Rebecca Rutschmann on AI in Coaching - From Learning to Practice

Shownotes For Podcast Episode 28: Rebecca Rutschmann on AI in Coaching - From Learning to Practice

In this episode of The Health and Wellness Coach Journal Podcast, Dr. Jessica Singh speaks with Rebecca Rutschmann, a leader at the intersection of Human Intelligence and AI, dedicated to bridging the "GenAI Divide" in professional development. As the co-founder of Viva la Coaching Academy, she has moved beyond simple tool-training to champion AI fluency teaching coaches and leaders how to think with machines, not just through them. A recognized speaker and researcher, Rebecca partners with global organizations to design conversational AI experiences that prioritize ethical grounding,

Rebecca shares how her path began with a lifelong fascination with technology. From being the only girl in tech class as a child, to working in website development, CRM systems, and corporate communications, she found herself repeatedly drawn to spaces where technology and communication met. Her journey into coaching began when she noticed that many young technical leaders in the workplace were struggling not with systems, but with people. Coaching gave her a language and a framework for supporting the human side of leadership, and over time it became clear that this was where her passions could converge.

Rebecca Rutschmann’s Journey into Coaching and AI: Curiosity to Leadership

Rebecca Rutschmann’s story begins with curiosity. Long before AI became part of mainstream conversation, she was already drawn to technology. From her early experience in tech classes to later work in website development, CRM systems, and corporate communications, she followed a path that consistently placed her at the intersection of systems, communication, and innovation. Coaching entered her life when she noticed that many technically skilled professionals, especially newly promoted leaders, were struggling with the human side of leadership. Supporting them through conversation eventually led her into coach training, where she found a framework that deepened the work she was already instinctively doing. Today, that lifelong interest in technology and humanity has come together in a way that feels both natural and timely.

AI Training for Coaches: Rebecca Rutschmann on Closing the Knowledge Gap

In this episode, Rebecca explores the widening gap between how quickly AI is evolving and how slowly the coaching profession is catching up. Rebecca explains that many coaches are not resistant because they do not care, but because they feel overwhelmed, underprepared, or fearful of getting it wrong. Through Viva la Coaching Academy, she has created a space where coaches can approach AI without shame, pressure, or the expectation that they must suddenly become technical experts. Her work is less about teaching tools in isolation and more about developing AI fluency, which means helping coaches understand how to think critically, ethically, and creatively in a world where technology is becoming part of daily practice.

Rebecca Rutschmann on Using AI in Coaching Without Losing Human Connection

Rebecca is clear that the heart of coaching remains deeply human. The presence, intuition, stillness, and relational quality of coaching cannot simply be replaced by a machine. At the same time, she sees enormous value in using AI in ways that support rather than erode that connection. She speaks about coaches using AI for personal growth, self-reflection, accountability, nudging between sessions, and client follow-up. In her view, one of the most powerful uses of AI is not during the coaching session itself, but in the spaces around it, where clients often need reminders, prompts, and support to stay connected to their intentions. AI, when used thoughtfully, can help sustain momentum without diminishing the role of the coach.

Evolving Coach Education for AI: Rebecca Rutschmann on Practical AI Integration

Rebecca also makes a compelling case for why coach education must change. She argues that AI should not be treated as a specialized topic reserved for later stages of development. Instead, it should be introduced early and woven into the learning process itself. Coaches in training can use AI for role play, reflective practice, theory revision, and exploring coaching models in more interactive ways. This kind of integration does not require completely redesigning curriculum from scratch. It requires thoughtful design, courage from educators, and a willingness to expose students to the tools they will inevitably encounter in professional life. Her message is that coach education can evolve gracefully if it is designed with intention.

Vetting AI Responsibly: Rebecca Rutschmann’s Guidance for Coaches

For coaches who are unsure where to begin, Rebecca offers a grounded approach. Before using any AI platform, she recommends asking practical questions about who built it, where it is hosted, how it stores data, whether clients can withdraw consent, and whether deletion is truly possible. She emphasizes the importance of transparency and of understanding the values of the people behind the technology. Trust, in this case, is not built through branding but through due diligence. Her advice is especially helpful because it does not assume that coaches need to become experts in every system. Instead, it encourages discernment, critical thinking, and community learning.

