Testimonials

Selecting the right executive coach is an important decision and not always an easy one. You want a coach with experience who can offer testimonials from satisfied clients. Here is what several industry leaders had to say about executive coaching with Joel Garfinkle:

“Joel's coaching has delivered realistic and immediate results that have impacted my company's bottom line. He has a unique ability to quickly cut through personal clutter and focus on root challenges that lead to professional growth. Together, Joel and I have developed an executive plan with phased objectives that helped me 'cement' marketing programs that will generate more than $60 million in new revenue over the next 12 months.

Since working with Joel, I have become more comfortable with office politics, identified my true value, and gained more competencies in the work force. My increased ability to direct and lead people has amplified the respect, influence, and working relationships I have with others.“

Andrew Peters
Manager, Enterprise Marketing
Cisco Systems

“Thanks to Joel’s coaching, I have grown revenues by 30 percent while improving employee retention and my personal job satisfaction. I was able to get a much sought after promotion and build relationships with key executives in my company. Joel helped me deal with situations from an honest, realistic standpoint and to focus on what really matters for my organization and myself.  By adhering to my authentic goals and objectives, I’m able to achieve superior results while growing as a person.”

Kara Gilbert
Vice President, Sales
Oracle Corporation

“I'd been at my company for eight years and was more comfortable being in the background. But I realized my personal style was not providing the opportunities for growth and responsibility that I wanted. So I contacted Joel to help increase my confidence and visibility. He helped me identify barriers that kept me in the background and we developed a plan to overcome them. I now speak up more at meetings, work on high profile projects and have just completed an article for publication. Thanks to Joel, I have learned how to enhance my leadership potential and be recognized by top management for the value I bring to the organization.”

Debra Waggoner
Director, Global Government Affairs
Corning Incorporated

“Joel's greatest gift has been in helping me realize that I had stopped being involved in my personal life. My dissatisfaction with my job had taken over my life. Joel helped me to make a personal commitment to change my work habits and re-invigorate my daily efforts with my current employer. It is much easier to get through each day focusing on commitment and putting effort and thought into how I conduct myself. I am much more optimistic and passionate. I am in control of what my future will be”.

Jason Bowen
Business Banking Officer
Bank of America

“Joel helped me identify a tangible, relevant and influential role within my company. We created a compelling case for this brand new position to senior management and I was able to land it. Thanks to Joel, I have become a more mature leader; self-assured and polished in how I present myself. I now have the tools to effectively manage my career and professional image.”

Katherine Maraschin
Sr. Director, Office of the COO
Symantec Corporation

“Joel helped me identify and draw parameters between work and life, as well as maintain a balance during intense situations. I now have greater focus, clarity and purpose in my work. I’ve become a much better negotiator and am more skillful and creative at finding compromise solutions. Thanks to Joel, my quality of life – at work and away from the office – has never been better.”

Lynne Faulks
Manager – Legislative Relations
California Teachers Association

“Joel helped me successfully navigate the difficult transition from being a high-performing individual contributor to a team leader. Always on-call and available, he helped me understand how I can achieve results through my team instead of feeling I had to do it all myself. Joel's coaching technique and exercises showed me how to see issues from others' perspective and to realize how my leadership style can affect their performance.”

R.J. Milnor
Senior Director
Corporate Executive Board

“Joel has been a corporate coach for Pro-Tec Data during this crucial corporate transition. He helped our team work together more effectively, improving communication in a way that significantly increased our work satisfaction. As a consequence, we increased productivity and improved employee morale and performance. I have learned how to improve my leadership ability and manage my employees more effectively.”

Naomi R. Fine
President
Pro-Tec Data

“Joel has helped me build long-term leadership skills so I can advance into an executive level position. I am raising my team’s game to a whole new level and have learned to delegate more effectively. My relationships with peers, direct reports and key decision-makers have improved markedly, making me a more confident leader who recognizes the impact and value I bring to the organization.”

Laurie Hanover
Senior Director
Levi Strauss & Company

“Joel and I have worked together in some key areas.  First, relationships...with Joel's help I have developed an action plan to significantly improve my working relationships with colleagues in ways that feel comfortable to me--and are beginning to pay off in increased job satisfaction.  Second, Joel has given me valuable guidance on how to coach and develop my direct reports, helping me to navigate through some difficult decisions.  And perhaps most significantly, Joel has helped me budget my weekly and daily work by priority and link to my annual objectives.  Thanks to Joel, I have specific goals and clear measurable objectives that I follow which has made me more productive and given me some peace of mind. I can manage my heavy workload and still have a life!"

Jocelyn Dunphy
Learning & Development Manager
Procter & Gamble

“After almost two decades building a successful career at a high profile investment bank, I realized that I needed help to get to the next level. Working one-on-one with Joel has been very rewarding and inspiring. Joel possesses great insight and knowledge, which he is able to convey clearly and with enthusiasm. His energy is infectious, motivating and encouraging and I have already seen the benefits in my leadership skills, my promotion prospects and my quality of life.”

Angela Osborne
Executive Director
Morgan Stanley

“Joel's coaching focuses on effective ways to communicate your value and contribution to leadership. Through the coaching process I realized I could no longer be apolitical. I learned to embrace the political dynamics of the company and my partners. My comfort level and communication with senior managers have increased quantitatively and qualitatively. And I'm far more aware of creating and nurturing relationships with others in the organization to solve long and short range challenges. If you ever wondered why you are not receiving due recognition for your work and value to the company this program is definitely for you.”

Rick Esker
Director, Mobility Alliances Group
Cisco Systems

“I would recommend Joel's coaching to anyone who is in a rut in their job, who is looking for something more, who needs some direction in their life. Joel is an outstanding coach. I feel blessed to have been coached by him. Joel has made a difference in my life!”

Cecilia Willer
Partner Business Manager
Hewlett-Packard

“Joel's analytical, no-nonsense style helped me identify my work priorities and personal goals. Then we developed specific, measurable strategies to improve my effectiveness. In a matter of weeks I saw tangible results. I was a better communicator, achieved a healthier work/life balance, my visibility and value at work was enhanced and my relationships with key decision-makers had grown. By making me accountable for setting and meeting my goals, Joel has been able to put my work and personal time into sharper focus, thereby giving me the skills I needed for future career advancement.”

Jack Reader
Sr. Manager, Business Development
Cisco Systems

“I have transformed my mindset and behavior to be a more effective and fine-tuned executive. I've increased productivity by 20-25% and have managed tasks more effectively, including increased delegation and leveraging of my time. I put more emphasis on big picture issues and strategic thinking to support the organization's objectives.”

Linda G. Laviolette
Executive Director
Portland Parks Foundation