What this page covers:
Career coaching for mid-career and senior professionals, what the research shows about outcomes, who benefits most, and how Enable Leaders matches you with a vetted career coach within 24 hours.
At some point in nearly every career, there comes a moment of genuine uncertainty. A promotion you’re not sure you’re ready for. A layoff that knocks the wind out of you. A role you’ve outgrown, but you’re not sure what comes next.
Enable Leaders connects mid-career and senior professionals with vetted career coaches matched to their specific situation, within 24 hours. This guide explains what career coaching actually is, who benefits most, what the research shows, and how the matching process works.
Whether you’re navigating a difficult transition, trying to sharpen your leadership edge, or rebuilding after a setback, working with a skilled career coach can change the trajectory of what’s possible for you. This guide explains what career coaching actually is, who benefits most from it, what the research says, and how to find the right fit.
What Is Career Coaching?
Career coaching is a structured, goal-oriented partnership between a professional and a trained coach. Unlike mentorship — which typically draws on a mentor’s personal experience within a specific field — career coaching uses proven frameworks to help you identify what’s holding you back from reaching your goals, helps you clarify where you want to go, and builds a practical plan to get there.
It’s also distinct from therapy. Career coaching is forward-facing. It doesn’t dwell on the past; it uses the present as a launchpad for intentional action.
For leaders and executives, career coaching goes well beyond résumé polishing or interview prep. It’s about things like:
- Refining your leadership style so it scales with your ambitions
- Building executive presence and credibility at a senior level
- Navigating organizational complexity and stakeholder dynamics
- Making high-stakes decisions with more confidence and clarity
- Managing performance, teams, and culture under pressure
A good career coach doesn’t tell you what to do. They ask the questions that help you figure it out — and then hold you accountable for following through.
Why People Seek Out Career Coaching
The reasons people pursue career coaching are as varied as careers themselves. Some come in a moment of crisis — a job loss, a difficult transition, a team that’s falling apart. Others come from a place of ambition, wanting to accelerate what’s already working. And many come simply because they’re tired of navigating their professional life alone.
Having someone to be your confidante — who can help you, coach you and push you… whether you’re navigating a job loss, moving into a new direction, or you’re wanting to climb and advance in your current company, a good career coach can be invaluable.”
— Jonathan Dunnett, Founder & CEO, Enable Leaders
Job loss, in particular, hits harder than most people expect. Psychologists note that losing a job can trigger a grief response similar to losing a loved one: running through shock, denial, anger, and eventually acceptance. In that kind of emotional fog, having a professional who can provide both structure and encouragement isn’t a luxury. It’s often what gets people back on track faster and more intentionally than going it alone.
But career coaching isn’t only for moments of crisis. Some of the most impactful coaching engagements happen when everything looks fine on the outside, and yet something feels stuck. High performers who’ve plateaued, leaders who’ve been promoted into roles that require a different skillset than what got them there or executives who are effective but exhausted.
What should you consider in a coach?
What the Research Says About Career Coaching
The job market has gotten meaningfully harder to navigate. A December 2025 survey of 350 Canadian job seekers by Robert Half found that 61% expect their current search to take longer than their last one. The top obstacles: too many applicants (62%), difficulty showcasing qualifications (32%), and skills not matching job requirements (30%). Three of the top five challenges are things a career coach directly addresses.
That same research — combined with the most comprehensive global study of coaching outcomes ever conducted — makes a strong case for investing in professional support. The ICF Global Coaching Client Study, conducted with PricewaterhouseCoopers and the Association Resource Centre across 2,165 clients in 64 countries, is the primary source most cited in the industry. Here’s what it found:
3.44× median individual ROI Among clients who experienced a financial benefit from coaching
ICF/PwC Global Coaching Client Study
80% improved self-confidence (The single most commonly reported outcom)
ICF/PwC Global Coaching Client Study
70% improved work performance
Alongside gains in relationships (73%), communication (72%), and interpersonal skills (71%) — ICF/PwC Global Coaching Client Study
99% client satisfaction rate
96% said they would repeat the experience — ICF/PwC Global Coaching Client Study
For those actively in a job search, the value extends further. The Robert Half 2026 Canada Salary Guide found that 54% of hiring managers are willing to increase salary offers for candidates with specialized skills who can clearly demonstrate results — precisely the kind of clarity and articulation a career coach helps you develop. In a market where 32% of job seekers cite difficulty showcasing qualifications as a top obstacle, that edge is not trivial.
