What does it actually look like to build a successful coaching practice grounded in a true coaching mindset—not theory, not ideals, but real, day-to-day application?

In this PRIME SPACE episode, Elias Scultori, MCC, is joined by master coach Amy Donovan, MCC, to answer the question many coaches quietly struggle with: How do we do this? How do we stay aligned with the coaching mindset when clients want solutions, answers, and quick fixes

Together, Elias and Amy unpack the practical realities of coaching at a masterful level—clarity of role, courage in client relationships, and the discipline required to resist slipping into consulting or problem-solving. They explore how coaches unintentionally compromise the coaching mindset out of fear, scarcity, or pressure to please—and how that compromise slowly erodes joy, impact, and sustainability in a coaching practice.

This episode is a powerful invitation for coaches to recommit to the transformational power of coaching, to educate clients through presence (not explanation), and to build practices rooted in integrity, confidence, and long-term change.

If you’ve ever wondered how to embody the coaching mindset—not just understand it—this conversation is for you.

Chapters

02:04 – The Core Question: “How Do We Do This?”
What it truly means to build a practice aligned with the coaching mindset.

02:16 – The Coach’s Identity and Role
Amy on self-perception, expertise, and informing clients how to use coaching effectively.

03:10 – Clarity About the Proposition of Coaching
Why confusion about coaching leads to compromise and misalignment.

04:20 – Resisting the Seduction of Giving Solutions
How solution-giving quietly undermines transformation.

05:37 – “They Think They Know”
Exploring client expectations and the coach’s responsibility to go deeper.

07:37 – Educating Clients Without Explaining Coaching
The power of silence, presence, and well-placed questions.

08:40 – Is It Really Possible to Do This?
Why a mindset-driven practice *does* work—and thrives.

10:48 – Scarcity, Fear, and the Courage to Say No
How fear drives misalignment—and how integrity creates opportunity.

12:58 – A Call for Coaches to Pause and Reflect
Reclaiming joy, presence, and commitment to the mindset.

Memorable Quotes

“Once we are clear about the proposition of coaching, there is no other way to practice.” — Elias Scultori, MCC
“When we slip into solutions, we choke off the opportunity for real transformation.” — Amy Donovan, MCC
“Education doesn’t happen when we explain coaching—it happens when clients *experience* it.” — Elias Scultori, MCC
“We are the stewards of our profession, and stewardship requires courage.” — Amy Donovan, MCC
“The coaching mindset is the source of your success.” — Elias Scultori, MCC

What does it *really* take to build a sustainable, ethical, and successful coaching practice?

In this powerful episode of PRIME SPACE, host Elias Scultori, MCC, sits down with executive coach and HR consultant Michelle Tajudeen, PCC, Managing Director of MetaCC Incorporated, to explore one of the most challenging and defining moments in a coach’s journey: having the courage to say no.

Michelle shares a candid story from early in her coaching career, when a lucrative corporate opportunity required her to compromise the very principles she was trained to uphold. Faced with pressure to guarantee outcomes, impose agendas, and prioritize short-term results over client autonomy, Michelle made a decision that would ultimately shape her reputation, integrity, and long-term success.

Together, Elias and Michelle unpack the realities of coaching in revenue-driven environments, the risks of “voluntold” coaching, and why honoring the client’s process is non-negotiable—even when it feels financially or professionally risky.

This episode is essential listening for new coaches, experienced coaches, mentor coaches, and leaders navigating the intersection of ethics, business, and authenticity.

🎧Episode Highlights

• Why saying yes too quickly can cost you your integrity as a coach
• The hidden dangers of outcome-driven, agenda-based coaching
• What happens when coaches compromise their values—and when they don’t
• How saying no led to an 8-year corporate partnership and coaching 250+ executives
• Trusting intuition as a core professional competency
• Building a coaching brand rooted in credibility, ethics, and authenticity

⏱️ Chapters

00:29 – Meet Michelle Tajudeen, PCC
04:06 – The biggest lesson of Michelle’s coaching journey
08:41 – The cost of compromise in coaching
09:51 – Finding the courage to say no
12:52 – How integrity created unexpected long-term success
14:47 – Reputation, trust, and coaching without compromise
17:13 – Final advice for coaches at every stage

🔑 Key Takeaway Quotes

“It takes real courage to say no as a coach.”
“Integrity will always cost you something upfront—but it pays dividends long term.”
“Trust your intuition. It will lead you back to why you became a coach in the first place.”

