Meet Mike Frisch: One of iCoach Global’s Original Faculty and a True Coaching Trailblazer

The field of coaching has grown from a niche idea into a global profession - and few people have been part of that evolution from the very beginning like Mike Frisch. In this video conversation, I sit down with Mike to reflect on his journey and his influence on both the iCoach Global community and field of coaching.

I had the pleasure of interviewing Mike, one of the original faculty members of the iCoach Global program. When I went through the program back in 2015, we met in person every Friday at Baruch College in New York City. One of my fondest memories is Mike’s welcoming presence at the door each week - making sure every participant felt seen, supported, and ready to learn.

Mike’s story mirrors the evolution of the coaching profession itself. He began coaching in the early 1980s, when the field was still in its infancy, and witnessed its transformation into a respected and evidence-based discipline. Over the years, he led a coaching practice within a leadership development firm, held senior HR roles, and became one of the early champions of professionalizing coaching inside organizations.

In the 2000s, Mike began teaching and writing extensively about coaching - both internal and external - and eventually met Bob Lee, founder of iCoach. Along with Jeremy Robinson and Karen Metzger, they helped set the foundation for the iCoach Global program, shaping a generation of coaches (with other amazing faculty who joined along the way).

One of Mike’s most valuable pieces, Use of Self in Executive Coaching, remains a cornerstone of transformational coaching. It explores how a coach’s presence, intentionality, and self-awareness can become the most powerful tools for facilitating growth and change.

I hope you enjoy getting to know Mike as much as I have over the past 20 years - and come away inspired by his deep wisdom, warmth, and the legacy he continues to build within the iCoach community.