How Carly Harary Transitioned From Teaching to Build a Thriving EF Coaching Business That Honors Her Time
- Sean G. McCormick
- Nov 21
- 10 min read
This article is brought to you by the Special Educator's 10-Minute Transition Toolkit.
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After more than a decade as a classroom teacher, Carly reached a turning point: she loved her students, but the constant behavior management, long hours, and lack of flexibility were no longer sustainable.
Becoming a parent shifted her perspective. She wanted to be there for school pickups, class events, and sick days and still do meaningful work.
Through EFCA’s certification program and JST Coaching & Training’s ICF-accredited course, she took her experience and turned it into C&C Empowerment Coaching, where Carly and her business partner, Clare, now offer executive function, career, and strengths-based coaching.
In this interview, Carly shares how 1:1 coaching helped her clarify her vision, raise her rates with confidence, and build systems that actually support her life.
She also talks about what it was like to design a schedule that works for her family, and grow a business that feels both sustainable and deeply rewarding.
Her story is about trusting your expertise, making brave decisions in the middle of everyday life, and building a coaching practice that honors both your clients and your own well-being.
What is Carly's Background?
Carly is a certified executive function coach who started C&C Empowerment Coaching with her business partner, providing career, executive function, and strengths coaching.
Before stepping into EF coaching, she spent over a decade in education, supporting students in the classroom and one-on-one.
She holds an M.Ed. in Education for Students with and without Disabilities from Lesley University and a B.A. from George Washington University, and she’s completed training through both the Executive Function Coaching Academy and JST Coaching & Training’s ICF-accredited program, Empowering People with ADHD Through Coaching.
Outside of coaching, you can usually find her outside with her family, trying new ice cream flavors, or relaxing with her husband, two young kids, and their dog, Marley.
You can check out Carly's EF Coaching practice at ccempowermentcoaching.com
And follow her on Instagram @CCEmpowermentCoaching
Here is the full interview 👇
1. Before EF coaching, you were a classroom teacher. What made you decide it was time for a change?
I loved teaching for many years. It was incredibly rewarding to watch students grow and learn.
Over time, though, I found myself spending more energy on behavior management than on actual teaching, and I realized that what I was most passionate about was helping students build the executive function skills that make learning possible.
When I became a parent, I also started thinking more about balance.
The school schedule didn’t allow me to pick my daughter up from the bus, attend class events, or be home when my kids were sick.
Transitioning to coaching allowed me to create that balance to be present for my family while continuing to make an impact by supporting individuals one-on-one.
2. What first inspired you to become an executive function coach, and what made you choose this certification program specifically?
I’ve always loved working one-on-one and building meaningful relationships.
As an educator, I noticed that executive function skills weren’t often being explicitly taught in schools — students were told what to do (“Your book report is due Friday”) but not how to do it (how to plan ahead, organize materials, or manage their time effectively).
I wanted to fill that gap and help individuals build these essential skills.
I also love planning and organization myself, so becoming an executive function coach felt like a natural fit!
I chose this certification program because I had attended many of Sean’s webinars and talks, followed his blog, and was consistently impressed by his approach and practical strategies.
I knew it would be an incredible learning experience and the right fit for my professional growth.
3. You balance parenthood, marriage, and running a business. How do you make it all work? What helps you stay grounded when things get busy?
I love what I do, and that makes all the difference!
Working from home has also been a game changer; even small things, like being able to make the beds or take my dog for a walk between sessions, helps me feel more balanced throughout the day.
I actually use the same strategies I teach my clients!
Time-blocking is essential for me — I schedule exercise, meal prep, and one-on-one time with my kids alongside work tasks like coaching sessions, billing, networking, and resource creation.
This means starting my day at 5 a.m., but it’s worth it to create the space for what I enjoy!
What keeps me most grounded is my business partner, Clare — who is my best friend. Having that kind of support and connection throughout the day makes even the busiest days feel manageable and fun!
4. You’ve taken some big risks in your business, like raising your prices and charging more for your registration process. What helped you make that decision, and what would you say to someone who’s afraid to value their expertise?
It’s definitely not easy. I tend to think about decisions like that for months (sometimes years!) before taking the leap.
What really helped me was getting clear on the value of the work we do behind the scenes.
I think about everything that goes into running this business beyond coaching:
billing
marketing
networking
meetings with other service providers
supporting and mentoring coaches
onboarding
consultations
professional development
creating resources
checking in with clients
and so much more.
When I actually calculated how many hours I was putting in “off the clock,” it shifted my perspective.
I realized it’s about honoring the time, care, and expertise it takes to do this work well.
To anyone afraid to value their expertise, I’d say:
Take a look at all that you bring to the table (your expertise, education, time, care etc) and the impact you make on others. You are worth it!
5. You also made the leap to contract with other coaches and start scaling. What motivated that move, and what was the hardest part about it?
Yes, I was really excited about this next step!
The first two coaches we welcomed to the team were actually former colleagues from the school where I worked.
I missed the collaboration and sense of community that came with being part of a team, and I knew they’d bring tremendous value to our clients.
They were also in a similar stage of life — educators and moms looking for more balance — so being able to offer that flexibility to them was incredibly rewarding.
As our business has grown, I’ve loved welcoming coaches with different strengths and areas of expertise.
It’s been so fun to do the coach–client matching based on both personality and skill set.
A personal bonus for me is that I no longer have to work so many evenings — our coaches who prefer those hours handle them, and I focus more on daytime clients, which gives me more family time.
The hardest part was definitely the logistics like building the onboarding process, contracts, forms, and training.
