Last week, I had the pleasure of attending the 2026 ICF Midwest Coaches Conference held in Des Moines, Iowa. I have participated in several such conferences before, and each one leaves me feeling more inspired, equipped, and delighted than the last! I had a wonderful time connecting with longtime coaching friends as well as brand new ones, and I am grateful to all who worked tirelessly to host such a welcoming and growth-oriented event.
I’ve long said I learn best on paper, so I of course took copious notes throughout the conference. As I now distill them to note key learnings and pertinent action steps for myself, I thought I’d also take the opportunity to share some of my takeaways with you, too. Some of these may be coach-specific, others geared toward professionals in general, and still others point to overall life lessons. I’ve listed them in the form of questions for you to ponder, answer, and perhaps take action on. I hope you enjoy!
1. What core message would you love to sing from the rooftops? I attended a PechaKucha-style session, where each participant shared 20 slides, with 20 seconds per slide, for a total presentation of six minutes and forty seconds. I loved the topics addressed as well as my own personal reflecting on what I’d say if I did something similar. This is a terrific and clarifying thought-exercise!
2. What tone are you setting? Plenary speaker Tamsin Astor delved into the topic of conscious leadership, sharing how we as leaders are emotional tone-setters and need to be aware of this. Take time to pause, notice what you’re experiencing, then choose your response from that place of presence. A surge of emotion is natural in various situations, but we benefit from taking it as information – not instruction – and pausing before responding.
3. How can coaching support others beyond the ‘traditional’ methods? This takeaway stemmed from the wide variety of coaches I chatted with over the course of the conference. In addition to one-on-one and group coaching, I met with coaches who teach coaching at universities and workplaces, incorporate coaching into social work programs, work to embed coaching cultures within their organizations, focus efforts on serving those who might not normally have access to coaching, and more. SO inspiring.
4. How can coaching and high-tech/AI best coexist? We had numerous discussions around this topic which were rich, nuanced, and incredibly human-centered. I really appreciated the emphasis on continuous learning and growth in these areas, the role of values and ethics, and the ways our ICF organization as a whole continues to advance and address possibilities. Along with the support tech can provide, the phrase ‘Humanity matters more than ever’ lingers in my mind, too.
5. What’s it like to meet your mentors-from-afar? In a word, at least in this instance, delightful. Early in my coaching career, I read several of Laura Berman Fortgang’s books and resonated with much of what she shared, so when I saw she was a presenter here I knew instantly which breakout session I’d be attending. She was motivating, thoughtful, energetic, and an absolute delight to meet. She’s also been a coach for 30+ years and her knowledge and experience continue to inspire me.
6. What can you learn from what you’re trying to avoid? Plenary speaker Sukari Pinnock Fitts offered wonderfully thought- and action-provoking insights around paying attention to what we’re noticing – particularly when we’re noticing discomfort, uncertainty, or a desire to revert back to our comfort zone rather than explore the unknown. I appreciated the spotlight on the many ways our own lived experiences may differ from our clients’ and how important it is to acknowledge, ask questions, and be open to responses that may very likely differ from our own.
7. How do coaches give back? Countless, countless ways. We spoke about a variety of community coaching initiatives, pay-it-forward coaching, coaching with those who may never otherwise have the opportunity to experience it, and more. While I’ve happily offered my own pro bono work and have supported numerous literacy organizations since launching my business 23 years ago, I’ve now got fresh ideas for even more ways to give back and make a positive, purposeful difference.
8. What path do coaches tend to follow? If you’re considering becoming a coach and wonder about the ‘typical’ path, this conference reminded me how vast the field truly is! I met people who became coaches while or after engaging in a variety of fields, from business to counseling to classical music to standup comedy to nonprofit leadership to any number of other areas. There is room for all, and all of those experiences can help us grow as coaches, too.
9. How do we continue to advance our skills as coaches? I spoke with attendees who have been coaching for a few decades as well as those who have been coaching for just a few months, and there’s something to learn from each and every one of them. I also appreciated how each of them wanted to continue growing in the profession, too! We discussed a variety of ways to do so – from hiring your own coach, attending ICF chapter and global events, taking courses from accredited sources, meeting up with other coaches regularly, keeping up with all continuing education requirements, participating in conferences like this one, and so much more.
10. What’s it like being in a room filled with coaches? In a nutshell, it’s kind of the best! I’ve sung the joys of walking into a room full of coaches for years, even long before I served as President and various other board positions for our state ICF chapter. If you’d like to surround yourself with curious, kind, intelligent, growth-oriented, lifelong learners, I think you’ll find what you’re seeking at an ICF conference, event, or chapter meeting. I always walk away with my cup overflowing!
If you attended the conference, be sure to share your top takeaway with me too, either in the comments below or on LinkedIn. I’d love to connect with and learn from you!
I’m Dr. Christi Hegstad, and for over 20 years I’ve helped people bring meaning to work, purpose to life, and achieve bold and difference-making goals. Whether a one-time session or a longer-term partnership, I’ve got a coaching option to meet your needs. Learn more and set up your initial consultation today!