Welcome to the Human Potential Institute
![Our mission]( "Our mission")
Our MISSION
Our MISSION To create training programs that radically improve people’s lives.
The Human Potential Institute (HPI) is a global pioneer within the fields of Coach training and human potential development. Founded in 2015 by Dr. Mark Atkinson MBBS (medical doctor and human potential teacher) and Dave Asprey (founder of Bulletproof and 40 Years of Zen), the Human Potential Institute has welcomed more than 2500 students from 43 countries into their programs. Their vision is to empower and equip millions of people worldwide to realize their unlimited potential.
MEET THE FACULTY
Rod Francis
Head of Coaching Faculty
Rod is Head of Coaching Faculty at the Human Potential Institute, a co-creator of the Human Potential Coach Training program and creator of Emergent Coach Training. He is an ICF-credentialed Positive Psychology & Presence-based Coach, and a qualified Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction program teacher. A former professional international dancer and choreographer turned entrepreneur, Rod has been coaching and mentoring for almost two decades and teaching for over 4 decades. His work integrates a deep love of science, nature and human potential with a passion for somatic and embodied contemplative practices and a core mission to catalyze positive change in the world.
Sherry Trebes, CHPC, PCC
Faculty & Mentor Coach
Sherry Trebes brings over 12 years’ experience in life and health coaching with an emphasis on meeting Clients where they are and partnering with them to create an authentic fulfilling life, live fully in the present, overcome obstacles and challenges, and build powerful loving self-care practices and relationships. She is certified as a Human Potential Coach, Enneagram teacher in the Narrative Tradition, Enneagram in Business, Institute of Integrative Nutrition, American College of Sports Medicine, and Precision Nutrition Level 1.
Bijal Choksi, MA, CHPC, ACC
Faculty
Bijal Choksi is an organizational psychologist with 25+ years of experience as a consultant, facilitator, and Coach. She is fascinated by human and organizational behavior – and the challenges that often come up living complex, modern human lives. Bijal is an ICF-credentialed Coach who is passionate about helping people achieve their full potential. She holds a Master’s in Organizational Psychology from Columbia, undergraduate from Wharton, and certifications from HPI, plus StandOut Strengths, the Science of Happiness, and HeartMath. Bijal founded a non-profit to support the dreams of high-achieving high school students from low-income households, and has two teenage boys and a husband who think she’s a crazy biohacker.
Erin Maloney
Mindfulness Teacher
In addition to teaching the mindfulness program in the Human Potential Coach Training, Erin is an Adjunct Teacher at the Mindfulness Center at the Brown University School of Public Health, where she specializes in designing and leading mindfulness programs for Educators and Corporate Clients. She is on the Adjunct Faculty at the Center for Mindfulness at the University of Massachusetts Medical School and at NHTI Community College. At Mindful Schools, Erin is a Guiding Teacher in the Mindful Teacher Certification Program.
Valerie Jennings, CPCC, PCC
Mentor Coach
Valerie brings over 20 years’ experience working in high technology and the Silicon Valley world to her Clients. Her background in Supply Chain Operations, Customer Service, Sales, Engineering & Human Resources, helps her quickly relate to the problems professionals are trying to solve. She has managed large, complex, global teams, and has a lot of insight to offer her Clients on what works and what doesn’t. She partners with Clients who are seeking to propel the performance in their careers, to better engage with their teams, and who want to be true to themselves along the way. In her group facilitation and one on one coaching, she provides a safe space, where Clients can get real with themselves about what’s keeping them back from reaching their goals. As a result of this partnership, Clients find deeper career and life satisfaction. Val has been a working mom throughout her career, and can help her Clients find strategies to joyfully juggle parenting, careers, and self-care.
Susan Alexander, CPCC, PCC
Mentor Coach
Susan loves helping Coaches learn and practice so they can develop an authentic coaching style that helps their Clients create real change. She specializes in Life, Career, Leadership, and Mentor Coaching using a values-based and strengths approach as it is very powerful in helping Coaches create their most fulfilling style. Her coaching is grounded in a successful career serving in a variety of learning and development roles. She has been in independent practice for almost 10 years and her passion for helping others learn the art and science of coaching burns strong. She stays close to coaching certification requirements and loves being a Mentor Coach for Coaches in certification or experienced Coaches that are working to up their game.