Being remote also adds a layer of complexity because we want to stay closely connected to both our team and clients, even when I’m not the one doing all the coaching.
But it’s been such a great learning experience!
6. How did 1:1 coaching support you through that growth process both in your mindset and your systems?
1:1 coaching with Sean was incredible.
He guided me in seeing the bigger picture while also helping me focus on the parts of the business I truly enjoyed—and identify what I could delegate or streamline.
He helped me turn ideas into action at a time when I had no idea where to start.
His support helped me stay grounded and intentional as the business grew.
And on top of that, he taught me all of the systems I use to keep the business running!
7. What role has the EFCA community played in helping you scale and refine your business?
The EFCA community has been such an incredible source of support and inspiration.
It’s a space where everyone shares thoughtful ideas, asks meaningful questions, and collaborates.
Sean is always so generous with his insights and templates, which have been game changers for refining my systems.
I’ve also loved connecting with and learning from so many talented coaches—the community videos and discussions are always full of fresh perspectives and practical takeaways!
8. How quickly did you start seeing results after investing in 1:1 coaching? What changed first?
I started seeing results immediately after just the first session!
My main goal was to attract more clients and create consistency in my schedule, and Sean helped me do exactly that by introducing an outreach tracker and showing me how to build genuine relationships with other mental health professionals.
He also helped me design my “ideal week,” which was such a fun and eye-opening exercise that shifted how I plan my time.
9. What does your coaching business look like today? How many clients do you serve, how do you structure your time, and what does your typical week looks like?
Our business supports about 20-25 executive function clients each week.
My business partner, Clare, and I have both expanded our teams—she offers career and strengths coaching, which beautifully complements our EF work.
One of my favorite parts of what we do is helping clients identify and use their strengths to build confidence and make meaningful progress toward their goals.
My week includes a mix of meetings—with Clare, our amazing coaches, parents, clients, and allied professionals—as well as consults and networking conversations.
I also time-block dedicated periods for billing, marketing, creating resources, coach support, and professional development.
Tuesdays are my non-client days, which I “try” to use for personal tasks like workouts, errands, kid activities, or appointments.
I also make sure to block out intentional 1:1 time with each of my kids—it helps me stay grounded while balancing all the moving parts.
10. What tools, systems, or lessons from the certification have made the biggest difference in how you coach or run your business?
Some of my favorite tools from Sean’s certification are TutorBird and Gmail templates and Google Tasks—they’ve made managing my coaching business so much more efficient.
As for lessons:
strategies for attracting clients
running Family Team Meetings
and conducting consults
have all been game changers.
Every lesson and system has been incredibly valuable, both in how I coach and how I run my business!
11. What impact has this work had on your clients and on you personally as a coach, parent, and business owner?
The impact has been immense.
The Missing Assignment Lesson and Teacher Communication templates have been incredibly useful for my clients, helping them build essential executive function skills.
For me, as a coach and business owner, learning how to streamline processes and implement efficient systems has been transformative.
And personally, as a parent, it’s taught me so much about balancing time, delegating, and prioritizing. Life-changing!
12. What is your tech stack?
My tech stack includes several tools that are essential for running our coaching practice efficiently.
TutorBird handles client management
Google Calendar and Google Tasks help me keep everything organized
Gmail templates save time by streamlining onboarding emails, consults, and other communication
Zoom is, of course, a must for virtual sessions
We use Squarespace for our website and CollabPay for billing.
We also use Google sheets for tracking consults and outreach.
13. Where do you see your business going next, and what advice would you give to someone who’s considering joining EFCA or starting their own EF coaching practice?
I would love to see our business continuing to have a consistent client flow while intentionally staying small and personable.
What sets us apart is the strong relationships we build and the personal, caring approach we bring to every client.
Looking ahead, I’d love to coach educators who are interested in transitioning into executive function coaching themselves!
My advice for anyone considering joining EFCA or starting their own EF coaching practice is to go for it!
The support, tools, and guidance from EFCA are invaluable, and the work is incredibly rewarding.
You won’t regret taking the leap!
Thank you Carly!
Carly is a great example of what it looks like to take everything you love about teaching like connection, encouragement, and problem-solving and rebuild it into a business that truly fits your life.
Her journey is proof that you can honor your own well-being and create a career that is extremely meaningful and fulfilling.
You can view Carly's EF Coaching practice at ccempowermentcoaching.com
And follow her on Instagram @CCEmpowermentCoaching
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About Carly
Carly is a certified Executive Function Coach, trained through the Executive Function Coaching Academy and JST Coaching & Training’s ICF-accredited program, Empowering People with ADHD Through Coaching.
Carly is an active member of the International Coaching Federation (ICF), the world’s largest community of professionally trained coaches, as well as CHADD (Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder), a leading organization supporting individuals with ADHD.
She holds an M.Ed. in Education for Students with and without Disabilities from Lesley University and a B.A. from George Washington University, bringing over a decade of experience in classroom instruction and one-on-one student support.
Committed to delivering the highest quality of professional coaching, Carly strives to empower individuals to overcome challenges, achieve their goals, and unlock their full potential.
Carly is dedicated to addressing each client’s unique needs, guiding them to success with a focus on building confidence, productivity, and independence.
Using the C&C Empowerment Coaching model, she fosters an environment where clients feel seen, valued, and empowered as they strengthen their executive function skills.
Outside of coaching, Carly enjoys spending time outdoors, exploring new ice cream flavors, and relaxing with her husband, two young children, and their dog, Marley.