Leadership coaching has the power to unlock profound personal and organizational transformation. That belief lies at the heart of 100 Coaches. Founded by executive coach Marshall Goldsmith, 100 Coaches began with a bold experiment: Marshall offered to teach 15 people everything he knew for free, in gratitude for the teachers and leaders who helped shape him. As those first 15 committed to “pay it forward,” the idea resonated deeply. More than 16,000 applicants were interested, and so the initiative grew into a community of more than 100 coaches from top leadership, academia, non-profits, healthcare, and beyond.

We invited Scott Osman, CEO of 100 Coaches, to reflect on how that founding vision has flourished. Scott shares how 100 Coaches functions as a curated network that matches each leader with the right coach at the right moment, grounded in deep expertise across organizational psychology, leadership development, and human behavior. He underscores how coaching can shift organizational trajectories: when leaders evolve, their teams, culture, and long-term outcomes evolve with them. For those wondering if coaching is a luxury or necessity, this conversation makes a compelling case for the power of investing in people.

Listen for insights on:

What leadership coaching looks like from the start
What leaders today struggle with the most
Top leadership myths we need to move away from

Resources + Links:

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(00:13) - Meet Scott Osman, 100 Coaches
(01:59) - Early Influencers
(03:06) - Leadership Coaching
(04:23) - Services
(05:45) - Match Craft
(08:26) - What He’s Learned From Both Sides of the Equation
(10:08) - Generosity
(11:20) - Defining Leadership
(12:14) - Flavors of Success
(14:44) - Role of Humility
(16:53) - Role of Corporate Purpose Today
(18:03) - Creating the Richest Cultures
(19:10) - Leadership Myth
(20:29) - Next Frontier for Leadership Growth
(22:04) - The Last Word
(22:38) - Wrap Up

Why Great Leaders Need Coaches with Scott Osman