Dr Les Joynes

NYU Certified Coach and GoldAward® Mentor

Hi, my name is Les. I am a 2022 Fulbright Scholar and a mentor and coach based in New York. I was 2022 Fulbright Senior Scholar at the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts in New Delhi where I examined how the formation of Indian identities and visual cultures. Educated in the US, UK and Japan, I bring thirty years of international experience. A University of London GoldAward Mentor and New York University trained coach, I have created mentoring and coaching at California State University, University of Melbourne, Yale University’s Yale Center for British Art and while a Fulbright Scholar I created India’s first mentorship program serving tribal communities. I bring twenty years advising and mentoring experience in the arts, diplomacy, education, sciences and management. I recently initiated pilot coaching initiatives at Yale and University of Melbourne in Australia. In 2022, I initiated India’s first Mentorship Program serving tribal communities in Nagaland. In September 2023 I launched an MBA coaching series serving graduate students at California State Polytechnic University.

I began my career as a management consultant in Brussels and Frankfurt and advised Fortune 500 international organizations including Du Pont, 3M, General Motors, General Electric, Dow, Braun, and Bayer. I have served as an Executive and Leadership Coach to Columbia MBAs and EMBAs from 31 countries. A member of the Columbia Neurological Society and research scholar on education and leadership, I am building new coaching models for international research scholars.

I have served as New York Chair for the Society of Competitive Intelligence Professionals (SCIP). Since 2014 I have been leading multilateral projects in the arts in Brazil, Japan, Singapore, Mongolia, India, France and upcoming for Sri Lanka. Recipient of the US ECA SGA-RTP Grant to Sri Lanka I lectured on arts, culture and US Public Diplomacy at the Department of International Relations, University of Colombo, University of Kelaniya, University of Visual and Performing Arts and Colombo National Museum. I am recipient of Fulbright-Hays US Public Diplomacy projects in Mongolia and China and was awarded a US Department of State/ CAORC Fellowship grant to conduct the first research on models for US-Mongolian education exchange. Fulbright, US Public Diplomacy and International Awards include: Fulbright-Nehru Professional & Academic Award India (2022); Fulbright SCA-RTP Award Sri Lanka (2022); CAORC/ACMS grant Mongolia (2016); Fulbright-Hays US Public Diplomacy Award Mongolia (2014) and China (2017); ECA/ ZERO1 American Arts Incubator Award (2018); CDAF Grant for Colombia (2019); Taiwan Ministry of Education Scholar (2016); Japan Ministry of Education and Culture (Monbusho) Scholar (1997-2001); and the Erasmus Scholar Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-arts, Paris (1995)

Exploring how education builds mutual understanding across cultures since 1986 I am recipient of the Taiwan Ministry of Education Scholarship (2016) for the study of Mandarin, the Japan Ministry of Culture Monbusho Scholarship (1997-2001). Also possessing twelve years training in the arts and culture, Following my BA cum laude in History from M.Sc. Management from Boston University and the Vrije Universiteit Brussels (VUB) Faculty of Economic and Social Sciences. During my MBA I studied under the Organizational Behavior specialist, Abraham Rami Shani with whom I co-published on parallel learning systems in technology transfer. I later received graduate degrees from University of London (1997) and Musashino Art University (2001), was awarded my PhD from Leeds Metropolitan University in the UK and Post-Doctorate from the School of Art and Communications (2017) at University of São Paulo, Brazil.

My Objectives to serve the Fulbright Program

• Support Fulbright selection on its Selection Committees.

• Serve as a Speaker and Panelist at conferences, campus presentations,

• Share articles, webinars and interviews with artists and cultural collaborators.

• Contribute to Fulbright as a cultural diplomat and Fulbright Ambassador.

• Contribute to designing initiatives supporting Fulbrighters from overseas in their posting in the US.

Areas of Mentoring

Arts and Culture Management, Heritage Conservation, Sciences, Museum Studies; Business and Economics; Environmental Studies; Higher Education Administration; International Affairs; International Legal Studies; Journalism and Mass Communication; Public Administration; Public Health; Urban and Regional Planning; and Gender Studies.

