Member Spotlight - November 2025

Every coach's journey is unique; can you share a bit about yours?
I feel incredibly fortunate to have enjoyed two rewarding 25+ year careers. In 1998 I quit a successful corporate career to start my own coaching business. A scary decision but not an impulsive one. Eighteen months earlier, the unanticipated passing of a friend motivated me to start a coach training program with the intention to resign from my job after graduation. Leaving was bittersweet. I had just been moved to a new position, and it was a dream role. But starting my own business was a dream too, so I proceeded with the plan. 

The shift from being a product expert known in my company and industry to being a newbie coach unknown in a new industry was jarring. Thankfully, I had a business plan and a coach. Joining the International Coaching Federation (ICF) and becoming the New Jersey Chapter Co-Host were timely. I joined several ICF national committees. Seeing my business plan slowly come to life was inspiring. Becoming a Master Certified Coach in 2002 was the most significant milestone in my journey. Now it’s 27 years later, 12,000+ individual coaching sessions logged, and I’m ready to create a next chapter in my journey. 

What’s made my coaching career so memorable has been the hundreds of clients that I’ve had the privilege to meet and partner with. I love meeting prospective clients and hearing their stories. It’s always unexpected when we instantly connect. I love the special moments when a client finds their own clarity to a complex problem, feels inspired to start a new idea, sees a new possibility or gains the confidence to do something bold. It’s truly magical!

What key insights have you gained during your coaching journey that shape your business?  

Finding a niche helped me grow my business.

When I first started my coaching business, I couldn’t identify a niche or my ideal client. As a result, I coached any senior leader in any size company to get my foot in the door. Even though I was moderately successful in securing contracts, I found many of the coaching engagements to be less than satisfying. Around the two-year mark, my niche became clear. I pivoted my marketing and networking approach to coaching executives in large corporations, 50k+ employees with a cross functional leadership structure. 

My ideal client led a large cross functional business or team that was in start-up mode or established but struggling to get results. Having my own work experience in a large corporation leading businesses and teams in a cross functional structure gave me credibility and a mutual connection point with prospective clients. Shifting my marketing and networking strategy brought in more ideal clients and increased my satisfaction with one-on-one sessions.   

Don’t put all your eggs in one basket

Around year five of my business growth, I was heavily entrenched in two large pharmaceutical companies. By heavily entrenched, I mean 75-80% of my revenue came from those companies, a less-than-ideal situation but one that’s easy to fall into. Because I was working solo, I didn’t make time for marketing and networking to attract new corporate clients. When one of my executive client sponsors abruptly resigned, my very large contract was terminated at the mid-point causing me to lose individual clients and future revenue. 

My takeaway from that situation was always have a balanced portfolio of clients. And in the future when I found myself with more business than I personally could handle at one company, I brought in other coaches to coach or manage so I could continue to market and network. A win-win.

Create a support network
 
Coaching for me has been a solitary profession. Without creating a big support network, I would have left the coaching profession. Having a circle of like-minded coaches that I could call upon for advice and perspective was a lifeline for me. 

Add in hiring a coach. My first two coaches, Susan Klein and Jay Perry, were instrumental in my business success and becoming the coach, I am today. I also found and attended local meetings designed for small business owners, not for networking purposes, but to learn from others focused on growing their businesses. 

How has your coaching style evolved over the years? 
I would say that the biggest shift in my coaching style evolved from process focused to client focused. My formal coach training heavily emphasized the importance of having a coaching agenda for every coaching session. During my first year of coaching, I followed the client’s agenda religiously even when it didn’t suit the client’s style or serve their bigger coaching goals. I was playing it safe. 

As I observed master coaches coach (live or via a recording), I saw their mastery in Coaching Presence (core competency #5), and I aspired to that level of mastery. As a result of focus and practice on this competency, I became more flexible and trusting in the client and myself. I upped my level of curiosity, not to obtain more information about the situation, but to not let something important to the client slip through the cracks. 

Through the practice of partnering, I embraced coaching time as a sacred space for the client to think brave thoughts, foolish thoughts, scary thoughts and searching thoughts. And it was even ok to ditch that original coaching agenda and create a new one or not have one at all. I think my greatest personal evolution over time was getting out of my head and into my heart which allowed me to better hear and understand the client’s heart and mind. What a gift!

International Coaching Federation is celebrating 30 years, through your experiences how has coaching evolved? What stands out to you most?
Coaching as a non-sports profession was relatively unknown when I joined ICF in 1998. Today it’s a legitimate profession recognized around the world. In addition to independent coach training companies, many top universities in the United States offer graduate level coaching certificate programs which adds legitimacy to the profession. Being an ICF credentialed coach is more frequently requested to secure a coaching contract. We’ve come a long way in 30 years!

As a valued ICF New Jersey Charter Chapter member, what stands out to you most on the chapter’s growth and its benefits?
What stands out most to me about ICF New Jersey today is that we are a mature, high functioning organization with over 600+ members. Amazing! When I joined ICF New Jersey in 1998, we had maybe 10 members and operated like the start-up organization that we were. Following Val Williams, I became the Chapter Co-Host with Lisa Huff, and our goals were simple: secure more members, get a website in place, and provide networking opportunities. The best benefits of ICF New Jersey have always been the camaraderie and support that’s just a text, phone call, or meeting away. 

How do you stay motivated as a coach and business owner, to include best practices that keep you at the top of your game?
Owning a business is a roller coaster ride. It can be scary, exhilarating and exasperating all at the same time. Starting a business was a much slower process than I expected, even with a business plan and fair warning from colleagues. Focus, patience and resilience became important qualities for me to master to keep my motivation high in the early years of my business. Coming out of a long corporate career, setting annual goals for myself and my teams were mandatory so setting annual goals for my coaching business was second nature and this practice helped to keep me focused and motivated.

Having a support network of like-minded coaches or business owners was a motivation lifeline that I relied on throughout my coaching career. Knowing I wasn’t alone in my fear helped me bounce back more quickly.

As far as staying at the top of my game, there are two practices that come to mind. A game changer in upping the quality of my coaching was recording and listening to some of my own coaching sessions, with client’s permission of course. This practice allowed me to hear exactly what I missed and where I played small with the client. 

Becoming an ICF assessor also gave me opportunities to witness excellent, average and bad coaching. This practice helped my coaching improve the most. 

How do you integrate technology into your coaching practice?
In my personal life I’m an early adopter of technology. Surprisingly when it comes to my coaching business, I use very basic technology like Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint and Word. Over the years I tried several practice management systems but found my own simple system - Pendaflex file folders, handwritten notes, and a paper calendar - to work best. I keep track of client engagements/hours/fees on an Excel spreadsheet and generate my invoices from this system. I use Microsoft Teams and Zoom for individual and group coaching sessions. When needed, I use a virtual assistant for miscellaneous project and administrative tasks. 

Can you share a favorite inspiring quote?
“Do or do not. There is no try.” Yoda, Star Wars

This quote inspires me to full commitment, a mindset of doing and a belief in success versus trying which opens the possibility that I might not succeed – which can become a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Our appreciation to Ellen for her dedication to the coaching profession and for being a valued member of the ICF community. Ellen lives in Somerset County. Ellen is owner of Partners in Possibility: https://partnersinpossibility.com. You can connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellen-fredericks-master-certified-coach-252780