Dr. Jill Urich spotlights purpose-driven leadership through coaching and education

Dr. Jill Urich, a longtime Iowa education leader and executive coach, is being featured by Influential Women for her work helping people build strengths, lead with curiosity, and create stronger teams. Her consulting practice and leadership philosophy center on collaboration, service, and developing women for roles across education and beyond.

Why it matters: - Dr. Jill Urich’s career reflects a broader shift toward leadership built on coaching, collaboration, and personal growth rather than hierarchy alone. - Her message is aimed especially at women in education who are weighing whether they can lead professionally while also sustaining family responsibilities. - Her consulting work turns decades of school leadership experience into practical support for individuals and organizations seeking clearer purpose and stronger performance.

What happened: - Influential Women featured Dr. Jill Urich, CPC, ELI-MP, for her work as an educational leader, executive coach, and consultant. - Urich is based in Ankeny, Iowa, and leads LJUrich Consulting. - Her career in education spans more than 30 years and includes roles as principal, assistant superintendent, director of college and career readiness, and chief academic officer. - Her work has centered on helping people discover strengths, strengthen teams, and create lasting impact.

The details: - Urich’s leadership philosophy emphasizes that effective leadership is about people, not just positions. - She focuses on helping individuals lead where they are while growing toward future goals. - Her education credentials include a Ph.D. in Leadership from Iowa State University. - She also holds graduate degrees in Educational Administration and School Counseling from Drake University and a teaching degree from the University of Northern Iowa. - Urich is a Certified Professional Coach and Energy Leadership Index Master Practitioner through the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching. - Her additional training includes cognitive coaching, adult learning, leadership development, and organizational effectiveness. - Her system-level leadership experience included strategic planning, performance management, career-connected learning, workforce alignment, and leadership development. - She describes leadership as a shared process in which each person brings value to the team. - Urich uses the idea that “1 plus 1 equals 3” to describe the results of collaboration. - Her faith is a central part of her identity and leadership approach. - She says curiosity is a key career principle and a reminder to keep learning and asking questions. - She encourages young women in education to embrace “we versus me” and recognize the value of interdependence. - Urich says she wanted her daughter to see that a woman can succeed at work and be a good mother at the same time. - She views challenges as opportunities to show resilience, vulnerability, and perseverance. - She believes educators influence students, families, colleagues, and school culture every day. - She urges emerging leaders to align their heads and hearts when they serve in education. - Urich says she was the only female lead principal in her conference when she served as a high school lead principal. - She wants more women to move into administration and leadership roles in education. - Her six core values are faith, family, teamwork, innovation, service, and continuous learning. - LJUrich Consulting offers one-on-one coaching, team development, workshops, and keynote speaking. - Her work includes helping people navigate transitions, strengthen teams, develop emerging leaders, and clarify next steps. - She describes the most rewarding moments as watching people grow into who they aspire to become. - More information is available through her Influential Women profile, her website, and LinkedIn.

Between the lines: - The feature positions Urich as part of a growing market for leadership development that blends professional performance with purpose and personal values. - Her emphasis on “we versus me” and synergy suggests a leadership model centered on team health and shared accountability. - Her focus on women in education reflects ongoing questions about representation in school leadership, especially at senior levels. - The profile also shows how faith-based purpose and professional coaching can reinforce one another in a leadership brand.

What's next: - Urich is likely to continue expanding her coaching and consulting work through LJUrich Consulting. - Her speaking, workshops, and leadership development services appear positioned to reach both individuals and organizations. - Her public message suggests continued advocacy for women entering and advancing in educational leadership.

The bottom line: - Dr. Jill Urich is using a long career in education to promote a simple leadership message: lead with curiosity, serve with purpose, and build stronger results through connection and collaboration.