Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Coffee House Coaching

Welcome to Coffee House Coaching, where great conversations are brewed one powerful question at a time. I’m your host, Gary Nowak, and each episode is caffeinated by 8 thought-provoking, no-fluff questions designed to tap into the Coaches insight, impact and inner work of their practice.

 Today’s guest is Steph Balzer “From Journalism to Coaching: Finding Voice, Holding Space, and Staying Human.”

• Steph B. brings her diverse background as a poet, journalist, and nonprofit leader into her dynamic coaching style.
• She works primarily with clients from mission-driven sectors such as higher education, fundraising, and the arts.
• Her approach is rooted in metaphor and language, helping clients explore deeper emotional insights.
• Steph navigates the delicate balance between encouraging client growth and respecting their readiness.
• She emphasizes the importance of sitting with discomfort—both her own and her clients'—to foster deeper connections.
• A key takeaway: “When calling someone out, call yourself in,” emphasizing humility and shared human experience.
• Through coaching, Steph has reclaimed her voice, especially in traditionally hierarchical professional settings.

Welcome to Coffee House Coaching, where great conversations are brewed one powerful question at a time. I’m your host, Gary Nowak, and each episode is caffeinated by 8 thought-provoking, no-fluff questions designed to tap into the Coaches insight, impact and inner work of their practice.

Today’s guest is John Schuster where he described  a  philosophical conversation with a client on epistemology (a.k.a. “How do we know what we know?”).

"Presence, Poetry, and the Power of Stillness — Coaching with John Schuster."

📝 7 Summary Bullet Points:

• Presence is 50% of coaching—and worth 100% of your inner work.
• John blends coaching, mentoring, and consulting based on what the client truly needs.
• His journey through Jungian psychology and spiritual development deepened his coaching presence.
• He’s still refining how to love his clients more deeply while doing less “doing.”
• Not afraid to get philosophical, he once explored epistemology mid-session.
• Uses humor and tone as core tools—“Ha-ha, Aha, and Ahhh” are all welcome.
• Closed the show by singing Dylan’s Forever Young—a reminder that coaching, like life, is a beautiful ongoing journey.

Welcome to Coffee House Coaching, where great conversations are brewed one powerful question at a time. I’m your host, Gary Nowak, and each episode is caffeinated by 8 thought-provoking, no-fluff questions designed to tap into the Coaches insight, impact and inner work of their practice.

Today’s guest is Lola Gershfeld where she likes to slow down, tune in and dance through coaching.

Episode Highlights

• 🧠 Best advice? “Stop thinking about the next step—just feel the music.” Coaching and tango collide in a powerful metaphor for presence.
• 🪞 Deep self-work: Lola uses her own tools (like the Reconnection Form) to identify raw spots, fears, and triggers—starting with herself before guiding others.
• 🫀 Emotions are the play: her greatest joy is leading multi-person bonding conversations and watching teams heal and connect in real time.
• 🧰 Most “outrageous” move? Asking team members to emotionally reconnect face-to-face—even after years of not speaking.
• 💻 AI as emotional co-pilot: helps soften emails, polish writing, and create clearer communication (especially when speed trumps tone).
• 🧬 Coaching + family: co-hosting a podcast with her daughter strengthened both their emotional vocabularies and their bond.
• 🌪️ From overwhelmed to attuned: she slows herself down by shifting focus from self to client—and always centers on connection.
• 💃 Her dream? Never stop working. But also—more dancing. Always more Argentine tango.

Welcome to Coffee House Coaching, where great conversations are brewed one powerful question at a time. I’m your host, Gary Nowak, and each episode is steeped in 8 thought-provoking, no-fluff questions designed to tap into the Coaches insight, impact and inner work of their practice.

 Today’s guest is Matt Williams - Most proud of: The resilience to build a coaching practice without a playbook, metrics, or much applause.

Episode Highlights

• 🕵️‍♂️ Early coaching lens? Prosecutorial. Today? Curious and collaborative.
• 🧭 Coaching roots go back to HP’s golden era under Bill & Dave—Matt learned leadership through coaching before it had a name.
• 📚 Favorite advice: “Be attentive to the lens you look through.”
• 🚧 Constantly working to give observations without advice—avoiding the “expert trap.”
• 🧠 Biggest discovery? Aligning with personal values is the foundation of authentic leadership.
• 😤 Told a control freak “you don’t control the outcome.” It went... exactly how you'd expect.
• 😂 Humor and sarcasm as subtle coaching tools—no games, just dry wit and sharp timing.
• 💻 Uses AI tools like Grammarly and Fathom for editing and transcripts, but insists the voice stays human.
• 🐟 Bucket list dream: Fly-fishing road trip through the Rockies with a (borrowed) dog and zero constraints.
• 💪 Most proud of: The resilience to build a coaching practice without a playbook, metrics, or much applause.

Welcome to Coffee House Coaching, where great conversations are brewed one powerful question at a time. I’m your host, Gary Nowak, and each episode is steeped in 8 thought-provoking, no-fluff questions designed to tap into the Coaches insight, impact and inner work of their practice.

 Today’s guest is Nir Megnazi - "From Intel Chips to Emotional Shifts: Coaching That Cuts Through the Noise"

  Episode Highlights 

• 🧠 “Have you solved your own problems?” — Nir’s humbling first day of coaching school slaps his ego into shape.
• 🔄 From Intel engineer to emotional coach: how Nir learned to sense clients’ core issues using body awareness and intuition.
• 🧘‍♂️ Trusting the gut: Nir’s transformative coaching style blends inner sensing with deep listening.
• 🚧 Coaching the person, not the title — and definitely not the résumé.
• ⚠️ His biggest coaching screw-up (and recovery): when ego talks louder than empathy.
• 🧊 How to hold space when a client won't stop talking (even when your brain screams “move on!”).
• 🤹‍♂️ Play, tone, and sarcasm — how Nir makes coaching fun, without losing depth.
• 🧊 Cold weather sucks. Portland is tolerable. Snowboarding helps.

