Yana has been specializing in the field of leadership development since 2003. In 2010, she founded Executive Gravitas – New York based boutique-consulting firm that supports her global client network. For the past 5 years, she has been working as a Program Director for the "Coaching for Managers" and "Internal Certified Coach" Programs for Coca Cola Hellenic Eurasia. She has trained and coached over 500 top managers in Russia and Europe. Yana is also an executive coach for INSEAD International Global Leadership Centre. Her list of clients includes such organizations as Johnson& Johnson, Armstrong, AstraZeneca, Boeing, Women for Women International, Nokia, TNK-BP, Teach First UK and others. In July of 2015, she joined Board of Directors of the New York ICF Chapter as a Director of Strategic Partnerships.
Mrs. Blackwelder’s specialty is to teach executives how to use coaching to manage and engage their teams as well as to promote their careers. She is an expert in international cross-cultural integration for leaders and work teams. She was invited as a leadership speaker and worked with executives across the globe in London, New York, Hong Kong, Prague and Moscow. During the spring of 2016, Mrs. Blackwelder is a guest lecturer in NYU and will be covering topics of international management and cross-cultural coaching with her students. She works with her clients in English and Russian. Yana’s new project is being a host and an author of the TV program "PRO Coaching: Leaders. Motivation. Results". The program started in January of 2016 on the cable channel "PRO BUSINESS TV", Moscow, Russia and is dedicated to the art and science of coaching in organizations
Yana’s holistic yet commercially sound approach to leadership development is based on the application of psychology and intercultural communication principles to the demanding environment of global business. It has been highly effective at all organizational levels from operational staff to senior executives of Fortune 500 companies. Her work style is highly personable and engaging. Clients have characterized Yana as a "thought partner who uses rigor to make things happen". Mrs. Blackwelder holds Bachelor in Business from Carlson School of Management, University of Minnesota and Мaster in Arts in Organizational Psychology, Columbia University, New York, USA. She received her coach education in London and is a certified by Coaching Development – London, UK.