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Trends in Coaching: What’s Changing, What’s Human, and What’s Next

Speakers: Charlotte Jordan, CEO of Coaching.com, and Michael Welsh, Head of People, Programs & Strategy at OpenAI

Host: Susan Smalley, PCC, CPCC

CCEs: TBD

Date: Tuesday, October 20, 2026

Time: 6:30 pm – 9:00 pm Pacific Time

Location: Hotel Angeleno, 170 N Church Ln, Los Angeles, CA 90049

Parking: Valet-only parking – $10

Itinerary:

 Light bites and non-alcoholic refreshments are available throughout the evening, starting at 6:30.
 Speed networking from 7:00 pm – 7:30 pm
 Discussion begins at 7:30 pm

Tickets:

• Members: $45.00
• Non-Members: $90.00

Description

Coaching is being redefined. Organizations have more ways than ever to support development, AI is expanding what’s possible, and expectations of human coaches are shifting. The questions now are: Where do we bring the greatest value? How will our work need to evolve? And what new opportunities are opening up for coaches?

We’re bringing two executives to share their perspectives on those questions: Mike Welsh from OpenAI and Charlotte Jordan from Coaching.com. Together, we’ll explore what they’re seeing across organizations and the coaching industry, what may be coming next, and what it means for us as coaches. Come ready to listen, ask questions, and join an important conversation about the future of our profession.

Key Takeaways:
✅ Gain a clearer understanding of how AI and other forces are reshaping the coaching profession.
✅ Explore what organizations will increasingly expect from human coaches.
✅ Identify practical ways to evolve your coaching practice while strengthening the uniquely human value you bring.

About Charlotte Jordan
Charlotte Jordan, CEO of Coaching.com, is helping shape the future of coaching by advancing quality and equipping coaches with the tools, training, and community to have greater impact. She has held senior leadership roles across strategy, product, and talent. As President of the Marcus Buckingham Company, she helped grow the business through its acquisition by ADP and developed leadership solutions for global organizations. LinkedIn

About Michael Welsh
Mike Welsh, Head of People, Programs & Strategy at OpenAI, builds people systems that help organizations scale—supporting leaders, managers, and teams operating at the edge of growth. Over the past two decades, he has helped companies grow from roughly 250 to more than 15,000 employees, with experience at Facebook, Intercom, Stripe, and global leadership and coaching platforms. LinkedIn

About Susan Smalley
Susan Smalley, PCC, CPCC, is the founder of Essential Leadership Partners, LLC. For nearly 3 decades, Susan has worked with leaders and teams to build more effective communication, transform culture, and elevate their impact. Her mix of optimism, straight talk, and humor allows her to connect quickly and build trust with her clients. Before founding Essential Leadership Partners, she had a long career at The Walt Disney Studios, where she worked in Leadership Development and Coaching. LinkedIn