AMERICA’S BEST
Business
C oache s UNCOVERED - AMERICA’S BEST BUSINESS COACHES
TIPS FOR CHOOSING A BUSINESS COACH
WHAT YOU NEED TO ASK YOUR BUSINESS COACH
P U B L I S H I N G
We Are
Standout Publishing Contact us if you would like to Stand Out.
C O N TA C T U S
Table of
Contents 5
The Single, Most Important Piece Of Advice, According To Tony Robbins
10 Nina Venturella: The Coach Of Coaches 14 How To Screen Your Business Coach 17 Andrei Razvan Nacea: At The Heart Of Coaching 21 Why Your Business Needs A Coach 24 Gaurav Bhalla: Coaching For Performance And Results 27 How A Coach Will Improve Your Bottom Line 30 Julia Arndt: Increase Your ROI With The Peak Performance Method 36 How Coaching Can Make You A Great Leader 39 America’s Best Business Coaches
AMERICA’S BEST ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Reference to any specific commercial product, process, or services by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, does not constitute or imply its endorsement or recommendation by READ PUBLISHING. Links outside of this publication are provided for user convenience and do not constitute or imply endorsement, recommendation, or favouring by READ PUBLISHING. The publisher or any of the editors, writers or contributors will not accept responsibility or liability for the correctness of information or opinions expressed in the publication. All material submitted is at the owners risk and Advertising Enquiries:
Published By:
READ PUBLISHING
READ PUBLISHING
while every care will be taken the publisher does not accept liability for loss or damage. No person, organization or party can copy or re-produce the content on this
Distributed By:
Designed By:
READ PUBLISHING
READ PUBLISHING
site and or magazine or any part of this publication without a written consent from the editors’ panel and the author if the content, as applicable. The publisher, authors and contributors reserve their rights with regards to copyright of their work.
Editor In Chief J O
W
elcome to the inaugural issue of America’s Best Business Coaches magazine. 2020 has brought with it a renewed importance on business and financial security from the smallest sole trader to publicly owned companies. America’s Best Business Coaches magazine has been created with the intention to help business owners look toward the future and what it may hold The business horizon is changing, which can be challenging for everyone. Do you know who to turn to in these times? Where to go to get help with the next step? The business coaches featured in this issue have been hand picked by our team and asked these questions and more. If you have never had a business coach or are wondering if you should get in touch with your old coach,
4
|
www.americasbestmagazine.com
W I L S O N
you must read How To Screen Your Business Coach on page 14 where we explain why it is so important to choose the coach who understands you and your business. With all businesses it ultimately comes down to the bottomline, but the question is, can you afford not to have one of America’s best business coaches in your corner? Our article on page 27, How A Coach Will Improve Your Bottom Line, explains how and why a business coach is money well spent and what you should expect from them. If you are ready to take the next step and consider a business coach, this is the place for you. We have the questions to ask and some of America’s best business coaches ready to help you and your business thrive.
Jo Wilson
THE SINGLE, MOST IMPORTANT PIECE OF ADVICE According To
Tony Robbins Working with an experienced business coach is your ultimate tool to achieve results. Some of the most wildly successful companies and entrepreneurs on the planet rely on business coaching services to become talkably different from the competition. But, in a fast-growing industry, with so many making coaches reaching celebrity status, there is one coach who has been standing tall for four decades; business coach behemoth, Tony Robbins.
More than 50 million people have enjoyed the warmth, humor and transformational power of his business and personal development events. He’s America’s #1 life and business strategist, author of six internationally bestselling books and creator of the #1 personal and professional development program of all time. So, what is it that keeps highpower executives, politicians, and celebrities saving Robbins to the top of their contact list?
5
6
|
www.americasbestmagazine.com
Put simply, the 6’7” superhero-sized coach knows how to pull the magic out of his clients.
and a period of homelessness, he still emotionally reaches with his audiences decades later.
In the Netflix documentary, Tony Robbins: I Am Not Your Guru, Robbins shares what he calls the single most important piece of business advice he gives his clients;
His life today is a far cry from such humble beginnings. He has fine tuned a few rituals that bring out his best performance, including a routine morning dip in a 57-degree plunge pool and a pre-performance mini trampoline jumping session to charge up his batteries. Robbins believes in working on yourself first.
“There are always two businesses you’ve got to manage.” “There’s the business you’re in, and the business you’re becoming. If you just manage the business you’re in, you’re going to get knocked out by a new technology or new competition. But, if you’re constantly managing two businesses, you won’t have to quit or pivot, because you’re always doing something to innovate, or to change, or to improve.” In other words, this man never stops. And, neither should you. If you want to thrive in business, according to Tony Robbins, you need two! At just 17, Robbins attended a seminar by the motivational speaker Jim Rohn and began selling Rohn seminars until he realized his own professional calling. With a rough upbringing, a string of stepfathers, an alcoholic mother,
“I challenge you to make your life a masterpiece. I challenge you to join the ranks of those people who live what they teach, who walk their talk.” —Tony Robbins Another ritual he’s performed for 30 years: “I do a little shift in my body to get myself in a strong physical state, and then I say, ‘I now command my subconscious mind to direct me in helping as many people as possible today.’ “I’m always working on myself. I’m always willing to improve and grow.” 7
From Olympic athletes to business and political leaders, the best of the best have a coach. A coach isn’t just there to help you achieve your initial goals – your coach is with you along the way, continually pushing you and your team to achieve even greater results. “I learn the patterns - Patterns of success or failure within each individual person. I am in the breakthrough business, I focus on figuring out their patterns, get
“When you play the game of life at a higher level, it helps you to raise your game in life.”
inside their brains, figure out what limits them and break through the blockages,” Robbins told inc.com. He says you can’t focus on money. Your driver has to be all about service and doing good. “I’m really in the relationship business. My primary question is just, ‘How can I help?’ When you’re doing that on an ongoing basis, that builds a relationship, because you’re not asking for things. You’re giving all the time.” “First, understand the needs of the people in the room. It cant be about you. You have to stop thinking about yourself. Your entire focus is how to serve them and how to get them where they need to go. Motive MATTERS. Truly serve. This is when your insights come into it.” 8
|
www.americasbestmagazine.com
“As an employer, changing the life of your employers, really giving to them, makes you rare. This builds trust and opens up doors. Be authentic, ask what do they need and want and how can you best deliver this.” Tony also says it’s vital to surround yourself with the best of the best. Whatever goals you have, spend more time with people who can elevate you toward it. “When you play the game of life at a higher level, it helps you to raise your game in life.”
9
Nina Venturella The Coach Of Coaches
With over thirty years of wellness experience in creating and franchising wellness centers, founder of three businesses, including the Majestic Wellness Academy, Nina Venturella began her journey specializing in educating others on their health and personal development. As a Certified Nutrition Specialist as well as an ACE Certified Personal Trainer, an award winning author,
10
|
www.americasbestmagazine.com
and a Health Wellness Coach, Nina’s holistic approach to success is very much from the inside out. “I am a very ‘out-of-the-box’ thinker and innovator and I enjoy creating and innovating new ideas and strategies to get the end goal. I have used sales and marketing skills to rapidly grow my business and I have been blessed to be able to do that with these companies I have founded.”
