In this episode, we explore how executive coaching can become a powerful and versatile strand in a portfolio career. Joined by two graduates of our Practitioner Diploma in Executive Coaching programme, we hear how they transitioned from corporate life to building fulfilling, multi-dimensional careers where coaching plays a central role.

 We discuss:

•  Why coaching is a valuable skillset for those designing a portfolio career
• How to make the shift from a single-track role to a more flexible, purpose-led path
• The personal and professional growth that coaching unlocks
• Real stories of reinvention, resonance and rediscovery

Whether you're actively building a portfolio career or simply curious about what’s possible beyond the 9-to-5, this conversation offers inspiration, insight and practical takeaways.

You can link with the speakers here:

·       Lucy Tulloch, the AoEC & Lucy Tulloch Coaching – host

·       Dr Claire Handby,  Dr Claire Handby Business Leadership Ltd - guest panellist 

·       Helen Keddie, Keddie Consultancy & Coaching Ltd – guest panellist

To find out more about coach training and coaching, please visit the AoEC’s website www.aoec.com.

In this special B Corp Month episode, we delve into the stories of some of the UK’s top-performing B Corp certified organisations in the Worker category.

Through conversations with their HR leaders, we uncover what sets their workplace cultures apart, the innovative approaches they’ve taken to employee development, and the practices that underpin their outstanding employee engagement and satisfaction. Join us to explore the strategies that help these purpose-driven organisations excel and lead the way in fostering exceptional workplaces.

 You can link with the speakers here:

Karen Smart, head of consultancy/senior faculty at the AoEC – host

Victoria Birks, head of operations, Socius – guest panellist

Beth Gaudin, director and head of people, Forster Communications – guest panellist

About Socius:

Socius is an impactful developer with a £2.5bn development pipeline across major UK towns and cities including Bristol, Brighton, Cambridge, Milton Keynes and London. Privately-owned and certified B Corp, Socius partners with global investors to balance profit and purpose whilst delivering inspiring and sustainable mixed-use places.

About Forster Communications:

Turning your sustainability ambitions into action, Forster Communications is 100% focused on tackling climate change, driving social justice and improving lives. It combines insights, experience and connections to solve complex communications challenges, address barriers that are preventing progress, engage relevant audiences and deliver measurable change for its clients, their stakeholders and society. Forster Communications works with global and local businesses to accelerate positive change through communications strategy and planning, thought leadership, employee engagement and campaigning. With a deep understanding of social and environmental issues and live, cross-sector connections, the company can help you move from wanting to make a difference, to real action and results.

To find out more about coach training and coaching, please visit the AoEC’s website www.aoec.com.

Executive coaching has historically been linked with senior business leaders and high-potential employees who are being fast-tracked through the management ranks of organisations. However, recent events have created a new dialogue between employees and employers. 

Young professionals are entering the workplace with a different set of expectations as to what their working identity means to them. As Deloitte points out ‘they are more likely to hold true to their ideals and demand accountability’ and will lean into their values when it comes to making their career decisions. 

With priorities changing for employees and employers alike, this podcast episode explores some of the reasons why it is good business practice to democratise coaching and give young professionals access to coaching far earlier in their careers. We also look at the value created by equipping young talent with coaching skills and why a coaching approach is central to building key, transferable skills which are crucially needed in the workplace. 

Enjoy!

You can link with the podcast participants here:

Gina Lodge, CEO, The Academy of Executive Coaching (AoEC)

Chloe Garland, Founder, Quarter-Life

Charlie Stainforth, Founder and CEO, Circl 

With statistics such as one in five people experiencing moderate to severe depression in 2020, what has the Covid-19 pandemic meant for individual and organisational resilience? 

We look at how resilience coaching has been used to support workers during the last 18 months and are joined by two coaching professionals to learn more about their involvement with resilience coaching during the crisis. Both panellists have completed the Resilience Accreditation coach training programme and share their experiences of working with the Resilience Dynamic® model and the ‘whoosh’ which is used to chart resilience levels from break down to break even, right up to break through.

