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.

A lot is happening in the coaching world right now. In this episode, host Elias Scultori, MCC, breaks down the latest ICF updates that every coach should know about — including a new pilot credentialing exam for PCC and MCC levels, and the release of the Minimum Skills Requirements across all credential tiers. More than just reporting, Elias challenges us to think beyond compliance and strive for excellence in our craft.

🔹 Episode Highlights

01:27 - ICF’s pilot credentialing exam – What’s changing, who qualifies, and how it could reshape the testing experience.
03:27 - Minimum Skills Requirements explained – What these new documents cover for ACC, PCC, and MCC levels.
08:55 - Beyond the minimum – Elias’s invitation to see the new standards not as a goal but as a starting point.

🎧 Tune in for

• Insider updates from the ICF
• A powerful reflection on professional excellence
• A call to elevate your coaching practice beyond standards

Links

• PRIME SPACE - Episode 56 - ICF Core Competencies 2025 - What's Changed?
• PRIME SPACE - Episode 8 - "ACC, PCC, MCC in a nutshell"
• New Pilot Credentialing Exam
• ACC Minimum Skills Requirements
• PCC Minimum Skills Requirements
• MCC Minimum Skills Requirements

In this episode, host Elias Scultori sits down with leadership coach Joe Miller, ACC, to unpack a challenge many coaches regularly face — what to do when a client shows up in self-doubt.

Joe describes noticing two distinct “modes” in his clients:
✨ Mode One — confident, prepared, full of faith.
🌧️ Mode Two — insecure, resistant, and uncertain.

As the conversation unfolds, they realize that these “modes” may reveal just as much about the coach’s own mindset as they do about the client’s. Together, Elias and Joe explore how to stay genuinely curious, let go of personal definitions of success, and keep believing in the client’s wholeness — no matter what “mode” they’re in.

This is a vulnerable, reflective conversation about the inner work of coaching — and the growth that happens when we’re willing to look inward.

⏱️ Chapters
00:27 – The Coaching Challenge: Two Client Modes
02:58 – When Confidence Fades: Working with “Mode Two” Clients
05:38 – When Coaching Feels Stuck: Referral or Recommitment?
09:17 – Turning the Lens Inward: The Coach’s Growth Opportunity
13:06 – Simplicity, Curiosity, and the Power of Reflection
13:30 – Final Takeaway: Staying Curious with Every Client

💬 Notable Quotes

"...how real are these modes and do they really or as much at least reflect my own growth and learning opportunities and shifting opportunities, thinking opportunities as a coach." [09:17]

"...sometimes you have to start with something simple. Maybe spotting the simplicity of a couple of modes and then letting that drive the curiosity." [13:06]

🎧 Listen now to reflect on your own assumptions, reconnect with curiosity, and rediscover your belief in every client’s potential.

Behind every powerful coaching question lies something quieter—but far more essential: trust.

In this episode of PRIME SPACE, Elias Scultori, MCC, shines a light on an often underestimated ICF Core Competencies: Cultivating Trust and Safety. While many coaches focus on powerful questions, agreements, and action planning, the foundation of effective coaching rests on something more fundamental—trust.

Elias explores how trust shows up in everyday life, why it is indispensable in coaching, and how coaches can intentionally nurture it from the very first impression they make. He also introduces the powerful distinction between safe space and brave space, inviting coaches to reimagine trust-building as a shared responsibility between coach and client.

If you’ve ever wondered how to deepen your coaching relationships, this episode will remind you why trust isn’t just another competency—it’s the very ground on which coaching stands.

Is a coach automatically “good” just because they follow the rules? In this episode of PRIME SPACE, Elias Scultori continues the Coaching Myths Uncovered series by challenging the belief that flawless technique alone defines coaching excellence.

Elias explores why rules and competencies, while essential, are only the framework—and not the essence—of coaching. He introduces the balance of Form and Flow, explains the Japanese concept of Shu-ha-ri as a path toward mastery, and highlights the risks of relying solely on technique without depth.

Listeners will gain insight into:

• Why coaching is a balance between art and science
• How to move beyond “checking boxes” to embody the essence of standards
• The importance of reflective practice in balancing form and flow
• Common habits and excuses that derail growth
• The ongoing journey of mastery every coach must commit to

If you’ve ever wondered whether playing strictly “by the book” makes for a great coach—or if there’s something more—this conversation will challenge your thinking and deepen your practice.

Watch the "Coaching Myths Uncovered" event on YouTube.

In this episode of PRIME SPACE, Elias Scultori, MCC, explores one of the most common and delicate questions coaches face: “How personal can I be with my clients?”

Drawing from ICF Core Competency 4: Cultivates Trust and Safety—specifically sub-competency 4.6—Elias reflects on the role of transparency, vulnerability, and authenticity in coaching. He unpacks what it means to share appropriately, how to balance openness with professional boundaries, and why the guiding question should always be: What is the benefit for the client’s process?

Through this lens, Elias challenges the long-held image of the “flawless leader” and emphasizes the courage it takes for a coach to show up authentically. When coaches embrace vulnerability—not as oversharing, but as a way of being—they empower clients to drop the masks of perfection, embrace their own humanity, and tap into their resourcefulness.

Whether you are a new coach navigating boundaries or an experienced practitioner deepening your presence, this episode offers a thoughtful exploration of what it truly means to be transparent, vulnerable, and authentic in service of your clients.

In this episode of PRIME SPACE, host Elias Scultori, MCC, unpacks the brand-new 2025 update to the ICF Core Competencies—a milestone that affects every professional coach.

Elias explores the ICF’s rigorous review process, the global collaboration behind the revisions, and the nuances introduced in this new version. From refined language choices to important sub-competency additions, he highlights how these changes impact coaching practice.

But not everything is cause for celebration. Elias also raises concerns about the added complexity and the use of controversial word choices. Through his analysis, he invites listeners to reflect critically on what supports clarity, alignment, and integrity in our profession.

Whether you’re a seasoned coach or new to the field, this episode offers insight, perspective, and an invitation to engage with the future of coaching practice.

🎧 Tune in, review the updates for yourself, and join the conversation.

📥 Download the ICF Core Competencies - v.2025
📥 Download the Comparison Chart

In this episode of PRIME SPACE, host Elias Scultori, MCC, welcomes back his friend and colleague Amy Donovan, MCC, for a powerful return to the fundamentals of coaching.

Together, they revisit the timeless question: What is coaching? While it may sound simple, the conversation reveals the depth, nuance, and evolving understanding behind the practice. Elias and Amy explore why coaching is about discovery rather than solutions, the importance of true partnership, and how professional coaching stands apart from mentoring, consulting, or therapy.

Whether you are brand new to coaching or a seasoned practitioner, this episode offers clarity, reminders, and fresh insight into what makes coaching a unique and transformative process.

For years, coaches have embraced the mantra "there is no coaching without action.” But what if the word *action* no longer captures the depth of what truly happens in a coaching conversation?

In this episode of PRIME SPACE, host Elias Scultori, MCC, challenges the traditional view and introduces a more expansive concept—movement. From subtle shifts in mindset to intentional pauses, Elias explores how transformation can take many forms beyond tangible tasks.

Discover why reframing action as movement honors the richness of human development, keeps coaching aligned with its core purpose, and empowers clients to carry their insights forward in intentional, life-shaping ways.

Tune in and reimagine what it means to support your clients as they step into their next chapter.