Coaching Highlights – Conversations That Matter

• Thrown into coaching—and luckily, stuck the landing.
• Mastering the power of the pause—because silence speaks volumes.
• Blending internal and external coaching like a fine espresso blend.
• That “jarring” feeling when you hold back... and let silence do its thing.
• Asking, “What was this experience like for you?” (Yes, that’s the gold.)
• No pressure, no expectations—just an invitation.
• Asking the "Best Boss / Worst Boss" question—watch clarity unfold.
• Helping clients slide into the driver’s seat of their own lives.
• Staying in coaching mode even when the formal session ends.
• Because honestly, the world needs fewer “Talk Shows” and more “Listen Shows.”
• That magical moment when coaching just clicks.
• Showing up aware, curious, and kind (not a bad trifecta).
• Embracing the give-to-get exchange—let go to grow.

Jeff’s Coaching Highlights – The Google Way (and Beyond)

• Called out as a standout coach—with zero formal training.
• Jeff doesn’t take space, he invites it—every time.
• Life at Google didn’t happen to him—it happened for him.
• The underestimated power of just sitting in silence and holding space.
• A proud, recovering "Teller"—learning to ask, not just inform.
• Memorable feedback: "Jeff is often the first and last to speak in a meeting."
• Reminder: Coaching only works when people are ready—no pushing needed.
• Find your niche—because when you try to serve everyone, you serve no one. 
• Pattern spotting = turning up the heat in the right moments.
• Pioneering coaching culture at Google by leading from the front.

Coaching Highlights – Leadership With a Twist

• Solving problems just by talking it out—sometimes that’s all it takes.
• In a go-go-go world? Leaders, give yourself a full day to do absolutely nothing. (Yes, really.)
• Runs multi-day leadership programs where coaching isn’t a side dish—it’s baked right in.
• Coaching the unwilling—because sometimes the ones who resist need it most.
• Helps clients internalize insights on the spot—no delayed a-ha moments here.
• Created a "buddy system" that turns training into real connection.
• Packs his programs with reinforcement, accountability, and just enough tough love to keep things moving.

Highlights:

• 🎩 Pulled into the world of Executive Coaching by a CEO—destiny calling!
• 🤯 Loves nothing more than being told he’s wrong—embraces growth at every turn.
• 🤫 Coaching people so subtly they don’t even realize it—coaching ninja style.
• 🌍 Feels his purpose on this planet is to help YOU tell your story.
• 💬 Promises potential clients the best business experience of their lives.
• 🔑 Knows that asking great questions is the fast track to building trust.
• 🇦🇺 Draws wisdom from an Australian study on what truly matters—connections.

• 🎧 Believes in the magic of training yourself to be a phenomenal listener.
• 🔍 Fascinated by patterns—finding meaning in the details.
• 🚀 Fast-tracking trust to get to the heart of the matter quickly.
• 💍 The marriage proposal story—intriguing and unforgettable!
• 📅 Works with clients in 6-month increments for focused growth.
• 🪞 Challenges his clients to speak the truth to themselves.
• ❓ Obsessed with asking questions—it’s his superpower!

Highlights: 

• 🔄 Plays back conversations to help clients uncover deep self-awareness—like a mental mirror.
• 🌟 Believes coaching is the ultimate freeform art—be unapologetically authentic.
• 🔍 Embarks on a never-ending quest to learn more about himself and the coaching craft—always evolving.
• 👂 Challenges: Are you truly listening, or just waiting for your turn to speak? (Be honest.)
• 🤔 Explores the fun and mystery of who the client wants you to be—it’s a game worth playing.
• 💬 Great motto: “Learning is a process, not an event.”
• 🚀 Believes we’re all works in progress—always striving for better, never “done.” 
• 🌀 Masterful at taking a client’s words, repackaging them, and reflecting them back with clarity and insight.
• 💸 Learns the dance of investing time in potential clients and then gracefully letting go.
• 🎭 Encourages coaches to discover their own style—coaching that feels 100% you.
• 🧠 Dives deep into conversations to truly serve the client—this is the heart of coaching.
• ❤️ Creates safe spaces for clients to explore their heart and gut instincts.
• 🛑 Finds joy in the awkwardness when a coaching session hits a halt—what magic can happen next?
• 🧘‍♂️ Acknowledges that people are incredible at picking up emotional tones—connection is key.

Highlights:

• 🏋️ Focused on Performance Coaching to help people unlock their potential and thrive.
• 🕒 Mastered the art of speaking in 15-second coaching funnels—clarity at lightning speed.
• 🧠 Believes thoughts are like calories: don’t overfeed the client’s mind; let them digest.
• 🙌 Embraced the ability to surrender to his true identity—freedom starts here.
• 📌 Transformed walls into dreamboards with giant Post-it notes—a literal vision of the future.
• 🎮 Created the “Game Plan for Life” program, sharing wisdom from his personal playbook.
• ✅ Sometimes all you need is permission from someone else to take the leap.
• 💡 Best advice ever? “They will figure it out”—trust the process. 
• 💪 Had the courage to “quit everything” when the strength to keep going was gone—rebirth moment.
• 😴 Proud owner of a 4:30 pm nap doctor’s note—wellness starts with rest!
• 🕸️ Knows what it feels like to be stuck in your own web and the power of someone pulling you out.
• 🌈 Alignment with yourself unlocks a life of wonder and “awwwww” moments.
• 🔍 Advocates for discovering your identity first—before building mission and values.
• 🚶‍♂️ Believes real change requires a co-traveler for the journey—growth isn’t a solo act.
• ⏳ Preaches the beauty of slowing down and leaving intentional space in conversations.
• 🏷️ “You can’t read the label when you’re inside the bottle”—perspective changes everything.
• ➖ Champions using subtraction to slow down—less is truly more.
• 🥱 Suggests going out and being bored for a bit—it’s where creativity lives.
• 🧘 It’s all about self-awareness—the foundation of everything.

