The Journey to Mastery: Stephanie Tait’s Path to Becoming an MCC
In coaching, mastery isn’t a destination; it’s a commitment. It’s the decision to never stop learning, refining, and deepening the impact we make in people’s lives. For Stephanie Tait, one of our remarkable faculty members at The International Coaching Group, that commitment recently reached a major milestone: earning the prestigious ICF Master Certified Coach (MCC) credential.
Stephanie’s story is more than a career timeline. It’s a powerful example of growth, resilience, and purpose, and a reminder that becoming a masterful coach is as much about who you become along the way as it is about the credential itself.
A Calling from the Start
“Coaching has been a through line throughout my career,” Stephanie shares. “Early on, there was something within me that knew I was a coach.”
That inner calling became action in 2005, when, as a university student in the final year of her undergraduate degree, Stephanie started her coach training, hired her first Master Certified Coach, and launched her first coaching business from her dorm room. It was an early leap into a profession that felt deeply aligned with who she was meant to be.
Five years later, she earned her ICF PCC (Professional Certified Coach) credential in 2010 and spent the first years of her career running her coaching practice. But she also knew that to serve clients at the highest level, she needed a broader perspective.
Broadening Horizons Beyond Coaching
After her initial years as a coach, Stephanie decided to expand her professional experience and business acumen. Following her MBA, she stepped into senior consulting roles with two global management consulting firms and eventually rose to Managing Director in a corporate training company.
While she wasn’t formally coaching during this chapter, the coach within her never left. “I intentionally took a coach-approach to my leadership, people management, and communication style,” she says. Coaching wasn’t just a job; it had become a lens through which she led and connected with others.
Returning to Coaching with a Renewed Purpose
In 2022, Stephanie felt the pull to return to coaching full-time. This time, the decision was grounded in something deeper: a desire to make a lasting impact on the lives of the people she served.
Her years in corporate leadership had only reinforced what she already knew: that professional coaching can transform individuals and organizations by helping people unlock their potential and perform at their best. She had experienced the power of coaching firsthand, both as a practitioner and as someone who had been coached.
The Commitment to Mastery
“When I returned to coaching full time, I made a commitment to myself to become the best coach I could be,” Stephanie explains. “While I believe this will be a lifelong journey, one of the key milestones for me was to earn the ICF Master Certified Coach (MCC) credential.”
But for Stephanie, this wasn’t about adding another title. “I didn’t just want to earn the credential. I wanted to be a masterful coach, for my clients, for the people I serve, and for myself.”
The journey to MCC is rigorous, requiring at least 2,500 hours of coaching experience, advanced training, mentoring, and a demonstrated ability to coach at the highest professional standard. But beyond the hours and assessments, it’s a deeply reflective process. It demands humility, curiosity, and a willingness to grow, not just in skill, but in character.
More Than a Credential — A Transformation
For Stephanie, the MCC journey was more than a professional milestone. “Earning the ICF MCC credential caps off years of study and deliberate practice as a professional coach,” she reflects. “It’s a significant career and life milestone. The credentialing process was truly a transformative chapter, one through which I grew immensely as a coach and as a human being.”
Her story is a powerful reminder that mastery in coaching isn’t just about accumulating techniques or ticking boxes. It’s about evolving into someone who can hold space with deeper presence, listen with greater empathy, and ask questions that ignite lasting change.
Final Thoughts: Mastery as a Lifelong Journey
At The International Coaching Group, we believe mastery is not a finish line; it’s a mindset. It’s the ongoing pursuit of excellence, curiosity, and growth that defines our profession. Stephanie Tait’s journey reminds us that coaching isn’t just a skillset; it’s a calling. And those who answer that calling with commitment and courage not only transform others, they transform themselves.
If you’re considering your own next step, whether it’s launching your coaching journey, pursuing your first credential, or aiming for MCC, remember: every step matters. Mastery is built one conversation, one lesson, one moment of growth at a time.
Stephanie Tait
Stephanie Tait is an ICF Professional Certified Coach and former Managing Director with a background in leadership roles across the Professional Services, Education, and Technology sectors. She has coached and consulted for global firms including Deloitte and Oliver Wyman.
Known for her structured, goal-oriented approach, Stephanie helps senior professionals clarify their vision, overcome challenges, and elevate their leadership impact.
