September 2026: President's Message
Posted on Aug. 28, 2026 / President's Message / Subscribe 0
Richa Chadha is in her third year serving on the board of ICF San Francisco Bay Area chapter, and she's likely continuing.
Richa holds two roles: director of credentialing and treasurer.
As director of credentialing, she meets coaches at different stages of their journey, providing support, resources, and answering questions. As treasurer, she focuses on stewardship of the chapter's resources, making sure spending aligns with ICF global to benefit the broader coaching community.
When asked why she chooses to serve on the board, Richa said it comes down to giving back to a profession and community that have given her so much.
"I joined feeling like I would be here to serve, but I didn't realize that I've learned along the way," she explained. "That was a two-way street. I learned so much. I was not only serving, but I also learned so much from the fellow board members, from our chapter members, from ICF globally."
Board service, she's discovered, is about connection and giving back while also making coaches feel less alone in what they do. Richa's core motivation is to reduce the loneliness that coaching can bring. "It could feel lonely sometimes," she said, describing how she thinks about contributing to both professional growth and community.
The chapter's upcoming Coaches Summit on September 18 at the Exploratorium embodies this philosophy. It's an in-person conference focused on connection and learning together.
As chapter president Alex Wallash noted, when you come from a place of service, you tend to receive things unexpectedly. It's not your intention to receive, but you might just realize that things are coming your way from service to others.
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