“Just put yourself out there. You don’t have to hit a home run, but you have to bat, and swing. If you don’t do that, you will never know what you’re capable of.” —Nina Venturella
11
Standing out from the crowd is easy when you have this kind of drive and faith in what you do.
businesses and reevaluating what we can offer a changing world, and this is where Nina really shines.
“I consider myself a world changer and a game changer. The companies and soon to be software app innovator has one common goal. I have to impact lives, I have to change a generation. I need to make a difference,” Nina says.
“Since the pandemic I have used innovation and creativity to launch a rapidly growing company; One Box Fits All. This all inclusive program helps coaches and entrepreneurs become experts and influencers with their own unique brand and messaging through IP Intellectual Property development.”
“I give the glory to God, who is why I am able to do any of this and as an ordained Pastor, who is dedicated
“This is a ‘soup-to-nuts’ ‘coach-
to my faith and family, I am able to coach from several spectrum’s. I have been a client to a coach, I am a coach, I am a founder, and an entrepreneur. I know what hard work is and I get down in the mud when necessary, but I never stay there or allow my coaches to stay there. I am very focused on their success sometimes more than them.”
the-coaches’ program which gives value-added services and benefits delivering excellence in brand and messaging with tangible results. We have become a virtual agency for coaches using my signature process, Prepare, Build, Create, Reach and Win. We now offer others this duplicatetable businessin-the-box opportunity for anyone who desires to be their own boss.”
Nina helps coaches who have a desire to dominate the marketplace, create and implement their own IP(Intellectual Property) and take them from informational to tangible products and services. Her 5 Key Strategy Process? Prepare, Build, Create, Reach and Win.
There is plenty of noise out there in the coaching world these days - thankfully, as we now know we simply cannot reach our greatest potential without a coach in our corner - so, being selective is more crucial than ever. But, what if you ARE a coach? What if you need that mentor to reach your goals?
So many of us are embarking on new journeys in 2020, pivoting our 12
|
www.americasbestmagazine.com
“I love helping my coaches be the best they can be, finding their gold and helping them realize their true potential.”
who doesn’t allow you to stay comfortable and has your best interests in mind. They need to stand their ground and have a delicate balance of tough love and hard work with tangible results.” Nina believes every coach should enter into a relationship with a win/ win attitude and provide more value than clients expect. “I love helping my coaches be the best they can be, finding their gold and helping them realize their true potential. I love helping them create their dreams and live them out. I really love what I do and can’t wait to get up in the morning.”
“I think we all need someone to be by our side. We all need a cheerleader and a leader, when it calls for it. The comfort of knowing someone is right there with you is priceless. It takes away a lot of the fear and doubt so you can go out and give it your all. We all need someone to back us and keep us accountable, so we can go farther and higher in life,” Nina says.
Nina invites you to contact her for a complimentary strategy session at businessboxnow@gmail.com oneboxfitsall.com
“I find most of my coaches internalize too much. They get stuck in their heads, and stay in their comfort zone. Find someone who pushes the envelope and makes you a better coach, 13
How To Screen Your
Business Coach In business, the buck stops with you, the business owner. The decisions you make every day can make or break the entire operation and it can get lonely at the top. Therefore, getting insights from someone who’s already been there and done that has become a valuable resource. If you’ve been in a leadership position for long enough, you may have already found yourself in a situation where you didn’t know what to do. This is where business coaches come in handy. Business coaching is a process that can take 14
|
www.americasbestmagazine.com
your business from where it is now to where you want it to be, but choosing the right person can be a tricky task. They all have their own strengths and weaknesses and it’s your job as a coach seeker to find out how you can maximise your experience with your coach. It’s a low-risk, high reward deal. If you do your homework right and find the best fit for you, you can find a coach to help you and your business experience significant growth. To help you to thin out the ever-thickening field of business coaching services, there are a
few questions you can ask to help clarify what you need and what you don’t need.
about your industry to make for an effective back and forth between you two.
Have you started your own business?
How did you push your previous clients out of their comfort zones?
You will need someone who’s already walked in your shoes. There is no point in getting a business coach who’s never had to talk, eat, and breathe business like you probably have as a startup. It doesn’t necessarily have to be in the same industry. In fact, getting someone from a completely different industry can help broaden the conversations between you and your coach, so look for a coach who personally knows about business start ups.
What’s your experience in coaching other business owners in your industry? Doing business and teaching business are two completely different things. You can have someone like Elon Musk or Jeff Bezos in your ear while still not getting the coaching that you need. Your prospective business coach is going to be limited in the specific industry that they’ve already worked in, so it’s important to gauge how much he or she knows
Being complacent could mean the death of your business. There’s no place where business owners get more complacent like when they get stuck in their comfort zones. There are decisions in business that we may not be comfortable making. Lay-offs, for example, are difficult to do but are sometimes exactly what is needed. But, communicating this need is not a straightforward task. Some business owners tend to retreat into their shell when hard decisions are presented to them. Finding a business coach who naturally connects with you in a way that makes you respond positively right off the bat will ensure a fruitful business relationship. They can bring out the best in you to navigate the uncomfortable tasks.
What can you help me achieve? Most business coaches talk in generalities. While this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, it can be
15
less effective than coaches who can give you specifics. In this case, the “how” is more important than “what”. In a way, this question is more of a test. Usually, a specific plan of action is a good sign. This ensures that they’re in sync with you in working towards your goal.
Can I get in touch with you for clarifications and spotconsultations? If so, what is your availability? Business coaching is a product. Like any product, you should also ask about after-market servicing
16
|
www.americasbestmagazine.com
and warranties. Knowing that your coach can make himself or herself available during crucial moments for you should be a priority. Remember, decision-making in business is a solitary affair. If your business coach isn’t available for a quick consult then, why bother getting them?
Multi-award winner and advisor to leading organizations from Silicon Valley and New York
• Forbes 30 under 30; • Nominated “Most successful and innovative entrepreneurs in the world”- by Forbes USA; • Nominated “World Leader Businessperson” award by the World Confederation of Businesses in Houston, USA; • Swiss Luzerner Kantonal Bank Award- Luzern, Switzerland; • International Arch of Europe Award”- Frankfurt, Germany.
Andrei Razvan Nacea At The Heart Of Coaching At 29, Andrei was nominated in Forbes 30 Under 30 for his entrepreneurial skills and accomplishments. It was the moment he had been waiting for to express himself and leave his mark, inspiring the launch of his consultancy business.
Development Strategies and Implementation for medium and large corporate teams, Andrei also excels as a tactic strategy advisory and consultancy for boards, leadership teams, business leaders and owners of start-ups looking for funding options.