Highlights:

• 🤝 Witnessed the raw chaos of cultures clashing during a merger—lessons in humanity.
• 💡 Student truth bomb: “You know a lot about business, but you’ve never had one.”
• 🔗 Finally connected the dots after years of personal development—her aha moment.
• 🌌 Her coaching is pure transformation, starting with the hardest step: understanding yourself.
• 📊 Asks the powerful question: “What is the data telling you?”
• 🔄 Bridges the critical connection between thinking, feeling, and doing.
• 🎯 Aligns clients with their vision of the future and gets them locked in. 
• 🚀 Started in business coaching and quickly uncovered her true calling: helping people thrive.
• 🌟 Took a bold leap from a secure career into the unpredictable world of coaching.
• ❤️ Surrounded herself with people who believed in her—and that made all the difference.
• 🧭 Transformed Growth Accelerators from “What is coaching?” to “Who is your coach?”
• 🧠 Challenges clients to confront the voices in their head—what are you telling yourself?
• 🔓 Helps break through limiting beliefs to unlock potential.
• ✨ Leverages the magical Value exercise to bring clarity and focus.
• ⏳ Learn from the past but don’t get stuck there—forward momentum always.
• 🛠️ Guides clients in building and discovering a bold, new identity.

Highlights:

• 🕊️ Gives people the permission to be unapologetically themselves.
• 🧩 “You always win at the game you’re playing—so what game are you playing?”
• 🌊 Embraced being unattached to results (and occasionally self-centered)—a journey of self-awareness.
• 🌀 Deeply inspired by Ontology, shaping her coaching philosophy.
• 🔍 Feels privileged to coach teams, gaining access to rich, transformative conversations.
• 🏔️ The higher you climb in a company, the lonelier it can feel—coaching bridges the gap.
• 💎 Believes being yourself is more than enough to be a phenomenal coach.🌟 Introduced her impactful Whetstone programs built on four pillars:
   
  • You and Phenomenon 
  • You and Measures (Concrete Reality) 
  • You and Spirit 
  • You and Possibility 
• ✍️ Overcame writer’s block and stumbled upon the Landmark Forum and coaching—a game changer.
• 💡 Discovered a surprising truth: she genuinely loves people—and it caught her off guard!
• 👨‍👧 Credits her father as a massive influence in her life and coaching journey.
• ⚡ Not all teams are created equal—some are “teams” in name only.
• 🚀 Believes coaching is far more than just “coaching”—it’s a catalyst for change.
• 📜 Highlights how coaching has been around for millennia—timeless wisdom.
• 💎 Believes being yourself is more than enough to be a phenomenal coach.
• 🧩 “You always win at the game you’re playing—so what game are you playing?”
• 🚫 “We can’t, and it’s not our job”—embracing limits to empower others.

Highlights:

• 🎭 Pioneers in using improv for coaches—it’s transformative and energizing!
• 🙌 Believes that who you are is what makes your coaching truly impactful.
• 🎤 Betsy’s comedic roots bring improv and humor into the mix—because coaching can be FUN!
• 🗣️ Experimented with "3 Word Coaching"—small, impactful, and powerful.
• ⏱️ Tried the “Interrupting Experiment”—a fresh take on communication dynamics.
• 🚨 The only rule of improv coaching? PARTICIPATE—because that’s where the magic happens.
• 🗣️ “We’d rather DO than just listen”—action is always the answer.

• 🌟 Two mentor coaches who serendipitously found each other in 2018—and the magic began.
• 🛠️ Honing their coaching skills together and absolutely loving the journey.
• 💡 Gaining invaluable insights by immersing themselves in others’ learning processes.
• 🎁 Coaching at 40 became a beautiful gift for Amy’s kids—a ripple effect of growth.
• 😂 Adding levity to coaching sessions—proof that growth doesn’t have to be so serious.
• ⏳ Their 2-hour workshops fly by, leaving everyone engaged, energized, and asking for more.
• 🤝 Merging coaching ethics with the principles of improv for unique and innovative sessions.

Highlights:

• ⛳ Coaching sessions on the golf course or out in nature—where growth meets the great outdoors.
• 🔀 Knows that having influence and being a true leader are two very different things.
• 📚 Absorbed knowledge from books and ultimately connected with a top-notch mentor, following him to South Carolina.
• 🌱 Became "Soft Soil" to his mentor—open, adaptable, and ready to grow.
• 🔍 Focused on being a leader worth following, with a sharp business approach.
• 🚀 Transitioned from imitation to innovation, making his leadership style authentically his own.
• 💪 Believes challenging someone is about inspiring their best self to emerge.