If this episode resonated with you, subscribe, rate, and share PRIME SPACE with fellow coaches and leaders who care about excellence, ethics, and humanity in coaching.

Let’s get real about coaching in the real world.

In this episode of PRIME SPACE, Elias Scultori, MCC, tackles a common tension coaches face: the gap between the coaching mindset we’re trained in and the results-driven reality our clients demand.

“Clients want results—and they want them fast.”

But does that mean coaching doesn’t work in high-pressure, executive, organizational environments?

Building on last week’s conversation about coaching mindset, Elias explores why problem-solving, quick fixes, and jumping into expert mode often create the illusion of effectiveness while quietly undermining real transformation.

This episode is a candid invitation to rethink what clients are really asking for, how coaches unintentionally dilute their value, and why holding space, not providing answers, is often the most impactful work we can do.

You’ll hear a clear, grounded exploration of:

• Why coaching is not utopian theory, but a practical, real-world discipline
• The difference between coaching, consulting, mentoring, and training, and why ethics matter
• How “emergencies” can pull coaches out of presence and into performance
• What it truly means to embody a coaching mindset under pressure

This episode is essential listening for coaches who want to stop negotiating their mindset, deepen their skills, and build sustainable, impactful practices—without abandoning the core of coaching.

⏱️Episode Chapters
00:14 – Coaching Mindset Meets Reality
02:58 – Is Coaching Mindset Just Utopia?
05:07 – The Illusion of Effectiveness
06:19 – When Coaching Isn’t the Right Modality
08:35 – Emergencies and the “Building on Fire” Moment
0:02 – The Real Reason Coaches Rush to Solve
12:10 – Educating Clients 13:34 – The Road Less Traveled

In the Season Four premiere of PRIME SPACE, Elias Scultori, MCC, explores one of the most essential and misunderstood foundations of professional coaching: the coaching mindset.

With the evolution of the ICF Core Competencies, coaches around the world continue to ask: What does it really mean to embody a coaching mindset? In this solo episode, Elias offers a clear, experience-based perspective that goes beyond definitions, checklists, and skill execution.

This episode unpacks five core principles that define the coaching mindset, including why coaching is client-centered rather than solution-driven and is rooted in the belief that clients are capable, resourceful, and whole. Elias also examines power, hierarchy, partnership, and why coaching must be lived—not turned on and off during sessions.

More than a professional framework, this episode positions coaching as a transformational movement—one that has the power to reshape individuals, organizations, and how we relate to one another as human beings.

Whether you are a new coach, an experienced practitioner, or preparing for ICF credentialing, this episode invites deep reflection on who you are being as a coach—and why mindset is the foundation from which all coaching skills emerge.

Quotes
“Solutions are not the goal of coaching; they are the consequence of awareness.”
“The client is always the expert—our expertise is the coaching process.”
“Mindset is the hardest part of coaching—and the foundation of every skill.”

Chapters
01:04 – Why “Coaching Mindset” Still Feels Unclear
Reflections on the evolution of the ICF Core Competencies and why the concept remains elusive.

04:47 – Coaching Is Client-Centered
Why coaching focuses on the *who*, not the *what*, and prioritizes transformation over transactions.

06:17 – Coaching Is Not Solution-Based
How solutions emerge naturally as a byproduct of awareness, not the goal of the process.

07:32 – Clients Are Capable, Resourceful, and Whole
The foundational belief that there is nothing to fix—and how this shifts the entire coaching relationship.

08:49 – Coaching Is Client-Led and Adult-to-Adult
Ownership, responsibility, and the coach’s commitment to “not knowing.”

09:57 – Partnership, Equality, and Power Awareness
Why minimizing hierarchy is essential—and why the client is always the true expert.

11:11 – Coaching as a Way of Being
Why mindset can’t be turned on and off, and how coaching becomes a lived set of values.

13:51 – A Call to Embody the Coaching Mindset
An invitation to reflection, practice, and contribution beyond the coaching conversation.