With an area of specialty in Marketing, Branding, Communication and Organizational
“Business coaching is not just a product or by-product, not just a business or just a fancy tag for 17
expensive consultancy services for me. It is a calling and a mission on changing the way companies and business leaders perceive the product-customer relation and redesign it as a whole customer centric journey experience and that should define any business no matter the industry,” Andrei says. Business coaches, consultants and advisors should deliver measurable value that the entire business will understand, as everyone contributes to the overall success of organizational goals. “A business coach is foremost a business architect and guide that will light uncharted territories, know how to make a warm fire in
the middle of scary nowhere, and build a tent from nothing because he/she already went through all those troubles and tribulations. They can push you into giving your very best at your very limits as true performance and excellence start where comfort ends,” he says. “Business coaches must roll up their sleeves and work side by side with business leaders or business owners and guide them in designing the appropriate road maps with structured actions that drive measurable value and consistency, which in the end must lead to easy to implement successful working model with solid infrastructure.”
“Andrei is one of the most driven and intellectually ambidextrous individuals in the Forbes Ignite network. We’re proud to call him a partner and to have the benefit of his expertise across a range of initiatives, including a cutting edge research program driving real change in the realm of cognitive diversity.” -Will Thompson, Senior Vice President, Insights & Strategy Forbes Media 18
|
www.americasbestmagazine.com
19
“I work with a certain type of people and companies, who have a specific DNA for business coaching and advisory: who are open to listening, are open to change, and are action and results driven.” “They are not looking for such services, they are advised by their trusted internal source in working further with carefully selected, well-referenced and valid business coaches or advisory firms that are impeccable when it comes to business ethics and confidentiality.” Taking on a business coach can help them wade through the details and the noise, to clear up the fog and provide clarity and get out of the weeds, so they can focus more on the strategies that drive real results. “I see myself more as a business architect and guide, who builds a solid infrastructure in which the client can “play” around through ideation sessions that spark innovation and lights uncharted territories. This helps them create not just better products, but products or services that are completely different from their competitors. Products that will instill a certain emotion in the buyer’s mind and heart,” says Andrei. 20
|
www.americasbestmagazine.com
“Those emotions are crucial for the business coach to identify, acknowledge and disseminate, as those emotions mean the difference between a wellpositioned company with similar products and a highly successful disruptive company.” Andrei goes above and beyond with every single client he takes on. “The diversity, the challenge, the excitement, the adrenaline and the best results of my work are pillars that keep me going in this direction.” Andrei is the Managing Partner and Founder of Nacea & Partners, a boutique advisory firm that offers also career management and executive search services. You can reach out to Andrei through a quick note at: office@naceaandpartners.com contact@andreinacea.com. andreinacea.com naceaandpartners.com
Why Your Business Needs A Coach
To last long in business, you’ve got to have an entrepreneurial fire strong enough to weather the storms. Your business idea is going to be tested from the moment you come up with it. The list of potential problems is endless; from constant bouts of self-doubt to crippling financial issues and everything else in between. No matter how strong your entrepreneurial spirit is, these tests can make it hard to keep going. It is
in these moments that you’re going to need some help to continue moving forward. This is where business coaching comes in.
You can’t be perfect at everything The human brain can only handle so much information which makes us excellent specialists and, at best, only adequate generalists, meaning some parts of your business might not be up to scratch.
21
This shouldn’t be the case if you choose the right business coach. He or she should be able to cover the areas that you don’t have the interest or proclivity to learn for yourself. So, if you excel as a marketer, then it might be best to find yourself a business coach who can help you with workplace optimisation.
22
|
www.americasbestmagazine.com
They will correct you when you’re wrong Business owners tend to have absolute authority over their businesses. This means employees, who sometimes might know better than the owner, aren’t keen on raising their concerns in terms of business decisions.
Employees wouldn’t risk stepping on your toes because you’re the one paying their wages.
Network with other business professionals
This is a huge part of why great coaches are such an important
Looking for a decent supplier? Your business coach might know someone, or better yet, have a client who fits perfectly your requirements. The important thing here is that business coaches can open new networking avenues for you without much work. Remember, networking is an essential part of business building too. This way, you wouldn’t have to build rapport
asset to any entrepreneur. They have an outsider’s objectivity while still remaining invested in your success.
and awkwardly introduce yourself to others. In most cases, just an introduction from your coach helps you make a good first impression.
Learn from experience without actually having the experience
Overall, a coach will help you to see how customers - current and future - view you, your team and your services and will help you retain and attract the right customer for you. They can help improve your image, fill in the gaps where your business is lacking, guide you through the tough times and in turn, increase your sales or longevity in business.
While technically, you’ll also be the one paying your business coach, they’ll remain outsiders to your business because they don’t depend on you for their living. Business coaches usually have other clients or have their own business to rely on.
A business coach usually has experience in starting up his or her own business. This is an invaluable learning tool for you. Since they’ve experienced firsthand how to build their own business, they’ll be able to relate their experience to the advice that they give you. With their help, you’ll be able to anticipate birthing pains for your business and know exactly what you need to get through them in the best possible way.
23
“I can walk in and out of cultures as easily as I can the front door of my own house.”
Gaurav Bhalla:
Coaching For Performance And Results Gaurav isn’t comfortable with the label ‘coach’. He’s more comfortable with “coaching.”
by helping them think, talk, and act differently, so they can achieve desired results.
Here’s why:
According to Gaurav one of the most effective ways of creating new value – unlocking new opportunities to grow – is by challenging the status quo. “Weltanschauung is one of my favorite words. Because if we want to win in tomorrow’s markets, we must be willing to disrupt and transform our existing world views.
‘Coach’ is a label; anyone can claim to be one. Coaching, on the other hand, is a competence that must be demonstrated. It’s a purposeful activity, not merely a label, that produces relevant and meaningful results for individuals, teams, and organizations by disrupting and transforming their world views, and
24
|
www.americasbestmagazine.com
Yesterday’s playbooks won’t help us overcome leadership challenges posed by tomorrow’s operating environments.” Gaurav’s journey with coaching and mentoring has elements of both serendipity and design – “fortuitous accidents and conscious intentions,” he says. “Investing in people, helping them grow, and developing them so they can maximize their potential has always been a top priority for me. So, when I launched my own company, G. Bhalla & Associates, in 1991, I found myself playing the role of internal coach and mentor, because of the large number of young professionals we were hiring.” Simultaneously, he was also roped into helping executives in client companies raise their performance and contribution to their respective team and corporate goals. He was already in the room as a consultant and executive training specialist and was frequently asked to extend those offerings to coaching and mentoring, either solo, or in partnership with other coaches.
and mentoring. “New times require new narratives,” he says. Accordingly, he has invigorated and augmented his coaching skills and competencies through systematic and rigorous investments in learning, experimentation, and certification. When asked how the substance of his coaching approach has evolved over the years, this is how Gaurav responded. “My core focus is still performance and results – value creation and innovation. But as we do on a wintry day, I have added several layers over the years. A few examples are: • Actively embracing collaboration, cognitive diversity, and creative friction (there is no creativity without these elements).
“Lead with your humanity, not just your executive brilliance.”