• 🪴 Believes there’s no point in digging through hard soil; the right environment matters.
• 🏆 Positioned himself for success in both Coaching and Leadership.
• 🗣️ Reaches out to past clients for feedback—discovering gems in what they share.
• 🌈 Brings his own unique vision and values into his leadership style.
• ⚖️ Constantly assessing: Is his influence an asset or a liability?
• 🧠 Always on a journey of self-discovery and improvement.
• 🌊 Creates positive ripples throughout his coaching practice.
• 💡 Influential yet doesn’t always feel like a leader—embracing humility with impact

Highlights:

• 💼 Thrived in sales thanks to her coaching skills—proving that connection drives results!
• 🌟 Influence is a huge part of Stephanie’s coaching practice—she knows how to make an impact.
• 🔄 Shifted from working in the business to working on the business—a true visionary move.
• 🚀 Transitioned from Sales to Talent Management and Leadership Development, expanding her impact.
• 🧘 Listened to her body’s signals when feeling physically and mentally drained—a lesson in self-care.
• 🔑 Knows the difference between building chemistry with clients and crossing into friendship territory.

• ❓ Always pondering the perfect question to spark insight and action.
• ⚖️ Skilled at maintaining professionalism—staying out of the “friend zone” with clients.
• 🎧 Her secret to strong client connections? Deep, attentive listening.
• 🌸 Let go of long-term goals to embrace the present moment and be more adaptable.

Revolutionizing Coaching with AI & Human Synergy

• Merging the best of both worlds—a hybrid model where individual coaches are paired with AI-powered support.
• MpathAI is leading the charge, building cutting-edge technology to enhance coaching.
• Exclusive Offer: Try it FREE for 3 months with the code TRY3FREE, then just $25/month for unlimited access.
• This is NOT ChatGPT coaching—it’s real, human-driven coaching enhanced by AI.
• Research-backed results: Coaching impact skyrockets when available 24/7.
• No more letting thoughts and feelings fester—coaching helps you process, grow, and take action.
• Targeting Gen Z & Millennials—meeting the next generation where they are.
• Own your narrative: When you voice your concerns, you take control of them.
• AI is a tool, not a replacement—every AI-powered session is tethered to a human coach for real, meaningful guidance.

Find Troy Here - https://www.troylivingstoncoaching.com/

Highlights:

• 🚀 Ascended to the C-Suite and partnered with an outstanding coach to level up.
• 🔄 Mastered the art of blending consulting with coaching—two worlds, one powerful approach.
• ❓ Believes a good question is born from pure curiosity.
• ⏸️ Asks clients for permission to take a couple of minutes to pause and reflect—powerful reset moments.
• 💖 Love means letting go of the separate self and embracing connection.
• 🔥 “When you’re going through hell, keep going”—words of resilience.
• ⏳ Time flies when you fall in love with the process.
• 🔔 The body’s signals are teachers, if we’re willing to listen.

• 🧠 Coaching sharpened his thinking and brought clarity to complex challenges.
• 🔍 His coaching approach? It all starts with curiosity.
• 🧘 Began meditating at 13—a journey of mindfulness that started young.
• 🛑 Meditation is like a friendly stop sign, inviting you to pause.
• 🌱 The healthiest organizations he’s been part of are fueled by a culture of high curiosity.
• 🌈 In coaching, uniqueness reigns—no one looks exactly like us, and that’s the beauty.
• ⚠️ Got called out on coaching others—every experience is a lesson.

Highlights:

• 🚀 Massive career pivot—and he’s absolutely smashing it!
• 🌍 Champions the "We" approach over the "Me" approach—collaboration all the way.
• 📈 Realized the pitfalls of achieving success at the expense of others—lesson learned.
• 🌌 "Midnight in Lawrence, Kansas"—the moment when everything shifted.
• 💼 Relationships are the currency of our careers—using them as a true measure of success.
• 🧩 Swaps endless decision-making for solid rules—keeping things clear and focused.

• 😬 Went from fearing Kyle to truly understanding respect in leadership.
• 📜 Openly shares his principles and insists on being held accountable—integrity at its finest.
• 🧭 Getting full alignment with coaching clients to ensure transformative growth.
• 🤝 Embraces the "10 We's" Principles—moving from individual to collective success.

Highlights:

• 💡 The “aha” moment of coaching as a profession hit them early on—destined for impact!
• 🤝 At the heart of it all? Relationships—because connections drive everything.
• 💕 Found each other at the beginning of their coaching journeys—talk about a powerful duo (and yes, we’re all a little jealous).
• ✨ There’s always more to explore, more to achieve—limitless ambition.
• ⚡ Following the energy wherever it leads—they know how to harness momentum.

• 💚 Proudly helping people improve their mental health every single day.
• 👥 Balancing their roles as Co-CEOs like true pros—dynamic duo in action!
• 🛠️ Building tangible, impactful elements into their business—leaving a lasting mark.
• 🚀 Confidence didn’t come overnight, but it’s grown with every step.
• 🌊 Always riding the wave of something new and exciting—innovation is their comfort zone.

Highlights:

• 🧭 How to find and choose your ideal coach—because the right fit makes all the difference.
• 🌀 This year is all about deep soul searching—time to get real.
• 🤔 Do you want a coach who mirrors you, or someone who challenges your thinking?
• 💥 Recognizing the need to be pushed out of your comfort zone for growth.
• 🗣️ It’s your call—tell your coach exactly how you want to be coached.
• 🎭 Sometimes, your coaching goal is just a façade—let's dig deeper.

Highlights:

• 🎓 Early exposure to coaching and “Charm School”—setting the foundation for a dynamic career.
• 😌 Humility? Not a problem for him—he’s got it in spades.
• 📊 Believes using and receiving data is critical—insight drives improvement.
• 🔥 “I’m never ready, but always prepared”—embracing flexibility and readiness in every situation.
• 🎖️ Infuses his military experience throughout his career—discipline and strategy at the core.
• 😄 Loves that feeling of mirth and excitement while training individuals—creating joy in learning.
• 🕺 “The shortest distance between two people is a joke”—connecting through laughter.
• 🌱 Like plants growing towards sunlight, he’s always aiming for growth and positivity.
• 🎙️ Records his coaching sessions with his coach—reflecting on his own growth.
• 📋 Had his kids create report cards on him—talk about accountability!

