The Business of Executive Coaching

If you *know* what you should be doing to grow your coaching business but you still aren’t getting it done, this episode is for you. Listen in as I explore why most coaches don’t really have an information problem - and I share my hypothesis of what is really happening. And therefore, what is the problem I really think you need to solve. Book a call with me at elliescarf.com/bookacall to discuss what 2027 could be for you - and whether the Corporate Coach Accelerator could be a good fit to help you get there.

If you’re heading towards the end of 2026 feeling disappointed, stuck or questioning where your coaching business is at, I recorded this episode specifically for you. In it, I am really exploring what it means to reset and try again (and how this can be the best thing you do for your business). We look at the common places coaches find themselves at this time of year, from self-critical “shoulds” to implementation gaps and life’s big hurdles. I also share a few strategies to help you reset and reboot. If this is you, and you want support for the reset, ready for a big 2027, book a call with me at elliescarf.com/bookacall.

If you are planning to start (or reinvigorate!) your coaching business in 2027, chances are there are things you need to be doing now. In this episode, I share the 10 things I’d do in the remaining months of this year if I were starting or restarting my executive coaching business in 2027. They sit across three areas: mindset, foundational asset building and marketing momentum. All of these are designed so that you o you can start the year with a bang rather than a scramble. Quick note as you dive in: if you’d like to see exactly what is involved in a successful coaching business, including how to map out your funnel, come along to my free Business Growth Workshop for Executive Coaches at elliescarf.com/pipeline.

Today I'm joined by Dr. Saba Hasanie , an ICF MCC certified coach, supervisor and author, and a three-time guest on the podcast. Saba has been working in executive coaching for 16 years, following an amazing career spanning marketing, sales, HR and management consulting. Saba shares the story behind her new book, The Blueprint of Leadership: How Your Origins Shape Leadership in a Complex World . She explains why she wrote it now, as AI gets better at asking powerful questions and coaches look for both depth and speed. Saba and I cover a lot of ground in this episode, including the six fields of the origins map, how it sits alongside vertical development, and the profiling tool that links childhood stories to leadership behaviours under pressure. We also talk about where this work fits in a coach's development, what organisations are saying about leadership programs that aren't delivering, and why differentiation matters when you now have non-human competition. Purchase your copy of The Blueprint Of Leadership: How Your Origins Shape Leadership in a Complex World , by Dr. Saba Hasanie here: 👉🏻 https://www.amazon.com/dp/1041106149 You can find out more about the Origins Map and programmes at https://globalosc.com/certifications/ If you've been thinking about joining the Corporate to Coach Accelerator, book a call to see if it's the right fit for you and your business at elliescarf.com/bookacall , or find out more about the program at elliescarf.com/cca

What if the thing slowing your coaching business down isn't a lack of effort, but an obstacle you haven't named yet? In this episode, I share the one addition I've made to quarterly planning this year for my clients: a specific, systematic focus on removing blockers. I’ll share why I think this works and how you can implement it this week. Quick note as you dive in: I'd love to know which blocker you're tackling this quarter, so come and find me on LinkedIn and share it with me. And if you're an executive or leadership coach exploring what support you need to grow your business, reach out and book a call with me here.

Today I'm joined by Cathy Hockey , a coach, consultant and facilitator working with for-purpose organisations and leaders. Cathy brings 40 years of experience, including close to 20 in the not-for-profit sector. Cathy shares her extraordinary career-to-coach story, from bank branch manager at 25 through drafting, conservation and disability services, to building a coaching business of her own. Cathy and I cover a lot of ground in this episode, including the unique challenges leaders face in the for-purpose sector and how she's getting comfortable with visibility, rejection and follow-up. You can connect with Cathy on LinkedIn or at cathyhockey.com.au. If you've been thinking about joining the Corporate to Coach Accelerator, book a call with me to see if it's the right fit for you and your business at elliescarf.com/bookacall , or find out more about the program at elliescarf.com/cca

What if the most confronting reply in your inbox is actually proof your outreach is working exactly as it should? In this episode, I walk you through what to do when someone calls you out for being "salesy" in your outreach: the mindset shifts that stop you spiralling, the practical steps to take in the moment, and the tune-ups worth making to your sales approach so one prickly response doesn’t knock you too far off course. Quick note as you dive in: if you want support building an outreach and sales approach that feels aligned (not salesy!!) reach out and book a call with me here.

Today I'm joined by Tim Collins , a leadership team coach, executive coach, facilitator and strategic project advisor. Tim brings more than 25 years of experience across professional services, infrastructure, government and financial services, having spent much of his career working right at the boundary between the public and private sectors. In this episode, Tim shares his corporate to coach story, from a psychology degree and a career spanning HR, corporate affairs and infrastructure consulting, through to building a coaching, facilitation and training business of his own. Tim and I cover a lot of ground in this episode - including the shift he's made from chasing "perfect" to getting things out into the world "good enough," and how he's now thinking about pricing and escaping the legacy of old consulting rate pricing. You can connect with Tim on LinkedIn . If you've been thinking about joining the Corporate to Coach Accelerator, book a call with me to see if it's the right fit for you and your business at elliescarf.com/bookacall , or find out more about the program at elliescarf.com/cca.