Sometimes the most powerful coaching lesson comes from the person who never called themselves a coach. In this deeply candid and vulnerable season finale, host Elias Scultori, MCC, opens his heart and invites listeners into a meaningful moment with his mother — a lesson that shaped his coaching, his leadership, and his very understanding of presence and excellence.

In My Mother’s Legacy, Elias reflects on a moment from his teenage years in Brazil, when a simple request from his mother became a lifelong teaching on intention, commitment, and showing up fully. With honesty and emotional clarity, he shares how her wisdom continues to guide his work as a Master Certified Coach and how it can inspire your own journey—especially as the year comes to a close.

Whether you're a coach, a leader, or someone seeking a more intentional life, this episode is an invitation to pause… to breathe… and to recommit to giving your best—not for perfection, but for presence.

✨ Honest storytelling
✨ Coaching wisdom
✨ Reflective year-end guidance
✨ A reminder of what truly matters

00:14 – Introducing My Mother’s Story
A glimpse into the woman whose wisdom shaped a lifetime.

04:35 – The Heart of the Message
Presence, commitment, and the essence of excellence.

05:35 – A Year-End Invitation to Reflect
Questions to guide your personal and professional introspection.

09:39 – Closing Reflections & Looking Ahead
Honoring legacy, appreciating listeners, and a preview of what’s next.

What happens when an internal corporate coach with a decade of experience steps away from a secure leadership role to open an independent practice—named It’s Not About the Name?

In this inspiring conversation, Ali Cengiz, ACC, joins Elias Scultori, MCC, to explore the courage, clarity, and deep humanity behind becoming a coach who leads from the inside out.

Ali shares what it truly means to center the person—not the problem, not the system, not the process—and how his years as an internal coach shaped the way he now supports leaders and teams through meaningful transformation. From redefining his professional identity to parenting with a coaching mindset, Ali shows us that coaching isn’t something we do—it’s who we are.

⭐ Quotes

“It’s really not about the name. It’s about the person on the other side.” — Ali Cengiz, ACC
“If you want to inspire others, walk the journey yourself first.” — Ali Cengiz, ACC

01:18 — Finding a name for his coaching practice
02:45 — Ali’s courageous transition from corporate to independent coaching
03:38 — Lessons from five years as an internal coach
05:11 — Remembering the people behind the systems
08:47 — Three powerful learnings from PRIME Coaching Academy Level 1
10:52 — Listening as a fundamental human skill
13:47 — Advice for coaches: start with your own inner work
15:03 — Courage: choosing to do work that energizes you

When everything feels like it’s shifting beneath our feet, who do you choose to become?

In this powerful episode of PRIME SPACE, the official podcast of PRIME Coaching Academy, host Elias Scultori, MCC, sits down with his fellow Academy’s co-founder, Amy Ruppert, MCC, to explore her thought-provoking article “The World Is Reassessing—What’s Your Role Going to Be?”

Together, they unpack the accelerating disruptions that have reshaped our global landscape—from social upheaval to technological leaps—and what these shifts are asking of us as human beings and as professional coaches. Amy and Elias offer a clear and inspiring lens on why coaching as a profession is uniquely positioned for this moment in history and how coaches can expand their impact far beyond the one-to-one session.

This is an episode about consciousness, courage, societal evolution, and stepping into a much bigger game.

⏱️ Chapters

00:50 — Why “The World Is Reassessing”
Amy explains the global disruptions shaping human behavior and social norms.

03:51 — Technology, AI, and the Human Distinction
Elias and Amy discuss the acceleration of tech, the meaning of wisdom, and humanity’s unique role.

05:05 — Norms Dissolving & Consciousness Rising
How societal norms are shifting—and why collective awareness is expanding.

08:31 — Why Coaching Is Built for This Moment
Coaching as clarity, consciousness, and courageous action during uncertainty.

10:04 — The Call for Coaches to Think Bigger
Elias and Amy reflect on coaching beyond business building—toward societal impact.

What does it mean to be a coach, not just do coaching? In this inspiring episode of PRIME SPACE, host Elias Scultori, MCC, sits down with Travis Gislason, ACC—Director of Field Coaching and Development at Breakthru Beverage Group—to explore how coaching principles show up in leadership, parenting, teamwork, and self-development.

