COACHING AND CONSULTING
LEADERSHIP & STRATEGY
Ubica’s Principal & Founder Alicia Bassuk is an executive coach and leadership consultant to individuals and organizations internationally, providing guidance in maximizing effectiveness, optimizing strategic cohesion, and shifting cultures to align with performance. Clients have nicknamed her a CEO whisperer, Swiss army knife, Olivia Pope, fairy godmother, drill sergeant, secret weapon, triage surgeon and Yoda. Clients include presidential appointees, world class artists, executives in the sports & entertainment sectors, and senior leaders at organizations such as Basketball Africa League, Groupe Bruxelles Lambert (GBL), Salesforce, vmware, Christie’s, United Nations, Cresset Wealth Management, MBK Partners, NAACP Legal Defense Fund, McKinsey & Company, Russell Reynolds, Sienna Capital, UTC Investment and Rockefeller Foundation.
In 2019, Bassuk was awarded an NBA championship ring as special advisor to the President, GM and Head Coach of the Toronto Raptors. In 2021, Bassuk was awarded a WNBA championship ring as special advisor for the GM/Head Coach and players of the Chicago Sky. Bassuk is also an online contributor to the Harvard Business Review, Oprah Magazine, HuffPost and CNN, is the co-author of the Harvard SAFRA Center Covid Roadmap and is the author of And the Cloud Yelled Back. Her essays are included in the Harvard Business Review book: Doing It All as a Solo Parent (2022) and in HBR Guide to Navigating the Toxic Workplace (2023). In 2024 Bassuk, in partnership with Equis Labs and with the support of client Julie Chavez Rodriguez, launched the White House Latinas Leadership Cohort.
Bassuk has an MBA in finance and marketing from University of Chicago Booth Business School where she was a Chicago Business Fellow and conducted research at the Center for the Study of Urban Inequality. She also has a B.A. in Political Science from Wesleyan University where she led the Latino student group and played lacrosse. Bassuk is certified in mediation through Northwestern University School of Law. Bassuk is a senior advisor and investor with Kinzie Capital Partners and Core Innovation Capital. She holds dual citizenship (Argentina), serves on the Board of Latino Media Network and enjoys mentoring young leaders.
Ubica is an executive coaching & strategic advisory firm that specializes in optimizing individual & team effectiveness. Conversations toggle from the inextricably linked themes of personal/interior and systemic/structural. The conversations push clients and can be painstakingly rigorous. Alicia brings people together, coaxes out great ideas, takes them to fruition around a common purpose, and strengthens bonds on the team to enhance the work of everyone individually and collectively.
Sports franchises worldwide have turned to Ubica for unique insights and guidance about how to employ the courage, commitment and creativity required to elevate the entire organization. Alicia’s input has been acknowledged by being awarded championship rings in two leagues, with the Chicago Sky of the WNBA and with the Toronto Raptors of the NBA.
Alicia changed my work life!Andrea Zopp, Managing Director Cleveland Avenue |
Alicia counseled me on how to manage the project and supplied lessons I will rely on for a long time to come.Jodi Kantor, New York Times Pulitzer Prize Reporter & Author of ‘She Said’ and ‘The Obamas’ |
Alicia helps you think better. It isn’t easy work, but it takes you next level… She helped us win the championship. What else is there to say?Masai Ujiri President, Toronto Raptors |
Alicia addressed our most complicated team dynamics as we prepared for the playoffs and finals. We couldn’t have done this without her.James Wade, GM/Head Coach Chicago Sky |
Alicia has helped me transform in various leadership roles. Her insight and guidance has been critical towards my rapid development in my role as a founder and CEO.Suzanne Yoon, Founder & CEO, Kinzie Capital Management |
I wouldn’t be the leader I am without her, She makes me better at everything.Stephanie Valencia, Founder/CEO Equis Labs, Founder/Board Chair Latino Media Network |
Alicia has successfully coached several of our top executives to help them reach their full potential. She has also advised us on the human element of several complex negotiations from a highly useful independent vantage point.Colin Hall, Chief Investment Officer, GBL and CEO Sienna Capital |
Alicia’s probing questioning required me to dig deep, which gave me the confidence to take my business to the next step.Gigi Pritzker, Founder & CEO, Madison Wells Media |
Alicia has an almost seventh sense when it comes to the critical dimension of where individuals and teams come together to power performance.Chris Perry, President, Broadridge Financial Solutions |
Alicia has the unique ability to harness the best out of each person. She makes you dig deep so you can better focus on what’s really important.Patrick Murphy, 32nd Under Secretary and Chief Management Officer, US Army |
Alicia is uniquely effective at pushing even seasoned executives out of their comfort zones towards higher level performance as individuals and as part of a more highly functioning executive team.David Nelms, Chairman & CEO, Discover Financial Services |
Alicia is very passionate about her clients’ success and takes a great interest in multiple aspects of their growth. Her feedback is direct, timely, and most importantly, practicalJohn Holmes, Group Vice President, Aviation Supply Chain, AAR |
Alicia can take someone who is very self aware to a whole new level. She sets a tone in our culture for individuals to be open, innovate, take risks, value diversity, and reach beyond their natural set of aptitudes to become more whole contributors to the team.Katrina Markoff, Founder & CEO, Vosges Haut-Chocolat |
Alicia is a trusted confidante who has been at my side as I launched my own company and went from journalist to entrepreneu.Maria Hinojosa, Founder & Pulitzer Prize Reporter, Futuro Media Group |
Alicia brings into her coaching relationship a tremendous amount of energy and candor. I don’t need sugarcoating; I want straight talk delivered efficiently and honestly. Alicia is at her best in analyzing situations at work, helping me understand how I can take full responsibility for outcomes and stay focused on how I can be a solution.Jason Hsu, Co-Founder & Vice Chairman, Research Affiliates |
Alicia is extremely thoughtful, supportive and always action-oriented. She knows exactly how to push my thinking forward, and I truly believe her insights will continue to be instrumental in reaching a turning point during the most difficult periods in my career as well as personal life. Every conversation with her leaves me more empowered than I was before. She is a true mentor and role model in many ways.Joo-Yong Chung, Director, MBK Partners |
Alicia has been coaching me and the organization for less than a year and has already led an amazing and deeply-felt positive transformation. Our organization is better because of her time with us.Steven VanRoekel, COO, The Rockefeller Foundation |
Alicia is a treasure trove of creative ideas, a ruthless critic, a generous connector, a promise keeper and trusted advisor to me and our venture firm.Arjan Schutte Founder & CEO, Core Innovation Capital |
This NBA and WNBA championship ring-holding leadership advisor shares the morning writing ritual that changed her life.
Whether you are new to the workforce, seeking a path through the minefield of politics or in pursuit of a championship, AND THE CLOUD YELLED BACK will help you see through the clouds of chronic convention.
Drawing on the wisdom of experts and parents alike, it provides practical tips and advice tailored to your unique challenges as a solo parent.