Today’s world is infinitely more complex and uncertain than 1991, when Gaurav first started coaching 25
• Incorporating systems thinking principles and frameworks (often we are our own worst enemy). • Using wisdom and humancentric leadership approaches to resolve leadership challenges posed by a VUCA and WICKED world; a world where there are no right or wrong answers; where the most effective solutions don’t lie at either extreme, but in the murky middle (I call this Soulful Leadership; it’s the theme of my newest book, “Awakening A Leader’s Soul”). Today, Gaurav focuses mainly on the following audiences: 1. Leaders and Leadership Teams – helping them frame, pursue, and place winning strategic bets 2. Domain Experts, such as IT professionals from India/Eastern Europe, who are brilliant at what they do, but need leadership development 3. Strategic and Cross-Cultural Teams who are working on mission critical assignments His unique ability to intersect disparate disciplines, such as poetry and leadership, parenting
26
|
www.americasbestmagazine.com
and managing,” sets him apart as a big picture and systems thinker, and distinguishes him from other coaches and mentors. As does his passion for provocation and “Monday-Morning Action,” a phrase he coined and uses frequently. But perhaps what differentiates him and distinguishes him most is his diversity – “I have worked on 5 different continents, interacted with executives in over 30 different countries, which is why I can walk in and out of cultures as easily as the front door or my own house.” When pressed for something to reflect on, this is what Gaurav said: “Lead with your humanity, not just your executive brilliance.”
gauravbhalla.com gaurav@gauravbhalla.com +1 571 338 4234
H O W A C O A C H W I L L I M P R O V E
Y O U R
BOTTOM LINE The business coaching industry has become one of the fastestgrowing service businesses in the world. For an industry that didn’t even exist a couple of decades ago, it’s now raking in billions of dollars every year and taking on a coach has become the norm for a business. Have you ever asked yourself why? The short answer is that it works. 27
Businesses simply do better when management engages the services of business coaches. More specifically, business coaching services improve the bottom line for organisations in various ways. While some coaches have an immediate impact, others tend to have a more subtle effect on business results. Boardroom meetings, especially ones with plenty of influential voices, can easily turn into echo chambers that are blind to certain 28
|
www.americasbestmagazine.com
factors. It doesn’t even have to be a boardroom scenario; the echo chamber can just as easily happen in sole proprietor businesses. Coaches can provide insights from an outsider’s perspective that can expose vulnerabilities that you might have missed. For some leaders, it’s also reassuring to know when business coaches agree with the planning they’ve already envisioned. Your strategies guide where your
business is going, so it’s important to get it right. Hiring a business coach can help you avoid some fatal mistakes that can potentially sink your business.
We’re all human. Stress and anxiety can bring anyone’s productivity down and can even bring leaders to a complete halt, endangering the bottom line in the process.
Marketing can be an absolute money drain. In an ideal world, your product would sell itself. However, the world isn’t ideal. Your competitors might have value propositions that you just can’t compete with.
Some business coaches specialise in keeping clients mentally prepared to face the challenges of business ownership. This is an invaluable specialisation that can potentially save companies a lot of money by preventing an executivelevel meltdown.
A business coach provides leaders with unbiased insights on how both your and your competitor’s products are perceived. This gives you a better perspective on how to spend your marketing budget more efficiently. Small failures and other hurdles can become larger when leaders dwell too much on them. The opposite can also happen when leaders are too focused on the long-term goals that they tune out what’s currently going on around them. A business coach serves as your conscience when you’re getting too preoccupied with certain goals and neglecting the others. So, they’re pretty important if you don’t want to drop the ball because you’re momentarily distracted.
While there many leaders who use their business coach as their confidantes, it is actually the employees who make his life easier. Business coaches, since they’ve presumably had experience with their staff, can help executives traverse the murky waters of employee management and help you to retain your best employees. Want to know how to inspire your workers to be more productive? A business coach has a wealth of experience to share with you about this. This is an extremely important aspect of business coaching as a new employee is only 60% as productive as an experienced one. So, a high turnover rate isn’t ideal for any bottom line.
29
Julia Arndt INCREASE YOUR ROI WITH THE PEAK PERFORMANCE METHOD Today’s fast paced work environment has left us pushing our own limits, sacrificing after-hours to get work done and deprioritizing our own needs to help others.
in negative thought patterns and habits.
But something, Julia Arndt has recognized, is that people haven’t learned why it is so vital to take care of their well-being, learn
Arndt is a stress management trainer, international speaker and the creator of the Peak Performance Method (PPM). She worked for Google for over seven and a half years while the company grew from 30,000 to 100,000
how to deal with acute stress, manage their time effectively, set boundaries and not get drowned
employees and after a 3-month medical leave, recovering from burnout and anxiety in 2018, she
30
|
www.americasbestmagazine.com
experienced first hand the need for a more preventative program. When she returned to work, she offered internal stress management training through a few email channels and received over 300 replies in two days from colleagues all over the world who shared their own story: struggling from workload, disconnecting after hours and a non-existing work-life balance. “I now help businesses and individuals learn peak performance tools to thrive at work and in their personal life. I show them that they can live and feel better while still being a peak performer.“ In only 18 months since she started her own business, she has trained over 3000 people at companies such as Google, Microsoft, Swisscom, Zalando, Uber and many more on understanding the effects of stress on body and mind, moving beyond burnout and building a lifestyle that delivers focus, high energy and productivity. “I work mostly with tech companies, consulting companies and startups globally - in short with people that are working in high-pressure, competitive, quickly changing environments where people are
expected to always bring their best, hit targets and are evaluated on a regular basis.” Arndt’s passion for what she does flows through to her clients and the results are real. In a first pilot study that she ran with a research team at BrainTap, a performancebased application, she was able to prove that implementing Peak Performance tools into their lives through a 10-week program significantly reduced the participants stress and anxiety levels, improved sleep quality and increased productivity scores. She is committed to ensuring people never get to the burnout stage that she experienced. “Living a 24/7 work life is not the new normal. It can (and should) be different. I love helping people understand that they create their own lives and happiness. They have the control to have a different life but it’s on them to make actual changes,” Arndt says. Burnout impacts employee performance, retention, career growth and even family life. It is not inevitable, and it should never be celebrated as part of the socalled “hard-working culture”. The World Health Organization 31
“During my burnout, there were plenty of resources in place to help me: EAP programs, paid time off and countless internal resources. However, no one ever told me how to not get there in the first place, how to take care of myself, what signs to look out for, how to say no or even that it’s ok to say no. That’s where I really want to help tech and consulting companies to change!”
