Mentorship and coaching have long been heralded as the secret ingredient that propels exceptional individuals towards success.
Coaches help those who are already good become great.
From visionary business moguls to record-breaking athletes, the influence of a skilled mentor can often be the catalyst that transforms raw potential into remarkable achievement.
Whether it’s helping startup founders or CEOs navigate the complex landscape of corporate leadership, visionary politicians form winning campaigns, or top-flight athletes become world champions.
Here are just a handful of achievers, individuals who have gone public about their mentorship and coaching, while countless more will have a quiet consigliere on their side in the background.
Corporate Coaching
1. Bill Gates: One of the world’s richest people and the co-founder of Microsoft, Bill Gates, has credited his success to the guidance and mentorship he received from his coach, Warren Buffett. Buffett’s business acumen and strategic insights significantly shaped Gates’ approach to business and philanthropy.
2. Sheryl Sandberg: The Chief Operating Officer of Facebook, Sheryl Sandberg, is known for her leadership skills. She attributes a portion of her success to the coaching and mentorship she received throughout her career, helping her develop as a leader and navigate challenging situations.
3. Eric Schmidt: Former chairman of Google and Alphabet, describes in this video his views towards coaching and the need for mentorship.
Political Coaching
1. Barack Obama: The 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama, had a significant relationship with his campaign coach and strategist, David Axelrod. Axelrod’s coaching played a crucial role in shaping Obama’s messaging and campaign strategy, contributing to his successful election. He also retained a speaker coach.
2. Angela Merkel: The former Chancellor of Germany, Angela Merkel, was widely praised for her strong leadership in Europe before the Ukraine war. She has mentioned the guidance and advice she received from mentors and coaches throughout her political career, which helped her navigate complex international issues. Helmut Kohl mentored the young scientist and helped her transition to political leader.
3. Bill Clinton is easily in my top ten communicator list – but he wasn’t always the greatest speaker and received extensive coaching from the same speaker coach, Michael Sheehan, who helped Obama. Clinton was booed off stage at a Democrat conference.
Sports Coaching
1. Michael Jordan: Widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time, Michael Jordan worked closely with coaches such as Phil Jackson. Jackson’s coaching philosophy and strategic insights were instrumental in helping Jordan and the Chicago Bulls secure multiple NBA championships.
2. Serena Williams: Tennis superstar Serena Williams has attributed her success to her coach, Patrick Mouratoglou. His guidance and technical expertise have helped Williams refine her game and maintain her dominance in women’s tennis.
3. Sarina Wiegman’s phenomenal contribution to England Women’s football is universally acknowledged – she has transformed England into a competitive and resilient team.
“Her record for England has been nothing short of extraordinary… She has taken a side which had shown great potential in 2019 and drawn out its full potential.
BBC Sport’s Emma Smith
Mentorship in Business and Athletics
From the boardrooms of towering corporations to the edge of the tennis court, playing field or sports arena where champions play, win and are crowned, behind the successes and the glory, there have always been mentors and coaches. This goes back centuries to Aristotle – it is built in; it is how we grow, develop, and perform. Modern-day winners like Bill Gates, Sheryl Sandberg, Michael Jordan, and Serena Williams have each leaned on the invaluable counsel of coaches and mentors, propelling them towards feats that have shaped industries and inspired generations.
For CEOs steering their ship through the tempestuous and unpredictable waters of business, coaching and mentorship is the constant key to success, guiding and developing those with potential towards success.
The Role of a Coach and Consigliere for CEOs
The role of a coach and consigliere emerges as paramount. Like the trusted, seldom-seen advisors in historical royal courts, the modern consigliere is a confidante and coach who skillfully and discreetly guides CEOs towards excellence and away from failure.
The coach/consiglieri has to possess the acumen to navigate complexities, the foresight to anticipate challenges, and the insights to transform obstacles into stepping stones and threats into opportunities. But above all, they have to understand people. They also have to be fully on the team. Bought in – signed up. The relationship between a CEO and their consigliere is founded on total trust, brutal candour, and a shared commitment to achieving audacious goals.
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