Public Diplomacy and Culture Projects in Asia, Americas and EMEA

Exploring new models of furthering public diplomacy I am founder of Diplomacy Studio (www.diplomacy.studio) which explores intercultural collaboration in arts and culture as ways to engage the public in local communities and to promote mutual understanding.

• Fulbright Senior Scholar in Arts, Performance and Culture of South Asia at Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts in New Delhi. (2022)

• Field research in Delhi, Rajasthan, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, created Fulbright workshops in Andhra Pradesh. (2022)

• Research on storytelling and identity of the Naga People in the Northeast at the border region with Myanmar. (2022)

• Fulbright workshops on higher education at Gandhi Institute of Technology and Management (GITAM). (2022)

• Visiting faculty at Visva Bharati University in Santiniketan and Visiting Professor of the Royal University of Bhutan in Takse. (2025)

• US-China collaboration in the arts and culture, the Inside Out Art Museum, Beijing. (2017)

• DoS/ ECA sponsored presentations on intercultural collaboration, Mongolia. (2015)

• US-Mongolian Youth Arts Outreach, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia (2024)

• US-Indian Youth Arts Outreach, Nagaland, India (2022)

• US-Bhutan collaboration workshops (in preparation 2022)

• US-India collaboration in performance (West Bengal, 2022)

• US-Brazil-Turkey Collaborations (Bauhaus, Singapore 2009)

• US-German-Australia Collaborations (Bauhaus, Berlin 2009)

• US-India collaboration in arts and performance (New Delhi, 2022)

• US-Russia collaboration (St Petersburg, 2017)

• US-Mongolia Collaborations (Ulaanbaatar, 2014)

• US-Korea Collaborations (Seoul, 2012)

• US-Brazil Collaborations (Sao Paulo, 2012), University of Sao Paulo Post-doctoral research.

• US-Singapore Collaborations (Singapore, 2009). Singapore Citation Award.

• US-France-UK Collaborations (France 2009) Harlem Arts Alliance Award

• US-Japan Collaboration, Japan Ministry of Culture MeXT Scholar (1997-2001)

• International Exchange in the arts (Poland, 1992, 1993) and France (1995)

Training

• BA (cum laude) in History from Boston University (1986)

• M.Sc Management from Boston University and the Vrije Universiteit Brussels (VUB) Faculty of Economic and Social Sciences in Belgium (1988)

• MBA California State Polytechnic University. With Dr. Abraham Shani co-published on transcultural technology and knowledge transfer models. (1989)

• BA (Hons) Fine Art at Central Saint Martins College of Art, London (1996)

• MA Fine Art at Goldsmiths, University of London (1997)

• Masters in Fine Art at Musashino Art University, Tokyo (Japan Ministry of Education and Culture Award, 2001)

• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Art, Faculty of Art, Environment and Technology, Leeds Metropolitan University. (2001)

• Fellow of the University of the Arts London Research Center on Transnational Art, Identity and Nation (2015)

• Post-Doctorate from the School of Art and Communications at University of Sao Paulo in Brazil. (2017)

• Visiting Scholar and Scientist Program at Columbia University, examining intercultural collaboration, public diplomacy, education (2008-present)

Service to Boards and Committees

• As Fulbrighter advising Sir JJ School of Art on Curriculum Design for their transition into a national university.

• As Fulbrighter initiating a Youth Mentorship Program to serve rural communities across Nagaland.

• As Fulbrighter am Fellow at the Highland Institute, Kohima Nagaland on researching Naga culture in India.