This episode explores some of the pressure points affecting workers, the most valuable lessons the coaches have learned and shares their insights into how to build a resilience capacity and work best with mental health conditions, stress, anxiety and isolation using a whole person approach. 

Enjoy!

You can link with the podcast participants here:

Jenny Campbell, CEO, The Resilience Engine

Alyson Ainsworth, Alyson Ainsworth Coaching Limited 

Emilia Piera-Adamczyk, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust 

As an organisation how do you know you are getting the best return on your investment from the coaching interventions you commission? What value can be demonstrated to the organisation and to the individual or team and can it be truly measured?

Joining Karen Smart, head of consultancy at the AoEC, are Wendy Robinson, head of AoEC Ireland and Northern Ireland and principal consultant with Taylor Clarke and Kate Simpson a qualified coach and group human resources director with Global Switch. Looking at coaching from the view of an independent, external coach and from an in-house perspective, listen as they discuss what a good outcome looks like and how it can be effectively evaluated to ensure that it has achieved the desired results.

Enjoy!

You can link with the podcast participants here:

Karen Smart, head of consultancy, AoEC 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-smart-aoec/

Wendy Robinson, head of AoEC Ireland and Northern Ireland

https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendyrobinsonexecutivecoach/

Kare Simpson, group human resources director with Global Switch

https://www.linkedin.com/in/connectwithkatesimpson/ 

John Hill, commercial director of the AoEC is joined by two expert team coaches to explore how teams have performed in the wake of Covid-19. 

Join them as they discuss their experiences of the changing needs of teams with a look at how the shift to virtual working has impacted performance and what working through covid has meant for teams – how agile have they been, how have they translated the challenge into actions and what learnings there are for team coaches.

Enjoy!

You can link with the podcast participants here:

John Hill, Commercial Director, AoEC 

Michele White, Owner, People and Development Ltd

Gina Lodge, CEO of the AoEC is joined by special guests David McLaughlin from the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) and Katherine Tulpa from the Association for Coaching (AC) to look at manager as coach. As one of the biggest areas of interest in people management and development, where do the boundaries lie between being a manager and being a coach?

We explore this important trend and consider some of the grey areas which are less reported. Just how ethical is managerial coaching and what best practices should line managers use to safeguard and nurture their coaching relationships with their direct reports?

Enjoy!

You can link with the host and guests here:

Gina Lodge, CEO, AoEC 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/gina-lodge-aoec/

David McLaughlin, ChMC Assessor, Chartered Management Institute (CMI) 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-mclaughlin-lcgi-dms-cmgr-fcmi-chmc-16011a87/  and 

https://www.managers.org.uk/ 

Katherine Tulpa, CEO, Association for Coaching 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/katherinetulpa/ and https://www.associationforcoaching.com/ 

If you would like to learn more about this topic, there is a wide variety of material available:

Managers and Their MoralDNA - CMI - https://bit.ly/2NCtO8M  

Managers and the Moral Maze - CMI - https://bit.ly/3srGIFn     

The Leader as Coach, Harvard Business Review - http://bit.ly/3pNaJ0E 

Values and Ethics in Coaching, Ioanna Iordanou, Rachel Hawley and Christiana Iordanou - https://amzn.to/37Lv1l2 

Developing Coaching Capabilities in Organisations, Ann Knights, 2008, CIPD - https://amzn.to/3uqYCdn

Gina Lodge, CEO of the AoEC is joined by special guests Carole Spiers from the international Stress Management Association (ISMA) and creator of International Stress Awareness Week and Claire Farrow from makeadifference/MADWORLDSummit to explore working with stress including a look at covid-19, the evolving role of the manager and the future of work.

 Enjoy!

You can link with the host and guests here:

 Gina Lodge, CEO, AoEC: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gina-lodge-aoec/

Carole Spiers, Chair, ISMA international Stress Management Association: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolespiers-stresskeynotespeaker/ 

Claire Farrow, Partner & Global Head of Content, makeadifference.media / MADWORLDSummit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-farrow-20896617/

You can find out more about International Stress Awareness Week which takes place 2 – 6 November 2020 and its first Online Global Stress and Wellbeing Summit at: https://isma.org.uk/isma-international-stress-awareness-week

Get all the latest news and insight with makeadifference.media and MADWORLDSummit at: https://makeadifference.media/ and https://www.madworldsummit.com/. 

