Dr. Candice Crawford Zakian

Biography

Candice Crawford-Zakian, Psy.D., is a psychoanalytically oriented consulting psychologist and executive coach specializing in leadership development and organizational dynamics. Her expertise focuses on the intersection of individual and organization, with an emphasis on the convergence of leadership, social identity, and unconscious group dynamics. She employs consulting and teaching methods that are interdisciplinary, drawing on principles of psychology, design thinking, and the creative arts. Dr. Crawford-Zakian integrates theories from systems psychodynamics and adult development with adaptive leadership to create impactful experiential learning programs that equip leaders with the cognitive agility, creativity, socio-cultural awareness, and self-awareness necessary to build and lead healthy, innovative, and diverse organizations. She serves as the lead instructor and coach for the Practicing Leadership (PLIO) course series within the Doctorate of Educational Leadership (Ed.LD) Program at Harvard Graduate School of Education. Before her current role at HGSE, she was an assistant professor at William James College of Professional Psychology and also taught as an adjunct lecturer/executive coach at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. In addition to her work at HGSE, Dr. Crawford-Zakian is a leadership consultant and executive coach for various executive education programs, such as at INSEAD in France. Additionally, she is a principle co-owner of Human Studio, LLC, a consultancy that provides experiential learning programs for both commercial and non-profit organizations, serving clients such as Blue Cross Blue Shield, NYC Department of Education, and the World Bank. Dr. Crawford-Zakian also has a vibrant passion for music, performing across a range of genres including alternative rock and jazz.