About Annmarie Caño, PhD, LP, ACC

I believe leadership should never mean leaving your values behind.

As a keynote speaker, coach, consultant, psychologist, and author, I work with higher education and social impact leaders who want to create workplaces where people thrive — workplaces rooted in integrity, care, and liberation.

Why I Do This Work:

IFor over two decades, I’ve served in higher education as a professor, dean, and senior administrator. I know what it feels like to be caught between institutional pressures and personal values.

I also know the cost of surface-level change. Leaders who care deeply often find themselves burnt out, questioning their impact, and feeling isolated. I created my practice — and my book, Leading Toward Liberation — to show that there is another way: leadership rooted in integrity, courage, and care..

My Approach

My work is grounded in:

  • Lived leadership experience — serving as a dean and provost-level leader in higher education.

  • Psychological insight — as a clinical psychologist, I understand human behavior and organizational dynamics.

  • Liberation-focused frameworks — from my book, Leading Toward Liberation, which combines scholarship, lived experience, and practical tools.

  • Coaching expertise — as a certified coach, I support leaders in aligning their values with their decisions and actions.

I don’t believe in quick fixes or one-size-fits-all programs. I accompany leaders, offering both compassionate support and direct guidance so they can build lasting, liberated cultures.

Who I Work With

I primarily partner with:

Higher education leaders :
department chairs, deans, provosts, and executive directors

Social impact nonprofit leaders :
executives and program directors committed to justice, equity, and care

I also coach individual leaders — especially women of color — who want to advance in their careers without compromising their integrity or well-being.

My Book

Leading Toward Liberation

My book, Leading Toward Liberation: How to Build Cultures of Thriving in Higher Education, is the anchor of my work.

It offers reflection prompts and practical steps that leaders can use immediately. Whether you’re just starting to ask questions about culture change or you’re deep in the work of leading teams, the book provides tools to guide your next step.

  • “Having Annmarie at our Annual Faculty Affairs Retreat was fantastic. She is an engaging, insightful, and authentic presenter and facilitator, informed by her rich experience in various leadership roles. I asked her to provide both the opening remarks, titled ‘Building Positive Cultures: Liberating Strategies to Support Organizational Health,’ and the closing remarks, ‘Thriving as a Leader in the Midst of Change’ for the retreat. Feedback for both sessions was very positive. Participants reported that the messages about positive leadership and maintaining critical hope, as well as strategies to empower themselves and their faculty members were key takeaways.”

    — Kim Eby, Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs and Development Chair, APLU Committee on Faculty Affairs

  • “The professional coaching I received from Annmarie helped me get through a very trying and intense academic year with greater confidence and resilience. Her supportive and flexible nature, coupled with a focus on the goals I set, made our time together enjoyable and productive. Using her own experience and expertise, Annmarie helped me develop leadership skills to deal head on with faculty, students and administration in a positive, proactive manner.”

    — Stephanie S., Department Chair of Social Work

  • “What impressed us most was Annmarie’s ability to create an open, inclusive environment where faculty felt comfortable sharing honest feedback. Her attention to detail, from designing the focus group questions to analyzing and synthesizing the data, was outstanding. The insights we gained have been invaluable in shaping our leadership development strategy moving forward. We are so grateful for such a collaborative and meaningful partnership!”

    — Office of Faculty Affairs, Loyola Marymount University

Beyond the Work

When I’m not coaching, speaking, or writing, you can find me exploring new ideas, enjoying time with family, and finding joy in everyday moments of connection.

I bring that same spirit of curiosity and joyful intentionality into every space I enter.

Let’s create thriving workplaces together.

BOOK A COACHING CONSULT