Dr Les Joynes (PhD, MBA)

NYU Certified Coach and GoldAward® Mentor

Hi, my name is Les. I am a coaching specialist for MBAs and EMBAs. I am a University of London GoldAward Mentor and NYU-certified coach based in New York. I coach MBAs and EMBAs and Entrepreneurs at Columbia University, California State University, Culture professionals at Yale University Museums and PhDs at University of Melbourne, Australia. I am a scholar on Coaching in Higher Education in the Department of Leadership and Organization at Teachers College, Columbia University and have taught in higher education since 1999 at Peking University, Visva Bharati University, University of Coventry and am Professor of Record for courses at Renmin University, Beijing.

I am currently in Taiwan to initiate workshops in building a coaching culture within organizations. I have worked with hundreds of successful MBAs from over thirty countries including Taiwan supporting them in building their MBA vision, professional networks and stated goals for internship, career and continued training.

Recipient of the 2022 Fulbright-Nehru Academic and Professional Excellence Award for India I am recipient of the US Department of State sponsored CAORC/ACMS Field Research Fellowship for Educational Exchange in Mongolia (2016), Fulbright-Hays US Public Diplomacy Award for Mongolia (2014) and China (2017) and am trained in bi-lateral workshop development as US Department of State sponsored ZERO1 Art and Technology artist (2019) and was recipient of the RTP-SCA Fulbright Regional Grant to Sri Lanka where I presented on educational exchange at University of Colombo, University of Kelaniya, University of Visual and Performing Arts and Colombo National Museum.

In 2022, I served as Fulbright Senior Scholar at the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts in New Delhi examining the intersections of South Asian performance and art. In India I was Visiting Associate Professor at Visva Bharati University in Santiniketan in West Bengal and Visiting Artist at Sir JJ School of Art in Mumbai. I led a Fulbright workshop on curriculum design at Gandhi Institute of Technology and Management in India.

Educated in the US, UK and Japan, I bring thirty years global 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.

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.

Education and Training

• Group Coaching Certification, GCHQ/ ICF, New York (2021)

• Coaching Certification, New York University, New York (2019)

• Post-Doctorate, University of São Paulo, Brazil (2017)

• PhD, Leeds Metropolitan University, UK (2012)

• MA, Musashino Art University, Tokyo, Japan (2001)

• MA, Goldsmiths College, University of London, UK (1997)

• MBA, California State University, San Luis Obispo, CA (1989)

• M.Sc. Management, Boston University and Vrije Universiteit Brussels (VUB) Global Management Program(1988)

• BA (Cum Laude), Boston University, Boston (1986)

Selected publications

Joynes, L et al (2025). Emerging models for teaching, evaluation and curriculum development New York: Critical Practices.

Joynes, L, (2023), Taiwan (Re) Seen: an Artist’s View on Taiwan, FormLAB and National Museum of Taiwanese Literature

Joynes, L (2023), The Slipperiness of Memory. Monument and the Post Soviet, University of Indiana.

Joynes, L (2023), The Slipperiness of Memory in the Post Soviet, University of Indiana

—-, Tohoku: Reflections on Memory and Disaster, Chithravathi (Magazine) Kerala, 2022.

—-, (2020) Review of Reclaiming Artists Research, Journal for Artistic Research, London (2020)

Joynes, L Vu, T et al (2018). DrawnOver: Contemporary Drawing, Vojvodina, Serbia: Museum of Contemporary Art [catalogue].

—-, (2019) “Artist-centric model in museums” in China’s Cultural Landscape by Mid-Century, Long Museum, Shanghai.

—-, (2019) “FormLAB: Interfacing Technology with Site” (2019) ISEA International Symposium of Electronic Art, Gwangju, Korea.

—-, (2018). “The Artist as Explorer,” in Going Beyond: Art as Adventure. O’Neill , R and Werner, J (eds.), Newcastle,: Cambridge Scholars.

—-, (2016). “The Artist Explorer:: Geographically Dispersed Performance” Sao Paulo: Universidade de São Paulo [post-doctoral thesis].

—-. (2015). “Arts research, Global Identity and Cooperation,” London: University of the Arts, London.

—-. (2015). “Shapeshifter” [video], Pulse/Play, New York: Pulse Art Fair and The Cultivist, New York.

—-, (2015). “FormLAB” in Anywhere v.1.(2015). Lowry, S. and Douglas, S. (eds.),Melbourne, Australia: University of Melbourne.

—-, (2015) CCTV China “Learning Chinese Calligraphy” China Central Television [interview]

—-. “The Artist as Explorer,” Washington D.C.: College Arts Association Conference.

Joynes, L and Vu, T. (2015) Les Joynes and Thomas Vu in Interview” in Draw: Artists from China at  Inside Out Art Museum, New York: LeRoy Neiman Foundation [museum catalog].

Joynes, L (2014). “FormLaboratory” in Art and Research at the Outermost Limits of Site Specificity (2014) Lowry, S and Douglas, S. (eds.). Newcastle, Australia: Univ. of Newcastle.

Joynes, L. (2014). 2014. “Nomadic and Geographically Dispersed Practice,” Chicago: College Arts Association Conference.

—-."  Multi-spatial Performance: at Bauhaus-Dessau, November 2008: RecordDances, Bühnenstudios, Bauhaus Dessau.

Joynes, L. and Basu, S (2011) Octopus, Journal for Visual Culture. Irvine: University of California Irvine.

—-.  2001) “Yuichi Higashionna at NADIF Tokyo,

—-. (1999). “Some Say They Did: Some Say They Didn’t, Contemporary Art of Yoshitomo Nara at Ginza Art Space,” New York: Art in America.

—-. (1998).“The New Pathetic. Contemporary British art in the 1990s,”Vienna: Springer.

—-. (1998). “Explorations of the Uncanny in Contemporary American Art: Paul McCarthy, Mike Kelly and  David Lynch.”London: Goldsmiths, University of London. [Dissertation].

Areas of Mentoring and Leadership Coaching

• MBA / EMBA Coach and Mentor within Education, Business and Economics; Technology and AI;Environmental Studies; International Affairs; Law; Communication; Public Administration; Energy, Management Consulting, Healthcare, Government, Entertainment, Human Resources.

• International Coaching Federation Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Mentor-Coach

“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