Question 1

What is executive coaching?

Accepted Answer

Executive coaching is a one-to-one professional development engagement for senior leaders — typically VPs, SVPs, and C-suite executives — focused on the skills, behaviors, and judgment required at their current or next altitude. Effective executive coaching is grounded in the coach's own executive operating experience and tailored to the specific leadership transition the client is navigating, rather than a generic curriculum.

Question 2

Who is executive coaching for?

Accepted Answer

Executive coaching is most valuable for newly promoted VPs and SVPs, first-time C-suite executives, leaders navigating a company change or industry pivot, and senior leaders who have received feedback that they need to develop executive presence, political fluency, or strategic communication. Stratos Coaching works specifically with leaders at the VP, SVP, and C-suite level — not entry-level managers.

Question 3

How much does executive coaching cost?

Accepted Answer

Executive coaching typically costs $300–$1,000 per session, with full engagements running $7,500–$30,000 over 6–12 months. Enterprise firms charge $800–$2,000+ per session; boutique firms range from $300–$750. The biggest driver is whether the coach has actually held a seat at the altitude the client is stepping into. Stratos Coaching builds tailored engagement proposals; details are discussed during the free strategy conversation.

Question 4

What makes a good executive coach?

Accepted Answer

A good executive coach has held the seat. Theory and certification matter, but the strongest signal is whether the coach has actually operated at the altitude the client is stepping into — running a function, presenting to a board, sitting on an executive leadership team. Coaches without that experience can apply frameworks but struggle to read the unspoken dynamics that define executive rooms. Stratos coaches have 25+ years of enterprise leadership experience, including time in SVP and C-suite seats.

Question 5

Is executive coaching worth it?

Accepted Answer

Executive coaching is worth it when the cost of the leader failing in the role is meaningfully larger than the cost of the engagement — which is almost always true at the VP, SVP, and C-suite level. McKinsey research finds 40%+ of executive transitions fail within 18 months. A successful transition protects compensation, career trajectory, and the organization's bet on the leader. Coaching is a deliberate investment in raising the probability of that successful transition.

Question 6

How does Stratos Coaching work?

Accepted Answer

Stratos Coaching engagements begin with a free strategy conversation to understand the leader's altitude transition, current challenges, and goals. From there, the coach designs a tailored engagement — typically a structured multi-session program over 3–12 months, supplemented by behavioral assessment, between-session work, and stakeholder feedback when appropriate. Engagements are 1:1, fully confidential, and conducted virtually with executives across the United States.

Question 7

What is an altitude transition?

Accepted Answer

An altitude transition is the career moment when a leader steps into a significantly higher level of responsibility — Director to VP, VP to SVP, function head to C-suite — and the skills that earned the promotion stop being sufficient. The new altitude demands strategic thinking instead of operational excellence, influence instead of authority, and board-level communication instead of team-level communication. Most altitude transitions take 12–18 months to navigate; the early months disproportionately shape the outcome.

Executive Coaching Services for VPs, SVPs & C-Suite Leaders

What does Stratos Coaching do?

We coach leadership capabilities that drive results.

Leaders and organizations navigating altitude transitions.

Accelerate your leader's development.

It starts with a conversation.

Executive Coaching Across the U.S.