Back in 2009, “Coaching” was hardly the shiny word it is today. I had never even heard of it as a profession until a former boss—one of those rare ones who see more in you than you see in yourself—nudged me gently but firmly in its direction.
“You listen deeply,” he said. “You ask the kind of questions that help people find their own answers.”
At the time, I shrugged it off. Coaching? Like, sports coaching? But something about his belief stayed with me.
That nudge changed everything.
I still remember the early days. People did not quite know what to make of a Coach who was not training cricket / football players or coaching IIT aspirants. I found myself explaining the difference at every networking event, to every potential client, even to close friends and family. The need back then was quieter. People did not have the words for what they were feeling, but they knew they wanted more. More clarity, more meaning, more courage to make the changes they had been postponing.
Fast forward to today, and suddenly, Coaching is everywhere. There are podcasts, certifications, AI platforms, apps, influencers—each one offering a version of how Coaching can transform your life. And honestly, it is heartening to see. What was once a hesitant whisper has become a confident voice.
But as Coaching becomes more popular, more packaged, and more digital, I find myself pausing. Because behind the buzzword, behind the frameworks and the tools, Coaching is still—at its heart—about people. Real, honest, complex people. And real people do not follow scripts. They wonder. They waver. They grow.
I feel no AI can replace the quiet vulnerability of a client saying:
“I don’t feel seen in my own home.”
Or the moment a leader whispers, “I’m not sure I’m cut out for this.”
Or when a young founder admits, “I have built something good, but I do not feel good.”
These are not transactions. These are transformations.
And they happen not because of a brilliant tool or a perfect plan—but because someone chose to walk beside them in silence, to stand witness to their truth, to listen without trying to fix.
Over the years, I have worked with women rebuilding their confidence, leaders rethinking their legacy, and young professionals learning to trust themselves. These conversations, these moments of honesty, have shaped who I am today. They have challenged me to grow. They have reminded me, again and again, why I do this work.
Yes, AI-enabled Coaching is here—and it is impressive. It will improve access, support consistency, and offer new insights. I welcome that progress. But no machine can truly understand the weight behind someone’s silence. Or the meaning in what remains unsaid.
The real opportunity lies in combining the best of both worlds—using AI for structure, data, and reach, while keeping the human Coach at the heart of what truly transforms: empathy, presence, and lived understanding.
I believe the future of coaching lies not in choosing between AI and humans, but in blending them wisely. Let the tools evolve. But let us never forget: Coaching began as a human connection—and it will always thrive through it.
When I started Brewathought, I was not just building a business. I was building a space. A space where insight meets empathy. Where strategy meets soul. Where every conversation is an invitation—not to change who you are, but to remember who you have always been.
So yes, let the world buzz. We will still be here. Walking beside those who need us. Listening. Witnessing. Believing in the quiet strength of being truly seen.