32
|
www.americasbestmagazine.com
33
“I want companies to invest long-term in the health of their employees and not just tick a box.� officially declared burnout as a diagnosable condition in 2019, so it makes sense that employers who implement processes to get ahead of the burnout curve will have an advantage over their competitors. Gallup.com, a global analytics and advice firm, reports that a staggering 67% of employees say 34
|
www.americasbestmagazine.com
they are sometimes, very often or always burned out at work. “During my burnout, there were plenty of resources in place to help me: EAP programs, paid time off and countless internal resources. However, no one ever told me how to not get there in the first place,
how to take care of myself, what signs to look out for, how to say no or even that it’s ok to say no. That’s where I really want to help tech and consulting companies to change!” Arndt deeply believes that companies should invest in onboarding and continuous learning programs to help their employees develop well-being tools overtime, rather than short term investments which tend to be ineffective. “Well-being initiatives, such as a single 60-minute workshop are a nice gesture, but people tend to forget about what they learned. Without a big investment from their company and leadership team in required peak performance programs, their well-being scores decrease,” Arndt says. A crucial part of that investment is taking on a business coach to look across processes and operations. Arndt says we all have our blind spots and a coach is such an invaluable step for a business. “Show me one professional athlete that has no trainer. Bill Gates said “Everyone needs a coach” and I totally agree with that. Hiring a business coach helps to validate
certain tools that a company is trying to implement and increase credibility and foster (culture) change.” Arndt’s process is quite different to the average coach. She has created her very own Peak Performance Method, which combines critical productivity, mindfulness and leadership tools with neuroscientific research on emotion regulation, habit-building and change management as well as coaching techniques to help each employee thrive in the workplace and develop the next workplace superpower. “I want companies to invest in the long-term health of their employees and not just tick a box. I encourage companies to focus on their onboarding programs and help employees develop tools at the beginning of their journey to prevent mental and physical exhaustion,” she says. “Well-being tools need to be a required part of an employee’s journey, a reactive one-off investment is not enough.” peakperformancemethod.com
35
How Coaching Can Make You A
GREAT LEADER The world of business is a competitive place. The moment you let up, there’s another organisation willing to work harder for a bigger slice of the pie and leadership is no exception. If you lift your foot off the accelerator, there’s someone else, either from within your organisation or from within another, waiting to replace you. As they say, it’s a dog eat dog world. But, surely business leaders, have limits for growth, right? While this is true, there are ways to stretch 36
|
www.americasbestmagazine.com
those limits. One of the most effective is through engaging a business coach. There are two kinds of leaders who need business coaching the overwhelmed leader who’s backed up with roadblocks, and the proactive leader who has a stable footing right now, but wants to improve innovation and streamline strategies. You don’t want to be the first one. But if you find yourself in this situation, a business coach can help you navigate your way through
it. They will look at your business from a different perspective, which allows him or her to share insights that you may not be able to see. Sure, you can navigate your way through it on your own. But, at what cost? Time is money, as they say, so trying to experiment your way through these roadblocks can cost you hours and precious resources. If you’re the second leader, a business coach’s experience of both working with their own business and for other clients, makes them a great tool during
brainstorming sessions. You can bounce ideas off them and merge your expertise to get a broader perspective in crafting action plans and business strategies. Even resilient people get discouraged and disheartened by their failures or other types of disappointments from time to time. Captains of industries aren’t immune to this. They may be considered even more susceptible to this because of the scale with which they’re trying to operate a business.
37
In times like these, a good nudge in the right direction from a business coach that you respect can help you get out of your slump and get your entrepreneurial mojo back. Sometimes, all that’s needed is a little encouragement.
Business situations can be awfully repetitive, so your response can become automatic too. But, if we can just adjust our response to each situation with more intention and focus, the problems might not even recur.
Over the years, we learn how to react to situations instinctively. If someone greets you ‘good morning,’ you say ‘good morning’ back even if there isn’t anything good about the morning you’re having. It’s basic human conditioning.
A business coach recognizes these patterns and points it out so that we, as business leaders, can craft more personalized solutions. Recognizing detrimental decisionmaking habits like these isn’t easy especially if you have no one to reach out to for guidance.
38
|
www.americasbestmagazine.com
AMERICA’S
BEST B U S I N E S S
C O A C H E S
One of the most effective strategies for personal and professional growth is to hire a coach. Studies have proven that the return on investment (ROI) in coaching is 7 times the initial investment. So, we are thrilled to help you on your business journey by presenting you with America’s nominees for the very best business coaches in the country.
39
AMERICA’S BEST
Nina helps coaches who have a desire to dominate the marketplace create and implement their own IP (Intellectual Property) and takes them from informational to tangible products and services. She operates on a 5 Key Strategy Process. Prepare, Build, Create, Reach and Win. For the last fourteen years, Nina has helped more coaches get their messages out there and considers herself a world changer and a game changer. She is passionate about impacting lives, changing a generation and making a difference.
NINA VENTURELLA
Julia deeply believes that companies should invest in continuous learning programs to help their employees develop tools overtime. Her passion is to help businesses improve by targeting the wellbeing of the employees by 1) Investing in programs at the beginning of their employees journey (so for example during onboarding) and 2) continuously create opportunities for employees to learn additional tools. After working for Google for 7.5 years in Europe and the US and being diagnosed with burnout, she created the Peak Performance Method to help peak performers sustain their performance throughout a life time, thrive in their career and have a healthy
JULIA ARNDT
lifestyle.
In 2015, Razvan was nominated in Forbes 30 under 30 together with 29 extraordinary individuals, such as Simona Halep and Prince Nicolae. He considers himself more of a guide and mentor, calling himself a “Business Architect” rather than a Business Coach. Specializing in Marketing, Branding, Communication and Organizational Development Strategies and Implementation for medium and large corporate teams, Razvan is also tactic strategy advisory and consultancy for boards, leadership teams, business leaders and owners of start-ups looking for funding options.
ANDREI RAZVAN NACEA
Gaurav Bhalla possesses a deep and varied understanding of humanbeings and human behavior, speed and accuracy in sizing up business and people challenges and the ability to go beyond prima facie explanations and examine underlying structure of events and explanations. His systemic thinking skills and capabilities combined with a passion for results and lasting outcomes has kept him at the top of his game as a current and cutting-edge leader in the coaching field.
GAURAV BHALLA
40
|
Gaurav values the humanity of people more than their executive brilliance and cultural/cognitive diversity and global perspectives.
www.americasbestmagazine.com
AMERICA’S BEST
Steve Sapato has been a corporate trainer and motivational speaker for over thirty years. He has trained thousands of people on success principals, management principals and life achievements. He is an author of the relationship book, ‘The Twenty’ things you need to learn to find the love of your life, and the professional business networking book, ‘Become The Go-To Person For Your Own Success’. The Best Thing About You As A Coach?
STEPHEN SAPATO
Finding out what your client knows and does not yet know is one key to successful training to help and encourage a small business owner to create their own success. As a business consultant for over twenty years, Steve has been able to look at businesses from the twenty-thousand-foot view and also from deep inside of the small business to see how many little corrections it takes to create more success, more income, and more profits.
What makes you a great coach? The ability to relate and understand my clients which gets them to open up for effective coaching and commit to the process of succeeding toward their desired objectives. In addition, they commit to new ideas and the process based on my ability to help themsevles be accountable and follow through with action. In summar, I am transparent, honest, and come from integrity which solidifies the engagement with them to trust me towards mentoring them toward success.
CHRISTOPHER SALEM
It is my mission to help millions of people overcome limited beliefs established in childhood and understand how to implement the process to become more confident in their abilities to become trusted advisors in their business. People and their businesses grow when they are open to change and the ability to come from limitiless beliefs and a success foundation that ius sustainable to grow.
