Relationship Matters

What is the Third Entity, and how can we get even more deliberate in working with it? It's a key idea in systems inspired coaching, since we work directly with the unique and dynamic "personality" that is created when two people come together in relationship. In this first episode of a two-part series, CRR Global faculty members Yuri Morikawa and Fuyuo Sato explore how they foster trust, alignment, and creativity by intentionally cultivating their Third Entity.

Through personal insights and professional experiences, Yuri and Fuyuo share foundational principles for building strong relationships and provide actionable strategies to enhance collaboration. Whether you’re a coach, facilitator, or leader, this episode will deepen your understanding of relational dynamics and set the stage for more effective and meaningful partnerships.
What You’ll Gain from This Episode:

1. Learn what the Third Entity is and why focusing on the relationship itself can transform your co-coaching and co-facilitation partnerships.
2. Discover how to set the foundation for strong relationships through clear agreements, role clarity, and shared values.
3. Gain insights on how to turn diverse styles and perspectives into strengths that drive creativity and alignment.
4. Explore practical tips for improving communication, including active listening, feedback exchange, and fostering curiosity.
5. Learn how to maintain and nurture the Third Entity over time with regular check-ins, reflections, and adaptive practices.

Fuyuo Sato is a senior faculty member at CRR Global and an experienced coach with a passion for transforming relationships in teams and organizations. He began his career as a teacher before taking an in-house position as a coach for his coworkers at the school he was working at in Tokyo. Since becoming an independent coach, he has worked on a variety of organizational development initiatives, mostly in the APAC region, with both large multinational corporations and local small businesses. He has supported his client teams in becoming more autonomous and self-sustainable. He now lives in the forested area of Nagano with his wife and two cats as part of his experiment to explore the right relationship between nature and human society.

Yuri Morikawa has been a professional coach since 2004, training and coaching over 1,000 leaders and coaches worldwide, including corporate executives, NGO leaders, and entrepreneurs. Previously, she worked as a management consultant specializing in organizational and leadership development for 13 years. Yuri is a global faculty member of CRR Global and the founder of CRR Japan, where she launched the ORSC program in 2009. Passionate about social impact, she collaborates with NGOs like the Kamonohashi Project and Asia Rural Institute, focusing on leadership development and social change in Asia and Africa.
For over 20 years, CRR Global has accompanied leaders, teams, and practitioners on their journey to build stronger relationships by focusing on the relationship itself, not only the individuals occupying it. This leads to a community of changemakers around the world. Supported by a global network of Faculty and Partners, we connect, inspire, and equip change agents to shift systems, one relationship at a time
We believe Relationship Matters, from humanity to nature, to the larger whole.

In this episode, Katie Churchman is in conversation with Marita Fridjhon, co-owner and CEO of CRR Global, about some of the systems that have inspired the work that she does, with CRR Global and beyond. The conversation covers:

• Growing up in South Africa during the Apartheid era
• Working as a clinical social worker at the University of Cape Town
• Her time in the Amazon during a cross-cultural research project investigating the impact of death and dying in families and communities
• Discovering coaching and the work of Arnie and Amy Mindell
• The power of looking back in order to step forward into Right Relationship with the many systems within which we all exist.

Marita Fridjhon is co-owner and CEO of CRR Global and mentor to an ever-growing community of practitioners in the field of Relationship Systems work. She designs curriculum and operates training programs in Relationship Systems Work for coaches, executives and teams. She came to this work from an extensive background in Clinical Social Work, Community Development, Process Work, Family Systems Therapy, Business Consulting and Alternative Dispute Resolution. She has an international mentor coaching practice of individuals, partnerships and teams. Her primary focus in coaching is on systemic change, leveraging diversity, creative communication, deep democracy in conflict management and the development of Learning Organizations.
For over 20 years, CRR Global has accompanied leaders, teams, and practitioners on their journey to build stronger relationships by focusing on the relationship itself, not only the individuals occupying it. This leads to a community of changemakers around the world. Supported by a global network of Faculty and Partners, we connect, inspire, and equip change agents to shift systems, one relationship at a time
We believe Relationship Matters, from humanity to nature, to the larger whole.

