2025 CEO Coaching and Kitchen Cabinet Survey

A new study from Stanford University Graduate School of Business, Rock Center for Corporate Governance at Stanford University, and the Hoover Institution, Stanford University, in collaboration with The Miles Group, shows that 95% of CEOs turn to professional coaches or a trusted “kitchen cabinet” — a circle of informal advisors — to sharpen their thinking on strategy, team dynamics, reputation, and personal effectiveness.

The role of coaching has grown significantly over the past decade, and many CEOs now rely on their inner circle for the most sensitive conversations, from balancing work and life to navigating board decisions and legal issues.