And then there’s the hidden job market: an estimated 70–85% of roles are filled through networking and referrals rather than public postings. A career coach doesn’t just help you perform better in interviews — they help you build the relationships and visibility that get you into conversations before a job is ever posted.
A 2023 meta-analysis confirmed what more than a decade of research has consistently shown: coaching is an effective workplace intervention, with moderate-to-large improvements in coachees’ skills and performance ratings.
Who Benefits Most from Career Coaching?
Career coaching at Enable Leaders is designed for mid-career to senior-level professionals. The circumstances that bring people in vary widely:
Aspiring Executives
If you’re working toward a C-suite or VP-level role, a career coach helps you develop the leadership behaviors, strategic thinking, and executive presence that distinguish candidates who get there from those who stay stuck.
New Leaders
The jump into a first executive role is often bigger than people anticipate. You’re no longer evaluated on what you personally produce — you’re evaluated on what your team produces. Career coaching helps new leaders make that mental and tactical shift faster.
Executives in Transition
Whether you’re changing industries, rejoining the workforce, or rebuilding after a layoff, career coaching provides structure, accountability, and an outside perspective that’s hard to find anywhere else. Losing a job strips away more than income — it often shakes your sense of professional identity. A career coach helps you rebuild that foundation deliberately.
High-Potential Employees
Many organizations identify high performers early but underinvest in their development. If you’ve been told you have potential but feel like you’re not getting the support to act on it, career coaching fills that gap.
Find the Right Career Coach for Your Situation
Not all coaches are created equal, and finding the right one matters enormously. Every coach in the Enable Leaders network has been vetted for credentials, real-world experience, and depth of expertise. But more than credentials, what matters is fit: the right coach for your specific situation. Here’s how some of our coaches map to the career challenges that bring most people to coaching in the first place.
Devin Keane
If you’ve lost a job, are making a significant career pivot, or are trying to re-enter the workforce at a senior level, Devin is the coach to talk to first. He spent over 20 years inside global financial services — leading talent strategy and recruitment operations at UBS, Korn/Ferry, and Lucas Group — which means he has sat on both sides of the table. He knows how hiring decisions are actually made, what gets candidates seriously considered, and where most professionals go wrong in their search. As an ICF Associate Certified Coach and Erickson Accredited Coach, he pairs that insider knowledge with a structured coaching approach.
Jill Carroll
Jill is the coach for professionals navigating pivotal moments — stepping into a new role they’re not sure they’re ready for, facing disruption they didn’t see coming, or asking the harder question of what they actually want next. A Royal Roads Certified Executive Coach and ICF Associate Certified Coach with 25+ years of senior leadership in telecommunications, Jill brings something rare: she’s not just credentialed, she’s lived it. Her coaching is grounded in clarity, courage, and conviction — earned through real-world experience of life’s many twists and turns.
Gaye Kuelsen
Sometimes a career stall isn’t about strategy — it’s about what’s happening internally. Perfectionism, imposter syndrome, relentless self-criticism: these are the things that hold high achievers back even when their external circumstances look fine. Gaye is a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) and Certified Positive Intelligence Coach who works specifically at this intersection of leadership and mental fitness, using neuroscience-based techniques including Positive Intelligence (PQ) and Brain Coaching to help executives rewire the thought patterns that quietly undermine their performance and wellbeing.
Tracy Wilk
Tracy brings 30 years of tech and fintech leadership experience — including recognition as a top 1% Google manager — to help mid-to-senior executives navigate expanded roles and lead through significant organizational change. He has held senior roles at Google Payments, Visa, CyberSource, and First Data, and also teaches at Stanford Continuing Studies. His coaching focuses on developing the kind of executive presence and strategic communication that genuinely transforms how leaders show up — not just in their next role, but throughout their careers.
