Former CEO, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals

“Cindy Marteney is the most gifted leadership coach I know. I have had the privilege of knowing her for more than 20 years—first as a young executive and more recently as the CEO of a multi-national nonprofit organization.

As a young executive building my leadership skills, I found her to be an empathetic, intuitive coach in a way that almost seemed like magic. Cindy possesses a rare and deep well of wisdom about human behavior, life, and business.

I believe the work I started with Cindy years ago is the reason the Board selected me as CEO in 2020. It was a difficult time of crisis (the tragic death of our previous CEO) and world-wide upheaval (the Covid Pandemic). And, we had just finished a major reorganization.

Cindy’s transformational program helped our leadership team gel. It helped us see the humanity in one another and go beyond being coworkers and see ourselves a sojourners in an interdependent world. In the end, we not only survived difficult times, but also achieved the highest results in the organization’s history.”

Dean, School of Dentistry, University of Utah. Former Systemwide Provost & EVP, University of California

“I am extremely fortunate to have worked with The Marteney Group as an institutional client. After a long career in academic leadership (which included significant time teaching leadership to others), I have valued Cindy Marteney’s unique and creative lens on developing people and creating a culture of support for ongoing growth.

The result has been creation of the most cohesive and effective team I have ever led. Our understanding of each other along with our acceptance of and appreciation for the great power of our differences has led to a new, collective sense of joy in our collaborations and achievements.

By truly objective measures, we have become a much more effective service, educational and research entity. I encourage others to take a similar journey, and to reap similar rewards.”

— Michelle Daniel, MD, MPHE, Vice Dean for Medical Education, University of California, San Diego

“Working with Cindy has been nothing short of transformative—professionally, personally, and spiritually. Her coaching is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced: rooted in deep self-inquiry, anchored in authenticity, and framed by practices that genuinely shift how you lead, live, and relate.

We began with the Enneagram—I'm a 3 with a 2 wing—and through that lens, I began to see myself, my habits, and my blind spots more clearly. But the real transformation came when I started to apply her tools—the MORF and Camera-to-Action processes—to real-life leadership challenges. One of the most difficult involved a brilliant but deeply hostile faculty colleague. Though I had the authority to terminate, Cindy helped me chart a different path—one grounded in compassion and clarity. What could have been a painful ending became a meaningful resolution for us and also for the entire team.

And then came the Buddha. In the early days of the pandemic—amid the grief of a student suicide, the the murder of George Floyd, and widespread unrest—I awoke one morning to find that a cherished Buddha statue in my backyard had been beheaded. I was shaken deeply – only someone who had been to my house and knew that I had that statue could have sent such a hateful message.

That moment became the unlikely start of a sacred, multi-year contemplative journey. Cindy invited me, along with two treasured colleagues, into a Koan Circle to engage in a different kind of meditation practice that helped us hold difficult realities. For the next five years we gathered—like the ancients—to sit with impossible questions, not to solve them, but to let them work on us. That practice taught me to trust in the universe’s unfolding, to lead from a place of not-knowing, and to appreciate the mystery when the world doesn’t make sense.

Another enduring gift of this work was learning to tell my own personal story. As part of our dean’s team graduation process, we crafted TED-style autobiographies—unearthing childhood moments and life-defining experiences that shaped how we show up as leaders. I still draw from that well nearly every day—whether speaking with students, guiding colleagues, or sharing my journey in public spaces.

Cindy didn’t just help me lead more effectively—she helped me lead by bringing forth my authentic self. And that has made all the difference.”

Director, Interprofessional Education. Executive Director, RISE. Former Dean, Office of Medical School Education, University of Michigan

“I first took The Marteney Group’s program to the deans and directors of our Office of Medical School Education, thinking it was for a specific part of our leadership team but realized it was vital for my entire team.  Now, as I regularly convene interdisciplinary teams in the University Provost’s office, I continue to find the inclusiveness of this approach refreshing and highly relevant. As we move interprofessional education practices to clinical healthcare environments, this work is helping us integrate teams from up 10 schools in practical and actionable ways. Meanwhile, I have brought this work home, including my wife, my kids, and even my parents. One of my original assignments when I didn’t understand a certain personality type was to ask my eldest son to teach me about his type, an experience that brought us closer.  My learning journey continues in all domains of my life many years later. 

Director of the Osher Center, University of Washington

“I have done several coaching programs in the past, which tended to feel formulaic and not attuned to circumstances, which sometimes backfired. So, I started out quite skeptical. The work our leadership team did with The Marteney Group was dramatically different.

