In a world where personal growth, resilience, and well-being have never been more essential, the role of a coach has become a driving force in shaping lives and industries alike. From health and wellness to leadership and personal development, today’s coaches are not only guiding individuals toward success but also redefining what it means to thrive in a fast-changing world. 2025’s Most Influential Coaches celebrates the visionaries who are breaking boundaries, inspiring transformation, and leaving a lasting impact on those they serve. These leaders represent a new era of coaching, one built on authenticity, innovation, and a deep commitment to empowering others.
1: Stuart Wade
Stuart Wade, widely recognized as a High-Performance Mindset Strategist & The Mind Coach, has built an extraordinary career at the intersection of neuroscience, psychology, and elite performance. A lifelong martial artist and four-time World Champion, his journey from a shy six-year-old boy inspired by Bruce Lee to a globally sought-after coach is as compelling as it is transformative. Early failures on his martial arts path ignited a relentless pursuit of mastery, leading him to explore the subconscious mind and ultimately clinical hypnosis. Guided by mentors like Paul McKenna and Dr. Richard Bandler, Wade developed deep expertise that has empowered him to work with some of the world’s most accomplished leaders, entrepreneurs, and athletes. Through his proprietary PRO Method, Process, Rewire, Orchestrate, he helps high achievers’ clear inner blocks, reprogram their subconscious, and create purposeful, lasting success. Wade’s brand is defined by exclusivity, precision, and transformation. More akin to a private members’ club than a coaching practice, it has become the trusted space where elite clients can remove the mask and achieve breakthroughs that go beyond financial gain. His clients credit him with sharper focus, renewed resilience, and the ability to lead with clarity and purpose. Beyond business success, Wade’s mission is global: to inspire leaders who influence thousands, if not millions, to drive innovation, compassion, and unity in the world. As a Clinical Partner of Nurosym, he also integrates cutting-edge vagal neuromodulation technology into his work, cementing his reputation as a pioneer who blends science with human transformation.
2: Dr. Pieter Berends
In the modern dynamic business environment, corporations develop leaders in terms of strategy, communication, and performance levels, but Dr. Pieter Berends departs radically from this concept. Dr. Berends, a focused embodiment coach with strong leanings toward executive coaching, assists leaders in stepping off the paper and into actual lived experience. His task is to focus on the notion that actual leadership begins in the body in posture, breathing, attending, and managing emotions. Focusing on the physical helps executives connect to a deeper intuition, be more concrete in their decisions, and act calmly in moments of high pressure. This is not only leadership as a skill, but leadership as a state of being.
The difference in Dr. Berends’ approach is that it has a reputation for effecting lasting modification. His coaching does not provide temporary changes in mindset but instead invites his clients into a more profound process, where leading followers based solely on the head does not meet the intelligence of the body and the inner values of a leader. As a coach to CEOs, founders, and high-potential team leads, he cultivates the ability to feel confident within the skin and to no longer feel hampered by a sense of lack. This is because it cannot be learned from a textbook. Clients also tend to go home with more than better leadership, but also a stronger connection to themselves, their teams, and purpose. When so many leaders are experiencing an increasing loss of connection, Dr. Pieter Berends has provided a way back to presence, genuineness, and power that is internally sourced.
3: Kathleen E. R. Murphy
Kathleen E.R. Murphy, CEO of Market Me Too, is a trailblazer in unlocking hidden potential and transforming talent into lasting success. Known as a “people diamond polisher” and confidence mechanic, she doesn’t just coach, she elevates. Recognized among the world’s top women Executive Sports Coaches, Kathleen draws on 25 years as a high-tech marketing executive to uniquely merge business acumen with a passion for developing world-class performers. Her results-driven, high-impact programs empower individuals, athletes, sports coaches and their teams, and corporate leaders alike, shaping dynamic cultures where strengths shine, confidence thrives, and extraordinary outcomes are achieved.
Kathleen’s approach is holistic and deeply personalized. She is a Gallup CliftonStrengths and International Guild NLP Coach and has the knowledge to create a personalized coaching process that supports self-awareness, motivation, confidence, purpose and communication skills, which are critical factors in success on and off the field and inside the boardroom. Other than coaching, she is a renowned author, a media figure, and host of the podcast Murf Unfiltered, in which she gives advice about leadership and personal and professional development. Kathleen and Charlotte, her service dog in training, are redefining teamwork because building trust and support is better when done on two feet and four paws. By offering multidimensional services, Kathleen E.R. Murphy not only coaches her clients but also empowers them to become courageous individuals and influential leaders in both business and sports, driving remarkable achievements in their professional and personal lives.
4: Clive Vanderwagen
In business, change is constant and pressure is high, and Clive Vanderwagen has become one of the voices executives turn to for clarity and direction. Recognized internationally as both a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) and an Accredited Team Coach (ACTC), he has spent over a decade helping leaders sharpen their emotional intelligence and lead with purpose. From boardrooms in South Africa to global forums, Clive has transformed the way organizations think about culture, performance, and influence.
His results extend beyond one-on-one coaching. As founder of ReadyPeople, a consultancy serving companies worldwide, Clive delivers leadership development, team dynamics, and customer experience programs that are anything but generic. His immersive, tailored interventions challenge assumptions, dissolve barriers, and spark lasting change from the inside out.
As 2025 places new demands on executives to lead with both head and heart, Clive’s approach is more relevant than ever. His blend of global perspective, psychological expertise, and real-world business impact makes him one of the most influential coaches of his generation and a trusted partner to those shaping the future of work.
5: Serena Napoli
As the Founder and National Board-Certified Health & Wellness Coach (NBC-HWC) at Mazarine Wellness, Serena Napoli has dedicated her career to empowering individuals to achieve sustainable well-being. With a passion for helping others live healthier, more balanced lives, she blends evidence-based practices with a personalized approach, ensuring her clients not only reach their goals but also cultivate lifelong habits that support their overall health. Her work goes beyond traditional coaching, emphasizing the connection between physical, mental, and emotional wellness. By fostering trust, compassion, and accountability, she inspires lasting change in those she serves. Under her leadership, Mazarine Wellness has become a trusted name for individuals seeking guidance, clarity, and transformation on their wellness journey.
In addition to her coaching expertise, Serena Napoli is a results-driven marketing professional who brings creativity, strategy, and innovation into every project she undertakes. She has a proven ability to spark meaningful conversations, challenge conventional thinking, and deliver insights that drive growth and value. With a strong focus on detail and an ability to see the bigger picture, she excels in building connections that matter. Her exceptional communication skills, organizational strength, and collaborative mindset enable her to manage complex projects with ease while maintaining a people-first leadership style rooted in respect. This unique combination of wellness expertise and marketing acumen positions her as an influential coach and professional, inspiring both individuals and organizations to reimagine what it means to thrive.
