respect builds trust, nurtures collaboration, and holds space for difference.
It transforms knowledge into understanding and intention into integrity.
Credentials & Affiliations
I hold a PhD from Washington University’s Olin Business School, an MBA from The Ohio State University’s Fisher College of Business, and a BA from Wellesley College.
I’m an ICF-Certified Leadership Coach and am currently completing certification as a Certified NeuroTransformational Coach (CNTC).
About Elizabeth
I’m an educator, leadership coach, and program designer who helps people bridge the gap between knowing and doing.
Before entering higher education, I spent nearly a decade in luxury retail, leading teams in merchandising and management at Neiman Marcus. That experience taught me that leadership isn’t about hierarchy, rather it’s about how we show up for others in dynamic, demanding systems.
Now, as a professor at the University of Illinois and a leadership coach, I bring together research from philosophy, psychology, and neuroscience to create learning experiences that inspire sustainable growth. My work bridges the reflective rigor of academia with the practical realities of modern leadership, helping professionals grow as effective, ethical, and whole human beings.
When I’m not teaching or coaching, I’m often reading, traveling, enjoying a fine scotch, or hanging out with my dog, Einstein — the best teacher of presence I’ve ever had.
You can learn more about me and my work at elizabethannluckman.com.
My Philosophy
Leadership is not a position but a practice; a way of seeing, deciding, and showing up in the world.
Through coaching, developmental programs, and meaningful conversations, I help people reconnect with purpose, build resilience, and grow into the kind of leaders others trust and want to follow.
My approach blends research and reflection, drawing from philosophy, psychology, and neuroscience to turn awareness into sustainable action.
It’s collaborative, experiential, and deeply human — focused on creating real change that lasts beyond the workshop or the coaching session.
Leadership, at its best, is the practice of becoming more fully ourselves — in service of something larger than ourselves.