 Highlights:

• 🎯 Became the "go-to" person early on for attracting and retaining top talent—talent magnet!
• 🌟 Inspiring others to embrace life and find the courage to chase their dreams.
• 💪 Tom is living his purpose through coaching and connecting with the Hudson community—impacting lives every day.
• ✋ The perfect balance of the iron fist and velvet glove in his coaching style.
• ❤️ For Tom, everything always starts with heart—leading with passion and empathy.
• 🔍 Holding up lots of mirrors in his practice, reflecting deep insights.
• 💡 Tapping into the power of Supervision to elevate his coaching.
• 🧠 Supervision = learning from the reactions of others to his experiences—growing through shared knowledge.
• 🛠️ The 4 pillars of his coaching practice are all intertwined—creating a cohesive approach.
• 🏗️ Doing the upfront work to nail down effective ways of working together—foundation matters.

Highlights:

• ⏱️ Signed up for a quick 15-minute coaching session after some training—and the rest is history!
• 🏛️ Georgetown’s coaching program covered all the essential concepts—leaving no stone unturned.
• 🌙 Sometimes coaching can feel a little “woo woo”—and that’s okay!
• 🐇 Always on the lookout for the elusive Bunny Rabbit (whatever that might be for you!).
• 💼 Took the bold step of bringing coaching back into her organization.
• 😔 Not Feeling connected to her organization, it was time for a chage
• 📅 Scribbling on her calendar: "We Ready / We Lookin’ / We Out"—her mantra for staying on track.
• 👂 Joined the International Listening Association to hone the ultimate superpower: listening.
• 🍳 Coaching is a lot like cooking—you need the right recipe and the know-how to tweak it over time.
• 🌍 "What you don’t know could fill a whole new world"—an adventure in lifelong learning.

Find Greg here -  https://www.gregfaxon.com/

Highlights:

• 🚀 Hired an executive coach at 23 because he knew deep down he wasn’t on the right path.
• 💡 Started considering life coaching at just 22—talk about early insight!
• 🛠️ Believes happiness is something you design—he's crafting his way to career satisfaction.
• 🧘 Learned to be present and accept the situation he’s in, always asking, "What is it trying to teach me?"
• 🔍 Supporting clients by diving deep into their business—no surface-level coaching here!
• 🖋️ Writes insightful articles based on what people are actually searching for.
• 🔍 Greg does the homework on thoughts that many Executive Coaches have but don’t always voice.
• 🎯 Pinpoints his highest-leverage routine to maximize efficiency.

Highlights:

• 🎯 Got coaching when stepping into a CFO role, with her company setting her up for success—talk about support!
• 🛑 "Just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should do it"—words to live by.
• 🔍 Searching for career satisfaction led her to the game-changing world of coaching.
• 🔄 Made the big pivot into Executive Coaching in 2019—new paths, new opportunities.
• 💪 Change is tough, but it's where the magic happens.
• 🧗‍♀️ Found the courage NOT to fall back into the same old traps.
• 🔍 Being a better coach means digging even deeper into self-awareness.
• 🏋️‍♂️ Gallup’s Clifton Strengths Finder is the cornerstone of her coaching practice.

 Highlights:

• 20 years as a financial advisor and not growing
• Trying to find a new path and it lead to coaching
• As a teacher she knew she always wanted to help others find their goals
• The ripple affect and making the most impact
• The beginners mind
• Being a solopreneur
• Assessment and tool discussion
• Group and team coaching
• Knowing when you are at capacity
• Being a better all around person due to her coaching experience

Highlights

• Helping clients with their brands
• Finding the right metaphor for your client
• What is your Super Power
   
  • Untangling necklaces 
  • Parallel Parking 
• Humans have complicated life stories, it's our nature
• 3 things that come up in her practice
   
  • Clarity 
  • Confidence 
  • Community 
• Having gone through the hard work herself to be great at what she does
• Hiding who you are isn't good hygiene for your soul
• People really do struggle with how to explain what they do
• Modulating with each and every client
• Using Collage session in details to help others describe themselves
• Creativity - Making connections between to seemingly disparate things
• Loves to help people express themselves as the Big Purpose
• Finding your purpose is your Life's work
• The Brand is a relationship
• My view was Purpose is internal to YOU and Branding is external to you want others see you
• Understanding your values
• How do your values show up for you today?

Some Highlights:

• Calling in from Greystone Ireland
• Taking his clients into nature and using this to see more clearly
• Having 2 or 3 unraveling's in his life, where his life didn't fit any longer
• Going through outer and inner transitions and the cost of "hanging on"
• Participating in the Vision Quest and the massive impact to Dana
• Taking a Reckoning to help find your way
• Coaching based his own lived experience
• Doing work on your own nervous system
• Finding your edges
• Getting coached on his own belonging
• Most new coaches feel that they are not enough
• We live in a culture of scarcity
• His coaching practice
   
  • Meeting your client with the structure that they need 
  • Looking for clients that recognize the world we are living in 
  • Coaching was his lifeline 
  • Uses his practice as a bridge to illuminate people where they are 
  • I feel you feeling me 
• Does your identity drain you or give you energy

Highlights:

• 🚀 Got amazing coaching early in her career in the late '90s—setting the stage for greatness.
• 🌪️ Needed a little career disruption at the time, and it delivered!
• 🧠 Master at assessing client readiness and aligning her coaching accordingly.
• 🔍 Her coach once asked, "What drains you of energy, and what brings you joy?"—a game-changing question.
• 🌱 Formed her company, Radical Ignition, during a deeply reflective period—sparking change.
• 🪞 Learned the importance of being radically honest with herself.
• 🛑 Refuses to let scarcity or fear dictate decisions—empowerment all the way.
• 🤝 Believes in the power of team coaching to transform individuals and entire companies.
• 💥 Her superpower? Getting to the root of what's really going on with her clients—every time.

