Ian McDermott

Ian McDermott has devoted his career to equipping people with the tools to navigate challenges and develop their own solutions, both personally and professionally. He works with individuals, teams, and organizations to provide essential skills and insights.

As the Founder of International Teaching Seminars (ITS), Ian has collaborated with hundreds of organizations and impacted thousands of people globally. Based in the UK and the US, he brings a broad perspective to his work with international companies, focusing on Leadership, Collaboration, Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Risk. International Teaching Seminars is celebrating its 35th anniversary in 2023, reflecting Ian’s extensive experience in managing successful, long-term business ventures.

Ian is renowned for integrating NLP with coaching, establishing himself as a thought leader in leadership, innovation, and collaboration. His extensive authorship includes books translated into 20 languages, such as *The Art of Systems Thinking*, *The NLP Coach*, *The Coaching Bible*, and his latest work, *The Collaborative Leader: The Ultimate Leadership Challenge*.

He serves as an Honorary Fellow at Exeter University Business School, focusing on entrepreneurship and innovation. Ian is also the Dean of Innovation & Learning for the Purposeful Planning Institute in the US and contributes to the Open University’s MBA course ‘Creativity, Innovation and Change’. Additionally, he is External Faculty at Henley Business School and a co-creator of the Henley MSc. in Coaching and Behavioural Change.

Ian is a UKCP accredited psychotherapist and holds a Diplomate in Professional Coaching from the International Academy of Behavioural Medicine, Counselling and Psychotherapy. Known for pioneering Leadership and Innovation Coaching, he has trained a generation of coaches and was dubbed “the coaches’ coach” by the Independent. He is a member of the Association for Coaching’s Global Advisory Panel and serves as the AC Global Ambassador for Innovation and Collaboration.

His coaching also extends to high net worth families and their advisors, focusing on legacy training and succession planning. Collaborating with Professor Patricia Riddell, Ian has advanced the practical applications of neuroscience, establishing a new international standard in Applied Neuroscience certification trainings through ITS.

Ian’s primary focus is on delivering practical solutions to ensure that learning, change, innovation, and collaboration are effectively realized. This commitment led him to establish International Teaching Seminars.