Activism and unlearning led Anthony V. Zampella, MSOL, MS, CP, to found Bhavana Learning Group in 2000. His firm works with coaches, educators, and executives to bring wisdom to leadership.
As a wisdom coach, teacher, and mentor, he blends Buddhist psychology with Western learning methods to develop generative communications. As a communications specialist, his work cultivates a generative mindset to expand deep listening and grow contemplative practices. An author and curriculum designer, Tony also works as a conscious leadership consultant and researcher.
From early in life, Tony was drawn to activism and learning. Struggling with his own sexual orientation, he dropped out of high school in 1981. After coming out, he became an LGBTQ and AIDS activist (1984-97), published an LGBTQ weekly newspaper (1986-94), and served as a Human Relations Commissioner (1993-97) for the city of San Diego.
In 1993, he was shot in the neck in a gang-related incident. With this “wake-up call,” he earned a B.A. in Sociology (UCSD), M.S. in Journalism (Columbia University), M.S. in Organizational Leadership (Mercy College), and more recently graduated from Nalanda Institute of Contemplative Science with a certificate in Contemplative Psychotherapy (CP).
THOUGHT LEADER, Researcher, Mentor
As a researcher and academic, Tony has served on the editorial board for two Journals.
- 2016-2018: The launch of Philosophy of Coaching: An International Journal.
- Currently: Turning Toward Being: The Journal of Ontological Inquiry in Education (JOIE).
As a leadership specialist, Tony designs leadership development programs for coaches, educators, and learning professionals.
- Tony writes a regular blog, Unlearning Curve, for learning and development professionals.
- He contributed to the coaching textbook, Complex Situations in Coaching: A Critical Case-Based Approach, published by Routledge (2019), to understand the view of “assessment” in coaching.
- Tony wrote a chapter in the 2022 book, Coaching Wisdom: Voices of the Gay Coaches Alliance: Coming Out and Being in the World; How Insights from the Coming Out Process Support a Coaching Mindset.
- Explore White Papers in our Learning Center, which detail his research, ideas, and thinking.
Education and Studies
Tony’s experience combines Western learning models with Eastern wisdom traditions.
CONVENTIONAL EDUCATION
- MS in Journalism from Columbia University
- MS in Business with Organizational Leadership, Mercy College
- BA in Sociology from the University of California at San Diego (UCSD).
Philosophical INQUIRIES & PRACTICE
- Philosophical approaches include the work of Martin Heidegger employing ontological inquiries and phenomenological analysis.
- As Integral Theorists, the work of Ken Wilber, Peter Senge, and Otto Scharmer integrates meta-theories to cultivate systems thinking.
- As a practitioner, the study of Buddhist psychology supports integrating contemplative practices.
- As a designer, our Contemplative Learning model with 12 Practices brings contemplative learning to listening and leadership.
- Creating “Practice Fields” in personal mastery brings mindfulness practice to everyday life.
See this personal reflection on Tony’s introduction to Buddhist Psychology.
CERTIFICATIONS
Tony is certified in these areas of adult learning and human development:
- Certified: Foundations of Ontological Learning (graduate studies), Newfield Network.
- Certified: Facilitators of Open Space Technology, by originator Harrison Owen.
- Certified: Appreciative Inquiry by Frank Barrett and David Cooperrider.
- Certified: Spiral Dynamics Integral (Level I & II) by originator Don Beck.
- Certified: Deep Change, Spiritual Intelligence by originator Cindy Wigglesworth.
- Certified: Contemplative Psychotherapy at Nalanda Institute.
Experience
ACADEMICS
As a learning specialist, Tony has instructed undergrad and graduate students. He researched and delivered learning methods at various universities, including Rutgers University Business School, Newark (“Executive Leadership”), and Fordham University’s MBA Program (“Leadership, Language, and Trust,”).
Tony redesigned the “Master of Science in Organizational Leadership” (MSOL) program at Mercy College at its five campuses. Tony currently serves as faculty at Nalanda Institute of Contemplative Science, where he founded the “Practice Field” in its Contemplative Psychotherapy Program.
PUBLISHING
From 1985 to 1993, Tony founded and published two news magazines serving the LGBTQ community in San Diego (the San Diego Scene, and Bravo! Newsmagazine). He authored columns and essays on culture and leadership, published in Update Newspaper, The San Diego Reader, Ten Percent Magazine, and The San Diego Tribune (1994-97).
ACTIVISM
From 1984 to 1997, Tony served as an LGBTQ and human rights activist: as Chair of San Diego’s gay pride organization; board member of the County’s AIDS organizations; advisor of the Board of Trustees to San Diego City College; and, on advisory boards to Mayors Maureen O’Connor and Susan Golding.
Tony also served on the Board of Governors at the Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest LGBTQ civil rights organization. From 1993 to 1997, he served as Commissioner of the San Diego Human Relations Commission.
SPEAKING AND CONFERENCES
2018: ACTO Conference: Listening as a Field of Being. Tony worked with coach trainers to experience Deep Listening. (ACTO = Association of Coach Training Organization.)
2019: Gay Coaches Alliance: Workshop on Deep Listening. Tony worked with experienced coaches to cultivate Deep Listening.
2019: ACTO Conference: Unlearning: The challenge of cultivating deeper understanding, presence, and openness. Tony worked with coach trainers to develop unlearning of worldviews and systemic bias.
Tony has served on the Board of ACTO (Association of Coach Training Organization) to support bringing anti-racism learning and practices to coach training.
Connect with Tony
Connect with Us

How to Work with
Tony V. Zampella
Clients working with Tony have made a deep commitment to learning. Motivation is key to his work in cultivating a generative mindset beyond extrinsic motivations to deeper intentions beyond the self.
Tony specializes in these areas:
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Generative communications to expand leadership capacity.
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Unlearning capacity to deepen listening.
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Interdependent awareness to develop contemplative practices.
Coaching: Supports a limited number of clients.
Mentoring: Supports clarity through study and practice to integrate wisdom practices.
Consulting: Offers research, original IP, and practices to design learning programs and cultures.
Community: Contact Tony for information on our Small Sangha to study Buddhist Psychology.
Click this button for a bio of Tony’s Buddhist studies and practices.
View these writings by Tony Zampella.
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Evolving Mindfulness: four-parts from McMindfulenss to Restoring Wisdom.
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Generative Communication: The Power to Connect and Create
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Art of Unlearning: Discovering Our View
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The Paradox of Conscious Leadership
The following booklist has informed Tony Zampella’s work.
Tony Zampella discusses “Unlearning” at Nalanda Institute for Contemplative Science.
Transformation finds us open to a state of newness previously unavailable to us.
It is not a better version of that state. Rather, it is a courageous choice to abandon what’s known for the possibility of the unknown.
We do not change our view; we become the possibility of a new view.
—TONY V. ZAMPELLA

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