MEET THE FOUNDERS
Dr. Mark Atkinson, MBBS
Co-Founder of Human Potential Institute
Mark is a medical doctor, human potential teacher and co-creator of Human Potential Coach Training. Dr. Mark runs The Human Potential Lab — the human potential development program for Coach Training students. Through his transformational programs, Mark has taught thousands of people how to take charge of their mind, upgrade their perceptions and live from freedom, not fear. He received his medical degree from Imperial College London.
Dave Asprey
Co-Founder of Human Potential Institute
Dave Asprey is the Founder of Bulletproof and 40 Years of Zen. He is a three-time New York Times bestselling science author, host of the Webby award-winning podcast Bulletproof Radio, and has been featured on the Today Show, CNN, The New York Times, Dr. Oz, and more. Over the last two decades Dave, the “Father of Biohacking,” has worked with world-renowned doctors, researchers, scientists and global mavericks to uncover the latest, most innovative methods, techniques and products for enhancing mental and physical performance.
MEET THE STAFF
Karen Barrett
Operations Supervisor
Karen oversees HPI’s core operations, ensuring all systems run smoothly. Her education and interest in the field of psychology led her to join HPI’s mission of living what we teach and helping people reach their highest potential. As a licensed attorney with extensive business experience, she loves managing the day-to-day logistics and interacting with both faculty and staff. In addition to establishing and maintaining systems within the company, Karen loves to oversee the student community and provide direct support across all of HPI’s programs and teams. In her down time, she loves to travel, scuba dive, and adventure with her Swiss Mountain Dog.
Golder Goldstein, CHPC, ACC
Admissions Coach
Golder is a Coach, writer, teacher, workshop facilitator, and change agent. He is a Certified Human Potential Coach, an Admissions Coach at HPI, teaches Swiftwater Rescue at the recreational and professional levels, and offers workshops on the growth mindset skillset. As a Coach, Golder thrives guiding highly motivated individuals as they integrate and expand into the wholeness of their human experience, watching obstacles fade to the ease of flow and self-knowledge. As an Admissions Coach, Golder loves connecting with people at the cusp of personal and professional change and commitment, providing the necessary information and perspective for them to make well-informed and personally-aligned decisions. When not coaching, connecting and creating online and indoors, Golder spends the bulk of his free time outdoors paddling, climbing, walking, and basking in the wild natural world.
Nichole Girard, CHPC
Admissions Coach
Nichole is a Certified Human Potential Coach, mindfulness practitioner and Mental Health Coach at Lyra Health. Prior to becoming a Coach she double-majored in Recording Engineering and Digital Media, with over 20 years' experience as a multimedia design consultant and DJ. As a Coach, Nichole’s passion for personal development, mental health, creativity and consciousness drive her desire to help others understand themselves on deep and subtle levels. She studied Raja yoga, which traditionally emphasizes meditation and mind management, and is well-versed in using breath techniques to soothe the nervous system. When not working, Nichole spends time creating adventures for her young daughter, teaching her the nuances of emotional intelligence and how to live a creative and curious life.
Erica Moore, CHPC
Administrative Assistant
Erica is a Certified Human Potential Coach and drives weekly calls for our Coach Training Program. Guided by calling and personal interests, the unfolding path has been a continuously shifting role working in the service and support industry. From food and beverage service and hospitality to serving as elder caregiver for her centenarian Grandmother in Savannah, she brought the focus of service to a more personal and meaningful nature. Inspired by the importance of human development from this perspective, and a lifelong interest in wellness, the journey to Human Potential Coaching began. Erica offers a compassionate space for transformation including forest-guided coaching sessions, and raises awareness on alternate states of consciousness and healing modalities. Erica loves snowboarding in the mountains, wandering in forests, practicing mindfulness meditation, exploring, music, writing, art-collaging, and reading soulful poetry. She chooses to live magically in the historic and forest-like environment of Savannah, Georgia.
