Clients & results
Since 2003 Linda has worked with hundreds of people, supporting them through the challenges and transitions inherent to leadership and running a business.
"Someone I deeply trust gave me some feedback about my leadership style that was very hard to hear. Then he introduced me to Linda. I respected her right away and we worked together for about six months. Linda is a strategic thinker and a corporate sage. I have a prickly personality and she somehow managed to use each conversation to develop me, respectfully shake me up and help me see how I was coming across. Now, whenever I'm facing an important meeting I often schedule a call with Linda to help me prepare. She's become a confidential ally. I always benefit from her insights and the practices she gives me (when I remember to do them).
The friend that referred me says I now come across as calmer, more confident. I've found better ways to get my message across at the office. My wife even commented on my temperament and is thrilled with the shift. I'm grateful to Linda and the friend who had the courage to confront me in the first place."
Steven K.
SVP, Financial Services
Menlo Park
"Linda showed me how to find heart and meaning in a job I despised. My boss brought her in to help me develop my leadership presence, fully own my role as a newly promoted boss, and communicate more effectively. In the end, I know my boss would agree we achieved those goals. For me, though, something bigger (maybe even life altering) happened. I came away with a new way of looking at myself and others that has made all the difference in my work and my personal life."
M.B.A.
Regional Vice President
Silicon Valley, CA
"Linda has a unique combination of business savvy, managerial skills and creative solutions to executive challenges. Facing extreme business pressures in my role as Creative Director, it was imperative that I remain creative and motivating as a leader. In my case, this involved learning how to skillfully ‘push back’ on some of the demands of my boss and staff, so that I could be strategic and focused on new opportunities for the company. As Linda gave me direct, useful and honest feedback on my progress working my development plan, I modeled her tact and forthrightness when talking to my direct reports. Over the six months of our work together I also learned how to balance protecting my team from chaos while empowering them to assume full responsibility for their assignments.
Working with Linda was a very rich collaboration that left me not only a more effective leader but also a better person. "
Irene DeJong
San Francisco, CA
"My CEO was considering me for responsibilities beyond my EVP/CMO role, and suggested I prepare by developing more patience and learn to be less directive in my communication style. I choose to work with Linda because she’d walked in my shoes. She understood exactly what my challenges were. I sensed her authenticity right away. She taught me many things, but the biggest take away was to slow down, set my intentions and consider what impact I wanted to have in every interaction. My employees responded incredibly well. There was more immediate buy-in to my strategies. I did get the promotion and Linda helped me learn how to listen and connect in a meaningful way that only comes from slowing down. In the end, I’m a more effective leader, and a better person. It’s amazing to me!"
Kaela Forker Clary
Toronto, Canada
"Linda knows her stuff, she’s relentless and she really cares. I was scattered and struggling to discern the next step in my career and hired Linda to help me sort out my options. In the middle of our work together, my company was acquired and I felt very protective of my own future and that of my team. Linda was good at calming me down and keeping me focused on the essentials. Her tone and manner is something I now try to emulate; she became a role model of sorts. More than anything, I needed someone sane and objective to talk to. She’s a gentle soul who carries a big stick. In the end, I came away with a decent action plan. I credit Linda with helping me complete the ‘old’ and own my path to the 'new.'"
Ann Bamesberger
Vice President
Sun Microsystems
"For several years Linda reported directly to me at Visa, and I wish to take credit for recruiting her to the organization. I've always known her to be an articulate, insightful thinker whom I could trust. When she told me of her plans to leave Visa to start her own coaching business, I was stunned, disappointed to lose her, and a bit jealous. She was on the corporate fast track and was well respected by everyone who knew her. But she's never been one to follow the safe path and I knew she would be successful. Eventually I too left Visa, and knew Linda was the right person to coach me through that transition. Any top performing executive who wishes to achieve greater success would do well to call her. I received candid, reliable, totally unbiased support."
Armen Kachadourian
“Linda, I just wanted to let you know that our business is up over 35% on a year-to-year comparison. I attribute this growth in no small part to the coaching you gave us. It’s been awhile since I’ve been in touch - but I wanted you to know that I think about you quite a bit and try to implement your coaching into my business a little bit every day.”
Claudia H. Barkmeier
Senior Vice President
Robert W. Baird & Co.
“In a word, Linda was great to work with. She brought a lot to the table and helped me and my team tremendously. She is very articulate and gave me a lot of sound advice. Specifically she would take situations I was confronting and give me meaningful ways to solve them and continue to move forward.”
Andy Hirsch
Senior Vice President
Robert W. Baird & Co
"I started working with Linda during a major turning point in my business. She helped me maintain my composure and not get mired in unimportant details as I handled the difficult negotiations of selling my interest in the CPA practice. Her attention to the ‘human side’ of business got me through that period without damaging important relationships which I need to support the future growth of my wealth advisory business. I recently had a breakthrough with one colleague whom I’d almost given up on and I foresee that change having a positive impact on the bottom line.
I trust Linda. Working with her is like having a business partner with no agenda beyond supporting me."
William A. Morgan, CPA/PFS
President
Herbein Wealth Management, LLC
"Linda is a knowledgeable business partner who doesn't demand a share of my profits. She understands my industry and what it takes to meet our future goals. Linda is always honest; she doesn't tell me what I necessarily want to hear, but what I need to hear. Her strengths include being a great sounding board for me on such topics as sensitive client issues, employee moral and marketing. I recommend Linda without hesitation."
Jeff Chernitzer, CPA/PFS
WealthQuest Financial Services, LLC
"Linda brought heart, objectivity and insight to her work here at MasterCard. Her coaching and team-building provided the key to transforming a once-strained relationship between a vice president and the team he leads. The difference is night and day. Trust replaced uncertainty. Cooperation replaced criticism. Effectiveness grew.
One of Linda's greatest assets is the number of years she has worked as an executive. She can empathize with her coaching clients, who see her as a credible partner in their development as leaders. Her approach is grounded in practical experience. I recommend her without hesitation."
Ken Caruso
Vice President
MasterCard International
“Linda is a clear and logical thinker, plus she brings a lot of heart and intuition to her coaching. That is a rare combination, and it has benefited my film project immensely. The most challenging part of the documentary film I’ve been shooting in the Amazon is fund-raising. Fortunately, after applying Linda’s coaching in this area, the project received two substantial donations.”
Larry Lansburgh
Emmy award-winning, Oscar-nominated documentary filmmaker
”You have a way of offering more than might be expected and have a good instinct as to when to offer a nudge and when to let the person take the step themselves.”
Ron Collins
Grand Rapids, Michigan
“Retiring from a highly visible business position raised many unanticipated issues. Linda actively listened to my concerns and suggested innovative ways to support my transition. Together we formed a plan composed of manageable steps. Thankfully, she did not let me off the hook for commitments I had made for taking action. I greatly appreciated her consistent follow-up. She helped me create a new and satisfying life.”
Diana Gilmore
Retired LA Times executive
"Linda is an outstanding executive coach. She has the insight and life experience to identify the underlying personal and professional challenges that are holding you back. She helped me develop a workable action plan to address fundamental issues, and then she also created a supportive atmosphere for useful guidance and feedback.”
Lori Allen
Carmel, California