History: 2007-2008: Meeting Modern Demands

In 2007, ICF took a pioneering step for the coaching profession by commissioning our first-ever Global Coaching Study, a comprehensive analysis conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC) to measure the industry’s scope, revenue, and trends worldwide. We not only studied coaching’s reach in the world, but we also found ways to deepen our own reach and impact.  

2007 – Groundbreaking Global Research 

As the demand for coaching continued to grow, we commissioned our first Global Coaching Study, which was conducted by PwC. This groundbreaking study provided a comprehensive overview of the coaching industry’s size, revenue, trends, and the business and practice of coaching. It was the first time coaching was examined with such depth on a global scale, providing coaches with invaluable insights.  

Since 2007, four follow-up studies have been published. The studies not only show that the coaching industry has grown at an astonishing rate, but also the response sizes for each study have become larger and more globally representative.  

2008- Expanding Regional Support and Social Impact 

With some part-time offices serving as a precedent, ICF officially launched a regional staff structure in a continued effort to support members more locally. We added staff in Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Today, we have staff in all regions of the world.  

We also took steps to deepen our social impact by establishing a formal Board of Trustees for the ICF Foundation, a nonprofit entity that focuses exclusively on education, research, and charitable work in professional coaching.