Across 3 episodes in season 4, Katie talks with master coach Lori Shook about Alchemy: The Art and Science of co-facilitation. Based on ORSC concepts the alchemy approach was designed to help pairs create magical co-deliveries, whether they be co-coaching, co-facilitating, or co-parenting! ​Magical co-facilitation, inspired participants, deep learning – these things don’t just happen. However, you can learn the tools and techniques that can help you and your partner to consistently and intentionally create successful, transformative, high-impact learning experiences together. In the final instalment of this 3-part series on alchemy, we explore the power of being conscious and intentional about our impact. Across this conversation we discuss:

• Why the energy of the facilitators' matters
• Creating conscious and intentional emotional fields
• The magic of Metaskills when co-leading

Lori Shook is a pioneer in the coaching world: she jumped into the budding field of coaching in the mid-1990s, earned the designation of Master Certified Coach by 2001 and has been training coaches for over 20 years. Lori has coached small business owners, managers, and executives around the world. She has worked with leaders in a variety of organisations including large multinationals and small to mid-sized businesses. As a pioneer in the coaching world, she was a driving force for the global expansion of coaching as she helped spread CoActive coaching across North America and helped introduce coaching to many countries throughout EMEA.
For over 20 years, CRR Global has accompanied leaders, teams, and practitioners on their journey to build stronger relationships by focusing on the relationship itself, not only the individuals occupying it. This leads to a community of changemakers around the world. Supported by a global network of Faculty and Partners, we connect, inspire, and equip change agents to shift systems, one relationship at a time
We believe Relationship Matters, from humanity to nature, to the larger whole.

In this episode, Katie talks with Mike Holton, COO and faculty member at CRR Global, about the importance of building belonging in our relationships. Across this conversation they discuss:

• Belonging as a form of acceptance
• The individual work that we can only do together
• Making the unconscious conscious
• Learning how to bring more belonging to our relationship with ourselves

Mike Holton has a lifelong passion for working with and developing leaders across the globe. Alongside his roles at CRR Global, Mike has spent a career working to develop organizational capabilities within the Global 2000. In the coaching field, he has worked as an agile, leadership, couples, team, and organizational coach. Over the last few years, he has transitioned his focus to working with clients in the space of Trauma. The most important role Mike plays is being a husband and a father of four amazing children. This role has shaped him and continues to develop him as a person today.

For over 20 years, CRR Global has accompanied leaders, teams, and practitioners on their journey to build stronger relationships by focusing on the relationship itself, not only the individuals occupying it. This leads to a community of changemakers around the world. Supported by a global network of Faculty and Partners, we connect, inspire, and equip change agents to shift systems, one relationship at a time
We believe Relationship Matters, from humanity to nature, to the larger whole.

In the final episode of season 3, Katie talks with Faith Fuller and Yuri Morikawa and the evolution of women's leadership. Faith Fuller, co-founder of CRR Global and Yuri Morikawa founder of CRR Japan have an international friendship and creative partnership that spans over 12 years. In this podcast, they share a topic that is close to their hearts and one that has been evolving across through their conversations for many years: the evolution of women’s leadership. Across the episode, they discuss the triple goddess archetype (maiden, mother, crone) as a framework for understanding the evolution of women’s leadership, how they have evolved as leaders in their work and lives, the unique qualities women bring to leadership and what we might embrace from the different life stages.
Faith Fuller is co-owner and President of CRR Global. She is a psychologist and experienced trainer and coach, with over 15 years of experience in working with organizations, couples and communities. Faith takes a systems approach to coaching, namely that all aspects of the system need to be addressed in order for effective change to occur. Her particular skill is empowering powerful, productive and joyous relationships in couples, partnerships and teams . She also has a background in consultation, team building, conflict resolution and community crisis intervention.

Yuri Morikawa has been an active player in the professional coaching field since 2004. Prior to her career in coaching, Yuri worked as a management consultant specializing in organizational and leadership development for 13 years. After being a trainer for Coaching Training Institute (CTI) for 8 years, she launched the Organizational and Relationship Systems Coaching (ORSC) program in Japan and founded CRR Japan in 2009. Currently, she is a global faculty member of CRR Global, developing professional organizational coaches around the world such as in Japan, China, Singapore, South Africa, Australia. She is passionate about bringing her professional experience to the bigger social context and works extensively with NGOs in Social Sectors such as Kamonohashi Project supporting survivor leaders of human trafficking issues in India and Asia Rural Institute educating organic farming and developing servant leadership for rural leaders in Asia and Africa.
For over 18 years, CRR Global has accompanied leaders, teams, and practitioners on their journey to build stronger relationships by focusing on the relationship itself, not only the individuals occupying it. This leads to a community of changemakers around the world. Supported by a global network of Faculty and Partners, we connect, inspire, and equip change agents to shift systems, one relationship at a time

We believe Relationship Matters, from humanity to nature, to the larger whole.