Join us as we go behind the scenes of Wavelength Connect, which is a unique executive education and leadership development programme focused on the theme of The Future of Business.

Each year they bring together a cohort of 60 leaders from sectors that do not normally interact and provide access to a global array of the most admired, successful, and innovative companies, leaders and thinkers. Across this nine-month, in-person, experiential programme of events, behind the brand visits, peer working groups and executive coaching, leaders are immersed in four key themes:

Global perspectives on innovation & agility Culture & future workforce The responsible organisation Personal leadership

Having formed a partnership back in 2021, AoEC has been supporting Wavelength Connect participants with top notch, highly qualified, and highly experienced executive coaches to help leaders make the most of the programme and translate inspiration into application.

You can link with the speakers here:

Karen Smart, head of consultancy at the AoEC – Host
Jessica Stack, founder, Wavelength - guest panelist

If you would like to know more about Wavelength and the Connect programme, get in touch with the team here.

To find out more about coach training and coaching, please visit the AoEC’s website www.aoec.com.

In this episode, we explore the emotional challenges that come with career change, especially when making bold moves such as leaving corporate life to become an entrepreneurial coach or transitioning into a new line of work.

We'll dive into the powerful emotions of career transitions and, in particular, into the fears that can hold you back, what to expect during the process, and how coaching itself can provide some of the support needed to make informed decisions.

Whether you're considering a career shift or are already on the path, this discussion will offer practical insights to help you navigate the uncertainty and confidently embrace your next chapter.

You can link with the speakers here:

Sue Reynolds, AoEC & founder of Sue Reynolds Executive Coaching – episode host · Araceli Candeo Bebbington, founder, Power of Change – guest panellist · Jon Palmstrom, founder, Off-Piste Coaching - guest panellist

To find out more about coach training and coaching, please visit the AoEC’s website www.aoec.com.

Over the past 25 years, the UK’s executive coaching industry has evolved from a niche service into a cornerstone of leadership and people development. The AoEC has played a pivotal role in this transformation by setting high standards for coach training and accreditation and has helped raise the bar for professional coaching, making significant contributions to the field.

We look back at how the industry has evolved during the AoEC’s 25-year history and look ahead at the future of executive coaching in the UK. We will explore its increasing demand driven by the complexities of modern leadership and assess what will be important in its next phase of growth and innovation.

You can link with the speakers here:

·       John Leary-Joyce, CEO and founder, AoEC – guest panellist

·       Peter Burditt, owner, Strategic Development Consultants Ltd and non-executive director, AoEC - guest panellist

·       Kaz Hazelwood, AoEC - host

  To find out more about coach training and coaching, please visit the AoEC’s website www.aoec.com

Marking Climate Coaching Action Day 2024, the AoEC’s George Warren is joined by Giles Hutchins to discuss his work in helping organisations and leaders learn to attune with the rhythms and ways of nature, so they are better able to adapt to change. Discussing his latest book, Leading by Nature, they also explore how coaches can help support this much needed shift in leadership and organisational design.

You can link with the speakers here:

George Warren, faculty at the AoEC – Host

Giles Hutchins, pioneering practitioner, executive coach, author, thought leader and keynote speaker - special guest panellist 

Useful links

Find out more about some of the resources mentioned in the discussion here along with some further miscellaneous content:

Giles Hutchins’ website

https://gileshutchins.com/

Giles’ Deep Dive Immersion – 23 & 24 May 2024

https://thenatureofbusiness.org/2024/02/21/leading-by-nature-a-deep-dive-into-embodying-next-stage-regenerative-leadership-consciousness/

Giles’ blog

https://thenatureofbusiness.org/

Giles‘ books including Leading by Nature

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Books-Giles-Hutchins/s?rh=n%3A266239%2Cp_27%3AGiles+Hutchins

