Francine Birgans, Ph.D

Francine Birgans, Ph.D.

Founder & CEO, EthInLead®

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Dr. Francine Birgans is an organization development consultant, educator, speaker, researcher, coach, and entrepreneur dedicated to helping individuals, organizations, and communities lead with ethics, integrity, leadership, and purpose.

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As the founder of EthInLead®, Dr. Birgans brings together over two decades of experience spanning education, higher education, organizational leadership, corporate, workforce development, coaching, entrepreneurship, community engagement and so much more!

 

Her work centers on one core belief:

People perform differently when they believe differently.

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Dr. Birgans earned her Ph.D. in Organization Development, where her research intersected between OD and Education.

 

Her specific niche that focuses on valuing people. Her dissertation focused on student self-efficacy, motivation, and the factors that influence human potential.

 

She holds advanced teaching credentials:

ACUE Nationally Certified evidence based educator.

In addition, a CISTL Curriculum Design certification from Indiana University.  ​

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Throughout her career, she has served as:

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• College professor, visiting lecturer, and higher education educator (various levels)

• Organization development consultant: in house consultation practices with Homeland Security

• Corporate leader and regional manager

• Student success and career coach; Helped to launch the first GROUPS program outside of IUB that extended to 9 campuses. 

• Professional speaker and trainer

• Researcher and curriculum designer

• Community leader and entrepreneur

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Her professional experience includes leadership roles in corporate (Level 3 mgr. with ERAC), higher education, workforce development, ct, and educational coaching at various levels. She has taught business, leadership, organization development, IP, Marketing, and self discovery courses that she created, while mentoring students and professionals at various stages of their journeys.

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The Story Behind EthInLead®

EthInLead® was founded from both professional expertise and personal experience.

2026, made an 8 year journey.

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After navigating professional pathwways,  entrepreneurship, career challenges, and personal losses, Dr. Birgans firmly believes, even in the age of AI, that there is a need for purpose-driven solutions that place people at the center.

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She understands firsthand what it means to rebuild, reinvent, and lead through uncertainty.

Her experiences have taught her that success is not simply about strategy—it is about aligning purpose, people, and process. And you also need a sprinkle of faith.

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This perspective became the foundation of EthInLead®:

Ethics. Integrity. Leadership. Impact.

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Areas of Expertise

• Organizational Development

• Leadership Development

• Student Success & Self-Efficacy

• Professional Development

• Coaching & Mentoring

• Educational Leadership

• Workforce Development

• Customer Experience

• Change Management

• Community Engagement

• Entrepreneurship

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Dr. Birgans is a life-long learner and loves to lead by example.  The secret sauce, besides the fact that she is one of a kind, is she operates from an innate place of authenticity, and love for what she is called to do, and enjoys creating great experiences that are life-changing for those who encounter her teaching, leadership, and motivation.

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"Because I once worked at the largest rental car company as a level 3 manager, I still believe it is my duty to deliver great customer service and build relationships with everyone I meet. I still have great relationships with customers I met over twenty years ago."

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​She is a Servant/Transformational leader. Because of her heart to serve people, it leads to a powerful internal transformation that manifests in organizational culture, by way of measurable joy, peace, productivity, and staying power with those in your organization. 

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Dr. Birgans has an distinctive way of creating custom material that tap into purpose, makes impact measurable, and changes lives from the inside out.

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