Leading with Heart: How Executive Coach Mitchell Schuckman Found Freedom in Uncertainty

After decades of coaching leaders inside a global powerhouse, Mitchell Schuckman faced a forced retirement date—but chose reinvention over retreat. Launching The Schuckman Group allowed him to transform his deep well of leadership expertise into a personalized mission to help others lead with greater humanity, clarity, and impact. In this edition of the Wantrepreneur to Entrepreneur Spotlight series, Mitchell shares how shedding the safety net of structure led to his boldest chapter yet—where discomfort sparked growth, and storytelling became both strategy and superpower.

Hi, Mitchell Schuckman! Thanks for joining us today. Tell us about your business. Who do you serve, how do you serve them, and what's the impact that your business and work makes?

I run The Schuckman Group, which is basically my dream job: executive coaching and leadership development for senior leaders, rising stars, and the teams that depend on them. I work with professionals who are great at what they do but want to be even more effective—more aligned, more impactful, and more human in how they lead.

Whether it's one-on-one coaching, group sessions, or custom leadership programs, my job is to help people show up more fully in their work and lives. The impact? Real growth. Clearer thinking. Better decisions. Stronger teams. And often, more joy in the work.

Tell us about the moment you finally felt like you went from wantrepreneur to entrepreneur.

It was the moment I stopped updating my LinkedIn to say “coming on July 1, 2025” and instead wrote, “Founder + CEO of The Schuckman Group.” That edit made it real. This wasn’t a plan - it was a launch. And the more I talked about it like a real business, the more it became one.

Describe the moment or period in your life/career that motivated you to make the entrepreneurial leap.

Let’s just say: mandatory retirement is a hell of a motivator. I spent decades at a top global firm, coaching leaders, building teams, and helping win billion-dollar deals. And, I always new my retirement date. In our firm, partners always had a "no later than" retirement date. As that date approached, I was certain I wasn’t done. Not even close. I still had the energy, the passion, and the experience—and I wanted to do it on my terms. That was the leap.

Describe a tool, service, or software that has been a game-changer for your business. How does it contribute to your success?

I implemented Pipedrive for CRM and it’s been a total game-changer. It keeps me organized without overwhelming me. Scheduling, proposals, client tracking—all in one spot. Also, it integrates well with everything else I use. I'm a business developer at heart.  Having an intuitive CRM allows me to be consistent and disciplined in my business development and to stay on top of my client responsibilities.

We know that success is very often a non-linear path. Tell us about a failure, pivot point, or lesson that changed your course or direction and helped to get you where you are today.

When I launched The Schuckman Group, I really wanted a crystal ball. I wanted to know exactly how it would all play out—who my clients would be, how much work I’d have, what each month would look like. I was craving certainty after decades in a structured, predictable firm.

But entrepreneurship doesn’t give you a map. It gives you a blank canvas.

I had to learn to get comfortable with the discomfort of not knowing. The truth is, some of the greatest opportunities and vet work came from moments I didn’t see coming.

What unconventional strategy did you employ that significantly impacted your business?

I leaned into storytelling. Not just in my coaching, but in how I built the business. I told real stories about what I’ve learned, who I’ve helped, and why this work matters. I stopped trying to sound like a corporate brochure and just sounded like me. That is also the title of my new (and first) book - "I'll tell you a great story: building closer relationships and winning in business through storytelling".

What’s something you wish you knew sooner that you’d give as advice for aspiring or newer entrepreneurs?

You don’t need to wait until everything’s perfect. Launch messy. Say yes before you’ve figured it all out. The clarity comes in the doing. And most importantly: build a business that feels like you. That’s where the energy—and the clients—come from.

Want to dive deeper into Mitchell's work? Check out the links below!

• Visit The Schuckman Group website: theschuckmangroup.com
• Connect with Mitchell Schuckman on LinkedIn: Mitchell Schuckman
• Follow The Schuckman Group on Instagram: @theschuckmangroup
• Check out Mitchell's Book on Amazon, Kindle, and Apple Books "I'll Tell You A Great Story: Building Closer Relationships And Winning In Business Through Storytelling"