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ROI of “Been There, Done That”: Why Experience is the Only Executive Coach-Metric That Matters

At the senior executive level, the air is thin, and the stakes are high. When a General Manager or C-suite leader looks for a sounding board, they aren't looking for someone to ask them how they feel about a problem. They are looking for someone who has survived the same storm. For years, the coaching industry has focused on certifications. But for a leader managing a complex region, a shifting market, or a multi-million dollar P&L, there is only one metric that matters in a coach: Lived Experience.
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Executive Coach

The Empathy Gap in Executive Coaching

Leadership research highlights challenges like interpersonal rigidity and strategic responsibility, while separate studies show many leaders struggle with empathy—creating a gap that coaching must bridge. A coach who has only studied leadership in a textbook cannot bridge the empathy gap required to solve these issues.

To challenge a senior leader’s rigid behaviour, the coach must possess the credibility to say: “I have sat in that seat. I have had to make that same headcount reduction. I have answered that Board.”

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Why Experience Changes the Conversation

At Peeplcoach, our executive coaching program is defined by one non-negotiable: they must have held C-suite roles. Here is why that matters for your ROI:

  • A coach with experience understands that every leadership behaviour has a line-item consequence. They don’t just talk about culture; they talk about how culture impacts turnover costs and operational efficiency.
  • Traditional coaching relies on powerful questions. While useful, an executive often needs a strategic peer to pressure-test a logic model or a market-entry strategy.
  • Boards are often dogged by politics, intrigue, and infamy. A coach who hasn’t navigated a boardroom cannot help you survive one.

The Democratisation of High-Level Wisdom

Our mission is to unlock organisational potential by making this level of expertise accessible. Whether it’s a 3-month intensive or a 12-month strategic partnership, we match leaders with Master Coach Associates who bring years of business leadership to the table.

“One of the best things about the program is working with experienced coaches who have been in similar situations. They bring a neutral third-party perspective that’s incredibly valuable—there’s no reason to be hesitant about external coaching. The guidance has been extremely beneficial.” — Daniel O’Brien – Pfizer

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Key Outcomes of the Peeplcoach Approach:

  1. Self-Awareness with Context: Understanding the impact of conscious and unconscious behaviours on business performance, not personal feelings.
  2. Tailored Alignment: Using the Triad Meeting to ensure the individual’s growth is laser-aligned with the organisation’s strategic goals.
  3. Efficiency: 60-minute monthly virtual sessions that respect the executive’s calendar while providing a high-impact mental reset.

Are you ready for a peer-level sounding board?

Don’t settle for a coach who is still learning your language. Choose a partner who has been there, done that, and has the track record to prove it.

Contact us today to schedule a Discovery Call.

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Scott Thompson

Agnel Dsouza

Jo Hart

Jo Hart is the Chief Operating Officer at Peeplcoach, where she focuses on optimising the systems and processes that drive the delivery of accessible, high-quality coaching.

With over 23 years of experience, Jo’s career has spanned finance, operations, project management, optimisation, learning and development, and leading project teams. She has worked both locally and internationally, supporting organisations in achieving efficiency and effectiveness across industries such as financial services, health services, information technology, insurance, media, and retail.

Jo has held significant roles at Deutsche Bank, Adecco Group, and the Australian Association of Social Workers. Known for her love of challenges, Jo is dedicated to contributing to her team’s efforts in delivering development opportunities that enhance engagement and help people and organisations reach their full potential.

Richard Clarke

Greer O’Brien

Joanne Hall

Richard Tootill

Richard is the Sales Manager at Peeplcoach, bringing over 10 years of experience in solution sales across leadership development and coaching, recruitment, and SaaS technologies within the IT and digital space. He has worked in various environments, including global corporates, fast-growing companies, and start-ups, with a career that includes roles at Oracle, Seek, and Elmo Software. Richard has primarily focused on driving new business in the B2B space, working with some of Australia’s most well-known organisations, including Fortescue Metals Group, Multiplex, Commonwealth Bank, Arup, and Austrade, to name a few.

In all his roles, Richard’s passion lies in solving challenges for both individuals and organisations, helping people be the best they can be. His goal is to help organisations succeed and empower individuals to reach their full potential by finding what they love to do.

