Applied Researcher · Coach · Builder
Nicolò F. Bernardi, PhD
I work at the intersection of human development, research infrastructure, and AI, helping people and organizations navigate complexity, make sense of change, and do work that matters.
Hi, I'm Nicolò
I'm fascinated by how humans learn, and I'm committed to support that process with awareness, knowledge, and care.
I coordinate research and public-facing initiatives for two international organizations. I build AI workflows that reshape how nonprofits operate. I coach leaders through complex transitions related to work, identity, and legacy.
What I do
Research & Coordination
I coordinate the full production pipeline of the Journal of Awareness-Based Systems Change (SCOPUS-listed, open access) and serve as coordinator for both the Research Team at the Presencing Institute and the Centre for Human Flourishing at Concordia University. This work involves managing multi-stakeholder processes, from manuscript review to public programming, across disciplines, time zones, and organizational cultures.
AI Building
As a passionate non-technical builder with Claude Code, I've designed and deployed agentic AI workflows for nonprofit organizations, including an APA reference formatting agent that automated ~90% of manual formatting, a natural-language manuscript tracking system, and semi-automated social media content workflows.
Coaching & Human Development
1 served 1000+ clients with individual and team coaching, including executives, entrepreneurs and parents navigating complex transitions. I am ICF-certified at PCC level, specialization in emotion regulation, communication, and decision-making under pressure. I coordinate Seeds of Flourishing, a free public series exploring human flourishing at the intersection of research and practice (700+ participants registered).
Writing and Speaking
I write for audiences ranging from academic journals to public newsletters. Recent work includes a long-form analysis of AI's business model fragility and societal impact and several co-authored peer-reviewed papers on coaching process and effectiveness. I regularly present as an invited speaker to international conferences on coaching and human development.
On AI and society
AI and the Wizard of Oz (March 2026): Analysis of AI's business model fragility, the gap between AGI narratives and ground-level reality, and the case for specialized AI tools in the nonprofit sector.
What Is AI Doing to Our Critical Thinking? (Feb 2025): Analysis of AI and cognitive offloading.
Selected Writing
On Coaching and Human Development
How Words Matter: Coaches' Verbal Interventions and Their Relationship to Coach/Client Outcomes (2025) and What Do Coaches Say? A Preliminary Investigation of Coaches' Verbal Behaviours (2025): One of the most comprehensive empirical studies to date of what coaches actually do during sessions.
The Bond That Happens To You (2026): How a Korean emotion word with no English equivalent reveals the subtle construction of a radically different way of understanding relationships.
Cognitive Neuroscience
Error-related persistence of motor activity in resting-state networks (2018): As we make errors during learning, the brain doesn't just move on, it quietly keeps processing the mistake even at rest, reshaping its networks in the background.
Increase in synchronization of autonomic rhythms between individuals when listening to music (2017): When people listen to music together, their heartbeats and breathing rhythms begin to synchronize, evidence that shared experience can align us at a physiological level.
About
My career has developed at the intersection of neuroscience, psychology, human systems intervention, coaching, contemplative practice, academic publishing, and, more recently, AI adoption and its societal implications. I've published 25+ peer-reviewed articles (1,800+ citations), coached 1,000+ individuals, coordinated multi-stakeholder research collaborations across four countries, and built agentic AI workflows as a non-programmer.
I hold a PhD in Cognitive Neuroscience (University of Milano-Bicocca), an MA in Human Systems Intervention (Concordia University), and certifications in executive coaching (ICF PCC), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy skills training, and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction.
What Drives Me
The question that runs through all of my work: How do humans learn, adapt, and make sense of change? And how can we do it better?
This question led me to study motor learning and meditation in the neuroscience lab. It led me to coaching, where I help people rewrite the narratives that limit them. It led me to the Presencing Institute, where I work with researchers exploring how individual and collective awareness can reshape systems. And it led me to AI, where I'm now investigating what happens when a third "learning instance", neither human nor environment, but something new, enters the loop.
What clients say
”Nicolò coached me during a period of career decisions when I faced multiple professional choices. I was very confused and seeking clarity to make an informed choice aligned with who I am fully. In one session, Nicolò guided me to achieve clarity that I thought was impossible in a single session. This clarity allowed me to make the right professional choices that led me to the position I hold today” .