• Editorial Committee and Executive Selection Member for the Peer Reviewed Journal ProjectAnywhere, University of Melbourne, Australia

• Executive Board Member, Seventh District Foundation (Charity for Children's healthcare), New York

• Grant Selection Committee for CEC Artslink Artist Selection (Artists from former USSR bloc countries)

• Grant Selection Committee for CEC Artslink Arts Administrators (Curators and Museum Administrators)

• Grant Selection Committee Harlems Artist Alliance, New York

• Grant Selection Committee for Nordic Artists Center, Dalsasen, Norway

• Chair, Youth Mental Health Committee, Highland Institute, Kohima, Nagaland, India

• Chapter Chair, Society for Competitive Intelligence Professionals, New York

• Art and Anthropology Committee, Royal Anthropological Institute, London

• Anthropology and Environment Committee, Royal Anthropological Institute, London

• Museum Committee, College Arts Association, New York

• International Committee College Arts Association, New York

Other Fellowships and Awards

• Fellow, The Highland Institute, Kohima, Nagaland (2022)

• CEC ArtsLink Foundation Grant, St. Petersburg, Russia (2017)

• Renmin University of China Merit Award, Beijing, China (2017)

• Taiwan Ministry of Education (MOE) Language Scholar National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan (2016)

• Wheatley Foundation Fellow, Birmingham City University, Birmingham, UK (2016)

• Fellow, University of the Arts London Research Center on Transnational Art, Identity and Nation (2015)

• Harlem Arts Alliance Grant, New York (2010)

• Queenstown Council, Singapore Citation Award, Singapore (2009)

• Edwin Austin Abbey Fellowship, National Design Museum, New York (2009)

• Bauhaus Foundation Fellow, Dessau, Germany (2009)

• Nagasawa Printmaking Residency, Awaji, Japan (2006)

• Musashino Art University Jury Selection Award (2001)

• Japanese Ministry of Education and Culture Scholar (Monbusho) (1998-2001)

• Japanese Ministry of Education and Culture Japanese Language Scholar (1997-1998)

• Academic Honours, Central Saint Martins College of Art, London (2006)

• Erasmus Scholarship, Ecole Nationale Superieure des Beaux-arts, Paris (1995)

• King Sturge Award for Sculpture, London (1995)

• Fellow of the Royal Asiatic Society (RAS) in London (2015-present)

• Fellow, Royal Anthropological Society (RGS) London (2015-present)

• Founder of the US-Bhutan Arts Association (2021-present)

• Fellow of the Highland Institute in Nagaland, India (2022-present)

Selected Papers and Publications and Studies in Arts and Culture

2020 Reclaiming Artists Research (review), Journal for Artistic Research, London, UK

2019 Interfacing Technology with Site” ISEA International Symposium of Electronic Art, Gwangju, South Korea

2018 New Institutional Models: China’s Cultural Landscape by Mid-Century, Long Museum, Shanghai, China

2018 Going Beyond: Art as Adventure (2018) O’Neill, R and Werner, J (eds.), Newcastle, UK: Cambridge Scholars.

2015 Anywhere v.1. (2015), Melbourne, Australia: University of Melbourne and Parsons School of Art, Media and Technology, New York.

2015 Inside Out Art Museum, New York: LeRoy Neiman Foundation [catalogue].

2014 Art and Research at the Outermost Limits of Site Specificity, Newcastle, Australia: University of Newcastle

2011 Octopus, Journal for Visual Culture. Irvine: University of California, Irvine, US

2008 Bauhaus-Dessau, Bühnenstudios der Stiftung Bauhaus Dessau [Internet], Germany

1999 “Some Say the Did, Some Say they Didn’t,”Art in America, New York

1997 The New Pathetic: Art in London, Springer, Vienna Austria

Selected Papers and Publications in Sciences and Managment

2007 Global Competitive Strategies in Environmental Systems [Research study] , New York   

2004 “Intelligent interface to genomics and future legislation: US and Iceland

2004 “Legislation of genetic testing in the US and Iceland”

2003 “Bringing Intelligent IT interface to human healthcare” Japan 

2003 “Clinical research development in human aging” Tokyo, Japan

2002 “The Human Genome”: Areas of Light and Shadow (Kon et al, Shokabo, Tokyo)1998 Scientific Journal editor, Tohoku University, Japan

1991 “Emerging materials applications in sound: use of Polycarbonates for Digital Audio” Germany

1991 Resourcing Tetra-butyl hydro-peroxide for radical polymerization initiators, Client Europe

1990 “Managing The Technology Transfer Process: Parallel Learning Mechanism” Dankook University Press, Korea

