Coaches Rising

In this conversation with executive coach Amiel Handelsman we dive into the diversity within the anti-racism movement, how coaches can help, the Omni-American vision, working with white shame and embodied racism. Amiel Handelsman is an executive coach and change consultant, helping leaders and teams rise to the challenge of complexity. He is passionate about navigating cultural waters as an anti-race anti-racist. Amiel has been developing leaders since 1993 and previously directed business development for New Ventures West. He’s the author of Practice Greatness: Escape Small Thinking, Listen Like A Master, And Lead With Your Best.

We live in times where information is rife but wisdom is in short supply, where ideologies abound but meaning is scarce, and the time for taking mediating actions on the abundant crises we face is limited. In this conversation with cognitive psychologist John Vervaeke we explore the symptomology of the meaning crisis, how we create meaning and lie to ourselves, the “religion of me”, the potential of wisdom practices and solving the meaning crisis. John Vervaeke, PhD is an award-winning lecturer at the University of Toronto in the departments of psychology, cognitive science and Buddhist psychology. He teaches courses in the Psychology department on thinking and reasoning, cognitive development, and higher cognitive processes. He also teaches a course in the Buddhism, Psychology and Mental Health program on Buddhism and Cognitive Science. He has a popular YouTube channel where he shares his insights and research on these topics. His abiding passion is to address the meaning crisis that besets western culture.

The responsibility we have as people working in a helping profession means it’s important for us to know when we’ve reached the limits of our expertise, but working out where that line is can be tricky. In this conversation with Executive Coach and Mental Health Researcher Verity Symcox we explore the distinctions between coaching and therapy, how to know when to refer, and methods of safeguarding ourselves as coaches as well as our clients. Verity Symcox is an Executive Coach, Behavioural Change Specialist, Mental Health Researcher and Head Coach at fifty50 Coaching. She has an MSc in Coaching and Behavioural Change from Henley Business School, certificates in Positive Psychiatry for Mental Health and Awareness of Mental Health Problems and BACP therapeutic foundation training. Verity has been working, training and researching in the field of mental health for over 7 years and brings to the table a wealth of expertise in coaching clients during periods of poor mental health, stress and burnout.

What becomes possible when we include a much wider context? And what can the relationships between things and people teach us about what is occurring? In this conversation with coach and CEO Marita Fridjhon we dive into systemic coaching, the three phases of emergence, how systems speak and how to engage with them and the current challenges for coaches. Marita Fridjhon is the co-owner and CEO of CRR Global and mentor to an ever-growing community of practitioners in the field of Relationship Systems work. She designs curriculum and operates training programs in Relationship Systems Work for coaches, executives and teams. Her primary focus in coaching is on systemic change, leveraging diversity, creative communication, deep democracy in conflict management and the development of Learning Organizations.

How does the work we do in the world relate to the times we’re living in? And what can soul tell us about the role we have to play? In this conversation with purpose guide and psychotherapist Jonathan Gustin we explore a deep-time perspective on this moment in time, the three types of purpose, the golden shadow and how to help clients access soul-level purpose. Jonathan is a purpose guide, psychotherapist, meditation teacher, and integral mentor in private practice in the San Francisco Bay Area for over 25 years. He is the founder and lead teacher of the Purpose Guides Institute and Green Sangha. He also serves as adjunct faculty at John F. Kennedy University in the Consciousness and Transformation Studies program.

The importance of including the spiritual dimension in coaching is increasingly acknowledged, but weaving it into the world of coaching can feel clunky. In this conversation with coach and founder Saniel Bonder we explore the spirit/matter split, the language of awakening, the dynamics of spiritual hierarchies and the integration of coaching and spiritual growth. Saniel Bonder is the founder of the Waking Down in Mutuality teachings and recently launched Human Sun Institute and The White-Hot Yoga of the Heart with his wife and teaching partner Linda Groves-Bonder. He has helped hundreds achieve unshakable spiritual awakeness amid the stresses of everyday living. His books include Healing the Spirit/Matter Split and Waking Down.

Dr. David Drake explores narrative coaching, nonverbal communication, and post-coaching integration. He challenges traditional coaching boundaries, emphasizes adaptability, and the transformative power of storytelling in coaching. The podcast highlights the importance of structured emergence, internal narratives, and integrating development programs for practitioners.

The world today is suddenly a very different landscape than three short years ago. It used to be enough for a coach to have coaching mastery but is that still the case? In this conversation with executive coach and CEO Kari Zeller we explore the new demands being made of coaches and the range of skills required to meet them, understanding stakeholders and systems, the shifting ground of the coaching industry and what lies beyond coaching mastery. Kari Zeller is an executive coach and CEO of The Granger Network with 20 years of experience catalyzing transformation at the individual and organizational level. Prior to founding her company, she served as a decorated combat veteran, where she learned the imperative of transformative leadership in high-intensity situations. Kari and her team specialize in helping companies thrive in high-pressure situations, such as restructurings, mergers and acquisitions and strategic pivots.

In this engaging discussion, Paul Lawrence, an executive coach and author of Coaching Systemically, explores the transformative power of systemic coaching. He breaks down five orders of systemic thinking and how they improve team dynamics and collaboration. Paul emphasizes the need for adaptability in coaching, especially during leadership crises, and challenges conventional control models by focusing on local interactions. He also advocates for diverse perspectives in coaching and the importance of personalized approaches for effective leadership enhancement.

As the pace of change accelerates and organisations begin to develop a systemic view in order to meet the demands of increasing complexity, how can the coaching industry best respond? In this conversation with executive coach Paul Byrne we explore the the current and emergent business model of coaching, transitioning coaching to a collaborative ecosystem and the architecture of organisational change. Paul Byrne is an executive coach and president of the European branch of The Leadership Circle and Full Circle Group. Paul excels at working with organizations in high-growth, entrepreneurial environments as well as large global companies seeking to foster cultures of innovation and operational agility. He blends a systemic approach to organizational change with a unique ability to engage senior leaders in deeply transformational conversations.