Vicky Regan is an award-winning, ICF-certified leadership coach and the founder of Hone Leadership—a platform dedicated to providing women with empowering and authentic leadership coaching. With over 25 years of experience and accolades such as Mentor of the Year Award and Coach of the Year Award, Vicky uses her advanced PCC certification to enhance clients’ navigation of the modern business and leadership world. Her approach is result-driven, practical, and equity-focused, reflected in her contribution to the bestseller book “Women Who Win.” In this interview, Vicky shares insights into her journey, the strategies behind Home Leadership, and her vision for guiding leaders to thrive in today’s dynamic business world.
Can you share the journey that led you to establish Hone Leadership and your passion for coaching leaders?
My journey to founding Hone Leadership began with a realization: no matter the industry, level of seniority, or specific environment, leaders face remarkably similar challenges. Navigating complexity, managing competing priorities, and inspiring teams in times of uncertainty—these are universal struggles I encountered repeatedly during my 25 years in leadership roles. But I also saw the potential: with the right guidance, leaders can unlock extraordinary results for themselves, their teams, and their organizations. I wanted to create a space where leaders could rise to their full potential—confidently, strategically, and with lasting impact.
At Hone Leadership, I work with a diverse range of clients—across industries and at all levels of leadership. While their contexts vary, the themes remain constant: leaders must manage competing priorities, adapt in fast-changing environments, and inspire their teams to achieve meaningful results. As a coach, my role is to help them break through challenges, refine their strategies, and amplify their influence.
What drives me most is seeing the tangible, measurable impact my clients achieve. Whether it’s navigating major organizational changes, stepping into roles they once thought were out of reach, or transforming team dynamics, I love witnessing leaders create lasting, positive change—not just for themselves but for their teams, organizations, and communities. For me, leadership is about much more than individual success—it’s about creating a ripple effect of meaningful, lasting impact.
How do you guide leaders to adopt the mindset shifts necessary for resilience and adaptive leadership in today’s fast-changing environments?
Change can be daunting—studies show that roughly 40% of people experience anxiety in response to it. When that anxiety leads to resistance, it can prevent leaders from navigating change effectively, leaving them overwhelmed when it inevitably arrives. And in today’s workplaces, change is constant.
I help leaders shift their mindset from fearing change to viewing it as an opportunity for growth. This starts with cultivating what I call an “adaptive mindset.” An adaptive mindset is the ability to remain composed, confident, and strategically responsive in the face of uncertainty.
The foundation of this shift lies in developing self-awareness and emotional intelligence. By understanding their own reactions to change and managing their emotions effectively, leaders create the emotional stability they need to guide their teams. I also emphasize the importance of curiosity and open-mindedness—two traits that allow leaders to explore new possibilities rather than falling back on old patterns of thinking.
This transformation isn’t always easy, but it’s incredibly rewarding. Leaders who develop these skills not only bounce back more quickly from setbacks, but they also bounce forward, becoming stronger, more confident, and more effective in navigating change. Resilience and adaptability are essential qualities in today’s fast-paced environments, and they can be cultivated with the right mindset and tools.
In your experience, what are the key indicators of coachability in a leader, and how do you help clients recognize and develop these traits?
Coachability is one of the most powerful traits a leader can develop, yet it’s often misunderstood. At its core, coachability is about the willingness and ability to seek, receive, and act on feedback. It’s a critical skill—not just for individual growth but for building a culture of learning and adaptability within teams. Interestingly, as leaders rise within organizations, their coachability often declines. This can happen for a number of reasons: fewer opportunities for direct feedback, the perception that they’ve “arrived,” or even fear of vulnerability. But this decline can significantly limit their growth.
Studies show that highly coachable leaders are not only higher performers but also more adaptable and promotable. These are qualities every leader should strive for—not just to advance their own careers but to model a growth mindset for their teams.
When I work with clients, I start by encouraging honest self-assessment. I introduce them to key traits of coachability—like humility, curiosity, and resilience—and help them identify where they excel and where they can grow. From there, we develop practical strategies to strengthen these traits, such as actively soliciting input, reflecting on feedback, and implementing changes in their leadership style.
Ultimately, my goal is to help leaders recognize that coachability is an ongoing practice. Leaders who embrace it not only elevate their own performance but also inspire their teams to continuously learn, adapt, and thrive.
Could you discuss how Hone Leadership helps leaders enhance their decision-making and emotional intelligence to lead more effectively?
At Hone Leadership, we take a holistic approach to leadership development, combining frameworks that enhance both decision-making and emotional intelligence. These two capabilities are deeply interconnected and essential for effective leadership.
When it comes to decision-making, we focus on helping leaders assess situations from multiple perspectives, weigh risks effectively, and make decisions with clarity and confidence. Adaptive leadership principles play a key role here—it’s not about reaching decisions by committee or consensus but rather about promoting an open, collaborative environment where unexpected ideas and solutions can emerge. True innovation often comes from the least expected places.
Building emotional intelligence is equally important. This involves developing skills like active listening, empathy, and effective communication. Leaders who excel in emotional intelligence are better equipped to build trust and inclusivity and create environments where teams feel empowered and supported.
By integrating strategic decision-making with emotional intelligence, our clients become more confident, adaptable, and impactful. They’re able to inspire their teams, navigate complexity, and achieve sustainable success in today’s dynamic business landscape.
What trends or challenges do you foresee in leadership coaching, and how is Hone Leadership adapting to stay ahead?
Leadership is evolving rapidly, and leaders today face unprecedented challenges—from navigating hybrid work models to managing the impacts of AI and multi-generational teams. To stay ahead, leaders need to be adaptive, empathetic, and forward-thinking.
One challenge I’ve seen often is the “coachability gap.” Many leaders overestimate their openness to feedback, which limits their ability to grow. At Hone Leadership, we embed coachability and adaptability into our programs, equipping leaders and their teams to navigate ambiguity and drive innovation.
Three key trends stand out today:
- Multi-generational teams: With up to five generations in the workplace, leaders must navigate diverse needs and motivators. While it’s easy to fall into stereotypes, it’s critical to approach each individual with curiosity and understanding. For example, while Gen Z may be associated with a strong desire for acknowledgment, the truth is, everyone benefits from feeling valued. Leaders who approach this diversity with empathy create inclusive, high-performing teams.
- Change management: The ability to lead change is the number one skill leaders need today. With 70% of change initiatives failing, the role of a strong change leader is more critical than ever. Our Change Catalyst program helps leaders sharpen skills in stakeholder alignment, communication, and influence without authority—the three key areas that drive successful change.
- Broader leadership development: The pace of change has created gaps in leadership training. As a result, coaching often expands to include broader leadership development, bridging gaps in knowledge while supporting the application of new skills. This approach not only benefits individual leaders but also strengthens organizations as a whole.
By staying attuned to these trends and challenges, Hone Leadership continues to empower leaders with the skills, mindsets, and tools they need to succeed in today’s ever-evolving landscape.
