The Business of Executive Coaching

• Katrina Casaclang - From Community Impact To Coaching for Impact – Accelerator Member Profile

  In today’s episode, I’m speaking with Katrina Casaclang—a coach, facilitator and consultant with a passion for learning, a zest for life, and a single minded focus on coaching in her community. Katrina is also a member of the Accelerator, and I’m so extremely fortunate to have the chance to interview her. We talk about Katrina’s incredible 34-year journey across policing, community services, youth mental health, and leadership. From starting in the police force at 18 to managing large teams and supporting young people in community organisations, Katrina shares how her passion for people and purpose has shaped every step. In this episode, you’ll hear: ✅ How Katrina’s leadership journey began in the police force and evolved across community and youth mental health✅ Why she believes quality leadership is essential to delivering great service to the community✅ How she discovered coaching through professional support roles and why it clicked✅ What led her to start her own coaching business after decades working in organisations ✅ Why she focuses on emerging and middle managers especially those who’ve never been given leadership skills ✅ The challenges of working in underfunded organisations and the impact on staff and service delivery ✅ How the Accelerator gave her clarity, confidence, and structure in the early days of business ✅ How she faced imposter syndrome, overwhelm, and learned to back herself. Katrina now offers one-on-one coaching and consulting, with a focus on younger teams and emerging leaders.She shares what she’s learned about herself, how she’s grown in confidence, and how building a business feels a bit like being in the ocean—waves and all. Katrina’s story is one of heart, depth, and purpose—and she brings a refreshing, grounded perspective to coaching in the community space. Connect with Katrina: 💼 Find her at Valued Asset Coaching📧 Connect on Instagram @valuedassetcoaching 📞 Book an Accelerator Fit Call🌐 Learn more about the Accelerator at elliescarf.com/cca

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• Dr Mercia Spare - From 40 yrs in the NHS to Coach With a Mission - Accelerator Member Stories

  In today’s episode, I had the joy of speaking with the incredible Dr. Mercia Spare. Mercia is a former Chief Nurse with over 40 years in the NHS, including time in transplantation, infection control, national governance, and executive leadership. Her career spans everything from clinical practice to regulation and quality improvement—and now, she’s bringing that deep experience into coaching. We talk about her extraordinary journey: from training as a nurse later in life, to being side-lined by a motorcycle accident, to becoming a PhD-qualified leader in health and social care. Mercia now runs a coaching business that supports leaders across health, social care, research, and education—bringing her signature warmth and wisdom to folks making a difference. In this episode, you’ll hear: ✅ How Mercia built a rich and varied 40-year NHS career—from the wards to the executive suite ✅ How a career-changing accident became an unexpected gift ✅ What led her to coaching and why it’s the perfect extension of her nursing career ✅ The power of relational leadership in high-pressure environments like health and social care ✅ How she’s building a purpose-led coaching business ✅ The mindset shift that helped her step into being a business owner ✅ Why she believes formal coaching training is essential—and what she learned about herself along the way ✅ How she’s making her business work by leaning into connection, curiosity, and asking for help Mercia’s story is a testament to lifelong growth, generous leadership, and backing yourself when the next chapter calls. Connect with Mercia: 💼 Find Dr. Mercia Spare on LinkedIn Interested in building your own coaching business? You can book a call with me to explore whether the Accelerator is a good fit. 🌐 More at elliescarf.comUntil next time!

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• Dr Mercia Spare - From 40 yrs in the NHS to Coach With a Mission - Accelerator Member Stories

