Center for the Advancement of Well-Being

What Center for the Advancement of Well-Being does

The Center for the Advancement of Well-Being (CWB) is an interdisciplinary academic center within George Mason University, a public research university in Fairfax, Virginia, founded in 2009 and operating with approximately 10 employees. The center serves as GMU's institutional hub for well-being, delivering programs and resources to George Mason University students, faculty, staff, alumni, and the broader community. Its portfolio centers on evidence-based well-being science and includes the George Mason Coaching Academy (ICF-certified IGNITE and SUMMIT professional coaching programs), Leadership and Well-Being Certificate Programs, the CliftonStrengths talent assessment and coaching program delivered via partnership with Gallup, the Mason Chooses Kindness initiative, the Thriving Together Series of well-being articles, Mental Health First Aid training, Intro to Mindfulness, Writing for Well-Being, and various workshops and book discussion groups. Underlying technology includes evidence-based well-being methodologies, the PERMAH Well-Being Survey, and Gallup's CliftonStrengths 34-theme assessment. Research and content are produced by a network of CWB Senior Scholars, Senior Scientists, and Senior Fellows drawn from across GMU's faculty in psychology, public health, business, conflict analysis, and integrative studies.

The center maintains strategic partnerships with The Well-Being Lab (Michelle McQuaid, on the 2020 Workplace Report), the Mindfulness Institute for Emerging Adults (MIEA, for mindfulness curriculum), Gallup (CliftonStrengths), the United States of Kindness national movement, and the Prince William County Community Services Board (for substance abuse awareness and naloxone training). Its content library spans the Thriving Together Series covering 20+ topics including stress management, gratitude, resilience, mindfulness, mental health, leadership, and workplace well-being. Operating geographies are restricted to Virginia, USA.

The center's revenue model is anchored on certificate program fees for professional coaching and leadership development, supplemented by institutional funding through George Mason University and donor support. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; many resources are provided free to the Mason community. Distribution is primarily through on-campus delivery at the Fairfax campus with virtual/online offerings, and customer segments are almost entirely internal to GMU. Marketing is conducted through the university website, social media (Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube), email newsletters via Constant Contact, and on-campus events and workshops.

Name

Center for the Advancement of Well-Being

Legal name

Center for the Advancement of Well-Being

Website

https://wellbeing.gmu.edu

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Center for the Advancement of Well-Being is an interdisciplinary university center at George Mason University offering ICF-certified coaching and leadership certificate programs, well-being workshops, and content resources to GMU students, faculty, staff, and the surrounding community.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Well-Being Education and Professional Coaching Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Leadership, Character Education & Values Development (EDAMAIAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Academic Support & Learning Assistance (Tutoring Centers) (EDALABAF), Credentialing, Certification Prep & Exam Training (BPACANAJ)

Keywords

• Professional coaching certification
• Well-being education programs
• Leadership development training
• Mindfulness and resilience
• Strengths-based coaching

Headquarters

HQ city

Fairfax

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Certificate Program Fees: Revenue generated from professional coaching and leadership certificate programs including IGNITE and SUMMIT coaching certifications, and Leadership and Well-Being certificates.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Center for the Advancement of Well-Being is an interdisciplinary university center at George Mason University that delivers ICF-certified professional coaching certification programs (George Mason Coaching Academy IGNITE and SUMMIT), Leadership and Well-Being Certificate Programs, CliftonStrengths assessment and coaching, and a suite of well-being workshops and resources. Its offerings are designed for university students, faculty and staff, and external professionals and organizations seeking evidence-based well-being education, coaching certification, and leadership development grounded in positive psychology research.

Product overview

The Center for the Advancement of Well-Being (CWB) is an interdisciplinary center at George Mason University offering educational programs and resources focused on promoting human well-being. The portfolio includes professional coaching certification programs through the George Mason Coaching Academy (ICF-certified IGNITE and SUMMIT programs), Leadership and Well-Being Certificate Programs, CliftonStrengths assessment and coaching, and Mason Chooses Kindness initiative. The Center also provides the Thriving Together Series of well-being articles, along with workshops and training programs including Mental Health First Aid, Intro to Mindfulness, Writing for Well-Being, and Book Discussion Groups. Additional resources include the Mental Health and Well-Being Guidebook and student-focused well-being resources such as the Well-Being Residential Learning Community and Resilience Badge.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• George Mason Coaching Academy ICF-certified professional coaching certification programs including IGNITE (Professional Coaching Certification) and SUMMIT (Advanced Coaching Mastery) for individuals seeking to become certified coaches, plus the Business of Coaching Program and EXPLORE: Foundations of Coaching.
• Leadership and Well-Being Certificate Programs Certificate programs including the Leading Thriving Organizations Certificate and Customized Leadership Development Programs that rethink traditional leadership paradigms by putting people and organizational well-being as top priorities.
• CliftonStrengths Program Talent assessment and coaching program using Gallup's CliftonStrengths (formerly StrengthsFinder) to help individuals identify, understand, and develop their strengths across 34 themes, delivered through Student Strengths Coaching and faculty-led workshops.
• Mental Health First Aid 8-hour training program teaching participants how to help someone suffering from a mental health crisis, increase mental health literacy, and dismantle stigma associated with mental health challenges.
• Intro to Mindfulness Evidence-based mindfulness and meditation program using curricula created by the Mindfulness Institute for Emerging Adults (MIEA), teaching mindfulness, meditation, and stress management techniques for university students and the broader community.
• Writing for Well-Being Writing group program using journaling and creative writing exercises to explore topics ranging from courage to vulnerability, self-compassion to grief, and joy to wonder.
• Book Discussion Groups for Faculty and Staff Virtual one-hour book discussions designed to foster conversation and connection around well-being topics, with free book copies provided to registrants.
• Coaching in Action Workshop Series Workshop series featuring coaching techniques and practices such as 'Listening Beyond Words' focusing on presence, curiosity, and deep listening, led by the Center's Coaching Program Co-Directors.
• Customized Leadership Development Programs Contract-based leadership development programs tailored to the needs of external organizations, delivered under the Center's Leadership and Well-Being certificate umbrella.
• Mental Health and Well-Being Guidebook Guidebook providing faculty, staff, and students with critical information to dispel myths about mental health and address language that may create barriers to seeking help, supporting the Patriots Thriving Together initiative.

