Dave Wondra

Session: Expand Your Ability Through Practice That Works

Dave Wondra was raised in a Minnesota community where the locals farmed during the week and danced on the weekends. Several of Dave’s relatives were also musicians. His Grandpa started him on drums, though the elementary school band had enough drummers, so he was handed a trumpet. By age 15 he had steady work with area dance bands. During his university years, Dave studied business while continuing a parallel path of trumpet performance. These separate paths continued for two decades.

In 2004 the paths converged when he started his executive coaching business and based his approach on the principles of effective practice. His clients develop their expertise through Practice for Performance, a proprietary approach to learning that incorporates practice into regular work activities. As a result, busy leaders get additional value for their time and learning that lasts.

Dave is a graduate of the Hudson Institute of Coaching, holds a Professional Certified Coach designation from the International Coaching Federation (ICF), and has a Master of Arts degree from the University of Minnesota. Dave served as Chairman of the ICF Global Board of Directors in 2015, and President of the ICF Foundation in 2018. In 2019 during a ceremony in Prague, Dave was inducted into the ICF Circle of Distinction, in recognition of his global impact on the coaching profession.

Dave continues to study, practice, and perform. He is a student of Tom Giles, Bobby Shew, and Bob Baca. Dave is based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. You’ll find him at www.wondragroup.com