“Ontological+” Executive Coaching

In an age of rapid disruption, leaders need more than instinct and experience — they need a 360-degree awareness of how they think, act, and relate. The Ontological+ method builds on the proven ontological approach, which explores the interactions of language, emotions, and body in shaping leadership effectiveness. The “+” comes from intelligent AI support that enhances—not replaces—the human coach. This allows each session to be tailored with unprecedented nuance, drawing on real-time analysis, curated insights, and predictive perspectives on leadership challenges. Every engagement is unique because the AI works behind the scenes to prepare the coach with context-rich insights, while the human coach ensures that the conversation remains deeply personal, empathetic, and anchored in the client’s lived experience.

Ontological coaching has long been recognized as a powerful method for leadership transformation, grounded in the understanding that human beings are shaped by the dynamic interaction of language, emotions, and physical presence (Flores, 2018; Echeverría, 2003). The ontological approach enables clients to examine the “observer” they are — how they interpret the world — and to create shifts in perception that open new possibilities for action. As Echeverría (2003) states, “We do not describe the world we see; we see the world we describe.”

However, while the method has stood the test of time, it faces challenges in today’s complex, high-velocity environments. In a hyper-connected world where leaders deal with information overload, rapidly shifting markets, and cultural complexity, coaches are increasingly challenged to maintain both depth and scope of awareness in real time.

This is where what Sema calls “Ontological+” offers a distinctive evolution. The “+” represents the integration of gen AI as an augmentation tool — never a substitute for the coach’s presence and intuition. Ontological+ maintains the human primacy of coaching. The AI operates at the preparatory stage before sessions, aiding the coach with richer data and analysis — while the coach remains the relational anchor who interprets, senses, and connects.

Critics of AI in coaching often warn of dehumanization or algorithmic reductionism (Whitmore, 2021). Ontological+ addresses these concerns by placing the AI in a purely supportive role: the technology never interacts directly with the client, and never replaces the human interpretive process. Instead, it enhances the coach’s capacity to notice, inquire, and co-create meaning with the client.

The result is a coaching experience that is deeply personal yet future-facing — rooted in the human wisdom of the ontological tradition and sharpened by the analytical reach of AI. Leaders emerge not only with greater self-awareness and emotional agility, but also with the ability to navigate complexity, anticipate change, and embody their leadership vision with confidence. Ontological+ Executive Coaching is grounded in timeless human insight, elevated with AI-powered precision — where deep self-awareness meets future-ready leadership.