A well-respected member of ICF, and considered a pioneer in the field of executive
coaching, Lee also had a part in the establishment of the standards, ethics and principles
of the profession via her work with ICF. Lee helped develop the Executive Coaching
Summit – a two-day collaborative of experienced coaches whose contributions helped
shape core concepts of the profession. The ECS’ 10 years of conferences also birthed The
Library of Professional Coaching and The International Journal of Coaching in
Organizations.
Lee shared her passion about continued personal learning and development as an adjunct
professor and lecturer at the University of Texas at Dallas Executive MBA program,
University of North Texas, Abilene Christian University and as an Advisory Board Member at
Northwest University in Kirkland, Washington. In 2013 Smith became the ACTP Coach
Training Program Director for the Executive and Professional Coaching Program at the
University of Texas at Dallas until her retirement in 2017.
In her retirement years Lee returned to one of her favorite pastimes. Having learned the art
and craft of quilting as a child, she created beautiful quilts lovingly given to friends and
family, and organizations that help the needy. A few years after retiring from professional
work, Lee returned to the Dallas area from Washington state to be near her family,
including her daughters and grandchildren.
Lee is remembered and respected as an insightful pillar of the executive coaching
profession, involved in the ground floor of this field through the establishment of
standards, ethics and principles of the profession. But perhaps she will be best
remembered for her humble attitude about what she did with her life. In her own words,
she stated: “I look at the world as a place for service over self. Being a servant leader is
who I am and who I am supposed to be, with spiritual gifts of encouragement and
leadership. For this reason I serve as teacher, coach and trusted adviser to others. I do not
work for myself, but for a higher calling and purpose, to live and experience the pure joy of
seeing others – individuals, communities and organizations – keep learning, keep growing
and continuing to succeed.”
