I’m a Marine.

I’ve commanded at every level.

I’ve been in rooms where every decision carried real weight.

Now, I coach senior leaders—CEOs, generals, founders, university presidents.

And here’s something I didn’t see coming:

Most of my one-on-one clients are women.

Not some. Not half. Most.

At first, I didn’t think much of it. But over time, I started to wonder: Why? So I asked a colleague.

He didn’t even blink.

“Read your own bio,” he said. “To a lot of men, that could feel intimidating. To women? They want the best. Period.”

That Stopped Me in My Tracks

Not because he was wrong. But because I’d never thought of it that way.

The women I work with—executives, Service Chiefs, entrepreneurs—they’re not looking for comfort. They’re not worried about image. They’re not hiring a coach to check a box.

They want to get better.

They’re already good. But they know there’s more in the tank. They don’t flinch when I challenge them. They lean in.

And that tells me something about leadership—and about readiness.

What This Might Say About Power

This isn’t about gender. It’s about hunger. About courage. About who’s ready to drop the act and grow.

Some leaders—men and women—are still afraid to be seen as needing help. Others? They’ve moved beyond that. They want results. They want the truth. They want clarity, not coddling.

That’s who coaching is for. That’s who coaching works for.

I Still Think About That Comment

“To a lot of men, that could feel intimidating. To women? They want the best.”

I’m not here to be intimidating. I’m here to help leaders lead better. But I get it. Sometimes presence gets misunderstood. Rank, resume, and responsibility can carry weight.

What I know is this: The ones who show up ready to work—who want honest reflection, better decisions, and sharper leadership—those are the ones who get the most out of coaching.

Many of them happen to be women.

And that still surprises me.

In a good way.

To those remarkable women I have had the honor of working with–Thank you for your trust and KEEP MOVING FORWARD!!!

Semper Fi, Colonel John Boggs, U.S. Marine Corps (Ret.)