From Coaching Peers to Leading Leaders: A Conversation with Demetrio Mafrica

"I was mentoring people without really knowing it!"

Most companies say they care about leadership development, but how many actually invest in it? Employees are generally expected to fend for themselves in terms of their careers, yet without quality mentorship or the proper tools, they never realize their true potential. This is the void mentors strive to fill—offering accessible, one-on-one development that empowers employees at every stage of their careers.

Few know this as well as Demetrio Mafrica, a man who has worked across several industries for over four decades, mentoring peers long before realizing that it was his calling. Now a professional leadership coach, he tells us how his journey mirrors TopLeader's vision and why affordable leadership coaching is more vital now than ever.

"What pivotal moments in your career shaped your leadership philosophy, and how does that align with TopLeader's approach to leadership development?"

"When I was 20, I wanted to become a teacher in Geneva, Switzerland, but had to take other directions. Over my 42 years of career, I found myself useful when helping colleagues and newcomers in the companies I was working for. In fact, I was mentoring people without really knowing it! This aligns with TopLeader by offering tools and means to develop capabilities and drive people to their higher level."

"What specifically about TopLeader’s platform or mission resonated with you and motivated you to become an Ambassador?"

"The possibility to expand my reach by becoming a member of a large community of accredited coaches and mentors and be visible to larger companies. It is also a way to progress as a mentor by facing new challenges—working with large companies, international clients, and coaching in different languages."

"Can you share a specific example of how coaching has transformed either your leadership style or that of someone you've worked with?"

"By joining EMCC and getting accreditation in 2022, I started realizing what my potential was, and I developed my posture as a coach and mentor. Among my clients, I helped the founders of a small software development company integrate the commercial aspect of their activity into their overall approach. They witnessed that after my coaching, they had become ‘salespersons.’"

"What’s one leadership challenge you’ve seen consistently across organizations that TopLeader’s approach helps address effectively?"

"During my career, I’ve worked for 14 different companies of various sizes and cultures. What is common (except for Hewlett-Packard in the eighties) is the lack of support for personal development and poor attention paid to personal needs. With a platform like TopLeader, companies can now give their employees access to empowerment and development—at their own pace, with a comprehensive return of achieved actions. In addition, the pool of available coaches, covering a multitude of business aspects, cultures, and languages, is an efficient support."

"How do you see TopLeader’s AI-driven approach complementing the human element of leadership coaching, and why is that balance important?"

"Basically, AI gives objective and comprehensive information about what the employee may need to improve his or her experience. AI is not limited to one person’s own knowledge. And AI is fast and accessible."

"Based on your experience, how do you see leadership development evolving over the next few years, and how is TopLeader positioned to meet those future needs?"

"That’s difficult to predict, but the direction towards individual control of learning—when, where, and how people want—is definitely correct. The TopLeader platform offers access to a large set of learning materials, deep personality analysis, reports, and suggestions at an affordable cost for organizations, with an easy-to-use interface."

Leadership development is shifting towards a model of personal ownership, flexibility, and continuous growth. As more professionals take control of their learning paths, the need for accessible, data-driven yet human-centered coaching will only grow. Demetrio’s journey exemplifies how mentorship, adaptability, and the right tools can shape stronger, more confident leaders.

Stay tuned for our next TopLeader Ambassador Q&A, where we’ll bring you more perspectives from industry experts on leadership innovation and the human element of success.