In 1995 Cecilia founded a company dedicated to train Human Resources in order to serve people (at any age) to keep developing more successful attitudes to face not only corporate’s tasks, but also personal life. What Makes Cecilia A Great Coach? She works with celebrities and billionaires, without revealing their names to the public. Cecilia prefers not to drop names - she chooses to keep helping them anonymously.
CECILIA BONFANTI
Willa Edgerton-Chisler is the founder and designer of Symphony Strategies - a division of her certified (MWBE) firm, Symphony Coaching, LLC. serves clients in the private, not-for-profit and government sectors to include the State of New Jersey Judiciary, Sodexo, NJIT University, Chubb, NJSBDC, Mitchell & Titus, Elsevier, Dress for Success Northern New Jersey, N.J. Small Business Development Center and ADP. Willa is a proven leader and highly regarded by her peers. She brings over 20 years of Fortune 500 leadership experience supporting sales, operations, client services and leading employee business groups. She is an award winning diversity and inclusion champion.
WILLA EDGETON-CHISLER Collaborates with business leaders to master transition, change, own and implement their signature leadership presence, aligning vision with strategy.
41
AMERICA’S BEST
What makes you a great coach? I am a holistic spiritual, metaphysical, Conscious business/mindful leadership coach. I work with professionals/Higher level management at Fortune 500 companies teaching them conscious business and mindful leadership practices. I help them deal with daily stresses at work as well as personal lives, raise self awareness, emotional regulation. I have alignment with colleagues and teams and not only be more productive but have a feeling of overall well-being.
VIBHA SHARMA
Vera actively listens and reflects back what her clients are saying, guiding toward clarity in key areas including leadership, management, problem solving, idea generation, growth mindset, work relationships and personal resilience. She believes it is important for her clients not only to know their customers, but also to know themselves. This is why she encourages using self-assessment tools to discover strengths and weaknesses, personality and work values. This helps clients discover new opportunities that fulfill them both personally and meet the needs of the market. Helping clients play in this sweet spot is what makes Vera an amazing business coach!
VERA LENTINI
With over 25 years experience coaching thousands of people to achieve their dream life Curtis has the unique ability to find any business over 100K in 45 minutes without them spending a penny on advertising or marketing. Curtis get’s results, plain and simple. No hype, no fluff, he gets it done. His goal is to save people from all the impostors out there, lift up the coaching community and help even more people realise their dream business.
CURTIS PHELAN
Thinking, and looking after customers’ needs, best interests, and prosperity is my main goal. How to achieve this goal is a two-way journey; walking and working together with my customers all-the-way! I am an Agile instructor/trainer and digital change advocate with proven business experience helping cross-functional teams to innovate business values. I have been a customer facing professional with broad domain expertise as “Change Agent” in LeanAgile business expansion, technical and complex project/program management, and scaled collaborative enablement. I combine technical, business, and adaptive strategies to implement complex technology solutions. I detect and isolate business challenges, to plan solutions, and transfer risks to strengths.
DAVID BAKHTNIA
42
|
www.americasbestmagazine.com
AMERICA’S BEST
What makes you a great coach? I lost my vision at 11 and have gone on to achieve a MS in counseling psy. And JD from Texas Tech school of law. I know what it takes to overcome large challenges by setting a goal. I also know what struggle, setback, frustration, and overcoming feels like on a deep emotional fundamental level. I love learning, growing, and evolving and helping high achievers become present focused in order to remain centered so they can achieve more, make great decisions, reduce stress, and live a happier more fulfilled life.
RYON ANDERSON
Abundance Thought Leadership Coach Spring Zheng is a #1 Amazon bestselling author of “Abundance Train” and award-winning speaker. She is called to empower visionary entrepreneurs to unleash their purpose and passion, and stand out as confident experts and thought leaders in their ideal niche with their unique gifts. Spring is on a mission to help entrepreneurs turn their passions into prosperity, and create abundance worldwide.
SPRING ZHENG
Spring holds an Executive MBA and Professional Coaching Certificate from NYU. Her over 23 years professional experiences include performance management with a Fortune 100 company, strategy and management consulting, and 12 years of abundance coaching.
A Business Advisor/ Coach is a true partner. I walk with the client for life… When a client needs our services what they really need is someone to confirm what they think. That is a very important distinction. If you bring me in, and say I feel stuck with my business, my job is to unpack and find what’s making you stuck. We are the ones that share, listen, and present all the information on the table, in a very structured way, so the CEO can arrive at a solution themselves. Because I build and execute strategy, transfer and influence among Fortune 500 companies and thousand startups span most regions of the world.
ROBERT TRAN
I have years of experience in business, health and building clarity. I have a custom system where we focus on business but also ensure my clients are succeeding in their health and life by clarifying their life priorities and improving health and energy levels. Without health, you won’t have the energy you need to succeed. Without clarity, you will likely build the wrong business for your life. I help my clients thrive 360 degrees.
HOLLY JACKSON
I want to help more business owners and leaders succeed in life. I believe in spreading inspiration like a contagion. Creating a positive ripple effect in the world and helping leaders create more jobs for people is my passion. Being a part of this magazine will help me reach more people so we can inspire more and create more, together.
43
AMERICA’S BEST
Bob Britz works directly with individuals to advance careers, or change them entirely based upon talents, passions, resources and experience. He recruits positions to build sales teams, project managers, retail staff and technical engineers and develops and works with a 6 stage consultative process to define key attributes, job possibilities and career paths as well as utilizing resources to find work through networking and online sources. He created a job search methodology to assist in quick satisfactory job placement.
BOB BRITZ
Jeremy’s company is innovating the way financial information is being brought to the masses. There are way too many people out there that have little financial understanding. We take concepts typically reserved for the wealthy and bring them to middle income families; and they do it for free! Your goals and dreams, become their goals/dreams. “We have a passion of “no families left behind”. We are changing the savings habits of America; one family at a time because family is everything.”
JEREMY BENTON
With a 30-year career, Claudia has held leadership positions in the HR field at international companies such as The Lycra, Travelex Bank & Finance Services, Crown Cork & Seal, GE Silicons, Fort Dodge. Throughout her career, she worked in the strategic management of companies and participated in projects that involved innovative models and culture of change, diversity and inclusion in several countries in Europe, the United States, Asia and Oceania. In 2018 Claudia moved from Brazil to the USA and she lives with her family (including Ghost, the little Maltese) in the Bay Area of San Francisco, CA and works on projects in South America and the USA, acting as Career Coach, Business Consultant and Leadership Developer for individuals, companies and start-ups independently and with associated consultants.
CLAUDIA FERNANDES LOPES Since Desi Tahiraj was nine years old she has felt the calling to serve and help people. Born in a communist country and because her family was not communist they killed 27 people from her family. They wanted to kill her father was well but he was a great professional and educated. He saved the life of the prime minister so the prime minister saved her fathers life. Living in such a harsh environment they were not allowed to go to school, get a job, love someone, or build anything, or go anywhere.