What if the biggest contributor to achieving your revenue target isn't working harder, but understanding all the different ways you could get there? In this episode, I walk you through one tool that will make your revenue target more achievable, and that will help you build a well priced offer suite.Quick note before you dive in: if you want to take this further and map out your whole funnel and your system for growing your business, reach out and book a call with me here.

Today I'm joined by Emma Clark , a leadership and executive coach who works primarily with healthcare clients. Emma brings close to 30 years of clinical and operational experience in the health system, having worked as a nurse, a nursing unit manager and in statewide healthcare leadership roles. In this episode, Emma shares why she was adamant she wouldn't go back into healthcare when she started her business, and how a career break helped her reconnect with why she became a leader in the first place. Emma and I also dig into how her lived experience builds instant trust and credibility with clients and organisations, and how her existing network - including people she worked with decades ago - has become one of her biggest sources of new work. You can connect with Emma on LinkedIn or through her website, empoweringhumans.com.au. If you've been thinking about joining the Corporate to Coach Accelerator, book a call with me to see if it's the right fit for you and your business at elliescarf.com/bookacall , or find out more about the program at elliescarf.com/cca.

What if the thing standing between you and your next client isn't your skill, but a temporary loss of confidence? In this episode, I share nine practical things you can do when you're stuck in a crisis of confidence in your coaching business. These tools run the gamut of practical, reflection and action oriented - so you can guarantee there is something there for you. Quick note before you dive in: last week we wrapped an eight-day promotion for the Corporate to Coach Accelerator ahead of a price rise. If you missed it, I'm opening a 48-hour window to book a sales call with me, so you can still lock in the pre-price-rise investment, it doesn't matter when the call itself happens, just get it booked in by Wednesday the 26th of August. Book your call here.

Today I'm joined by Tracey Nicolson , a coach and facilitator who comes to this work after a 40-year career in the WA public sector, including roles with the State Emergency Service, the Department of Child Protection and the Department of Communities. In this episode, Tracey shares her corporate-to-coach story, from studying her social work degree part-time over seven years while raising a young family, to completing her coach training while travelling Europe. She takes us through the leadership programs she now runs, and how her client base has steadily expanded beyond her initial ideal clients. Tracey and I also dig into the real challenges of building a coaching business, from outreach that doesn't feel salesy, to what she calls "rejection recovery", and how our childhood attachment styles show up in the way we run our businesses - you'll want to take notes on this one. You can connect with Tracey on LinkedIn . If you've been thinking about joining the Corporate Coach Accelerator, we're in the final days of current pricing before it goes up on 21 August. Book a call with me to see if it's the right fit for you and your business at www.elliescarf.com/bookacall , or find out more about the program at www.elliescarf.com/cca.

Today I'm joined by Alex Field, a clinical psychotherapist and naturopath with over 30 years' experience in mental health and wellbeing. Alex's work focuses on chronic nervous system dysregulation, stress and trauma, and she's the founder of the HEAL Method, a program combining psychotherapy with functional body-based medicine. In this episode, Alex unpacks why our capacity as business owners has a strong biological component and that mindset work sometimes just doesn’t cut it. Alex takes us through some of the basics of the nervous system and what it means to be ‘regulated’ as well as some strategies for spending more time in our window of regulation. Alex and I also dig into what it really means to grow sustainably, without white-knuckling your way to burnout - you'll want to take notes on this one. If you'd like to connect with Alex Field, you can find her on Instagram or learn more about the HEAL Method at healforlifeprograms.com If you want to grow your business with more corporate clients, I have a live event this week where I will be sharing all the components of your Executive Coach Pipeline - the foundations you need for your business to thrive. Save your seat over at www.elliescarf.com/pipeline.

How do we know if our resistance is sensible caution or our self limiting beliefs in action? In this episode (a popular one I'm bringing back for the new coaches tuning in), I break down the subtle ways fear shows up as reasonable excuses in your business, and why the cost of playing small is far more layered than the a ost opportunity. Before you dive in, I'm running a free live masterclass next week, the Executive Coach Business Growth Workshop: Your Pipeline to Consistent Clients, where I'll walk you through the exact pipeline model I use with my own clients. You can sign up here . And if you're ready to stop playing small and want support building consistent corporate clients, you can learn more about the Corporate to Coach Accelerator here and please book a call with me to chat about whether it's the right fit for you.

