Master's (MS) in Executive Coaching and Organizational Consulting

An executive coach is first and foremost a thought partner. Executive coaches will often play the role of an accountability partner, sounding board and facilitator with a focus on developing and enhancing personal insight, social skill and leadership capability.   

Executive coaches most often work with: 

• High potential talent transitioning to leadership roles
• Leaders transitioning to roles with higher levels of responsibility   
• C-suite executives and entrepreneurs working though communication and people challenges 

Executive coaches often collaborate with their clients to focus on: 

• Developing and communicating a positive vision for the future  
• Identifying and articulating strengths and challenges as a leader 
• More effectively communicating with and working with teams
• Recognizing the impact of style, tone and presence 
• Learning and practicing techniques for better recognizing and regulating emotions
• Contemplating the impact business decisions 

An  organizational consultant is a professional who brings tools, methodologies and expertise to complex business challenges, enhancing their client's capability to achieve organizational goals. They leverage data and insights to develop evidenced-based solutions and will often partner with their clients to implement these organizational solutions effectively. Organizational consultants may work with senior executives on issues such as workplace culture, team performance, organization development, diversity and inclusion, and talent management. They are often called upon to support large-scale change and transformation initiatives linked to strategic imperatives.

ECOC is about providing a strong foundation in coaching and consulting through exposure to a variety of rigorously tested models, approaches and practices that have been demonstrated to have positive impact on human and organizational development. We accomplish this through our: 

• Highly credentialled and experienced faculty who are all accomplished practitioners and passionate educators. All of our faculty are highly engaged and involved with our students, community and industry. 
• Cohort model which is meant to encourage ECOC students to develop meaningful connections with each other so as to tap the incredible knowledge and experience of their colleagues and co-learners.
• Deep connections to the coaching and consulting industry where we continue to forge connections with industry thought leaders, executives and entrepreneurs through our exclusive speaker series, Spring Coaching Conference and annual NYU Coaching & Technology Summit.        

Career opportunities in executive coaching include working as a self-employed independent coach, working with a niche coaching/consulting firm, working in a professional services firm that offers coaching services, and working as an internal coach in a fortune 1000 company. With the rise of digital coaching technology many coaches are working independently through coaching platforms like Ezra, AceUp, BetterUp, Bravely, CoachHub, Coachingcom and Optify among many others. Experienced coaches have also taken roles as coaching practice leaders, coach educators, thought leaders, and coaching technology entrepreneurs.   

Career opportunities in organizational consulting exist in large multi-practice consulting firms and in niche boutique firms. Many consultants also operate as solo practitioners. Careers often begin by providing a specific area of expertise as a subject matter expert to a technical matter. Through experience, consultants develop into strategic advisors providing an array of services. Some consultants specialize not only in a practice area such as organization design but may also focus on an industry sector, for example, the life sciences. Other consultants prefer to operate as generalists working across a range of practices and industries. As careers progress, consultants may take on leadership roles in their firms and oversee the development of emerging professionals. 

Many of our MS in Executive Coaching and Organizational Consulting graduates have gone on to work as external coaching and consultants working independently, within boutique firms and full-time for major international professional services firms. Other alumni have pursued professions as internal coaches and as in-house learning and organizational development professionals at mid-sized to large companies. Some examples of the firms our alumni have been hired by include: EY, Korn Ferry Consulting and Boston Consulting Group.

Yes. The NYU MS degree in Executive Coaching and Organizational Consulting is accredited by the International Coaching Federation (ICF) as a Level 2 ICF Accredited Coaching Education Provider. 

The NYU MS degree in Executive Coaching and Organizational Consulting meets the academic requirements for ICF’s Professional Certified Coach (PCC) credentials. There are additional ICF requirements for the credential that must be completed outside of the NYU program, such as coaching hours.