- Annick Davignon, Lecturer, Université Concordia
”I have become more aware of many patterns and how multitasking is less than ideal. I am feeling calmer, less stressed and more focused. I have become better able to say no and to put my limits. I found it useful the way Nicolò was able to explain why I feel a certain way or act a certain way. It puts things in perspective, and I'm able to understand better why I am like that. He is a great coach, provides clear messages and helpful comments and tools”.
- Julie Bègin, Account Director, LG2 Montreal
”This morning I jumped out of bed, so excited to get going with the strategies and systems we put so very carefully in place over the weekend. I have not felt this energized, alive and joyful since Covid began, a full ten months ago! I am so happy and grateful I decided to attend this course and have promised myself this invaluable gift every year, as long as you offer it! Your gentleness, patience yet firmness in guiding us, with encouragement, humor and incredibly precise language offer a solid, grounded foundation from which we can take flight. I have never felt this kind of elation and excitement when committing to a goal and knowing with unequivocal certainty that it will be realized, since success is guaranteed. I am in awe and overflowing with gratitude and joy. Thank you Nicolo and the entire group, looking forward to the weekly check-ins! I encourage everyone to experience this class and make sure you tell your friends. 2031.... I am on my way!”.
- Lisa Marcovici, Director, Rekinexion
”Before working with Nicolo, I was trapped in a cycle of social media addiction, feeling anxious and powerless. A wake-up call came when my daughter pointed out my lack of control and attention. Nicolo’s brilliance in behavioral psychology and personalized coaching created a powerful transformation. Now, I enjoy peaceful rest without my phone in the bedroom, practice mindful phone use, and prioritize real-life connections. His mindful approach and quiet genius helped me to examine & see the old patterns and take responsibility and make different choices for my mental focus. Niccolo’s dedication to his work is truly inspirational, making him an incredible mentor for anyone seeking to regain control over their digital habits and improve their quality of life. Truly grateful”.
- Marina Ejova, Business Development Manager
”I realized I was not only underperforming professionally but was also neglecting my home life and personal well-being. I knew I couldn’t keep going down this path. What seemed like innocent smart phone use had such a bigger impact that went beyond even just the time on the phone. I was feeling like I didn't have the drive to complete necessary tasks. I was having a hard time concentrating and staying on task. I remember one day being on my phone and I looked up and the kids were on their i-pads and we were just coexisting in a room with zero connection between us. I realized the example I was setting was not one I ever intended. I couldn't preach to the choir so to speak unless I also set better examples. I realized if I didn't go through this program that I couldn't support my children with the change as well. With Nicolo's help, I've drastically reduced my screen time and feel more present in my daily life. I’m not constantly distracted by my phone, which has led to increased focus and productivity. I’ve developed healthier habits around technology, such as setting boundaries for phone use and finding more meaningful ways to spend my time, like reading or engaging with my family or in outdoor activities. After spending less time on my phone I started noticing how many times a day the kids looked my way to see if I was watching them. The connections that we started making were so much more pure and true than anything I could get over my phone. I’ve gained a deeper understanding of how technology impacts my mental health and dopamine levels, which has helped me make more intentional choices about how and when I engage with my devices. Nicolo's zone of genius lies in his deep understanding of how our brains work, particularly when it comes to technology and dopamine. He educates with science-backed facts, which gave me the confidence that the strategies he's offering are grounded in research. What stands out the most is his ability to truly empathize with where I am in my journey. He has this rare talent of putting himself in my shoes, which makes his coaching incredibly personalized and spot-on. His insights are always practical, actionable, and deeply aligned with my goals, which is why they resonate so strongly with me".
- T.O., business owner
”I highly recommend Nicolò’s expertise and educational methods in mindfulness meditation. Nicolo brings depth, commitment and passion to a set of practices that are both very simple and highly elaborate. In order to experience the repertoire of benefits these practices can bring, finding a qualified instructor is all the more important, as is personal commitment. Accompanied by Nicolò’s steady presence, students find a space to explore the richness these ancient practices can bring to our modern lifestyle”.
- Vincent Randy, Senior Business Analyst, Desjardins
”I'm in awe of how you get to the root of an issue and help us to think about how we're thinking and processing things. It's not advice you're giving; it's a new lens and realization that we can change the beliefs that we've picked up along the years. My husband and I both got so much out of the chat and we will be watching the replay for months and years to come”.
- K. G., mother