Blog
The latest insights on skills to build on and tools to sharpen professionally, as well as the value of professional coaching and mentoring, written by Emerging Trails founder, Martha Schmidt.
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New! Special Series on Leadership Competencies
Through a connection found in coaching and leadership competencies, Martha shares insights on skills to master that create a solid foundation for effective leadership.
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What Coaching and Mentoring Offer in a Career Transition

Most people start a job search when entering a career transition. What’s often missing is a parallel path that brings direction, focus, and momentum to what’s next.
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Where Coaching and Mentoring Still Matter in an AI-Driven World

AI is a powerful tool for organizing your thinking and generating insight, but real progress often happens in conversation. This post explores where coaching and mentoring still matter, and why the fastest-growing leaders are using both.
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Why Mentoring Works for Leaders Who Think They Don’t Need It

Many experienced leaders resist coaching because they believe they already know what they need. This post explores why mentoring, which is grounded in real-world experience and thoughtful challenge, often delivers the clarity, confidence, and perspective they’ve been missing. Why this works: it’s concise, value-forward, and speaks directly to individual circumstances and realities.
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The Preparation Trap
Part 4 of The Inner Game of Business Series You’re not avoiding the transition. You’re preparing for it. You’ve been getting ready. Thoughtfully. Responsibly. The way a serious person approaches a major decision. There’s the certification you completed last year. The course you’re halfway through now. The mentors you’ve been meeting with. The competitor research…
