CHRISTOPHER M. KUNTZSCH
Christopher is co-founder and co-director of Ecology of Leadership programs at the Regenerative Design Institute at Commonweal Garden. The son of an opera singer and orchestra conductor, he was born and raised in Germany and moved to the United States at age 13. With early years as a sponsored table tennis player, rock musician, and adventurer-seeker, his passion for wild landscapes and their inhabitants led him to the University of California, Santa Cruz, where he delved into the world of ecology, conservation biology, natural history, and adventure education.
He spent many subsequent seasons serving as a wildlife biologist, naturalist, and course instructor for the University of California, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Santa Cruz Predatory Bird Research Group, and the Pacific Crest Outward Bound School, among others. Those formative experiences led further into studies of nature awareness, spiritual practice, tracking, and permaculture and to an integration of insights from those fields into the realms of human development and leadership.
Since then, Christopher has devoted the majority of the last decade to providing guidance and leadership development pathways to individuals and organizations that wish to cultivate capacity to embody and effect the change they want to see in the world. Through personal coaching, consulting, and facilitation, he has helped hundreds of eco-social activists and entrepreneurs, sustainability professionals, non-profit leaders, managers, C-level executives, artists, and healers get in touch with their purpose, vision, and leadership potential through a synergy of generative inquiry, strategic planning, skill development, and engagement with the natural world.
His background includes 13 years of professional coaching, consulting, and facilitation; trainer certification with the Center for Leadership Studies; coaching, counseling, and facilitation training with the Coaches Training Institute and Interchange Counseling Institute; certification in Permaculture Design from RDI, as well as education at the Wilderness Awareness School and Tracker School. He holds dual bachelors degrees — in Conservation Biology and Environmental Studies — from the University of California, Santa Cruz, to which he later returned as Sustainability Coordinator to facilitate the development of the campus’ first formal sustainability plan.
Christopher has been a workshop facilitator, lecturer, collaborator, and presenter at numerous local, regional, as well as national conferences and institutions — such as Bioneers, the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), the California Sustainability in Higher Education Conference, and Permaculture Convergences — on topics of sustainability, change-management, inner permaculture, and heart- and nature-inspired leadership.
If you’d like to find out more about Christopher’s work or contact him directly, please visit his website.
He spent many subsequent seasons serving as a wildlife biologist, naturalist, and course instructor for the University of California, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Santa Cruz Predatory Bird Research Group, and the Pacific Crest Outward Bound School, among others. Those formative experiences led further into studies of nature awareness, spiritual practice, tracking, and permaculture and to an integration of insights from those fields into the realms of human development and leadership.
Since then, Christopher has devoted the majority of the last decade to providing guidance and leadership development pathways to individuals and organizations that wish to cultivate capacity to embody and effect the change they want to see in the world. Through personal coaching, consulting, and facilitation, he has helped hundreds of eco-social activists and entrepreneurs, sustainability professionals, non-profit leaders, managers, C-level executives, artists, and healers get in touch with their purpose, vision, and leadership potential through a synergy of generative inquiry, strategic planning, skill development, and engagement with the natural world.
His background includes 13 years of professional coaching, consulting, and facilitation; trainer certification with the Center for Leadership Studies; coaching, counseling, and facilitation training with the Coaches Training Institute and Interchange Counseling Institute; certification in Permaculture Design from RDI, as well as education at the Wilderness Awareness School and Tracker School. He holds dual bachelors degrees — in Conservation Biology and Environmental Studies — from the University of California, Santa Cruz, to which he later returned as Sustainability Coordinator to facilitate the development of the campus’ first formal sustainability plan.
Christopher has been a workshop facilitator, lecturer, collaborator, and presenter at numerous local, regional, as well as national conferences and institutions — such as Bioneers, the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), the California Sustainability in Higher Education Conference, and Permaculture Convergences — on topics of sustainability, change-management, inner permaculture, and heart- and nature-inspired leadership.
If you’d like to find out more about Christopher’s work or contact him directly, please visit his website.
TESTIMONIALS
EOL Participants Say...
"You embody and express the gifts of a wise teacher and you hold the emergent process so well. Reflecting, nudging, helping us cross the thresholds. Like [another participant] said, you are a "ninja" of personal transformative journeys." S.R.
"A very strong being, unafraid to be vulnerable, to show the soft, delicate places. This made me feel more welcome to show my vulnerability." K.C.
"Clear. Congruent. You lead so easily. And hold the space effortlessly. You are insightful, and offer with a sense - for me - that you really know the material from your own journey and experience. I see you lead with your heart and mind beautifully in alignment." M.C.
"Inspiring, talented, and energetic teacher. Always smiling, positive and pretty much perfect." B.S.
"Authentic, vulnerable, skilled leader." S.R.
"Loving, bright, transparent, honest, and so inspirational. Also an amazing leader. Christopher, you are an incredible teacher and facilitator and I love the way you journey along with us." L.D.