In acupuncture, we look at the five elements or constitutions in our patients, without judgment and with an eye on what treatment will be most helpful in each moment.

I felt the same wisdom in the Enneagram system, which has helped me meet others where they are and always depends not only on their temperaments but also the stress and pressures in their lives.

This contemplative approach was also  woven into the conversation modules. And the most difficult conversations suddenly became more relational, more constructive—and even healing.

Practice-based. Deeply Human. Inherently integrative. This program delivered much that I am grateful for. I have already recommended this work to colleagues around the country and will continue to do so.”

Associate Dean, Finance, Operations & Development, School of Dentistry, University of Utah

“Working with The Marteney Group has been transformative for our team. Unlike traditional leadership programs that follow a rigid, one-size-fits-all approach, this program recognizes us as individuals and customizes the experience to address our unique needs.

The impact has been profound – far more effective and meaningful than any leadership training I've encountered before, especially when compared to others that often fail to yield lasting results.

Our communication as leaders has improved tremendously. We now engage in more open, honest conversations, which have fueled greater trust and collaboration as we continue to expand our number of clinics across the state, integrate dentistry with medicine, and engage in population studies designed to address oral health disparities.

 It’s been an exceptional experience that has brought lasting positive change to our organization during a time of tremendous expansion.”

Senior Executive, Sales & Customer Care, ModivCare

"This work was the ‘secret sauce’ that set my teams apart for more than a decade. In the high-pressure world of sales, where ambitious goals and constant change can strain even the strongest teams, her guidance helped us build a level of trust, resilience, and communication that others at the company couldn’t quite replicate.

This work wasn’t just about professional success—it kept my longest-running sales team together, year after year, delivering impressive results that the company admired and counted on. 

More importantly, it created lasting relationships that continue to this day, shaping not just our careers but our lives.“ 

Director, Iowa Neuroscience Institute. Chair, Neuroscience & Pharmacology Department, University of Iowa

“Originally, I was offered executive coaching as part of a recruitment package and chose Cindy Marteney after interviewing many coaches. I never envisioned how transformative the work with Cindy would be for me personally – nor did I imagine that I would be teaching this work to colleagues and making it part of how we support each other through difficult times.

Powerful yet accessible, I highly recommend The Marteney Group’s programs for anyone trying to broaden perspectives, strengthen collaboration or deepen the sense of belonging in their teams.”

Vice President, Workforce Management & Call Center Operations, Anderson Advisors

"I’m a pretty assertive person. Some might say I can be intimidating. My personal work has been to learn that honesty without kindness can be cruelty. I valued the leadership journey I took at work– and profound dividends also showed up at home. I stopped being so reactive and yelling at my kids after one of my kids suggested to my wife that she might need to divorce me at some point.

That really woke me up. I brought the work home, which literally helped save my marriage and the relationships with my kids. I taught the Enneagram at my church. Grateful couples came up to me afterwards and said the insights I shared could help their own marriages.

Then, my oldest daughter became interested in understanding these very different personalities in Junior High. We went on to explore meditation, mood checks, and motivations behind difficulties with others. We discussed what might be going on when people were doing hurtful things. We noticed how this work made us more understanding of others, more forgiving.  My daughter grew in her confidence as a leader and went on to become the student body president in high school.

While this work has consistently helped me as a leader at work, the best thing by far was how it helped me be more present and emotionally intelligent. I share this part of my path  in case it can help others in the deeply human ways it has helped me and my family.” 

Julia Curtis, MD, Director of Mole-Mapping Program, Department of Dermatology, University of Utah

"I worked with Jessica Ivey-Thomas through The Marteney Group on developing and refining leadership qualities that have helped me throughout my career as an academic dermatologist. She was integral to helping me successfully navigate interpersonal relationships with people throughout every level of our department, from senior  leadership and peers to staff. She helped me better define the trajectory of my career and be more effective in achieving it.  Consequently, I have enjoyed a much higher level of satisfaction in my work and avoided burn out that is so prevalent in medicine today."

Future Chair of Internal Medicine & Clinical Service Chief at OU Health, Oklahoma University 

“I worked with Cindy Marteney when I became Interim Chair of Internal Medicine at the University of Iowa—during the pandemic, the rollout of a new faculty compensation model, and later through the acquisition and integration of an entirely new community hospital.

Her unique ability to foster introspection and highlight the importance of human relationships in leadership left a lasting impact.

Coaching with Cindy is deep work, and it’s truly a life-changing experience.”

Director of Education & Student Life, School of Dentistry, University of Utah

"Never have I been part of a leadership development program that's been so consistent and well received by the broader team. Programs are usually much more individual or a one-day thing. This program has gotten everyone more connected, and it has been so thorough.