Highlights:

• 🏢 Met through leadership training at GlaxoSmithKline—where their coaching journey began!
• 🤝 They complement each other perfectly and found themselves along the way.
• 🧘‍♂️ Bringing an entire room to complete silence and deep reflection—magic happens here!
• 🎧 Learned early on in sales: it’s not about talking first, it’s about patience and active listening.
• 💭 Constantly asking, "What needs to be understood?"—seeking clarity at every step.
• 🚫 Calling out behaviors that block a team from smashing their goals.
• ✨ Team coaching in pairs is pure magic—you have to experience it to believe it!
• 🎉 Trust me—you'll want to stick around for their clients' proud moments.

Excellent Executive Podcast Host - https://mkbconseil.ch/eec-podcast/
 

Highlights:

• 💼 Started off in finance but soon realized she wanted to help people in more meaningful ways.
• ❤️ Fell in love with coaching and building deep, personal connections with people.
• 🇨🇭 Katrina became the first Master Certified Coach in Switzerland—trailblazer alert!
• 💼 Knows how to navigate and coach through the challenge of working with difficult bosses.
• 🔍 Understands the systems individuals operate in to create impactful change.
• 🚀 Her role? To be the catalyst that sparks your best thinking.

10 Highlights:

• 🚀 Built a real estate team to over 100 people in his 20s, only to watch the business implode after 10 years—a wild ride of lessons learned.
• 🎯 Made the bold decision to work exclusively with coaches to fuel their growth.
• 💼 Helping people master the business side of building a thriving coaching practice.
• 🕵️‍♂️ Trusting your "Spidey senses" when choosing who to work with.
• 📈 When your fees increase, the quality of your clients tends to rise as well.
• 🎯 Clearly defining who you want to work with for maximum impact.
• 📧 Sending daily emails since 2016 to consistently offer his services.
• 🎙️ "Natural Born Coaches" podcast is nearing 900 episodes—an incredible milestone.
• 🌐 Created a thriving community for coaches—The Coaching Jungle—with 26,000 participants.
• ❤️ Want to grow your business? Do what you love—passion is the secret sauce.

7 Highlights:

• 🎓 Jumped into group coaching exposure right out of school in the late '90s—what a start!
• 🚀 As a young female, exposure to Executive Coaching was an absolute game changer.
• 🎯 Being "In the pocket" with the client—perfect alignment.
• 🏃‍♂️ Prepping yourself mentally before stepping into a coaching call—it's crucial.
• 💡 "You can't talk your way out of a situation you behaved your way into."—wisdom to live by.
• 📚 As coaches, the learning never stops—we're always growing.
• 🌱 Discovering where you thrive is key—that’s your sweet spot as a coach.

7 Highlights:

• 🏆 Sold his successful company at 47 and discovered Executive Coaching shortly after—new chapters, new successes.
• 🤝 Executives are realizing their teams are acting solo, not as a cohesive unit—time for change.
• 🌟 Specializes in helping clients over 40 navigate Mid-Life changes.
• 🚀 Team Coaching is rapidly becoming one of the hottest areas in coaching.
• 🪄 Sometimes, you have to sit on your hands and let the magic happen.
• 🕰️ Learning to sit in the paradox a bit longer as wisdom comes with age.
• 🔄 Great leaders can turn things around just by embracing curiosity.

10 Highlights:

• 🔑 Key to great coaching: letting go of attachment.
• 🚫 Scarcity and desperation give off vibes that aren't attractive.
• 🎙️ Started her podcast to provide additional resources for Executive Coaches.
• 🧠 Asking yourself: What is the story you are telling yourself about that?
• ❓ Harnessing the power of always asking questions in every conversation.
• 🎧 Want to improve your coaching? Listen back to your sessions.
• 💡 Coaching isn't therapy, but it can be therapeutic.
• 🔄 The ABC Model: A = Activating Event, B = Belief, C = Consequences.
• 💬 As Coaches we are always trying to deepen the conversation.
• 🎩 As a leader, make it a rule to ALWAYS ask 2 questions before each piece of advice.

6 Highlights:

• 🏢 In the early 2000s, recognized the power of trust in teams and strategized on making it stick.
• 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Knowing who you want to work with and respectfully identifying who isn't a good fit.
• 🇧🇪 In Belgium, everything begins with strong relationships.
• 🔄 Shifted to working exclusively with people you know and trust.
• 💬 Build relationships by being vulnerable and asking insightful questions.
• 🤝 Realized that bringing trust into relationships opens endless opportunities.

7 Highlights:

• 🏞️ Sold all her belongings and hit the road 3 1/2 years ago—embracing adventure!
• 🎤 Delivering impactful keynote speeches and coaching live in front of audiences.
• 🌀 Embracing one authentic version of herself.
• 💖 Grateful for the generosity and curiosity of people who always have Meg's back.
• 🏆 Extremely proud of sticking with her chosen lifestyle and never giving up.
• 🔍 Navigating the uncertainty of her corporate career path.
• 🤝 Learning to trust herself more and more over time.

