Q&A with MCC and Coach Course Leader at ACAP, Mark Setch

If you’ve spent a long time in the professional coaching industry, chances are you have come across Mark Setch. Coaching Course Leader at the Australian College for Applied Professions (ACAP), Mark is an MCC, clocking up thousands of hours across his career.

Now nearing 64, he shows no sign of slowing down. His passion for coaching is still as alive as ever.

Like Stewart Fleming, the founder of Coaching Life, I also had the pleasure of being taught by Mark. Based in Brisbane, in Moreton Bay, it wasn’t a long commute to meet.

We sat down over coffee to discuss Coaching Life and what turned from a conversation between friends, became a bit like a Q&A, a window into the rich life of an experienced coach who has seen and truly lived it all.

His warm presence, kind eyes and genuine care for people and the craft makes you instantly feel at ease.

Q: At ACAP you said you weren’t always a coach; you started out in the Ministry, I recall. Tell me how you got from there to where you are now.

A: Well, I didn’t start in ministry originally—I began as an accountant. I completed a Commerce degree at the University of Queensland (UQ), majoring in Accounting, then spent three years in Canberra working for the National Audit Office. Since I was a child, I’ve had a deep commitment to the Christian faith, and while in Canberra, I sensed a call to full-time ministry within the Uniting Church. So I retrained, was ordained, and served as a minister in a fulltime capacity until 2010—more than 20 years in all. What I came to realise through that work was that the part I loved most was coaching: helping people grow, regardless of their background. I was good at recognising potential and helping people develop it. The church gave me a strong foundation in understanding people and working in a helping profession.After my initial coaching education, I set up my own coaching practice part-time, while continuing to serve in part-time pastoral ministry until 2023

Q: So would you say that you learned unconditional positive regard at the church and applied it in the same way as a coach? And do you find that it is one of the most important qualities you bring?

A: Absolutely. Working for the church, I still deliver the odd sermon in the church where I worship. I learned as a Minister not to judge, be open to listening and understanding people for the multidimensional people they are. Despite what someone might do, it doesn’t define who they are; there is redemption, and a good minister can employ the skills of a great coach.

Q: How did you get started in coaching?

A: After I did my course with a course that was accredited by the ICF, I started my own practice, which was a slow burn, as many coaches can appreciate. Then over time, some left-of-field opportunities came my way. In 2015, the opportunity arose to consider offering Life Coaching for Ill and Injured Soldiers via the Soldier Recovery Centre at the Army barracks in Brisbane. After an initial complimentary offering to soldiers that brought great results, I was offered an ongoing contract that lasted for 5 years, over which time I coached over 300 soldiers and some officers. Some highly ranked officers were sceptical at first, but then they became my biggest allies, and I worked for them for five years delivering a whole coaching program until they trained their psychologists to deliver the program. It was an excellent experience, and I am very grateful to work with some truly inspirational people who bared all in difficult times.

Q: After your contract ended, what came next?

A: As my coaching experience increased, so did my love for coaching education. In 2017, I had the opportunity to serve as a Sessional Lecturer at ACAP. After progressing from PCC to MCC, supported by the thousands of coaching hours I had built up over the years, The Sessional role became a permanent part-time position in early 2022, and by the end of the year I was offered an full-time permanent academic position.I then became Course Leader of the Coaching Program and have had the privilege of teaching many wonderful coaches. I haven’t looked back since. I’ve taken on more responsibility, and ACAP has some exciting developments in the pipeline. If you’re interested in studying coaching and learning evidence-based best practice, I highly recommend the Graduate Certificate in Applied Coaching—I enjoyed teaching you and many other wonderful coaches in that program. I also love seeing their updates on LinkedIn.

Q: What advice would you give new coaches starting out trying to crack the market and build a business given there are so many stories on social media about coaches running large group programs making millions a year?

A: Do not listen to them! You do not get into coaching to make money, sure there is good money if you’re a highly skilled, experienced executive coach, but you get into coaching because, first and foremost, You have a desire to serve people and support them in becoming the best version of themselves- personally and professionally. Recognise that you may need to do some free introduction sessions so people can see value, but network, don’t quit your day job and don’t listen to charlatans acting like coaching is some kind of multi-level marketing get rich quick scheme because it isn’t. People choose you based on your experience, skills, qualifications and life story. Once people can see the value you bring, word-of-mouth referrals are your biggest asset. At ACAP, we have some excellent masterclasses for students on how to start their coaching practice Which were prepared by Slaven Drinovac, who is part of the Sessional coaching education team at ACAP.

It has been a pleasure as always, and I am sorry it has taken me so long to get in touch, but I know how busy you are at ACAP, heading up the coaching program. Thank you for today, and I look forward to hearing from you again and I am certain your readers will too.

You can contact Mark at marksetch.com or at ACAP.