From applying a coaching mindset at home to leading teams in corporate America, Travis shares how his experience at PRIME Coaching Academy transformed the way he works, connects, and lives. Together, they unpack the deeper layers of coach training, the importance of inclusion, and the often-overlooked self-care behind powerful coaching presence.

01:04 – The Role of Field Coaching
Travis explains how coaching shows up in leadership and learning development at Breakthru Beverage Group.

04:23 – Being a Coach vs. Doing Coaching
Exploring how a coaching mindset transforms both personal and professional life.

05:15 – The PRIME Coaching Experience
Travis reflects on his ACC journey and how PRIME Coaching Academy shaped his clarity, confidence, and presence.

06:43 – From Training to Transformation
The difference between training, consulting, and coaching—and why language matters in leadership.

09:21 – Coaching Results and Inclusion
Real-world impact: how inclusion and empowerment are emerging as core outcomes of coaching.

12:37 – Living Values and Self-Awareness
How identifying personal values and prioritizing self-care make coaching sustainable and effective.

15:37 – The Power of Reflection and Community
Elias and Travis discuss how cohort learning and community accelerate transformation.

In this *Culture in Coaching* episode, Elias Scultori, MCC talks with Rachel Vandenberg, executive coach and founder of Accelerate Women Leaders in Travel, about what it means to coach women through the lens of identity, context, and community. Together, they explore belonging, agency, and how cultural awareness deepens every coaching relationship.

Chapters

01:10 - The Many Facets of a Leader — Rachel shares her unique professional and personal journey.
07:07 - Women in Leadership: What Coaches Should Know — Insights into belonging, voice, and agency.
10:27 - Coaching Through Shared and Different Lenses — What male coaches might miss when coaching women.
13:50 - Context and Culture in Coaching — Seeing the client within their broader world.
15:29 - The Leadership Perspective of Women — Collective leadership and empathy in action.
18:03 - Closing Reflections & Invitation** — Lifelong learning and community through PRIME HOUR.

“Connection. Celebration. ICF Converge 2025.”

In this special episode, Elias Scultori, MCC, takes you straight to the heart of ICF Converge 2025 in San Diego, California — the ICF global gathering of professional coaches. Experience the energy, wisdom, and warmth of this worldwide community through a lively collage of interviews with coaches, leaders, and innovators who are shaping the future of our profession.

From emotional reunions to deep reflections on learning, presence, and diversity, these voices remind us of the power of connection that defines coaching — beyond screens, beyond words.

Episode Highlights

• 00:50 - Lyssa deHart, MCC – On connection beyond Zoom and the beauty of the “wonder of words.”
• 01:46 - Robin Stueber, ACC – Finding global unity and inspiration in her first Converge.
• 04:16 - Dan Freehling, PCC – Elevating word choice and staying at the cutting edge.
• 05:27 - Claire Bamberg, PCC – Exploring “Ubuntu” and the heart set of coaching.
• 07:44 - Carrie Abner – ICF leadership reflections on community and connection.
• 09:31 - Cheryl Procter-Rogers, MCC – Honoring in-person energy and shared journeys.
• 11:04 - Brian Grisso, ACC – From virtual to real: the magic of meeting fellow coaches.
• 11:58 - Robert Garcia, ACC – The legacy of ICF presidents and the call to leadership.
• 14:13 - Aikyna Finch, PCC – Championing diversity, inclusion, and belonging at ICF.
• 16:20 - Khyla Freeman – The joy of hearing coaches support core competencies.
• 17:29 - Mariela Tirado Rivera – Putting faces to the accreditation process.
• 18:41 - Stan Ajemian, ACC – Finding confidence as a new coach and embracing flexibility.
• 20:32 - Camila Cesari, MCC – Celebrating 30 years of coaching from Bologna to San Diego.
• 21:54 - Paul Sanbar, MCC – The art and science of language in coaching.
• 22:57 - Ann Fogolin, MCC – Lessons from the mastery panel: “The less I say, the more profound I am.”

Elias closes the episode with a heartfelt reflection on the spirit of the ICF community — a reminder that coaching thrives when we gather, listen, and grow together.