"From the first session I felt so met by the way you hold conversations and space. Your languaging of what's so and what's essential is beautiful. I love the times and ways you included your own vulnerability and things you have grappled with as part of the facilitation. You embody the power of humility." K.S.
"Clear-eyed seeing. Eye contact unclouded by judgment. Beaming love. Quiet confidence." L.B.
"You are a truly gifted teacher & communicator. I was inspired by how you facilitated the group." J.D.
"Great facilitation and extra-great reaching for inclusivity in the sessions as to all that was happening." R.A.
"I appreciate your ability to flow with ease with the group - and your voice as a guardian of the space. Yet you also balance that with your clear purpose and preparation for our time together. You allowed the unfolding to happen AND created enough structure so that it COULD happen."
"With clear presence, a big heart, and a clear desire to help all of us grow and evolve, you have been such an excellent guide, mentor, space holder, and brother to us all. Thank you." S.R.
"I deeply appreciate the thoughtfulness you bring. I can feel the care you invest in making the program what it is. Your invitations for exploration are inspiring and really call to my spirit to meet those invitations. Your style inspires confidence." D.K.
"Magical brilliance, a weaver of words. Twinkly, light, brings aliveness and spirit into the process." P.T.
"You are such a great teacher. Your spirit and heart and honesty shine through and are an inspiration to me. I especially appreciate your willingness to connect around issues of race and think that this willingness is what will help you well to transcend our society." L.B.
"What a loving, wholehearted, balanced, open man. A really good role model for both men and women in the group. I appreciated your deep listening, kindness, caring, and humor." S.N.
"Wow. I never thought I would meet someone that I truly admire - you are such a strong road model - a young man being successful in a being-in-integrity kind of way." K.O.
"Exquisite energy and enthusiasm for the process and being present with your story and journey in connection to EOL." U.S.
"All you offer... there is such a reverence in your presence. You taught me so profoundly about leadership. I am inspired by your commitment to this work. You are a mentor for me." G.S.
"Articulate, skilled facilitator, and so gentle. I loved your ability to say a lot with a few words." M.T.
"I so appreciate how you hold structure and flexibility in balance. What an honor to witness you releasing yourself into vulnerability and being held as an emerging human." N.Q.
"Thank you for seeing us for who we really are." E.P.
"Christopher, I am blown away by your peaceful presence and awareness. How much you care shows through in the way you facilitate. By making such a big effort for everyone to be heard and by allowing us to see your process in a challenging time was such a powerful example of this work. Thank you! You are amazing and an inspiration." K.H.
"What a dear, dear man you are. I salute your vision and intention to change the future of this world in this context. You hold / held us well. I appreciate your vulnerability, and deeply respect your judgment. I look forward to our news being tied next to each other again soon." D.L.
"A tenacious energy for carving out this space to let the journey happen. A giver of strength through the integrity and commitments around EOL." M.H.
"Excellent facilitator! Appreciate your openness for allowing flow and grateful for your vulnerability and human-ness. Excellent modeling skills. Perfect!" T.S.
"A very strong being, unafraid to be vulnerable, to show the soft, delicate places. This made me feel more welcome to show my vulnerability." K.C.
"Clear. Congruent. You lead so easily. And hold the space effortlessly. You are insightful, and offer with a sense - for me - that you really know the material from your own journey and experience. I see you lead with your heart and mind beautifully in alignment." M.C.
"Inspiring, talented, and energetic teacher. Always smiling, positive and pretty much perfect." B.S.
"Authentic, vulnerable, skilled leader." S.R.
"Loving, bright, transparent, honest, and so inspirational. Also an amazing leader. Christopher, you are an incredible teacher and facilitator and I love the way you journey along with us." L.D.
"From the first session I felt so met by the way you hold conversations and space. Your languaging of what's so and what's essential is beautiful. I love the times and ways you included your own vulnerability and things you have grappled with as part of the facilitation. You embody the power of humility." K.S.
"Clear-eyed seeing. Eye contact unclouded by judgment. Beaming love. Quiet confidence." L.B.
"You are a truly gifted teacher & communicator. I was inspired by how you facilitated the group." J.D.
"Great facilitation and extra-great reaching for inclusivity in the sessions as to all that was happening." R.A.
"I appreciate your ability to flow with ease with the group - and your voice as a guardian of the space. Yet you also balance that with your clear purpose and preparation for our time together. You allowed the unfolding to happen AND created enough structure so that it COULD happen."
"With clear presence, a big heart, and a clear desire to help all of us grow and evolve, you have been such an excellent guide, mentor, space holder, and brother to us all. Thank you." S.R.
"I deeply appreciate the thoughtfulness you bring. I can feel the care you invest in making the program what it is. Your invitations for exploration are inspiring and really call to my spirit to meet those invitations. Your style inspires confidence." D.K.
"Magical brilliance, a weaver of words. Twinkly, light, brings aliveness and spirit into the process." P.T.
"You are such a great teacher. Your spirit and heart and honesty shine through and are an inspiration to me. I especially appreciate your willingness to connect around issues of race and think that this willingness is what will help you well to transcend our society." L.B.
