Mentoring and coaching, two words often used interchangeably, yet they shape workplace culture in profoundly different ways. When you look closer, the nuances reveal powerful insights into how organizations can drive equity, nurture belonging, and boost retention.
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To dive into this layered conversation, I’m joined by Lindiwe Davis — Founder of FutureState Collective Group and The Couch Coach. She is also an Organizational Effectiveness & People Engagement Leader at Google, serving as one of Google’s Culture Coaches, and a podcaster who has spent years guiding leaders and teams to build inclusive, thriving workplace cultures.
Host of this Episode: Sanjeevani Saikia
Guest Bio
Lindiwe Davis—also known as The Couch Coach—is a tech leader by day and an award-winning founder, speaker, and culture strategist by purpose. She is the creator of FutureState Collective Group and brings over 30 years of experience across tech, media, and culture. Lindiwe is known for blending storytelling, advocacy, and leadership development to elevate the voices of women, with a strong and intentional focus on Black and Brown women in the workplace.
Through her upcoming podcast They Tried It, her monthly event Couch Coach Fridays, and her coaching and consulting work, Lindiwe leads transformative conversations on workplace adversity, bias, resilience, and reclaiming one’s leadership power.
Often called a courage whisperer, Lindiwe has a unique ability to create space for even the quietest voice to be heard. Her work centers courage, communication equity, and cultural competence—helping professionals and organizations build environments where belonging isn’t a bonus, but a baseline. Her passions also extend into storytelling, media, and entertainment.
Lindiwe has spoken at NYU, Columbia University, Google Talks, SAG-AFTRA, Women Techmakers, The Female Quotient, Bloomberg, and more. She has interviewed actors, authors, creators, and cultural changemakers across industries.
Connect with Lindiwe: Linkedin
Timestamps
01:12- Lindiwe shares her corporate journey so far.
04:18- Why mentoring and coaching aren’t the same thing.
08:17- How mentoring and coaching serve different purposes in leadership development.
17:32- What strong mentoring can unlock for underrepresented employees.
21:14- How to prevent bias and make programs truly inclusive.
21:14- What Gen Z looks for in mentoring today.
25:28- How mentoring and coaching influence company culture and retention.
33:38- The future of mentoring and coaching in the age of AI and hybrid work.