Getting clients via word of mouth and referrals feels like the "right" way to build a coaching business doesn’t it? None of that messy sales business. And gosh it feels good when clients come to us.But I’m sorry to say, if referrals are your whole business development strategy, we need to talk. In this episode I break down why the word of mouth and referral-only approach that worked for coaches starting out 15 - 20 years ago doesn't hold up in today's market, and why hope is not a sustainable strategy.If you'd like support building a strategy that gets you consistently in front of corporate clients, you can learn more about the Corporate to Coach Accelerator here and please book a call with me to discuss whether it makes sense for your business. And don't forget to connect with me on LinkedIn and let me know your take on this episode!

Today I'm joined by Jennifer Lewis , a leadership and team coach who spent three decades in senior advertising and media roles before making the leap into coaching. In this episode Jennifer shares her corporate to coach story, from running the day-to-day of a major agency's Los Angeles office to the moments along the way that showed her the importance of trust at work. We dig into Jennifer’s three layers of trust, her assessment strategy, and how she's building her business in line with her purpose. Jennifer and I also explore the role of creativity in business - you will love what she has to share. If you'd like to connect with Jennifer Lewis, you can find her on LinkedIn or search for her business, jennifergel.com If you want to grow your business with more corporate clients, you can learn more about the Corporate to Coach Accelerator at elliescarf.com/cca and if you'd like to discuss whether it could be a good fit for your growth agenda, let's chat! elliescarf.com/bookacall

Selling your coaching services is tough. And if you're a coach working with corporate clients, chances are there are one or more barriers getting in your way - and it might not be what you think. In this episode I break down the four biggest obstacles I see preventing coaches building a comfortable and consistent sales approach. As you listen, my challenge to you is to pick just one that you will work on this week. If you'd like support to work through these barriers and build a strategy that gets you consistently in front of corporate clients, you can learn more about the Corporate to Coach Accelerator here and please book a call with me to discuss whether it makes sense for your business. I'm also running a free masterclass, Three Ways to Use LinkedIn as a Tool to Get Your Next Three Corporate Clients, on 16th July (15th for the US/Canada). I'm not sure when I'll run it again, so save your spot here if you'd like to join. And don't forget to connect with me on LinkedIn and let me know which of the four barriers is your biggest one!

Today I'm joined by Stephanie Abbott , a coach, consultant, facilitator and strategist with decades of experience in knowledge management, learning and development, and legal transformation. In this episode Steph shares her corporate to coach story and the unique blend of expertise that she now brings to clients across the legal world (and beyond). Steph and I discuss her work, but also dig into the real impact AI is having on leaders right now, and what it actually takes to build a sustainable coaching business, including pushing through the sales ick and getting comfortable with not being the right fit for everyone. If you'd like to connect with Stephanie Abbott, you can find her on LinkedIn or via her website: stephanieabbott.com.au If you want to grow your business with more corporate clients, you can learn more about the Corporate to Coach Accelerator at elliescarf.com/cca and if you'd like to discuss whether the Accelerator could be a good fit for your growth agenda, let's chat! elliescarf.com/bookacall

My guest today is Padraig O'Sullivan (Pod to his friends!. Pod is an executive coach, team coach, author and international leadership specialist with nearly three decades of experience working with CEOs and top leadership teams across multinational organisations. In this episode Pod shares his corporate to coach story and his framework for building a business that can sustain his passion for the work that he does. Pod’s pre-coaching career spans intensive care nursing, medical device sales, recruitment and headhunting. It was his transition into coaching though that has brought out his passion and entrepreneurial spirit. Pod and I discuss his work, but also our takes on the details of business building including things like value-based pricing, and what it really takes to build a sustainable coaching business. If you'd like to connect with Pod O'Sullivan, you can find him on LinkedIn or via his website podosullivan.com If you'd like to work with me to grow your own coaching business, you can learn more about the Corporate to Coach Accelerator at elliescarf.com/cca and if you’d like to discuss your business and whether the Accelerator could be a good fit for your growth agenda, lets chat! elliescarf.com/bookacall

This week I'm sitting down with the brilliant Jo Saies , a highly experienced PCC credentialed coach with 15 years of experience supporting leaders and organisations across the public and private sectors, including government, regulatory bodies and for-purpose organisations. In this episode Jo shares her corporate to coach story, including the two things that have shaped her life: a vision impairment and a spirit of adventure that saw her represent Australia as a disabled downhill ski racer. We cover Jo's business building journey, her support for leaders in aged care, disability and the public sector, and her passion for helping subject matter experts step into leadership roles. We also dig into the realities of running a coaching business and the power of community and connection built over a long career. If you'd like to connect with Jo Saies, you can find her on LinkedIn or via her website pbperformance.com.au. If you'd like to work with me to grow your own coaching business, you can learn more about the Corporate to Coach Accelerator at elliescarf.com/cca or book a call at elliescarf.com/bookacall