  In today’s episode, I had the joy of speaking with the incredible Dr. Mercia Spare. Mercia is a former Chief Nurse with over 40 years in the NHS, including time in transplantation, infection control, national governance, and executive leadership. Her career spans everything from clinical practice to regulation and quality improvement—and now, she’s bringing that deep experience into coaching. We talk about her extraordinary journey: from training as a nurse later in life, to being side-lined by a motorcycle accident, to becoming a PhD-qualified leader in health and social care. Mercia now runs a coaching business that supports leaders across health, social care, research, and education—bringing her signature warmth and wisdom to folks making a difference. In this episode, you’ll hear: ✅ How Mercia built a rich and varied 40-year NHS career—from the wards to the executive suite✅ How a career-changing accident became an unexpected gift✅ What led her to coaching and why it’s the perfect extension of her nursing career✅ The power of relational leadership in high-pressure environments like health and social care✅ How she’s building a purpose-led coaching business✅ The mindset shift that helped her step into being a business owner✅ Why she believes formal coaching training is essential—and what she learned about herself along the way✅ How she’s making her business work by leaning into connection, curiosity, and asking for help Mercia’s story is a testament to lifelong growth, generous leadership, and backing yourself when the next chapter calls.Connect with Mercia: 💼 Find Dr. Mercia Spare on LinkedIn Interested in building your own coaching business? You can book a call with me to explore whether the Accelerator is a good fit.🌐 More at elliescarf.comUntil next time!

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• Paula Shannon from Public Education to a Purposeful Coaching Business - Accelerator Member Profile

  In this episode, I’m so privileged to have time with Paula Shannon, a coach with experience across public education, philanthropy and business. Paula is a coach, consultant, and facilitator—someone with a deep passion for leadership, emotional intelligence, and helping mission-driven leaders lead with clarity, confidence, and purpose. Paula shares how she spent nearly 30 years in public education, rising from teacher to senior executive leadership—and how burnout, purpose, and a desire for something different led her to build a business of her own. In this episode, we talk about: ✅ How she started in Teach for America and grew through the ranks of education ✅ Her love of coaching “little and big people” and the joy of one-on-one development ✅ Making the leap after the pandemic and deciding “enough is enough” ✅ Creating the life she actually wanted—one with nature, flexibility, and joy ✅ What clinical burnout felt like and how it changed everything ✅ Why she believes women with wealth accelerate doing good in the world✅ The mission behind her business and the work she does with leaders✅ Why content and consistency matter—and how Sage (her ChatGPT!) helps ✅ Tips for new coaches covering outreach, networking, and nurturing relationships (and more!)As Paula says, “The only way to get started is to get started.” Her story is generous, grounded, and so relatable—especially if you’ve ever wondered whether it’s possible to do good, do well, and live the life you want. Connect with Paula: 👉 Find her on LinkedIn: Paula Shannon 👉 Work with Paula at the Whole Leader LabIf you're listening and think the Accelerator could be a good fit for you too— and you’d like to join before we close doors at the end of June and increase prices in July—you can: 📞 Book a call with me🌐 Learn more about the Accelerator at elliescarf.com/cca

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• Paula Shannon from Public Education to a Purposeful Coaching Business - Accelerator Member Profile

  In this episode, I’m so privileged to have time with Paula Shannon, a coach with experience across public education, philanthropy and business. Paula is a coach, consultant, and facilitator—someone with a deep passion for leadership, emotional intelligence, and helping mission-driven leaders lead with clarity, confidence, and purpose. Paula shares how she spent nearly 30 years in public education, rising from teacher to senior executive leadership—and how burnout, purpose, and a desire for something different led her to build a business of her own.In this episode, we talk about:✅ How she started in Teach for America and grew through the ranks of education✅ Her love of coaching “little and big people” and the joy of one-on-one development✅ Making the leap after the pandemic and deciding “enough is enough”✅ Creating the life she actually wanted—one with nature, flexibility, and joy✅ What clinical burnout felt like and how it changed everything✅ Why she believes women with wealth accelerate doing good in the world✅ The mission behind her business and the work she does with leaders✅ Why content and consistency matter—and how Sage (her ChatGPT!) helps✅ Tips for new coaches covering outreach, networking, and nurturing relationships (and more!)As Paula says, “The only way to get started is to get started.” Her story is generous, grounded, and so relatable—especially if you’ve ever wondered whether it’s possible to do good, do well, and live the life you want.Connect with Paula:👉 Find her on LinkedIn: Paula Shannon 👉 Work with Paula at the Whole Leader LabIf you're listening and think the Accelerator could be a good fit for you too— and you’d like to join before we close doors at the end of June and increase prices in July—you can:📞 Book a call with me🌐 Learn more about the Accelerator at elliescarf.com/cca

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