Matt Eichmann
Getting promoted into a senior leadership role is one thing. Actually performing at that level — quickly, under pressure, with a new team watching — is another. Matt is a Certified Executive Coach and ICF member who understands that challenge intimately: as a former Marine Corps officer and US Naval Academy graduate, he has led in genuinely high-stakes environments. His subsequent executive career, including as Chief Marketing & Sustainability Officer at a publicly traded company, means he can help you navigate both the mindset and the practical mechanics of stepping into bigger leadership responsibility.
Not sure which coach is right for your situation? Tell us what you’re navigating and we’ll match you with 2–3 suited options within 24 hours — no obligation.
How Enable Leaders Matches You with the Right Career Coach
Finding a career coach on your own is time-consuming and often frustrating. The market is crowded, credentials vary wildly, and knowing who is actually a good fit for your specific situation is nearly impossible without a structured process.
Enable Leaders was built to solve that problem. Rather than handing you a directory and wishing you luck, we curate each match based on your goals, industry, challenges, and working style. The process is simple:
- Tell us what you need — your goals, challenges, and what you’re hoping to get from coaching
- We analyze your needs and identify 2–3 coaches from our vetted network who are best suited to your situation
- You receive your matches within 24 hours, review their profiles, and choose who resonates
No guesswork. No scrolling through hundreds of profiles. Just a curated shortlist of coaches who are actually equipped to help you.
What Does Career Coaching Cost?
Career coaching is an investment — in your skills, your confidence, and your trajectory. At Enable Leaders, pricing is flexible enough to meet professionals at different stages:
| Program Type | Best For | Typical Investment |
|---|---|---|
| Single Sessions | Targeted focus on a specific challenge or decision | From $250 |
| Short Programs | Focused goals over a few weeks | $750 – $1,800 |
| Comprehensive Programs | Deep, sustained growth over multiple months | $2,500 – $7,500+ |
The right program depends on where you are and what you’re trying to accomplish. For some, a single strategic conversation is enough to unlock clarity. For others, sustained engagement over several months creates the kind of transformation that reshapes how they lead.
Frequently Asked Questions About Career Coaching
What’s the difference between career coaching and mentorship?
A mentor draws on their own experience to share wisdom and advice. A career coach uses structured methodologies to help you find your own answers, build your own strategies, and be accountable to your own goals. Coaching tends to be more systematic and outcome-focused — and a good career coach will challenge your assumptions, not just validate them.
Can career coaching help if I’m not looking for a new job?
Absolutely. Many clients come to coaching while firmly planted in a role they want to stay in: they just want to be better at it. Career coaching helps with leadership development, team management, executive presence, decision-making, and long-term career planning, regardless of whether a job change is on the horizon.
How long does career coaching take?
It depends on your goals. Some engagements are a handful of targeted sessions over a few weeks. Others run for several months. Your coach will work with you to determine what structure makes sense given what you’re trying to accomplish.
Is career coaching confidential?
Yes. All coaching conversations at Enable Leaders are strictly confidential. That’s a non-negotiable part of the professional standards our coaches uphold: it’s what allows the coaching relationship to actually work.
How quickly can Enable Leaders match me with a coach?
Within 24 hours of submitting your needs, you’ll receive 2–3 coach matches tailored to your situation. From there, you can review profiles and connect with the coach who feels right.
Do you offer career coaching for specific industries?
Yes. Our network includes coaches with deep experience in financial services, fintech, tech, healthcare, manufacturing, higher education, and more. When you share your background and goals, we prioritize coaches with relevant industry knowledge, not just general coaching credentials.
Are there questions I should ask during my discovery call?
Yes. We have a number of questions and considerations detailed on this page.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Career coaching works. The research is clear, the outcomes are real, and the professionals who invest in it consistently report that it’s one of the better decisions they’ve made for their careers.
If you’re ready to stop navigating your professional future alone — whether you’re rebuilding after a setback, preparing for your next big move, or simply wanting to lead better — Enable Leaders can match you with the right career coach within 24 hours.
Get matched with 2–3 vetted career coaches suited to your specific situation. No obligation. Results in 24 hours.