Rebecca Rutschmann on the Ethical Use of AI in Coaching

Ethics runs throughout the conversation, not as an abstract concern but as a daily practice. Rebecca acknowledges both the excitement and the caution that AI brings. She sees enormous potential for support, reflection, access, and innovation, but she is equally aware of the risks around privacy, data ownership, and the inappropriate use of sensitive information. She speaks candidly about being careful with medical records, client conversations, and note-taking tools, and she often leaves the choice of AI support to the client. What emerges is not a rigid set of rules, but a mindset: one that values presence, informed consent, transparency, and the responsibility to pause before adopting technology simply because it is available.

Takeaways

At its core, this episode is not only about AI. It is about how coaches respond to change, uncertainty, and the invitation to grow. Rebecca reminds us that we do not need to climb the whole mountain at once. We only need to take the next step. For some, that step might be opening a browser and trying one tool. For others, it might be joining a community, asking better questions, or integrating AI into learning and reflection. The larger message is both practical and hopeful: the future of coaching will be shaped not just by technology, but by the people willing to engage with it thoughtfully, ethically, and together.

Bio:

Rebecca Rutschmann is a pioneer at the convergence of coaching technology and artificial intelligence, driven by a mission: to ensure that as AI becomes a given, humanity remains the ultimate differentiator.

As the co-founder of Viva la Coaching, Rebecca launched the world’s first AI literacy
movement specifically for the coaching and corporate learning sectors. Her work focuses on closing the "Learning Gap", the space between adopting AI tools and actually transforming the way we work.
Her journey into AI coaching began in 2019 as the co-founder of evoach, where she led the product side and 2023 created Alpina, one of the first generative AI driven coaches to hit the market now used in many of her research papers. Today, she leverages that deep technical expertise to help external partners create outstanding AI coaching experiences that don't just mimic human speech, but foster genuine self-reflection and growth.

Rebecca’s approach is rooted in Human-AI Intelligence, a belief that AI should serve as an amplifier for human potential, freeing coaches from administration to focus on deep, transformational dialogue. She is a vocal advocate for ethical transparency, helping the industry navigate the complex mirrors AI holds up to our traditional coaching principles, from advice-giving to data privacy.

A highly sought-after speaker and strategic advisor, Rebecca’s influence spans the globe’s most respected coaching bodies and rising coaching startups:
● EMCC Global: Senior Practitioner, Global Assessor, and VP of Accreditation for EMCC Germany as well as contributor to the global workgroup on AI literacy for the Digital & AI Community of Practice.
● Industry Leadership: Advisor to the NYU Coaching & Technology Summit, Teaching first of its kind AI literacy training on BetterUp University in 2024.
● Startups: Coaching Quality council member at coachbot.ai, a AI first platform for
coaches and leaders to create outstanding AI Coaching experiences, Advisory Board
member at Nuumani, an integrated platform combining AI innovation, trusted
accreditation, and global expertise to elevate coaching outcomes worldwide.

Rebecca is not just teaching coaches how to use AI; she is helping them redefine their relevance in an automated world. She invites the industry to move from a position of "ownership" to one of "stewardship," co-shaping a future where technology and presence work in tandem to elevate the human experience.

Timestamps:

0 - 1:21 Introduction

1:21 - Rebecca Rutschmann’s Journey into Coaching and AI: Curiosity to Leadership 

5:01 - AI Training for Coaches: Rebecca Rutschmann on Closing the Knowledge Gap

8:24 - Rebecca Rutschmann on Using AI in Coaching Without Losing Human Connection

12:19 - Evolving Coach Education for AI: Rebecca Rutschmann on Practical AI Integration

17:00  - Vetting AI Responsibly: Rebecca Rutschmann’s Guidance for Coaches

20:16 - Rebecca Rutschmann on the Ethical Use of AI in Coaching

30:33 - Takeaways