DESI TAHIRAJ
44
|
Living that hell she promised herself and prayed God to help her help everyone she came across. What do you consider to be the highlight of your career?: Resilient Leadership Big Heart.
www.americasbestmagazine.com
AMERICA’S BEST
He doesn’t try to fit you into his system- he knows enough systems to fit one around you. There are so many people out there struggling to run the business themselfMike Rager knows that with some expert guidance, they can streamline things, delegate, prioritize and actually work on growing the business.
MICHAEL RAGER
He has the knowledge of running and being a part of a business that actually sold. He takes his knowledge and wraps it into his passion of fishing and uses simple easy to follow “fishing stories” to help business owners succeed.
What makes you a great coach? I bring you to your hell yes to dive into flow with a powerful mental model to overcome the inevitable failure and bounce right back. As a over achiever turned curious appreciator, I shift mindsets to accept the current state to grow with your stumbles and not over analyze necessary data. Basically, I connect you to your inner champion to lead you towards your mountain top step by step without continual glances back and periods of self doubt.
KARL UHLIG
I know that sharing my gift will bring more vibrant lives. I know that my logical turned empathetic playful mindset will gift you and your listeners better sleep, joy of being, and overall contentment at taking each day as a gift with some discernment of how to improve your life and those around you.
Margaret’s warm and competent demeanor provides safe space for leaders to express vulnerability. The outcome of her coaching is apparent in the results. She has helped leaders break through barriers that are holding them back and focus on the actions necessary to achieve their goals.
MARGARET CLEVELAND
“I met Margaret when I applied for a Leadership Academy she was facilitating. I joined the faculty in year 2 and was able to get a clear view if what she is able to bring through her ability to mentor. Margaret had tremendous interest in investing her time in this endeavor. I observed firsthand how her coaching influenced the Leadership team within the organization. The result was improved performance of everyone at the company; resulting in greater synergistic success.”
We are not who we think we are. Since 2000, I’ve helped my clients discover who they REALLY are, what they want and how they can build a life they love. Life’s too short to live unfulfilled and it is our natural state to thrive. I consider it the highest honor to guide people back HOME to their truth.
KRISTEN SWARCHECK
My journey to self-mastery began with my mom’s terminal cancer diagnosis, which essentially unraveled my life. It was a time when I just had to let go of how I thought my life should be, and embrace the life that was working its way into my consciousness. This act of surrendering enabled me to feel a well of emotions that had been bottled up for a lifetime.
45
AMERICA’S BEST
I have an overwhelming desire to make my clients successful. I have personally leveraged over a dozen promotions for my sales leaders because I can often see their merit for promotion before they can! In addition to promotions, I’ve had the privilege to work inside amazing companies, with talented leaders and give them the tweaks needed to take their organizations to the next level. Often times I’ve been offered fulltime positions with my clients’ companies because of the relationships and results we enjoy together. Although some are tempting, I would miss the opportunity to continue my coaching work across many industries and sales teams. I receive a common compliment from my clients that I always love to hear, which is, “You can tell you love
KYLA OCONNELL
what you do.”
I have been advising and coaching startup companies since 2012. I am an entrepreneur and angel investor, so I understand founder’s troubles from both sides of the table. I created a website and youtube channel to capture the advice I give most frequently and to extend my reach far beyond the number of people I could coach directly.
LANCE COTTRELL
I would love to increase the exposure of my free website to enable me to help more founders. Having achieved significant success as an entrepreneur I am now in the phase of trying to give back. However, my entrepreneurial instincts make me want to have the largest impact possible.
Laura is an expert on Transformation and the Future of Work. She has over 20 year of experience as an executive coach and is recognized by Thinkers 360 as the top 20 thought leaders in Transformation, Future of Work, Risk Management, Change, Culture and Technology. Her global perspectives on workforce dynamics and change have earned her the reputation as someone who can create positive outcomes in even the most challenging workplace dynamics. She is recognized as the 10 Most Inspiring Businesswomen to Watch in 2020
LAURA GOODRICH
One thing that makes my business stand out from my competitors is that I do what I love, feel fulfilled by my choices, and lead a balanced life on my terms. I teach others how to do the same, from a place of trust and integrity. I help my clients have more balance and fulfillment in their life, create financial freedom, and overcome insecurities that keep them from getting to the next level of achievement. I do this by teaching them how to develop goals, affirmations, plans that align with their top values, balance their lives, so there is space for everything important to them, set limits with people or activities that are time wasters, and delegate with elegance.
LINA RUGOVA
46
|
www.americasbestmagazine.com
AMERICA’S BEST
What makes you a great coach? Many executives forget about the most important part of leadership, which is themselves. I help them position themselves to excel! I help busy executives with no time for exercise find time for their health because “Your health is your real wealth”” I hold you to the them to the highest level of accountability to get in shape, increase productivity & energy to feel unstoppable.
LISA GOLDENTHAL
In this crazy, stressful and competitive world I help leaders perform at their best.
Prior to becoming a coach, I worked in the healthcare industry in marketing for 13 years. I became a coach because I recognized the struggle between delivering results and taking care of oneself... and how these were often at odds when one another. This often led to toxic workplace behavior and severed relationships. My goal ever since has been to help leaders find what they love and take better care of themselves so they can reach their full potential all the while cultivating a workplace that values kindness, respect, and equality. Kindness can change the world in remarkable ways.
AMY SANCHEZ
TERI CITTERMAN
ANGELA MARIE LASHER
In focused 1:1 coaching sessions, Teri works with CEOs to identify leverage points for growth and helps them stay accountable for improving their performance. For executives, she works to elevate his or her thinking to make a remarkable impact. Teri also leads Executive Team Sessions to broaden understanding, awareness, and recognition of each other’s thinking styles, behavioral traits, motivations, and interests. The executive team works together to identify actions that leverage each member’s strengths as a team to maximize impact. Teri is an icon in the industry and hosts CEO roundtables.
I started in network marketing and direct sales when I was 21 years old pregnant with my first child. I have been invited to leadership teams, been on top of leader boards all while working PT around my 3 kids schedules. I’ve attended over 60 live training events on personal development and business development, hired 3 one--on-one coaches in the last 15 years. I made a decision to go out on my own 2 years ago to become a Transformation Coach, Speaker and Author and now I also have a morning show with my co-host FC who is also a coach and speaker. Throughout my career, I also struggled in 2 toxic and very abusive relationships. Through it all, I was still able to succeed in business. I finally realized my worth and got out of that cycle and since then I’ve been able to help hundreds of people in less then 2 years get out of their own way.