10 Highlights:

• 🌟 Discovered coaching in the early 2000s at just 18 years old.
• 🦴 Born with a bone disease and enduring 22 leg surgeries—an inspiration in resilience.
• ❓ Always asking the big question: "How do we live our best life?"
• 🌍 At 3 years old, told her mom she wanted to change and see the world.
• 📊 Living by the model: observer / action / result.
• 🧘 Getting deeply connected to your body.
• 🪟 Understanding your Window of Tolerance.
• 🎯 Laser-focused on clients, helping them widen their self-aperture.
• 🔊 Listening to the whispers of life.

7 Highlights:

• 👂 Experiencing the powerful feeling of truly being "heard."
• 🏢 Leaving the boardroom to revolutionize the boardroom.
• 💪 "If it is to be, it's up to me"—embracing personal responsibility.
• 🌟 Life isn't a problem to solve; it's an adventure to experience.
• 🚀 Addicted to taking action and getting things done.
• 🎤 Overcoming the fear of a TED Talk and rocking it!
• 🔥 Hearing individuals' "Flashpoints" in his engaging Campfire Podcast.

5 Highlights:

• 💡 Deep down, most people already know what they want.
• 📝 Explore a list of everything you've ever dreamed of doing.
• 🛤️ Coaching helps you see the clear options right in front of you.
• 🚶‍♂️ Sometimes, we're just stuck in our own bodies—let's get unstuck!
• 💪 Having the courage to do things your way.

7 Highlights:

• 🚀 How trying to quit at IBM over 40 years ago turned his entire life around—what a plot twist!
• 🏢 Teaching companies to build and embed a transformative coaching management style.
• 🌟 Helping people feel great about their journey to improvement.
• 📜 Mantra: Always be accessible and relentlessly helpful.
• 💬 Leaders need to have career conversations—not just the HR team.
• 🎁 The more you give, the more you get—embracing the power of generosity.
• 🔦 Using a spotlight and psychological interrupts to create breakthroughs.

Some highlights:

• 🏢 Immersing in an organization to understand its dynamics before coaching individuals.
• 🧭 Pinpointing where coaching fits within the organization (HR / L&D / Business Unit).
• 📜 The journey leading up to contracting the coaching engagement.
• 🔄 Establishing a consistent approach to succession planning through coaching.
• 📈 Developing a maturity model for coaching, from performance to succession planning.
• 💪 Doing your upfront work—trust us, it pays off in the end!
• 🔗 Ensuring alignment within the organization on the required leadership skills.
• 🧩 Mastering the best ways to align and sell your coaching services to an organization.
• 🧠 Adapting to the client's unique thinking—our job is to align with them.
• 📏 Measuring the tangible impact of coaching.
• 🌍 Understanding how the buyer views the world—seeing through their eyes.

Highlights:

• 🌟 Discovered the power of coaching in high school, empowering others from a young age.
• 📚 As an Executive and Professor, Nada identified critical gaps in skills and knowledge.
• 🚀 Founded "Rise Up For You," inspired by her dad's strong influence.
• 💵 Started with just $100 and built a 7-figure business spanning 50 countries.
• 🧠 Placed a heavy focus on Emotional Intelligence.
• 🛠️ Providing solutions for companies to better support their people.
• 🌍 Embracing Daniel Goleman's perspective on the 18 components of Emotional Intelligence.
• 🏅 Proud of overcoming immense hardships and challenges throughout her life.
• 🔥 Believes in the mantra: "Don't waste your pain."
• 📉 83% of professionals identify "Self Confidence" as their top challenge.
• 📝 Encourages everyone to "Take the quiz!", found on her website (It's free)
• 🎭 Balancing the roles of performer and observer.
• 🔄 Not afraid of uncertainty—able to pivot and adapt instantly.
• 🏆 Exuding Macro Confidence in every aspect of her work.

Elissa Kelly 

www.elissakelly.com 

Solopreneur Risk Workbook - 50% off code: COFFEEHOUSE

LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/elissa-kelly/ 

Instagram: @elissacoaches 

Surya Partners

www.suryapartners.com 

LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/surya-partners

Elissa Kelly is a Solopreneur Business Coach who guides experienced business leaders as they transition from corporate roles into thriving, strategic, risk-savvy solopreneurs.  She is also the Founder and CEO of Surya Partners, a successful professional development firm focused on elevating diverse talent, as well as a mother of two amazing kids, bookworm, avid hiker, and reformed Fortune 100 Risk Executive.  Learn more and subscribe to her risk-savvy solopreneur newsletter at www.elissakelly.com.  

Elissa holds the PCC certification from the ICF, as well as an MBA from W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University. She earned her coaching certification from the Hogan Institute in Santa Barbara, California, and another from Team Coaching Studio in the UK. 

Highlights:

• 🎙️ Featured as a guest in Episode 6, April 2022— go back and have a listen!
• 🚀 Launched 2 companies, both laser-focused on the world of coaching.
• 🔄 Navigating the B2B and B2C landscapes with distinct focus areas.
• 🧑‍🏫 Empowering corporate executives with top-notch coaching skills.
• 🏢 Guiding professionals as they transition from corporate roles to executive coaching.
• 🧪 Always in experimentation mode—embracing new ideas and approaches.
• 📅 Dedicating 1 day per month solely to strategic alignment—prioritizing clarity.
• 🌌 Realizing the need for more space, not less—making room for growth.
• 🧩 Figuring out what works best for you—personalized strategies for success.
• 🏋️‍♂️ Mastering the skills required to thrive as a solopreneur.
• 🌍 Exploring where you want to work and what feels natural for you.
• 🏘️ Discovering the wonderful world of community spaces filled with coaches.
• 💸 Understanding how monetization influences your future decisions in this profession.