1990 Competitive Strategies in Fiber-optic technologies, Brussels, Belgium

1990 ”Radiative mineral spectrometry and refraction technologies,” Brussels, Belgium

1989 “Petroleum and derivatives competitive Analysis: Europe,” Fortune 100 Client, US

1989 Introducing eco-recyclables into automobile manufacturing,” Netherlands

1987 “Competitive Assessment of European Management Programs, Boston University, MA

Global Research Projects

2020-2020 Columbia University, New York, Research Scholar on the Futures of Mentoring and Coaching in Education. Department of Organization and Leadership, Teachers College, Columbia University, New York.

2020-2020 Columbia University, New York, NY Visiting Research Scholar. Course training in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion within organizations.

2020-2021 US Department of State and Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs,  Washington DC Citizens Diplomacy Action Fund Project Colombia.

2022-present Fulbright-Nehru Academic and Professional Excellence Award, New Delhi, India Research on collaboration and performance. Hosted by the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, New Delhi. Additional Hosting by Visva Bharati University, Santiniketan West Bengal, US Department of State/Fulbright sponsored field research in the Kingdom of Bhutan (2022).

2020-2020 Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC. Presenter on US-Mongolian cooperation. Fostering intercultural cooperation and research on local diversity and identity in Mongolia.

2020-2020 CEC Artslink, New York, NY. Artist Selection Committee and Jury 2020. Responsible for selection of artists and art managers from Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Georgia within US art museums and cultural organizations.

2019-2019 US Department of State, Washington DC and ZERO1, San Francisco, American Arts Incubator/ US DoS workshop training for cross-cultural fieldwork.

2018-2018 Institute for Cultural Industries, Peking University, Beijing, China. Visiting Professor in Cultural Entrepreneurship.Engaged design-thinking and creative skills to teach a master-level entrepreneurship course on cultural entrepreneurship, museums and foundation creation and building cultural organizations.

2017-2017 Fulbright-Hays US Public Diplomacy Award, Beijing, China Recipient of Mission China Award Fulbright-Hays US Public Diplomacy Mission China Award I directed the first US-China collaboration in performance. Supervised filmmaking team creating innovative performances at the Beijing Inside-Out Art Museum featuring first US-Chinese performances on the Great Wall of China.

2016-2016 US Department of State sponsored ACMS Fellowship, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. As Research Fellow initiated, planned and executed the first research on Arts Education in Mongolia. Lead research team in Ulaanbaatar and liaised with US Embassy, three national universities and the Mongolian Minister for Culture. Produced comprehensive research supporting cross-cultural exchange between the United States and Mongolia.

2015-present University of Melbourne and Parsons School of Design New York, and Melbourne, Australia. Editorial Board, ProjectAnywhere, 2015-present. Executive member of the Board working with Board-members from the US, UK, Australia, UK, Germany supporting exciting global events, a peer-reviewed journal supporting research and advanced scholarship.

2015-2017 University of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Post-doctoral research on identity and transcultural collaboration in Brazil. Awarded Post-doctorate Escola de Comunicações e Artes, Universidade de São Paulo

2015-present Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain London, UK. Member of the Art and Anthropology Committee (Fellow 2015-present). Responsible for scholarly journal review, building international cooperation.

2015-2015 Cambridge University Centre for Research in Arts, Social Sciences & Humanities, Cambridge, UK. Presenter on intercultural collaboration. Seminar on intercultural collaboration and performance arts

2015-2016 Young Researchers Conference, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Conference Chair, 2016. Responsible for Conference with participants from eight countries. Building sustained communities of practice and professional development amongst researchers in the social and life sciences.

2014-2014 Fulbright-Hays US Public Diplomacy Award, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Recipient of the Fulbright-Hays and CEC ArtsLink Awards to lead an overland expedition to Northern Mongolia to research the nomadic Tsaatan Reindeer herding communities of Northern Mongolia. Led five - member team from Germany and Mongolia. Liaised with Cultural Affairs Specialists at US Department of State and local organizations to produce the first US-Mongolian collaborative performances which featured at the Zanabazar National Museum of Fine Art.

