Over the past three months, I’ve had the privilege of coaching students from the Entrepreneurship Exchange coming from Egypt, Morocco, and the United States. They were all members of winning teams of the program’s final pitch competition, and we worked together over four sessions following a coaching framework.
The framework we use is based on Integrative Coaching — a non-directive approach where students choose what best supports them in the moment. The idea is that the client and not the coach sets the agenda, defines the goals and chooses what matters most in each session. The coach’s role is to create a safe space, ask powerful questions and facilitate awareness without advising or solving the problem for them.
The experience has been as diverse and dynamic as the students themselves. One of the things I appreciate most about this work is that no two paths ever look the same. Each student arrives with their own story, their own questions, and their own way of moving through the world. And each journey unfolds at its own pace.
We began the process by asking: What is coaching, really? What happens in these coaching sessions? Curiosity is such a powerful starting point. Social media is full of quick fixes and promises to “turn your life around in a few simple steps,” but real growth is more complex, takes time and is rooted in showing up for yourself in everyday life through small consistent steps. At the same time, it is also showing yourself kindness when things do not go as planned.
It sounds simple and yet, as many discovered, the process can feel uncomfortable at times. Growth often asks us to sit with uncertainty, to look at ourselves honestly and to explore possibilities we hadn’t previously considered. That discomfort isn’t a sign of doing something wrong, it’s often a sign that something meaningful is shifting.
While I always protect the confidentiality of my coaching clients, I can say that the shifts I’ve witnessed have been remarkable.
Some students opened themselves to new possibilities. Some set fresh goals – ones that were bolder, clearer or more aligned with who they want to become. Some built clarity around their next steps. Some explored their values and how those values can guide their entrepreneurial decisions. And some began noticing patterns and behaviors that influence how they show up in their work and relationships.
Growth doesn’t follow a single path, and progress doesn’t look the same for everyone. Every insight, every shift, every moment of noticing deserves celebrating.
I am genuinely proud of the courage, reflection, and openness I’ve seen. Coaching is not a passive process, and it requires vulnerability, willingness, and a bit of bravery. The Entrepreneurship Exchange participants brought all of that into our conversations.
And the truth is, this journey has taught me a great deal as well. Every session, every person, every moment of insight has shaped me as a coach and as a person. Coaching talented students from diverse backgrounds has shown me that the work goes far beyond technique — it requires trusting the students, trusting the process, and becoming more comfortable supporting them in moments of uncertainty. The work also deepens my self‑awareness, because each session holds up a mirror to who I am, how I listen, and how I make meaning. Every student and every conversation reinforces the importance of staying curious and questioning the cultural lenses through which we interpret the world. This experience proves that being an equal partner in the coaching process is not only the right approach but it is also what allows me to grow as a person. For that, I’m grateful.
To each student who allowed me to walk alongside them during this chapter: thank you. It has been an honor to witness your evolution, and I’m excited for what comes next—for the ideas you’ll pursue, the choices you’ll make and the leaders you’re becoming. Here’s to the next steps, whatever shape they take.