It's been so nice to have everyone on the same page, being clear in how we coordinate actions with one another, and also being accepting of our differences along the way. The way I approach conversations with everyone in my life has absolutely changed for the better.

Meanwhile, site visitors during our  school’s CODA accreditation said that we exhibit one of the healthiest and closest relationships between our staff and faculty. I attribute this positive feedback to the fact that we have all worked through the same leadership program.”

Director, Plastic/Reconstructive Surgery, University of Iowa

“As a former collegiate athlete, I recognize the importance of coaching in achieving success, so I naturally saw the value of coaching in my career. The work was engaging and insightful, making the learning process enjoyable as well as powerful.

Meanwhile, Cindy encouraged me to extend my work to my teams, including my clinical and operating room colleagues, ranging from faculty physicians and residents to advanced practice providers (PA’s and NP’s), nurses, and medical assistants. Learning together, we gained deeper understanding of each other’s archetypes, including our  strengths and signs we were starting to feel pressure. This allowed us to navigate interpersonal challenges in more helpful ways. 

Overall, this was an outstanding program for myself and my entire division.”

Chief Marketing Officer, SCRAM Systems

“I can confidently say I was one of the most skeptical people to come into the work. I didn’t see the value in coaching, wasn’t eager to be vulnerable, and fully expected to keep my guard up. But something about The Marteney Group’s approach broke through—and not in a forced or uncomfortable way. It was intentional, thoughtful, and rooted in emotional intelligence I didn’t know I needed.

What started as reluctance became one of my career's most meaningful professional and personal development experiences. The work helped me connect more deeply with my colleagues and understand myself more honestly, fundamentally reshaping how I lead.

The work also gave me the clarity and confidence to build a high-performing marketing team and a leadership philosophy rooted in purpose, empathy, and accountability.

I became an advocate for this work because I lived the transformation firsthand.”

Director of Communications & Public Relations, School of Dentistry, University of Utah

"The excellent partners at the Marteney Group taught me how to tap into the best aspects of myself and how to tap into the best aspects of others, including colleagues. I am grateful to them for their wisdom and guidance. It helps me be a better leader.“

Director, Allergy/Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa

“The leadership coaching I did was a unique experience, where as a faculty division director I was paired with a senior administrative leader in our department.

We explored leadership challenges from different vantage points and worked to understand the personalities around us using the Enneagram system. It's not so important whether the Enneagram is an absolute truth, but rather whether it is helpful in addressing conflicts and challenges, which it is. Reflecting on differences brought more empathy for others’ experiences, which made even the truly difficult conversations go surprisingly well.

Cindy often talks about love being the ‘secret’ in leadership. At first, this concept seemed a little hokey to me. But the more I thought about it, the more it made sense. Love is the major emotion for human connection. If we learn to harness this emotion as a leader, others feel more accepted, appreciated, and encouraged.

And personally, I trusted that more of my decisions were coming from the right place with the right reasons. Overall, a great experience.”

Rachael Nicholson, MD, Interim Vice Chair of Education, Division Director of Vascular Surgery, University of Iowa

“Cindy’s deep understanding of the complexities of academic medicine and human dynamics gave me insight into my own leadership style, while providing practical strategies for growth.

She fostered a supportive environment that encouraged me to explore stress patterns and uncover strengths, which improved my ability to lead my team, address conflicts in high-pressure situations, and approach institutional challenges with greater confidence.

Participating in this leadership development program enriched both my professional and personal life. I highly recommend this work to anyone seeking to enhance their leadership skills.”

Sales Director, CompHealth, CHG Healthcare

“Suspicious. That was my first real mood check when I was introduced to this work. Yet after more than a decade of being on this leadership journey, everything changed: not only how I lead but also how I show up as a colleague, as a husband, as a dad, and as a human being.

Cindy’s depth, connection, and mastery of her craft are unmatched. She’s one of the most influential teachers I’ve ever worked with, weaving rich insights from the Enneagram about human psychology with a deeply contemplative approach to difficult conversations and challenging circumstances.

At one point, Cindy brought this surprising practice to a sales team retreat—meditating with koans, which are ancient teaching stories. We were asked to explore where the story illuminated something in our current life and share what we discovered together. It was a profoundly bonding experience. After enduring the isolation of the pandemic, I chose to reunite my sales team with a meditation circle, which provided exactly the meaningful reconnection we needed.

Personally, this work has given me deeper confidence in my own skin, in working with difficult realities, and leading authentically. Mood check today? Forever enlightened.”