Alis Anagnostakis

Biography

Alis Anagnostakis, PhD, is the founder of the Vertical Development Institute and an Adjunct Fellow at the University of the Sunshine Coast. With over 17 years of experience in leadership development, executive coaching, and research, Alis has worked with senior leaders and teams across various industries and countries. Her professional focus is on advancing leaders toward later stages of psychological complexity and maturity, designing and implementing impactful developmental programs to support this growth.

A seasoned coach trainer and mentor, Alis has guided hundreds of internal and external coaches toward achieving their ICF credentials. She is also a sought-after speaker, regularly presenting at ICF regional and global events. Alis completed her PhD on leadership development, specifically exploring leaders' psychological transformation, often referred to as adult or vertical development. Her research, conducted in one of the largest cross-industry executive programs in Australia and New Zealand, revealed the critical role of contrasting emotions—both positive and negative—in fostering transformative growth. It also shed light on how specific coaching, facilitation techniques, and program designs can nurture this development.

As a researcher-practitioner, Alis is passionate about translating insights from human development research into effective learning programs and coaching processes. She integrates action-research principles into program structures to maximize measurable impacts on individuals, teams, and organizations.

Niche Areas of Expertise

• C-Suite
• Internal Coaching Strategy
• Organizational Development
• Strategic Thinking
• Team Effectiveness

Languages

• English
• Spanish
• French