About SWLI
We develop leaders who lead with wholeness.
At the Shifting Waters Leadership Institute, we believe transformation begins on the inside. Rooted in the Imago Dei, the belief that every person reflects the image of God, we build communities where leaders grow together.
“Rooted in the belief that every person is made in the image of God, Imago Dei, we develop leaders who lead from wholeness so that they, and every person they touch, may flourish.”
SWLI serves three populations — which one are you?
Model 1
Life is Leading with Meaning
Gen Z leader seeking formation-centered development
Model 2
Life is Vocation
Integrating personal formation with professional leadership and organizational culture.
Model 3
Life is Everyday Leadership
Building your business with integrity, wholeness, and refusal to compromise your values.
Why SWLI?
What sets us apart
Faith-rooted
Rooted in the Imago Dei, we believe every person carries inherent dignity and capacity for brilliance. That conviction shapes how we lead, how we teach, and how we show up for the people we serve.
Science-backed
Our programs are built on research. From organizational psychology to neuroscience to leadership studies, everything we design is informed by evidence so the transformation you experience is real and lasting.
Cross-generational
Great organizations don’t just develop leaders at one level, they develop leaders across generations. SWLI bridges the wisdom of experience with the energy of emerging voices, building cultures where every generation belongs and contributes.
Character Grounded
Skills can be taught. Character must be cultivated. We go beyond competency frameworks to develop the internal qualities, integrity, humility, courage, that define leaders people actually trust and follow.
Accountability Driven
We don’t just inspire, we equip. SWLI builds structures, rhythms, and relationships that hold leaders accountable to their growth long after the program ends.
Human Centered, Soul Led
Every program we design starts with the person, not the position. We create experiences that honor the full humanity of each leader, mind, heart, and spirit, because sustainable leadership flows from the inside out.
Credential
SWLI is Emotional Intelligence Certified
Our approach
The Formidable 8©
Eight stages of transformation, not a checklist, but a journey inward. “You are not starting over. “You are starting deeper.”
All three SWLI programs are rooted here: Gen Z leaders engage key stages in a 2-week intensive; entrepreneurs move through it in 9 weeks; institutional leaders in a customizable format.
01
Discovery
From Concealment to Clarity. Transformation begins with naming what’s been hidden.
02
Breaking
From Reaction to Awareness. We can’t change what we don’t first confront with awareness.
03
Identifying
Understanding the Storyline. Healing accelerates when we understand the voices shaping our story.
04
Release
From Bondage to Breakthrough. Forgiveness is not excusing, it’s reclaiming your peace.
05
Accountability
From Isolation to Integrity. Consistent action builds integrity and confidence.
06
Expanding Horizons
From Self-Focus to Shared Purpose. Our purpose expands when we share what we’ve healed.
07
Living in Gratitude
From Scarcity to Sacred Perspective. Gratitude turns survival into sacred perspective.
08
Choosing Again
From Perfection to Graceful Progress. You are not starting over. You are starting deeper.
Our founder
Grace Adofoli
Chief Executive Officer (CEO), ICF certified coach, Executive Coach
Built from the conviction that formation precedes function.
Grace Adofoli is a social change agent, speaker, and leadership coach whose work spans more than 30 countries. As Founder and Executive Director of the Shifting Waters Leadership Institute, she has dedicated her career to developing leaders who lead not from ambition alone, but from a place of wholeness, integrity, and deep purpose.
Grace’s approach to leadership development is rooted in the Imago Dei, the belief that every person is made in the image of God and therefore carries an inherent capacity for brilliance. Her work integrates faith, emotional intelligence, and organizational theory into a framework that is both deeply personal and practically transformative.
Named a 2026 40 Under 40 honoree, Grace has worked with universities, nonprofits, faith institutions, and entrepreneurs across Africa, Europe, and North America. She is the architect of the Formidable 8: the methodology that underpins every SWLI program.
“Private excellence, public brilliance. I built SWLI because I believe the world needs leaders who are as committed to who they are as they are to what they do.”
— Grace Adofoli
The people
Meet our team
Grace Adofoli
Chief Executive Officer (CEO), ICF certified coach, Executive Coach
2026 40 Under 40 Honoree. Social change agent, speaker, and leadership coach with a global footprint spanning 20+ countries.
Funmi Adebayo
Director of Wellness and Advisor
Licensed mental health counselor with 15+ years of experience across ministry and residential settings. Director of Wellness bringing compassionate, faith-rooted care to those she serves.
Kaity Berg
External partnerships, Strategy, Engagement Consultant
Strategist in transformation and business process optimization with a gift for collaborative leadership. Advisor guiding SWLI’s partnerships and engagement through soul-centered growth.
Mariah Stearman
Interior Architectural Designer, Branding Consultant
Creative strategist blending storytelling, architecture, and nature-inspired design. Branding Advisor shaping spaces and identities that are intentional, timeless, and true to purpose.
Our interns
The next generation of leaders, right here.
SWLI interns don’t just observe, they lead, build, and shape the work. Here’s where you’ll find them.
Join the team
Innovation & Excellence Internship
The SWLI Innovation & Excellence Internship is a hands-on learning opportunity for emerging leaders who are passionate about social change, leadership development, and organizational impact.
Interns work directly alongside SWLI’s team in areas including research, communications, community engagement, and program support, gaining real-world experience while contributing to a mission-driven organization.
“We’re not just looking for interns, we’re looking for the next generation of leaders who are ready to grow while they serve.”
— Grace Adofoli, Founder
What you'll gain
- Mentorship from SWLI leadership
- Real project ownership
- Professional network & references
- Exposure to global leadership work
Ready to start?
Book your free discovery session
A no-pressure 15-minute conversation to explore how SWLI can support your leadership journey.
Navigate
Contact
- General:
- inquiries@swlileadership.com
- Business:
- clients@swlileadership.com
- +1 (304) 602 3219
- Richmond, Virginia
© 2026 Shifting Waters Leadership Institute™. All rights reserved.
Formidable 8© and “Private Excellence. Public Brilliance.”™ are the intellectual property of Shifting Waters Leadership Institute.