In January 2020, the International Coaching Federation (ICF) launched the Thought Leadership Institute (TLI) as a global platform for fresh ideas on how coaching can support human development and societal well-being. As a branch of the ICF ecosystem, we are here to inspire you—coaches and global leaders—to envision coaching’s impact on creating positive futures for work, education, well-being, and planetary ecology.
Since our inception, we have evolved to meet your emerging needs and create new possibilities for the future of coaching. Our journey has been marked by bold inquiries, impactful collaborations, and the development of tools that empower you, the coach, to be future-ready.
Our initial work began in 2021, with our major initiatives on the Future of Work and the Future of Coaching. These sparked nearly 100 thought pieces, videos, graphics, and articles. In 2022, we expanded into the Future of Education, culminating in our first Manifesto—a testament to the unique role coaching can play in education.
In 2023, we embarked on a more collaborative model, conducting in-depth interviews with expert partners to dive deep into the Future of Planetary Ecology. We then delved into the intersections of AI and coaching in the Future of Coaching.
Then, in 2024, we introduced the Future of Well-Being, alongside our first futures-thinking tools for coaches. These tools laid the groundwork for actionable foresight and continuous innovation—empowering you with insights to turn curiosity into impact.
As of 2025, TLI has stepped into a new phase as ICF’s dedicated futurist function, providing a forward-looking compass for the coaching profession. With the newly named Center for the Future of Coaching, we publish actionable futures thinking foresight every quarter. We are here to equip you to navigate complexity, lead change, and continue inspiring the future.
In 2026, we will publish our first Annual Futures Report. Sign up to be the first to know about it!