Giles’ Leadership Immersions LinkedIn Group https://www.linkedin.com/groups/13767578/

Gregory Bateson

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gregory_Bateson

https://batesoninstitute.org/gregory-bateson/

Otto Scharmer

https://ottoscharmer.com/

Donella Meadows

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donella_Meadows

https://donellameadows.org/

James Lovelock

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Lovelock

Fritjof Capra

https://www.fritjofcapra.net/

Professor Peter Hawkins

https://www.renewalassociates.co.uk/

Climate Coaching Action Day:

Hashtag: #climatecoachingactionday

Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/ClimateCoachingActionDay

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/groups/8869975/

Twitter:  @climatecoachday

Website: https://www.climatecoachingactionday.info/

Coaching in the Climate Crisis – A Certificate in Climate Coaching -  https://www.aoec.com/programmes/certificate-climate-coaching/

Climate coaching related resources from the AoEC – 

https://www.aoec.com/coaching-climate/

What does social change mean in today’s world and how does it relate to individual development through coaching?

How can coaches act as agents of social and systemic change? We look at how the scope of coaching can impact beyond the individual by touching whole organisations, communities and the world.

You can link with the host and guest panellists here:

George Warren, faculty at the AoEC - Host
Ana Paula Nacif PCC, Quantum Leap Coaching & Consultancy - panellist
Tracy Sinclair MCC, Coach Advancement by Tracy Sinclair - panellist

Useful links

Find out more about some of the resources mentioned in the discussion here along with some additional related content:

Coaching with Conscience 

ICF Foundation - Coaching for Social Impact 

ICF Foundation – Ignite - Engaging Coaching for Humanity and the Planet 

Coaching for Social Impact 

Coaching for Social Impact Report (BACP) 

Coaching Professional (Level 5) Apprenticeship training course 

https://www.instituteforapprenticeships.org/apprenticeship-standards/coaching-professional-v1-0

Coachsters – coaching for young people 

EMCC Social Responsibility 

EMCC Social Responsibility Special Interest Group

Humanitarian Coaching Network 

Climate Coaching Alliance 

Ecological and Climate-Conscious Coaching: A Companion Guide to Evolving Coaching Practice 

Coaching for Social Change by Hany Shoukry 

Anti-Slavery Day is an opportunity to raise awareness of the fact over 49.6 million people in the world today, and an estimated 136,000 people in the UK, are trapped in conditions of modern slavery. But it doesn’t have to be this way.

The AoEC has made a long-term multi-year commitment to being part of the international campaign to end modern slavery. To help raise awareness of modern slavery in the coaching community, in this episode we discuss how coaching can help those working in organisations on the front line, as well as explore the realities of modern slavery in everyday communities.

You can link with the host and guest panellist here:

John Gray, senior faculty at the AoEC – Episode host
Shayne Tyler, partner at Practical Ethics – guest panellist 

Useful links

Find out more about some of the resources mentioned in the discussion here:

Modern Slavery Act 2015

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/modern-slavery-bill

Global Slavery Index

https://www.walkfree.org/global-slavery-index/

Human Trafficking definition

https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/human-trafficking/human-trafficking.html

Modern Slavery Helpline

https://www.modernslaveryhelpline.org/

Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority

https://www.gla.gov.uk/

Taken 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taken_(film)

AoEC and modern slavery

https://www.aoec.com/ending-slavery/

Marking Climate Coaching Action Day 2023, the AoEC’s George Warren is joined by Tabitha Jayne from Earth Self and Lesley Roberts from Coaching Outdoors to look at coaching through the lens of nature.

They will explore how coaching practitioners can make the most of what nature can offer them, the client, organisation and the planet. From awakening the senses to the world around us, to bringing the natural world into our coaching conversations, they will share their expertise in how nature and connecting with nature can help improve mental and physical wellbeing and boost creativity and focus.