47
AMERICA’S BEST
Sue has the most unique ability to get to the heart of who you are-not just as a business entity but as a person-and build on this to provide unique, uber-practical coaching that gets significant and measurable results. Sue has made a difference in the lives of hundreds of business owners and entrepreneurs. SUE GUIHER
As a Mindset Biz Coach, I help my clients master the thing that creates every result in their biz and lives: their mind. This is what builds confidence and trust within themselves, their services, and their ability to be successful. Only from here do business strategies align with them so they can have a greater impact effortlessly and consistently (rather than the other way around, which is what most business coaches teach). I wholeheartedly believe that my purpose is to help as many women as possible to create a life and business with endless possibilities
MICHELLE WEBER
I empower female leaders to become role models around the globe by redefining success. Female leaders in healthcare are experiencing a gap between financial success and happiness that can be closed through a shift in communication, boundaries, and perspective. These leaders ultimately are not reaching their potential in an effort to emulate what they see in the workplace, characteristics that ultimately define just one part of effective leadership. Effective leadership is about embracing all of the skills of leadership, encompassing the masculine (initiation, activation, expansion) and the feminine (presence, engagement, active listening). Using the Redefining Success Signature System philosophy, I empower leaders to redefine
ERIN GERST
success by learning to live and work in new and better ways.
Dana Manciagli’s coaching is her “work of compassion.” She is leveraging her 30-year career on the hiring side of the table into helping candidates who are frustrated with the job search process. She built a proprietary job search system and invested in technology to make her coaching accessible to anyone from anywhere at any time. Dana has customized her coaching to struggling segments such as Veterans, Military Spouses, and persons with disabilities. Dana is a giver on social media and prolific blogger, including for Forbes.com.
DANA MANCIAGLI
48
|
She is energetic, upbeat, and delivers results. Her clients love her.
www.americasbestmagazine.com
AMERICA’S BEST
DR. APRIL WILLIS
An amazing business coach is one who knows how to explore the biggest, boldest dreams of their clients and create pathways to bring those dreams to life. That’s exactly what Dr. April Willis does. Specializing in non-profits, April determines the action steps necessary for her clients’ businesses to actualize their potential. Her most notable clients have included multiple afterschool/virtual programs that serve students who are socio-economically disadvantaged, a foster & adoption care non-profit, and an organization that serves the homeless population of Austin. Serving as a business coach for the non-profit industry is an incredibly rewarding experience and a privilege.
Originally from Southern England, I started my company in Washington, DC in 1998 and I have been a trail blazer all my life. I was the youngest ever branch manager of a large travel company at 18. I became a senior manager for major companies like British Airways before I was 30. I have been Head of Sales and Account Management for Asia Pacific, North American, and European corporations. I now share my skills with nonprofit leaders around the country. I have been a board member of a large foundation for 9 years and their chair
SUE FERN
in 2018.
Scott is arguably the strongest sales and marketing leader that Austin has to offer. He has built multiple sales organizations and took them from startup to enterprise. All along the way he has been a mentor to hundreds - if not thousands - or people and helped them to grow as professionals and people. He is a strong advocate for mental health, employee treatment, and healthy business cultures. SCOTT LEESE
Ilhiana is an experienced executive with over 20 years of knowledge and experience leading teams in corporate America. Ilhiana is a Diversity & Inclusion Catalyst, a Hispanic advocate, and an international motivational speaker. She is a possibility thinker and firm believer that nothing is impossible.
ILHIANA ROJAS
She is a natural born leader and empowers ALL - especially women and people of color. Ilhiana is a Mexican immigrant and she brings her unique perspective and encouragement to everyone that she meets. She genuinely enjoys helping others achieve their goals.
49
AMERICA’S BEST
Coaching has always come naturally to me as I studied psychology and started my career as a teacher. After moving to the corporate world, I always had confidence and the urge to influence others and work with the ‘decision makers’. My positions in Learning & Development and Talent Management have a natural coaching aspect to them. Yet, to further my career, I went to become a certified coach. I enjoy all elements of coaching but particularly like to help emerging leaders or those that are switching careers. As someone who is still early in my career, I think that I bring a unique perspective in working with millennials or those who have made significant careers changes.
PAULA BARG
An advocate who works with the best interests of each client in mind, truly encourages and motivates business executives from c-suite to new professionals, as well as military to civilian transitions, to succeed in whatever their definition of success is. Factual knowledge share, unique and not scripted, all clients are treated with hands on attention throughout their career and business ventures. I would love to motivate a larger audience. My clients are always asking me to be an influencer and reach out to a large audience for the same reason, which is: “I have never been so motivated and many could benefit from the ability to simplify how it works in the many layers of the professional world.”
LINDA NEWCOMB
Mary Lee has a unique perspective as an 19-year CEO now of a $24 million organization within a 80,000 employee organization as well as an International Coach Federation Certified Coach. She’s experienced the corporate grind of bureaucracy, personal agendas, cynicism and posturing and knows how to position your unique leadership brand for outstanding business results.
MARY LEE GANNON
50
|
Clients throughout the U.S. seek out Mary Lee because of her coaching results. They want remote coaching to save time. They want to upgrade their dreams even though a work situation has depleted their confidence so much that their frustration shows. They feel disarmed of executive presence and effectiveness.
www.americasbestmagazine.com
AMERICA’S BEST
Dr. Jean-Claude Junqua has 25+ years of successful experience as a global executive in the United States, Europe, and Japan. During his tenure at Panasonic, he led the global speech activities involving teams in the United States, Japan, and China. After 2 years spent in Japan, Dr. Junqua served as Vice President of Panasonic North America and developed the R&D activities of Panasonic in Silicon Valley creating new business opportunities in various areas such as consumer electronics, Automotive, Avionics, Mobile Communication, Smart Home, Speech Recognition/Artificial Intelligence and the Internet of Things (IoT). Always enjoying new challenges, Dr. Junqua created an internal startup inside Panasonic which led to the creation of a new North American business unit in the area of Health and Wellness.
JEAN CLAUDE JUNQUA
DAWN GRAHAM
Through my roles as Career Director at The Wharton School and SiriusXM Radio Host of “Dr. Dawn on Careers,” I’ve been privileged to coach thousands of professionals. The unique combination of my background as a Corporate Recruiter and Licensed Psychologist enables me to approach career coaching from a holistic view, teaching clients the psychological aspects of the job search. My specialty is working with career switchers. With the rapid changes in the future of work, more job seekers need to make a pivot. Unfortunately traditional hiring practice haven’t kept up, which is why I created a complete roadmap in my book “Switchers: How Smart Professionals Change Careers and Seize Success.” More recently, I’ve had the honor of delivering a TEDx Talk, creating courses through LinkedIn Learning, and publishing regularly with Forbes.com to empower job seekers to attain career success.
I possess over 26 years experience with in corporate America assisting people with their careers business and life needs. My technical ability with extended research in psychology and neurology is helped me create a new method of assisting people to achieve the career/business journey they desire and deserve!
NOELLE JACKSON
I would love the opportunity to be selected to further my region helping others attain the life they wish to have whether that be through their career their business or through personal growth. Having vast experience in multiple industries, partnered with a continual personal growth plan , and a genuine personal approach has provided deep insights on human behavior, Unconscious biases I’ve helped numerous people excel.
51
“Demand more from yourself than anyone else could ever expect.” —Tony Robbins
P U B L I S H I N G
52
|
www.americasbestmagazine.com
Brought to you by Standout Publishing