Executive Coaching — frequently asked questions

Executive coaching is a structured, goal-oriented partnership between a trained coach and a leader. Unlike consulting, where an external expert diagnoses problems and prescribes solutions, coaching helps the leader develop their own insights, strategies, and capabilities. The coach asks powerful questions, offers candid feedback, and provides accountability — but the leader remains the expert on their own context.

Coaching also differs from therapy. While therapy often explores past experiences and emotional healing, coaching is forward-focused: it concentrates on professional goals, leadership behaviours, and measurable outcomes. That said, a skilled coach recognizes when personal patterns affect professional performance and can work at that intersection with appropriate boundaries.

Our coaching services are designed for senior leaders — including C-suite executives, vice presidents, directors, and high-potential managers being groomed for larger roles. We also work with founders and entrepreneurs who are scaling their organizations and need to evolve their leadership style accordingly. Coaching is not remedial; it is a strategic investment in the leaders who matter most to your organization.

Most of our engagements run between six and twelve months. This timeframe allows enough runway for meaningful behaviour change to take root and for the leader to practise new approaches in real situations. Sessions are typically held every two weeks and last sixty to ninety minutes. Between sessions, we provide asynchronous support via email or a secure messaging platform for time-sensitive challenges that arise.

Absolutely. Confidentiality is the bedrock of a productive coaching relationship. Everything shared in sessions stays between the coach and the client. When an organization sponsors the engagement, we agree upfront on a limited set of themes and progress indicators that can be shared with the sponsor — but specific content, personal disclosures, and session details remain private. The client always has final say over what is communicated externally.

All of our coaches hold credentials from the International Coaching Federation (ICF) at the Professional Certified Coach (PCC) level or above. Many also hold advanced degrees in organizational psychology, business administration, or related fields. Beyond formal credentials, our coaches bring substantial real-world leadership experience — most have held senior roles in business, government, or the non-profit sector before transitioning to coaching full-time.

We use a multi-layered approach to measurement. At the outset, we establish clear, specific goals with both the leader and the sponsoring organization. We often use 360-degree feedback surveys at the beginning and end of the engagement to capture shifts in how the leader is perceived by peers, direct reports, and superiors. We also track self-reported progress, behavioural milestones, and, where possible, business metrics such as team engagement scores, retention rates, or project outcomes that are linked to the coaching goals.

Yes. While we are based in Montréal and enjoy in-person sessions when geography allows, the majority of our coaching is delivered via secure video conferencing. Virtual coaching is equally effective — research consistently shows that outcomes are comparable to face-to-face sessions. We use encrypted platforms to protect client privacy and can accommodate time zones across North America, Europe, and beyond.

The first session — sometimes called the "chemistry session" — is an opportunity for the leader and coach to get to know each other, establish rapport, and discuss what the leader hopes to achieve. We explore the leader's current challenges, aspirations, and the organizational context. By the end of this session, both parties decide whether the fit is right. If it is, we move into a formal contracting phase where goals, logistics, and success measures are documented.