You can link with the host and guest panellist here:

George Warren, faculty at the AoEC – Host

Tabitha Jayne founding director of Earth Self and author of Nature Embodied – How to Love Life and The Nature Process: Discover the Power and Potential of Your Natural Self and Improve Your Well-Being– panellist

Lesley Roberts, managing director of Coaching Outdoors and author of Coaching Outdoors: The essential guide to partnering with nature in your coaching conversations- panellist

Useful links

Find out more about some of the resources mentioned in the discussion here along with some further miscellaneous content:

Walk it off! The effectiveness of walk and talk coaching in nature for individuals with burnout- and stress-related complaints, Agnes E. van den Berg and Femke Beute, 2021 –

Ecological and Climate-Conscious Coaching: A Companion Guide to Evolving Coaching Practice by Alison Whybrow (Editor), Eve Turner (Editor), Josie McLean (Editor), Peter Hawkins (Editor) 

Nature Connectedness work by Professor Miles Richardson 

Jonathan Passmore and coaching outdoors 

Climate Coaching Action Day

#climatecoachingactionday 
LinkedIn: Twitter: @climatecoachday

Climate Coaching Alliance 

International Coaching Federation (ICF) Code of Ethics 

Published work of Stephen R Kellert 

Published work of Edward O Wilson
Extract from Coaching Outdoors by Lesley Roberts 

Coaching in the Climate Crisis – A Certificate in Climate Coaching 

Climate coaching related resources from the AoEC 

Coaching Conversations with the AoEC – Podcast

Episode 7 – The Future of Coaching

Join us as we take at look at how coaching is evolving and ponder what its future looks like.

In this episode we explore the topic through a lens of issues including the need to democratise coaching, the climate crisis and anti-racism in the profession. We also examine why a wider step change is needed in the consciousness and philosophy of coaching in order for coaches to be truly in service of others.

Our special guests tackle the necessity for coaches to go beyond the client agenda and how coaching practitioners can and should, open and broaden client mindsets. Discover why it is important to continue the journey of learning and why it is legitimate for coaches to bring the big issues facing society into their coaching conversations.

You can link with the host and guest panellist here:

George Warren, AoEC - Host
Hetty Einzig, Coaching Perspectives – panellist
Jonathan Passmore, Henley Business School and CoachHub – panellist

LINKS

Find out more about some of the resources mentioned in the discussion here:

Andrea Watts – Collage as a Creative Coaching Tool 

Alex Burn – outdoor coaching 

Charmaine Roche and Jonathan Passmore racial justice research 

Common Purpose - Sky Blue programme 

Anti-Racism in Coaching by Charmaine Roche and Jonathan Passmore - Coaching: An International Journal of Theory, Research and Practice 

Diversity in Coaching by Jonathan Passmore - 

Coaching in the Climate Crisis – A Certificate in Climate Coaching 

In this episode, we sit down with Sam Heighway, founder of Be Business Fit and author of The Strength Report 2025, to unpack what 170 UK leaders and professionals told her about coaching in their organisations. The findings reveal a clear appetite for coaching, but also persistent barriers that keep it out of reach for many.

We discuss:

•  Why coaching is a necessity for confident leadership, not a luxury for the few
• The gap between perception and reality: “coaching is for anyone” vs who actually gets it
• The hidden costs of not coaching and how to make the ROI case
• Practical steps to normalise coaching access across all levels

Whether you’re a senior leader, HR decision-maker or simply curious about how coaching strengthens culture and performance, this conversation offers insight, evidence and actionable ideas.

You can link with the speakers here: 

• Karen Smart, faculty, the AoEC – host
• Sam Heighway, director and founder Be Business Fit - guest panellist 

You can also connect with Sam via Instagram or Facebook. 

As climate pressures intensify, leaders across every sector are being asked deeper, more urgent questions about the role of their organisations and the values guiding their decisions. In this special Climate Coaching Action Day episode, Professor Katie Bailey and Dr Katie Manning - co‑editors of The Purpose‑Driven Organisation in Times of Climate Crisis - join host George Warren to explore what it truly means to lead with purpose in a climate‑changed world.

This episode offers an honest, human‑centred conversation about organisations and leadership in the climate era - balancing practical organisational insight with the inner work leaders must undertake to show up with clarity, compassion, and conviction.

For coaches and leaders alike, this is an essential exploration of how purpose can help reshape business for a regenerative, responsible future.