"What a loving, wholehearted, balanced, open man. A really good role model for both men and women in the group. I appreciated your deep listening, kindness, caring, and humor." S.N.
"Wow. I never thought I would meet someone that I truly admire - you are such a strong road model - a young man being successful in a being-in-integrity kind of way." K.O.
"Exquisite energy and enthusiasm for the process and being present with your story and journey in connection to EOL." U.S.
"All you offer... there is such a reverence in your presence. You taught me so profoundly about leadership. I am inspired by your commitment to this work. You are a mentor for me." G.S.
"Articulate, skilled facilitator, and so gentle. I loved your ability to say a lot with a few words." M.T.
"I so appreciate how you hold structure and flexibility in balance. What an honor to witness you releasing yourself into vulnerability and being held as an emerging human." N.Q.
"Thank you for seeing us for who we really are." E.P.
"Christopher, I am blown away by your peaceful presence and awareness. How much you care shows through in the way you facilitate. By making such a big effort for everyone to be heard and by allowing us to see your process in a challenging time was such a powerful example of this work. Thank you! You are amazing and an inspiration." K.H.
"What a dear, dear man you are. I salute your vision and intention to change the future of this world in this context. You hold / held us well. I appreciate your vulnerability, and deeply respect your judgment. I look forward to our news being tied next to each other again soon." D.L.
"A tenacious energy for carving out this space to let the journey happen. A giver of strength through the integrity and commitments around EOL." M.H.
"Excellent facilitator! Appreciate your openness for allowing flow and grateful for your vulnerability and human-ness. Excellent modeling skills. Perfect!" T.S.
Sample Of Coaching Testimonials
"I have a deep trust in Christopher's intuitive, embodied awareness sourced in part from his passionate connection with nature. He operates from a different paradigm to the productivity and rationality of mainstream culture, and instead offers an unwavering loyalty to my heart and vision, and an unspoken commitment to championing my higher self at a pace and rhythm that honors my organic growth. His tremendous generosity of spirit, and of sharing processes, tools, protocols and resources have become a fundamental part of how I myself now serve." M.D.
“Being with Christopher is a remembering. It is a coming home to what I know to be true and beautiful about myself. Through working with him, I have fallen in love, with myself. And through our work together, I can honestly say that my life has transformed."
"My work with Christopher was life changing. I have worked with numerous therapists and coaches before, but Christopher was different. I appreciated his natural world metaphors and felt like they enhanced my understanding of myself and my struggles. I liked moving from the "roots" to the "canopy" and felt like he could hold both easily. At the end of the day, I emerged from our work more clear about who I was and what I wanted, and more confident about what I needed to do to get there. I am very grateful for the time that we spent together, and I look forward to working with him again in the future."
"I am so incredibly grateful for your service and support. I cannot thank you enough for all of your help, every dime was well spent! This process of gaining more clarity has been a very windy road AND I have to thank you big time for your role in helping me get there. I am on my way having had your help at a crucial time. And I am nothing less than sure that your support contributed to my success this far with my business and my personal ecology. Thank you again for adding to human ecology and for giving me real tangible tools to take with me as I venture forward. All the best to you and huge amounts of gratitude for the incredible gift you have and the service you share with the world!"
“Christopher’s passion and excitement about guiding and supporting others as they walk through their personal life transformations is extraordinary and his excitement about the process contagious. Aside from being a deeply compassionate, skillful, and captivating leader, he has also been influential in my growing awareness of the wisdom, support and nurturing that nature can provide while on my transformative path."
more coaching testimonials
“Being with Christopher is a remembering. It is a coming home to what I know to be true and beautiful about myself. Through working with him, I have fallen in love, with myself. And through our work together, I can honestly say that my life has transformed."
"My work with Christopher was life changing. I have worked with numerous therapists and coaches before, but Christopher was different. I appreciated his natural world metaphors and felt like they enhanced my understanding of myself and my struggles. I liked moving from the "roots" to the "canopy" and felt like he could hold both easily. At the end of the day, I emerged from our work more clear about who I was and what I wanted, and more confident about what I needed to do to get there. I am very grateful for the time that we spent together, and I look forward to working with him again in the future."
"I am so incredibly grateful for your service and support. I cannot thank you enough for all of your help, every dime was well spent! This process of gaining more clarity has been a very windy road AND I have to thank you big time for your role in helping me get there. I am on my way having had your help at a crucial time. And I am nothing less than sure that your support contributed to my success this far with my business and my personal ecology. Thank you again for adding to human ecology and for giving me real tangible tools to take with me as I venture forward. All the best to you and huge amounts of gratitude for the incredible gift you have and the service you share with the world!"
“Christopher’s passion and excitement about guiding and supporting others as they walk through their personal life transformations is extraordinary and his excitement about the process contagious. Aside from being a deeply compassionate, skillful, and captivating leader, he has also been influential in my growing awareness of the wisdom, support and nurturing that nature can provide while on my transformative path."
more coaching testimonials
