An Interview With Chad Silverstein
Online Coaching Dominates. While the majority of my coaching experience has been post-pandemic, online coaching has completely taken over as the primary way I and most coaches interact with clients. Hosting sessions virtually makes it easy to fit into our schedules and adjust flexibly when we need to.
The world of coaching is undergoing a seismic shift, with emerging trends set to redefine its boundaries and possibilities. From digital transformation and the integration of artificial intelligence to the growing emphasis on mental health and the global rise of coaching cultures within organizations, these developments are reshaping the landscape of personal and professional growth. As we navigate through these changes, understanding the forces that drive the future of coaching becomes paramount. I had the pleasure of interviewing Mandy Steinhardt.
Mandy Steinhardt is a certified women’s career coach and futurist, based in Raleigh, who specializes in helping women envision purposeful, future-proof careers aligned with their values. With over 15 years of corporate experience and a background working with Fortune 500 brands, Mandy empowers clients to translate their unique strengths into bold career moves and lasting professional fulfillment. She is known for creating supportive women’s circles and blending strategic foresight with a holistic, intuitive approach to coaching.
Thank you for joining us. To start, could you share your “origin story” with our readers? How did you begin your coaching journey, and what challenges did you face in the early days?
I started out coaching as a volunteer position with Dress for Success, and found it so fulfilling when a client I coached was able to land a new job or increase her pay. It’s hard within corporate America to feel the impact of the work that you’re doing, so each success story felt so powerful. The work was so meaningful that I decided to become more fully trained and certified during COVID and then acquired my certification.
Starting a coaching business was very time-consuming, both in getting the required number of experience hours for certification, and in building a small business from scratch. Unfortunely, a lot of what coaches have to do to build their business has nothing to do with coaching. I made it through the initial few years of struggle and now have a healthier balance between coaching and self-promotion.
You are a successful business leader. Which three character traits do you think were most instrumental to your success? Can you please share a story or example for each?
- Curiosity — I am always curious about what drives humans to do what they do. I think this is a super important trait in coaching, because we need to be extremely focused listeners for our clients. But it’s also a really important trait to be successful in business. To think beyond the surface and truly understand the problems you are trying to solve, whether in the business model or in your customers’ lives.
- Authenticity — When I was younger in my corporate career, it often felt like a weakness or a liability to show your uniqueness, as you are risking standing out (not in a good way). Some of my most successful projects and work has been built upon and leveraging my unique strengths, rather than trying to train myself to be like everyone else. Sometimes this means you “out yourself” from a place that doesn’t value your uniqueness. But that provides you opportunity to thrive somewhere better.
- Rebelliousness — I still struggle with my inner rebel and cynic on a daily basis, but this internal personality keeps me focused on what I think needs improvement in life. While I can’t always voice my inner snark, I do use this personality trait as a sounding board to inform myself about whether what I’m considering career-wise is in tune with my values.
Can you share your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Why does that resonate with you so much?
I love Steve Job’s quote “You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something — your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever.”
I agree wholeheartedly — we change completely as people every 5 years, so it’s ok that we don’t know what we want to be when we “grow up.” It’s just important to follow your passions and intellectual curiosity.
What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now? How do you think that might help people?
Right now I’m working on a futurism project focused on understanding the future of female-led social media. I am particularly interested in this because I see the harmful effects that doomscrolling and misinformation has in dividing us socially. I am researching how we can design social media platforms from the ground up that will benefit society and the individual users.
Without saying any names could you share a particularly memorable success story from your coaching career?
I have a client who came to me needing help finding a role in her field in my local area, and we worked together on positioning her for that role and landing and orienting in the new company.
What’s super memorable isn’t that she found the role, but what she learned there to help her make her next transition. After working for that startup she decided to co-found her own, and has now been funded and is seeing success as a new parent and a co-founder. The confidence that my clients get from coaching together outlasts our sessions and helps prime them for opportunities later in their careers, wherever they may appear.
Ok, thank you for that. Let’s now jump to the primary focus of our interview about coaching. How has your approach to coaching evolved over the years, and what personal learnings have you applied to your own development?
In general, my approach stays entirely client-focused, as it has always been. But I have been incorporating newer tools, including AI, into my toolset and to benefit clients.
How do you incorporate feedback into your coaching practice to continuously improve?
I engage in mentor coaching and group mentor coaching sessions, as well as continuing education with experienced coaches. I also seek feedback from my clients.
Can you discuss an innovation in coaching that you believe is currently underappreciated but has the potential to significantly impact the field?
Beyond transcription, which has really helped both myself and my client stay more focused on each other during our coaching sessions rather than taking notes, is the technology of AI-assisted coaching on presentation skills. I think this tech will democratize access to coaching assistance and make it easier for job seekers to fine-tune their digital presence on video.
In what ways can coaching address the evolving mental health needs of diverse populations in a digitally connected world?