You can link with the speakers here:

• George Warren, Associate Faculty, the AoEC and executive coach, the Edge of Coaching – host
• Professor Katie Bailey, Emerita Professor of Work and Employment, Kings College London - guest panellist 
• Dr Katie Manning, Lecturer in Climate Change, Business, and Society, Kings College London - guest panellist 

In this episode, the format is reversed as Lucy Tulloch, head of faculty and coach education at the AoEC, interviews senior faculty member Neil Mackinnon in a reflective and candid conversation about his journey into coaching and his philosophy of practice. 

Neil shares his unconventional path from a career in music and the arts into coaching, exploring how creativity, listening and presence have shaped his approach. He reflects on the pivotal coaching experience that transformed his career direction and the process of building a practice grounded in relationships, self-awareness and continuous development.

Together, they explore what it really means to “be” a coach, moving beyond models and techniques to consider coaching as a relational and creative act. The conversation also highlights the role of coach education in developing reflective practitioners, the impact of faculty, and what differentiates meaningful learning experiences.

Looking ahead, they discuss the evolving coaching landscape, including the rise of AI, the importance of ethics and human connection, and the opportunities for coaches to create lasting impact through deeper, more conscious work.

This episode will resonate with aspiring coaches, practising professionals and anyone curious about the deeper human work behind effective coaching and coach education. 

You can connect with our speakers here: 

·       Lucy Tulloch, head of faculty & coach education - global, the AoEC – host

·       Neil Mackinnon, senior faculty, the AoEC – guest speaker

In this episode, Neil Mackinnon, senior faculty at the AoEC, is joined by Lucy Tulloch, head of faculty and coach education – global, AoEC, for an open and reflective conversation about coaching practice, coach education and what truly makes coaching transformational.

Lucy shares her journey from a 20‑year corporate career into coaching, the realities of building a coaching business, and how her approach has evolved over time. Together, they explore what good coach training really requires, why standards and ethics matter, and how coaching is adapting to an increasingly complex world. 

They discuss: 

• Lucy’s path into coaching and the courage of a second‑career transition
 • How coaching practice deepens beyond models, structure and “good questions”
 • The role of faculty in creating safe, experiential learning environments
 • Why challenge, boundaries and ethics are central to effective coaching
 • What differentiates high‑quality coach training in a competitive market
 • The future of coaching, including AI, team coaching and collaboration 

This episode will resonate with aspiring coaches, practising professionals and anyone interested in the human craft behind excellent coaching and coach education.

 You can link with the speakers here:

• Neil Mackinnon, senior faculty, the AoEC – host
• Lucy Tulloch, head of faculty & coach education - global, the AoEC – guest speaker

In this episode, host Neil Mackinnon is joined by Madeleine Dunford, founder of Career Connections and head of AoEC East Africa, for a rich and personal conversation about her journey and the evolution of coaching in the region.

Madeleine shares how she built her business over nearly three decades, from introducing psychometrics to East Africa to developing executive search and, later, pioneering executive coaching in response to shifting client needs and the 2008 financial crisis. Her story reflects a deep entrepreneurial spirit and a strong belief in developing local leadership talent. 

She also reflects on her long-standing partnership with the AoEC, highlighting its role in bringing accredited coach training to East Africa and supporting the professionalisation of coaching in the region. Together, they explore the impact of its programmes and the diverse mix of leaders and aspiring coaches who undertake them. 

Madeleine offers insight into her coaching philosophy, blending creativity, reflection and a focus on action, as well as her purpose of “lighting a thousand candles” through both coaching and developing others.

The conversation also explores her passion for systemic team coaching®, the realities of working across diverse and emerging markets, and her perspective on AI as a useful complement - rather than a substitute - for human coaching. 

This episode will resonate with coaches and leaders interested in purpose-driven practice, global perspectives and the human impact of coaching.

You can connect with our speakers here: 

·       Neil Mackinnon, senior faculty, the AoEC – host

·       Madeleine Dunford, head of AoEC East Africa and founder of Career Connections - guest speaker