In this episode of Founders Future, with host Ammar Elm, we dive deep into the entrepreneurial journey of Darren Kanthal, founder and executive coach at The Kanthal Group, a boutique leadership development firm specializing in coaching C-suite executives at PE-backed portfolio companies. Darren shares his compelling transformation story from being an uncooperative, brash HR professional who struggled with job stability to becoming a successful entrepreneur who found his calling in executive coaching. He candidly discusses his early career challenges, including getting fired from jobs, his moment of self-realization after calling his mother in tears, and how working with his own coach led him to discover that maybe he needed to "change the sandbox" rather than learn to play better in corporate environments.

The conversation explores the practical realities of running a coaching business, from the difficulties of selling yourself versus representing a large corporation, to building predictable revenue streams and developing effective client acquisition strategies. Darren provides valuable insights into their 6-month coaching engagements, the importance of the "cascading leadership" approach where coaching one executive impacts the entire team, and shares honest advice for new entrepreneurs about leaning into their network, acknowledging weaknesses, and being clear about their service offerings. His authentic approach to discussing both successes and ongoing challenges, combined with his emphasis on personal accountability and the power of speaking up in uncomfortable situations, makes this episode particularly valuable for aspiring coaches and entrepreneurs looking to build sustainable consulting practices.