Sam Chia spent 35 years in corporate leadership - VP roles, Fortune 500 companies, running regional businesses across Asia. He was successful by every traditional measure. Then he discovered coaching by accident.

While traveling 60-70% of the time as a regional VP, Sam noticed his team constantly queuing outside his office like patients at a clinic - waiting for him to solve their problems and approve their decisions. Frustrated by being a bottleneck, he learned coaching techniques to empower his team. The results were immediate: his team became more self-sufficient, learned faster, and stopped waiting for him to make every decision.

That experience planted a seed. But Sam didn't immediately jump into coaching. It took an acquisition that changed his organization's culture and leadership to make him realize: "In the corporate world, this is the kind of thing you have to face. Is there something I can be more in control of?"

The transition wasn't romantic. It was brutal.

Sam faced what he calls an "identity crisis" - going from having a Fortune 500 brand backing every conversation to being just "Sam." People who used to eagerly take his calls suddenly went cold. He went from high earner to zero income overnight. He had to learn functions he'd always delegated: marketing, sales, website building, funnel creation.

His first business model, running an HR consulting firm with 15 full-time consultants, taught him "the hard way" that overhead kills coaching businesses. So he pivoted to a solo model with a collaborative network of trusted coach partners.

Today, Sam runs a sustainable coaching practice that earns about 50% of his corporate income - but on his terms.

He works primarily with executives and emerging leaders in middle management and above, helping them navigate the challenging transition from individual contributor to people manager. His coaching engagements typically run 6-12 months, allowing him to see real transformation - not just training attendance.

In this episode, Sam shares:

• The "queue at my office" story that led him to discover coaching as a leadership tool
• The financial reality of coaching vs. corporate (and why he still chose it)
• His "abundance mindset" approach - he always presents clients with 2-3 coach options, including his competitors
• The 12-month rule - why you need a full year of financial runway before starting a coaching business
• The identity shift - what it feels like to go from Fortune 500 recognition to "Sam who?"
• The number one struggle for new managers - why technically excellent people fail at leadership (and how coaching helps)
• His collaborative business model - how he built a network of coach partners for referrals and large projects
• Hard truths for aspiring coaches - including why younger coaches struggle to serve senior executives in Asian markets
• The difference between coaching friends and real clients - and why you need paying customers to develop your skills
• Why he turned down scaling opportunities - choosing one-on-one depth over group programs and maximum income

This conversation is raw, honest, and packed with practical wisdom.

Sam doesn't sugarcoat the challenges of building a coaching business. He talks about trusting the wrong people who stole clients (who eventually came back). He discusses the cultural dynamics that make experience and shared background crucial in Asian coaching markets. He shares why some new managers discover they don't actually want to be leaders - and how that's still a successful coaching outcome.

If you're considering leaving corporate to become a coach, this episode is required listening. Sam provides a realistic roadmap that balances passion for helping people with the business fundamentals required to survive and thrive.

About Sam Chia: Sam is an ICF PCC-certified leadership coach with over 35 years of corporate leadership experience, including VP and MD roles across Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, and nonprofits. He holds an ACC, MBA, and has completed executive education at Harvard. Sam is co-author of two books on coaching in Asia and has been running his coaching practice in Singapore for over a decade.

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In this episode of Coach as Entrepreneur, David sits down with Francis Strickland, a business strategist and coach who brings 30 years of global corporate HR leadership to small and mid-sized businesses. Now based in Switzerland after a remarkable career journey from South Carolina to Wisconsin and beyond, Francis shares powerful insights on what it truly means to build a coaching business with clarity and purpose.

Key Topics Covered:
- The shift from corporate coaching to entrepreneurship – How COVID-19 revealed the need for authentic leadership and sparked Francis's transition into professional coaching
- Authentic leadership vs. performative leadership – Why leaders must connect with their genuine selves rather than just executing mandates
- The harsh realities of scaling too fast – A cautionary tale about hiring corporate talent for a small business and the importance of values alignment
- What coaches really need before building a website – Why message clarity trumps professional branding in the early stages
- Selling safety, not services – How to communicate value in a way that builds trust with potential clients
- Vertical vs. horizontal development – The difference between skill-building and transformational mindset shifts for entrepreneurs

Francis offers candid advice for new coaches: get crystal clear on who you are and the impact you want to make before your first client conversation. She's currently building a community to provide straightforward, high-impact business foundations for coaches and entrepreneurs who need guidance beyond just coaching methodology.
This conversation is essential listening for any coach struggling with messaging, scaling decisions, or the transition from service provider to true business owner.

In this episode of Coach as Entrepreneur, David sits down with Mel Rosenthal—a Melbourne-based coach and mentor to founders and executives—about shifting from corporate leadership into purpose-driven coaching. Mel shares how informed curiosity, constant reflection, and simple systems create sustainable practices; why purpose can be a better north star than goals; and how relationships and reputation outcompete ads and funnels for long-term growth. We also dig into coaching the “whole person,” leading in technical environments, and building supportive peer rhythms so you don’t do this alone.

Show Notes:

• Purpose vs. goals: using values to steer offers and capacity
• Early client acquisition without overwhelm: coffee, trust, and timing
• Reflection rhythms: weekly peer coaching + journaling cadence
• Coaching technical leaders: context-setting, culture, and outcomes
• Designing a business you can run for years, not months

Guest Bio

Mel Rosenthal is a coach, mentor, and writer based in Melbourne, Australia, who helps founders and executives navigate the messy challenges of growth and leadership. With over 4,500 coaching conversations and 15 years leading product, marketing, and innovation teams, she’s known for her “informed curiosity”—spotting patterns others miss, cutting through complexity, and challenging with care.

How to connect with Mel:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/rosenthalmelissa/
https://melissajrosenthal.com/
https://www.52conversations.com/ - a card game that creates conversations that matter