Some highlights:

• 🐇 Feeling unhappy and going down a rabbit hole, reaching out for coaching as a lifeline.
• 🎈 Stuck in a bubble with limited career opportunities—time to break free!
• 💖 Absolutely loving where she is in her career right now.
• 💪 Proud of every risk she took throughout her career journey.
• 🦸‍♀️ The courage to seek coaching and question her career path—bravery at its finest.
• 🤝 Connecting deeply with her clients because Rebecca faced the same struggles.
• 💡 Realizing she wasn’t broken—just dealing with chronic stress.
• 🧘‍♀️ Mastering stress from the inside out.
• 🛠️ Doing the inner work herself before introducing it to her clients.
• 🧠 Gaining a deep understanding of our nervous system.
• 📡 Remember: 80% of communication is body-to-brain!
• 🫀 Using the Tragus pull technique to lower heart rates like a pro.
• 🔓 Unlocking our potential by truly understanding our bodies.
• 🎤 Discovered for broadcasting talent while calling out BINGO—what a story!
• 💥 Navigating and understanding stress responses.

Some Highlights:

• 🧠 Learning psychotherapy in his 20s—mastering the mind early on.
• ⏳ Returning to the world of coaching in the early 2000s—coming back stronger!
• 🛠️ Early days at BP—everyone had a coach until they didn't.
• 🚔 Working in the prison system early on, aiding in rehabilitation efforts.
• 🎲 Throwing something in the middle of the room and seeing what happens—embracing spontaneity!
• 🤐 Hates when things are left unsaid.
• 🗣️ "When I feel something, I need to say something"—the motto to live by.
• 💬 Often telling clients, "Just so you are aware..."
• 🧘‍♂️ Cultivating self-awareness and awareness of one’s impact on others.
• 🔍 Fascinated by discovering the edges of people.
• ✨ It's the edges that define the shape of who we are.
• 🔎 Understanding your core self and recognizing when behaviors help or hinder you.
• 📝 Advice to a younger self: keep trying and embrace mistakes.
• 🤝 Great coaching is a co-creation process.
• 🛟 Using the gold Rolex as a life preserver—finding value in unexpected places.
• 🥊 Sometimes, when you're struggling, you have to "Pick a fight."
• 🧘‍♀️ Approaching clients without memory or desire—pure, unbiased guidance.

Highlights:

• 🎾 Born in Poland, Kasia saw the world through her early tennis adventures.
• 🏦 Transitioned from Tennis to investment banking, to owning a restaurant, to Venture Capital, and finally to Coaching—what a journey!
• 😌 Felt a huge sense of relief after NOT getting a job.
• 🎁 Sees coaching as a privilege, never a burden.
• 🌟 Kasia is on the exciting journey of finding her niche.
• 🧠 Coaching to align mindset and strengths—her superpower!
• 🚀 Helping clients push themselves to truly uncover their potential.
• 🆘 Learning the invaluable skill of asking for help.
• 🗣️ Kasia prefers direct communication—no sugar coating here!
• 🧐 Tackling the potential stigma around seeking coaching head-on.
• 🔄 Not having a Plan B turned out to be a brilliant strategy.
• 💪 Ideal client? A doer, ready to take action.
• 📚 Passionate about learning every aspect of becoming a great coach.
• 🎉 If it's not fun, then something’s definitely up!

Some highlights:

• 🎙️ Reflecting for the podcast—always a helpful process
• 🇬🇧 Living in the UK and seeking a coach to tackle those internal questions.
• 💬 Making comments on observations that are beyond dispute.
• 🎯 Always asking: What is the destination of the client?
• 🌟 Balancing confidence and humility—holding two seemingly contradictory traits.
• 🔄 Cultivating feedback and requesting it while being coached.
• 🐢 Learning to slow down with his coach and embracing a slower pace.
• 🔍 Discovering more about ourselves than our clients.
• 💥 Expending an incredible amount of energy during coaching sessions.
• 🗣️ Hearing clients say, "I've never said this out loud or shared this with anyone before."
• 📺 My podcast is just like "The Actors Studio" TV show—deep, insightful, and revealing.
• 🤔 How much do you reveal about yourself? Let's explore.
• 💡 You get what you give—embracing the reciprocity of coaching

Highlights:

• 🧘‍♂️ Started meditating early—mastering the mind from the get-go.
• 🔄 Absolutely captivated by our incredible capacity for change.
• 🤝 Creating a powerful relational space between two people.
• 🌟 Always on the lookout for ways to make a bigger impact on others.
• 💡 Mom introduced the magic of coaching—thanks, Mom!
• 🧠 Early brain: constant change / Later brain: slowing down the pace.
• 🚫 Hardwired for negativity bias—but we can overcome it!
• 🛡️ Brain built for survival, not granting every wish—know the difference.
• 🎯 Being fully present in coaching—embracing the unknown journey.
• 🚀 Vida’s coaching: fast-tracking to the core issues and practical solutions.
• 💓 Feelings drive change—harness them!
• 🧩 Collaborating with your client to identify what's holding them back.
• 🗣️ Naming feelings to defuse their emotional power.
• 🎒 Not everything needs to be unpacked—travel light!
• 🧘‍♀️ Prepping your mind to be present before each coaching session.
• 🧭 Self-awareness: knowing your state and shifting to a coaching mindset.
• ❓ Asking yourself, “Why am I doing this?” before each session.
• 📝 Assessments are gold—the real value is in the dialogue and insights.
• 🔍 Raising awareness—it's a cornerstone of our process.