Episode 15: Psychoanalysis in the Emory Business School-From Couch to Coach

“Especially now in business, what’s  valued in leadership are the soft skills, not the dictatorial, top down command and control. This is a time when analysts can be extremely valuable in the business world.”

Lisa Rosof MD, JD

Atlanta

Episode Description:

Steven Rolfe welcomes Dr. Lisa Rosof from the Emory University Psychoanalytic Institute in Atlanta. Dr. Rosof is a board certified psychiatrist and fellow of the American Board of Psychoanalysis. She was a practicing attorney and member of the California Bar before attending medical school at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine. She completed her psychoanalytic training at Emory. She is a psychiatrist and psychoanalyst in private practice in Atlanta and an adjunct assistant professor at Emory University Department of Psychiatry. Dr. Rosof has provided executive coaching to MBA students at the Goizueta Business School through the leadership coaching fellows program. Most recently she contributed as a faculty member in the Emory Diploma Program in Executive Coaching. Dr. Rosof is a faculty member of the Emory Psychoanalytic Institute where she has taught analytic writing, technique and dreams . She is an inactive member of the California Bar.

During this episode Dr. Lisa Rosof talks about the analytically oriented program in executive coaching that has been developed at Emory. This is believed to be the first psychoanalytically oriented executive coaching program developed by an analytic institute in conjunction with a business school.

Key Takeaways:

[3:05] Dr. Lisa Rosof talks about the Emory Institute and the analytically oriented program and executive coaching.
[5:04] Initial connection with Goizueta.
[7:49] The idea of teaching future business leaders about Emotional Intelligence.
[8:19] Two different programs.
[9:18] Teaching critical coaching skills.
[10:47] Example of how they work with 2nd year MBA students.
[12:02] Funding sources.
[13:17] The Emory Diploma Program in Executive Coaching.
[14:57] The structure of the program is both didactic and experiential.
[16:25] A multidisciplinary approach.
[18:46] Making analytic thinking come alive in a business school.
[22:21] Reactions from the students that participated in the program.
[23:39] The profile of participants in the program.
[24:31] The future of the program.
[27:25] Advice to others considering developing this kind of program for their institutes.

Recommended Readings:

Balint, M. (1968) The Doctor, his Patient and the Illness. 2nd Edition. London: Pitman Paperbacks.

Sandler, C. (2011). Executive Coaching A Psychodynamic Approach. Berkshire: Open University Press.

Zaleznik, A. (2009) Executive’s Guide to Understanding People, Palgrave Macmillan

4 comments on “Episode 15: Psychoanalysis in the Emory Business School-From Couch to Coach

  1. Vivi Vrasmata says:

    Great initiative to get analytic perspective out off the couch! Psychonalytic thinking has a lot to offer to a wide range of jobs.

    Kind Regards

    1. Lisa Rosof says:

      Thank you! It was a learning experience for all of us.

  2. Dear Dr. Rosof,

    I am a Turkish psychologist and a psychoanalyst under training ( Istanbul psychoanalytical association) living in Istanbul. I also have 33 yeas of business experience in international companies. I found your program very interesting and would like to learn more about it.

    Is it possible that we establish contact through email?

    Regards

    1. Lisa Rosof says:

      Dear Dr. Koraltan,

      I am glad you found the talk interesting. Feel free to email me at lrosof@bellsouth.net

      Lisa

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