Richard also holds a Bachelor of Business from Griffith University (QLD), majoring in sports management.

Michael Rainey

Michael is the Projects Manager at Peeplcoach, responsible for ensuring seamless operations across various processes, from launching new coachees on the platform to onboarding Peeplcoach coaches and introducing new content.

With over 25 years of experience, Michael’s career has spanned roles in finance, human resources, training, learning, and organisational development. He has contributed to the success of organisations such as CBA, Mercedes-Benz, Lumo Energy, Yarra Valley Water, and Bendigo Kangan Institute of TAFE. Michael holds a Bachelor of Education & Training, a Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours), a Graduate Certificate in Human Resource Management, and a Graduate Diploma in Psychological Studies.

His mission is to develop and enable others, equipping them with the tools they need to reach their full potential while driving the organisation’s success.

Email: Michael.Rainey@peeplcoachstg.wpenginepowered.com

Faydra Khor

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Zana Ballantyne

Zana is both a Master Coach and the Head of Coaches at Peeplcoach. In her role, she is responsible for recruiting, growing, developing, leading, and inspiring a team of passionate and talented coaches, all dedicated to making coaching accessible to everyone.

She currently leads a team that supports emerging and developing leaders across Australia, New Zealand, the US, the UK, Singapore, and India. With over 25 years of experience in people development and leadership across continents, Zana is renowned for driving people-led organisational change and cultivating positive cultures. Her expertise includes working with various levels of leadership in industries such as GE, Coles, ADP, Consumer Affairs, and Ambulance Victoria, with notable clients including Asahi, Dulux, Inghams, Latrobe City Council, and Bega.

Zana holds a Post Graduate Certificate in Organisational Coaching and is a qualified practitioner and facilitator in DISC, LSI, GSI, NLP, MBTI, and Change Acceleration Process (PCI). As a leader and coach, she excels in uncovering hidden challenges and empowering individuals to find actionable solutions. Her approach prioritizes building capability, creating high-performing teams, and driving sustainable business results through people-first strategies.

Virginia Aldred

Vanessa Jones

Susan Williams

Sean O’Leary

Sarah Bateman

Rob Watson

Natalie Hormann

Margaret Haarhoff

Kaye Brett

Karin Moorhouse

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Jess Ferguson

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James Chisholm

James Chisholm is the Co-Founder and Executive Coach at Peeplcoach. He brings over 25 years of business leadership experience performing roles in executive general management, board directorship, business development, leadership coaching, team facilitation and operational leadership. His career has covered multiple industries including building technology services, asset management, renewable energy and not-for-profit with large multi-national corporations, private companies and SMEs including Honeywell and WATCH Disability Services. 

With extensive local and international experience, James has led teams of up to thousands of employees across varied countries and cultures and enjoys working with diverse groups of people to achieve outcomes with a sense of purpose and alignment with his personal values. In addition to his leadership and executive coaching work, James frequently facilitates leadership and executive team sessions where constructive culture and high performance are the desired outcomes.

Hilary Gustave

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Dianne Flemington

Di Kanagalingam

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Christine Khor

Christine Khor is CEO, Founder and Lead Coach at Peeplcoach and is passionate about the role that coaching has in accelerating performance for individuals, teams and organisations and making Peeplcoach the best leadership coaching platform she can!

Before becoming an executive coach and launching Peeplcaoch, Christine started her career In marketing management with global organisations such as Kraft Foods, Hallmark Cards and Simplot Australia.

After a successful career leading teams, Christine started the recruitment and executive search company Chorus Executive where she has partnered with hundreds of organisations and thousands of individuals offering recruitment, search and business, career and executive coaching services. In 2020 launched Peeplcoach with the mission to make coaching accessible to all employees within an organisation, not executives only.

As an executive coach at Peeplcoach, Christine partners with all levels of employees within an organisation from emerging leaders to executives. With her c-suite and start-up business and leadership experience Christine brings a commercial and pragmatic approach to her coaching sessions. Christine holds several qualifications including a Bachelor of Arts, Master of Business Administration, Post Graduate Diploma in Policy Studies and Graduate Diploma in Organisational Change and Executive Coaching.

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