A New Perspective: Redefining Retirement Through Coaching
As a senior project manager nearing retirement, Scott Heisler was looking for a new line of work that would support his passion for helping others. His daughter-in-law recommended a certificate in professional coaching.
“She said it would be a good fit for me, and the new skill set would allow me to use my talents in an adjunct career,” said Scott.
With the support of his employer, Scott decided to become a certified professional coach and sought a training program that would help him connect with like-minded people.
“I was looking for programs that followed the International Coaching Federation (ICF) guidelines and ethics,” he said. “The UC Davis coaching program met those requirements.”
New Techniques, New Possibilities
Scott enrolled in UC Davis Continuing and Professional Education’s Professional Coaching for Life and Work Certificate, a program designed to prepare students to become certified by the International Coaching Federation—the only credential program for coaches with global recognition.
In the online program, Scott received attentive mentorship and an eye-opening experience that changed his approach to communication in a professional setting. “I had spent all my career training and mentoring others,” he said. “But the professional coaching skills I learned taught me how to support and partner with my clients instead of teaching or training them.”
Through the coaching certificate program, Scott developed a deeper understanding of how different methods of communication, such as asking questions, could yield powerful results.
“There is so much more to the magic of coaching,” he said. “Using perceptive questions and clarifying statements with short observations can lead to breakthrough moments. It frees people up to explore and move forward in new directions. I’ve seen this magic with my clients. I’ve felt the energy change through this process.”
A New Path Forward
With his coaching certificate in hand, Scott is looking to continue developing his coaching practice in retirement and focus on supporting healthcare executives in all stages of their careers.
“The program provided excellent training and mentorship from skilled and experienced coaches,” he said. “I was able to jump-start my accumulation of coaching hours to be able to sit for my ICF exam. The coaching training was an eye-opening experience.”
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Scott walked away from the program transformed by the coaching mindset and with new clarity on a second career.
“I am still learning and evolving in my coaching journey, and I am continually excited by the effect it can have on my clients,” he said.
His advice for others considering the program: Keep an open mind about the power of coaching and the importance of asking questions when partnering with your clients.