Coaching is an important addition to your support team, that can’t replace mental health professionals but can supplement the support their provide. I think organizations like Dress for Success help underserved populations achieve greater financial equity and career support, including neurodivergent women. I also find that when I work with my coach, we use multiple different approaches for self-development that are able to get me to adjust my mindset and move forward positively.
How do you foresee artificial intelligence and machine learning transforming the coaching industry in the next decade?
It’s useful to use AI tools as a reflection partner for self-improvement but there is a danger of thinking that LLMs can replace professional support. However, I think AI and ML can supplement many aspects of career coaching and individual improvement including fine tuning resumes, personal branding, and content creation.
What role do you believe ethical considerations and privacy concerns will play in the future of coaching, especially with the increased use of digital platforms?
What people do not often realize about popular LLMs is that they do not have to adhere to HIPAA or other rules when it comes to the data you enter into the LLM. So it’s important to consider what information you enter into a ChatGPT because that can be used to train the model and show up elsewhere. In addition, LLMs are not necessarily tuned to keep your data safe or keep you safe from hackers, who can use various exploits to try to get into your social and LLM accounts and steal your data.
It’s important for the government and independent agencies to help craft consumer-protecting regulations so that the AI industry is held just as responsible as, for example, the food or automobile industries when it comes to safety.
Could you list and briefly explain “Top 5 Trends Shaping the Future of Coaching” based on your experiences and insights? If you can, please share a story or example for each.
1 . Online Coaching Dominates
While the majority of my coaching experience has been post-pandemic, online coaching has completely taken over as the primary way I and most coaches interact with clients. Hosting sessions virtually makes it easy to fit into our schedules and adjust flexibly when we need to.
2 . AI and Job Insecurity Drive the Need for Coaching
The immense amount of transformation hitting the workforce is increasing the demand for quality coaches that are able to help clients navigate job searching in a market that is largely dominated by ATS (applicant tracking systems) and AI-enabled selection processes. The turbulence in the market right now is causing a lot of confusion for both seasoned workers and those new to the job market.
3 . Desire for Authenticity in a World of Copycats
The proliferation of AI-generated content on social media (including LinkedIn) is creating disillusionment with the classic methods of “getting ahead” professionally. Candidates are looking for ways to stand out in a sea of AI-generated resumes and cover letters, while finding places to work that still treat them like human beings.
4 . Accountability
According to a survey by the International Coach Federation, 70% of clients cite accountability as the main reason for hiring a coach, which demonstrates of shift from clients expecting informational guidance toward results-oriented programs.
There are more community and digital tools now that enable coaches to ensure their clients stay on track in positive motivational ways. Clients are looking for a coach who pushes them to achieve their highest potential, not just for resume tips.
5 . AI and Automation in Coaching Tools
Just like in every other industry, coaching tools from Zoom to Kajabi are all incorporating AI. It started with simple transcription and has grown into complete workflow automations for coach and client relationships. AI is going to continue to develop and integrate, providing assistance with the marketing and operations so that coaches and clients can focus more on their 1:1 interactions.
How do you envision the integration of coaching within organizational cultures changing the landscape of leadership and employee development?
Coaching can be so powerful in meeting employees and leaders where they are at and facilitating better conversations. Getting clarity on your goals (organizationally and individually) is an important step that coaches help with, and this is just one way that organizational cultures can be transformed. Another way is through empathetic leadership that creates a safe space for employees to bring their unique strengths to bear.
What do you see as the biggest challenge facing the coaching industry today, and how might we overcome it?
Coaching’s biggest challenge is from scammy and uncertified “life coaches” who do not take the time to professionally engage in the business, and who give it a bad name. It’s important to vet any vendor you intend to do business with and ensure they have completed a reputable training and certification program and are not just making income promises.
What is one long-term goal you have for your coaching practice, and how are you working towards it?
I’m looking to broaden my practice to incorporate more group programs, as I feel the mentorship of a group of peers can really skyrocket someone’s growth.
How can our readers continue to follow your work?
Follow me by subscribing to my newsletter and also follow me on LinkedIn.
Thank you for offering such valuable insights into the future of coaching. We look forward to seeing your work continue to reach new heights, and we wish you continued success.
About the Interviewer: Chad Silverstein is a seasoned entrepreneur with 25+ years of experience as a Founder and CEO. While attending Ohio State University, he launched his first company, Choice Recovery, Inc., a nationally recognized healthcare collection agency — twice ranked the #1 workplace in Ohio. In 2013, he founded [re]start, helping thousands of people find meaningful career opportunities. After selling both companies, Chad shifted his focus to his true passion — leadership. Today, he coaches founders and CEOs at Built to Lead, advises Authority Magazine’s Thought Leader Incubator.
Mandy Steinhardt On The Top 5 Trends Shaping the Future of Coaching was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.