FRESH IDEAS

FOR LEADERS

MAY 2025

The evolution of leadership coaching



These days, I find myself reflecting on just how far leadership coaching has come over the last two decades – and how grateful I am for the remarkable people who make up the coaching roster at Vision Coaching.


They are experienced, principled, and deeply committed to their craft – each bringing a distinctive perspective shaped by real-world leadership and a shared belief in the power of coaching. 


They are internationally credentialled coaches, coming from diverse backgrounds and bring different strengths to their work – and they all share a unified focus on supporting meaningful growth in others. 


They've helped countless leaders discover new perspectives, lead with clarity, and find confidence in their voice. They've helped people navigate change, seize opportunity, and build stronger organizations and teams.


Their talent and generosity of spirit are the heartbeat of Vision Coaching. And as we look ahead to the next chapter of our growth, I’m incredibly proud of the team we’ve built – and excited for what’s next.


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Gemma Cowan’s story: Leadership transformed

When Gemma Cowan first began one-on-one coaching with Chantelle Courtney at Vision Coaching, she was navigating a tidal wave of change.


In just one year, Gemma had gone from managing five people to overseeing a national team of 18, with 11 distinct fundraising portfolios and responsibility for nearly half of Cystic Fibrosis Canada’s revenue. 


The shift followed an organizational restructure and came just as her direct supervisor resigned, leaving Gemma to report directly to the chief executive officer for nine months. “It was the biggest team I'd ever led, and the highest revenue expectations I'd been responsible for,” she says.


Coaching, she says, became a steadying force during an intense year.


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Rethinking psychological safety at work


In a compelling new piece, Kelly VanBuskirk – a lawyer with deep expertise in workplace culture and human resources – explores a crucial question: What happens when psychological safety is misunderstood? 


Drawing on decades of experience in law, academia and workplace culture, Kelly warns that equating psychological safety with simply being nice or avoiding discomfort can actually undermine growth and learning. 


Through real-world examples and research-backed insights, he challenges organizations to embrace respectful candour and humility – not just comfort – as the true foundation of a psychologically safe environment.


Read Kelly’s full piece at Leadership Unleashed.

Think better, lead better

In this thought-provoking episode from the Boiling Point archives, co-hosts Dave Veale and Emily Rodger sit down with author and former CIBC executive Ted Cadsby to unpack Hard to Be Human – his exploration of five cognitive design flaws that shape how we think, feel and lead. 

Ted shares practical insight into why we often overreact, misjudge, or get stuck in decision-making, and how we can lead better by understanding our brains just a little bit more. 

The episode is available online or wherever you get your favourite podcasts.

Harvard Business Review

Harvard Business Review has an audio segment: The Best Leaders Ask the Right Questions, which reveals why curiosity, clarity, and thoughtful inquiry are powerful tools for unlocking team performance and navigating complexity. (Transcript also available.)

MIT Sloan Management Review features 10 Strategies for Leading in Uncertain Times, outlining how leaders can stay grounded, empower teams, and make thoughtful decisions amid disruption.

Forbes

Forbes has some timely advice in The Leadership Filter: Maybe Don’t Bring Your ‘Whole Self’ To Work, suggesting that rather than bringing your whole self to work, great leaders learn to filter for values, impact, and context to lead with intention and clarity.

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