2013-2013 Research on performance and local Brazilian cultural identities, shamanism, and ritual.Hemispheric Institute of Performance and Politics, Sao Paulo, Brazil. University of Sao Paulo, Brazil Workshop on performing identity. Brazilian Museum of Sculpture, Sao Paulo, Brazil

2011-2011 Eugene Lang Center for Entrepreneurship, Columbia University, New York, NY. Research in Entrepreneurship at Columbia Business School. Teamed with second year MBA team to advise the Mayor’s Office in the City of New York. Liaising with Accenture and MTV,  led creative initiatives for university involvement in NYC television initiatives. Conceived masterplan for NYC-wide television programming involving four universities and the creation of a sponsored chair for faculty.

2008-2009 Bauhaus Foundation, Dessau, Germany and Singapore. Producer and Choreographer. Bauhaus Foundation sponsored research on community. Directed performance series inspired by Southeast Asian rituals.                

2007-2007 Nordisk Kunstnarsenter Dale, Norway. Artist selection team. Artist-in-Residence centre funded by Norwegian Ministry of Culture.

1998-1998 Inaugural Taipei Biennial,  Tokyo, Japan. Curatorial Assistant for Inaugural Taipei Art Biennial.

1997-2001 Japan Ministry of Education and Culture Scholarship (MEXT), Tokyo, Japan. Conducted research on Japanese culture, aesthetics. Led curatorial and exhibition projects in Tokyo. Exploring new models for undergraduate teaching. Awarded university honors.

1988-1989 California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA. Co published research on systemic models for technology transfer (1990) with leading organizational behavior specialists Dr. Abraham Rami Shani Associate Dean of Faculty and Research at California Polytechnic State University. Graduated top of class in International Strategy.

1986-1988 Boston University and the Vrije Universiteit Brussels Faculty of Economic and Social Sciences, Boston and Brussels, Belgium (1986-1988) Advanced training in building cross-cultural cooperation within global organizations (M.Sc. 1988).

Professional Affiliations

College Arts Association Coach and Mentor in Education, New York

Columbia Business School Leadership Lab, Columbia University

Columbia University Visiting Scholar and Scientist Program, New York

Columbia Neuroscience Society, New York

Fulbright Alumni Network, Washington DC

GoldAward Mentor, University of London, UK

Graduate School Alliance for Education in Coaching (GSAEC)

Highland Institute, International Coaching Federation (New York Chapter)

International Leadership Association, US

National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan

New York University School of Professional Studies Coaching Program Alumnus

Renmin University of China, Beijing

Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain, London, UK (Fellow)

Royal Asiatic Society, London (Fellow)

Royal Geographical Society of Great Britain (Fellow)

US Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Network.

“Dr. Joynes is a phenomenal coach who influences how I think, plan, and act, to achieve my ambitions and maximize my potential. His methods combine creative and strategic problem solving techniques that ensure that the paths I define and choose simplify complexities and focus on the most important outcomes. Our work has helped me grow as a more impactful partner to my clients and influential leader and member on my teams” - Peter Sun | Consultant, McKinsey & Company

Coaching is recognized today as a value-add resource for international organizations, diplomatic communities and government working in multi-cultural environments. It is my pleasure to recommend Dr. Les Joynes as an experienced and thoughtful leadership coach. Experienced across thirty-five countries, Les works alongside leaders and teams to build strategic goals, team effectiveness, mission focus, and maintain work-life balance. - Anthony Diaz | Chief, Political and Economic Affairs, U.S. Embassy

As a venture capital professional, it's easy to get caught up in a daily routine and relegate career development decisions to our "someday" to-do list. A leadership coach, Dr. Joynes engaged unique approaches to align my professional and personal goals and work-life balance. I highly recommend him. - Hugues Dongmo | Vice President, XBTO Humla Ventures, New York

Les’s unique coaching style blends his diverse training and deep experience in both creativity and management enabling him to work effectively with leaders as they build their pathways towards their professional and work-life balance goals. - Paulette Rao MCC, BCC