The Business of Executive Coaching

Hosted by Ellie Scarf

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150

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Oct 2026

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October 18, 202624 min

10 Things I’d Do Now If I Were Starting My Executive Coaching Business in 2027

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.

October 11, 202648 min

Why Origins Matter in the Age of AI Coaching (with Dr. Saba Hasanie)

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

October 4, 20268 min

Try this Q4 planning tip this week!

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.

September 27, 202643 min

Cathy Hockey on Safety, Trust and a For-Purpose Business of Her Own

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

September 20, 202615 min

When Someone Calls You "Salesy" (what to do next)

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.

September 13, 202640 min

From Bank HR to Executive Coaching: Tim Collins on Building a Practice From a Diverse Career

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.

September 6, 20269 min

The funnel exercise every coach should try this week

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.

August 30, 202626 min

How your professional background is your biggest asset

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.

August 23, 202618 min

The Crisis of Confidence Every Coach Has (and How to Get Out of It)

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.

August 16, 202645 min

From Child Protection to Coaching: Tracey Nicolson's Corporate-to-Coach Story

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.