Proposal Details
Conference Audience:
350+ professional coaches are expected to attend this conference. A broad range of coaches will be present, from beginner to highly experienced, “master” coaches. Attendees will be national and international, English-speaking, and some multi-lingual. Feedback from prior conferences reveals that attendees appreciate useful (able to apply tomorrow) interactive sessions, with hands-on exercises and reflection included.
Conference Theme: Seeds for Transformation
We ask you to include conference theme content. To support your efforts, here is the video that introduced our theme and a few notes:
Iowa’s rich soil and expansive fields symbolize growth, renewal, and endless possibility—just as coaching does. Every coaching conversation is a seed planted with intention, nurtured with awareness, and cultivated into lasting transformation.
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Planting Possibility – Coaching creates space for new insights, just as seeds take root in fertile ground.
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Cultivating Growth – True transformation requires patience, care, and the right conditions—mirroring the coaching journey.
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Harvesting Impact – Our work as coaches ripples outward, shaping individuals, teams, and communities.
Session Details:
There will be a mix of session lengths, and we ask you to provide us two length options for consideration. As the conference comes together, we’ll communicate timing and format.
Current plans are for:
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20-minute TED-style presentations (some engagement preferred)
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6-minute PechaKucha** style talks (engagement optional – see below**)
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Traditional 75- and 60-minute sessions (high interaction and engagement required)
**For more info on PechaKucha** talks, there are sites on the web, and searching for PechaKucha on YouTube] that describe them. A huge range of topics is possible. Topics you are particularly passionate about tend to work the best. Due to the tight timing, engagement is optional. #Basically, it’s 20 X 20 – 20 slides auto advancing every 20 seconds. NOTE: Because of the rigorous timing requirements, PechaKucha slide decks MUST be submitted to the conference 72 hours before the start of the conference or else the session will be scratched.
Logistics:
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Room Capacity: Rooms will accommodate approximately 50 - 100 people
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Standard Audiovisual Equipment provided. Presenters must provide their own laptops and cables.
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ICF Midwest Regional Conference does not print handouts or make copies.
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PDFs or slide decks that are submitted by the deadline may be included in the conference app
Eligibility Requirements
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ICF Members in good standing and non-members
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Members of the 2026 ICF Midwest Coaches Conference Steering Team and Program Committee are not eligible to present in 2026. Members of other Conference Committees and Volunteers are heartily welcomed.