The Philosophy of Executive Performance



Responsible leadership development programs need to address the total well-being of leaders - not only to avoid health risks, reduce stress, burnout, and turnover - but to fully develop each leader’s peak performance potential, their ability to manage the focus and energy required to lead effectively. Research proves that when leadership development integrates wellness principles, innovation, creativity, and overall productivity are enhanced exponentially.

Now more than ever, business leaders need resilience to cope with the increasing intensity of change in the business world. Integrating wellness of mind, body, and spirit creates a foundation from which truly powerful peak performance is possible. Performance Coaching helps executives enhance their effectiveness by incorporating a foundation of personal physical and mental fitness with proven health strategies into their high-performance lifestyle.

Performance Coaching from a Uniquely Qualified Expert
WellSpark Executive Performance Coaching is designed to meet the needs of busy professionals ready to take control of their well-being, find more energy, more focus, create better balance, and reach their full potential.

In addition to being certified as both an Executive Coach and a Wellness Coach, Cynthia Ackrill, M.D. combines her more than 20 years of experience as a primary care physician with extensive experience in the new brain-based approaches to performance enhancement, a distinction making her exceptionally well qualified to address the performance needs of business leaders and executives.

Throughout her medical career in both private practice and public health, Dr. Ackrill was intrigued by the multiple factors influencing illness and health, yet continually frustrated by the traditional medical model focusing on disease. Her fascination with the role of the brain in disease and immunology led her to study psychoneurobiology, a field of applied neuroscience measuring brainwave patterns and their correlation to psychometric measures of symptoms, behaviors, and performance. As Fellow of the American Institute of Stress, she has focused on the methods to help individuals better regulate the effects of stress on health and performance.

Dr. Ackrill turned to coach training in an effort to move away from the conventional physician-patient dynamic and toward empowering clients to make significant changes for better health. After certifying in Wellness-specific coaching, she trained in Executive Leadership coaching to address the unique challenges for business leaders, giving her measures and tools specifically designed to help leadership executives become peak performers.

“The WellSpark mission has evolved to facilitate executive clients in finding the motivation, expertise, and support to become peak performers in all areas of their life,” says Dr. Ackrill. “My path has been quite unique, giving me the depth of understanding and tools to pursue my passion: helping people to find their strengths, align their actions with their values, and play an active role in their well-being.”

Education
• Duke University, B.S. 1978
• University of Maryland School of Medicine, M.D. 1985.
• Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 1985-86 Internship in Family Medicine

Experience
• The Center for the Advancement of Human Potential, The Pisgah Institute, Asheville, NC, 2/01- present. Applied Neurosciences, Biofeedback, Stress Management
• Health consultant, coach, educator, & facilitator for professional workshops in stress management and applied neurosciences, EEG neurofeedback and biofeedback, evaluation and treatment of stress related disorders, hypertension, migraines, ADD/ADHD, seizures, and mood disorders in children and adults
• Volunteer Physician for the Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry Free Medical Clinic - ongoing
• Staff physician, Buncombe County Health Department, 1991-1998

Additional Certifications
• Executive Coaching College - certification in progress
• WellCoaches Wellness Coach Training
• Wellness Inventory Wellness Coach Training

Professional Memberships
• Fellow of the American Institute of Stress
• Member of the International Society of Neurofeedback and Research (Board Member 2005- 2007)
• Charter Member, Institute of HeartMath
• National Headache Foundation
• International Coach Federation