Quantifiable outcome

• 6x more likely to be engaged in jobs for people who know and use their CliftonStrengths
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• The Well-Being Lab (Michelle McQuaid)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Collaborated on The Well-Being Lab 2020 Workplace Report, a research initiative based on surveys of more than 1,000 workers throughout the United States. This partnership produced an 8-week Thriving Together Series adapted from the report findings.
• Mindfulness Institute for Emerging Adults (MIEA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMIEA creates evidence-based mindfulness and meditation curricula used in the Center's Intro to Mindfulness programs. The programs teach mindfulness, meditation, and stress management designed for young adults with benefits not limited to that demographic.
• Prince William County Community Services BoardminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for fentanyl crisis education and naloxone training. The center publishes guest articles from PWC Community Services Board staff on substance abuse awareness and provides REVIVE! Lay Rescuer Training information to the Mason community.
• George Mason University (Parent Institution)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAs an interdisciplinary center at George Mason University, the center operates within the university's institutional framework, leveraging university resources, partnerships with other GMU departments (University Life, Human Resources, Counseling and Psychological Services), and connecting to the Patriots Thriving Together university-wide initiative.
• Gallup (CliftonStrengths)coreTechnology or IntegrationThe center uses Gallup's CliftonStrengths assessment tool, a talent assessment measuring 34 CliftonStrengths themes. Thousands of Mason students have completed the assessment since 2015.
• United States of KindnessminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMason Chooses Kindness initiative participates in the national United States of Kindness movement, collecting acts of kindness across George Mason University with a goal of reaching at least 250 acts in honor of America's 250th anniversary.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Mindful Schools: Nonprofit organization providing mindfulness curriculum and training for educators and students. Comparable as an adjacent ecosystem participant addressing student well-being and mindfulness education through K-12 and higher-education channels.
• International Coach Federation (ICF): Global nonprofit organization that accredits coach training programs including the Center's IGNITE and SUMMIT certifications. Related as the accreditation ecosystem participant that legitimizes the Center's coaching credentials.

Emerging players

• Headspace: Digital mental wellness platform offering meditation, mindfulness, and therapy services for individuals and organizations. Comparable as an emerging player in workplace well-being and mindfulness training, addressing similar student and employee mental health needs.
• Calm: Mental wellness app offering meditation, sleep, and stress management content. Comparable as an emerging player in mental wellness and stress management for individuals and employees, overlapping with the Center's mindfulness and stress programming.

Direct peers

• Center for Creative Leadership: Global leadership development provider offering programs, assessments, and coaching for leaders across sectors. Comparable as it provides advanced leadership development education with similar content emphasis on leader well-being and organizational thriving.
• BetterUp: Online coaching and mental well-being platform offering 1:1 coaching, therapy, and content for individuals and enterprises. Directly comparable as a competitor in the professional coaching and well-being space, providing credentialed coaches and personalized development services to professionals and organizations.
• iPEC: ICF-accredited coach training and certification organization offering comprehensive coach training programs. Directly comparable as a competitor in the ICF-certified coaching certification market targeting professionals seeking coaching credentials.

Broad incumbents

• Gallup: Global analytics and advisory firm that created the CliftonStrengths assessment used by the Center. Comparable as a broader incumbent offering talent assessments, leadership research, and employee engagement services at significantly greater scale.
• Korn Ferry: Global organizational consulting firm offering executive search, leadership development, and talent management. Comparable as a broader incumbent in leadership development and executive coaching at enterprise scale.
• Development Dimensions International (DDI): Global leadership development firm offering leadership training, assessments, and coaching. Comparable as a broader incumbent in leadership development with a similar target audience of emerging and established leaders.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCwvKsTj-a47SgkB1Y1JVVeQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/CWBGMU
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/masoncwb
• Instagraminstagram.com/cwb_mason

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Center for the Advancement of Well-Being