Where AI can and can’t replace human coaching

Jul 10, 2025

Gaston Schmitz, a partner and founder coach at the Asian Leadership Institute, and Aakriti Joanna, CEO of Kaha Mind, dive into the evolving role of AI in coaching and therapy. They explore whether AI can truly replace human coaches, emphasizing the unique nuances in leadership coaching for startups. The discussion highlights the need for emotional intelligence and the importance of personal growth. They also touch on the challenges of using AI in mental health, particularly the irreplaceable value of human empathy and connection in fostering emotional well-being.

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INSIGHT

Definition and Purpose of Executive Coaching

Executive coaching helps leaders achieve positive behavioral change for future success. It focuses on growth beyond personality limits to scale leadership alongside company growth.
Coaching is highly personalized but aims for measurable progress on specific leadership areas.

INSIGHT

Therapy vs Coaching Defined

Therapy explores thoughts, emotions, and feelings without fixed goals. It seeks to understand oneself better for a happier, confident life.
Therapy differs from coaching by focusing more on emotional exploration than goal-specific growth.

ANECDOTE

When Founders Seek Coaching

Many startup founders seek coaching after hitting critical growth stages or emotional challenges. Referrals from other founders and VC firms often trigger coaching engagement.
Founders face loneliness and need an unfiltered mentoring space outside board or family dynamics.

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This episode of Two by Two was first published on 12 June 2025.

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Can an AI bot coach and counsel you?

AI is getting better every day and bringing us closer to a scalable, always-on support and a model for both leadership coaching and mental performance.

This makes it much more attractive to organisations because it’s less expensive, contextual, personal, self-learning and scalable within organisations.

There are futures where this may become the default, and one-on-one human coaching and therapy may become the exception.

In this week’s episode of Two by Two, hosts Praveen Gopal Krishnan and Rohin Dharmakumar discuss whether AI can fit into the mould of coaching and therapy, and if there is a future where it becomes the norm.

And joining them to discuss and debate this are Gaston Schmitz, partner and founder coach, Asian Leadership Institute, which provides leaders and high-performing teams with executive coaching. Our second guest is Aakriti Joanna, founder and CEO of Kaha Mind, which is a leading mental health organisation for individuals and organisations in India.

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Additional reading:

The AI chatbots offering workplace counsel – https://www.ft.com/content/ede799c4-8a1c-4c39-8a9b-01899d5b6754

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This episode of Two by Two was produced by Hari Krishna. Rajiv CN, our resident sound engineer, mixed and mastered this episode.

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