Testimonials

Read words from clients who found true fulfillment with my support, colleagues who appreciated working with me, and companies who saw their talent improve in ways that benefited everyone involved.

Coaching Client Reviews:

Halved the Time to Reach My Goals:
“Working with Barbara was my first experience with executive coaching.  Because of our time together, I was able to accomplish what I had thought was my five-year goal in six months: promotion to a senior role in my hospital.  I gained the confidence to network and communicate my career goals honestly—a winning strategy for growth.”
-E.L., MD, NYC

Smooth Transition to New Role:
I was moving into a bigger role and wanted coaching to help me develop plans for next steps by pausing and asking myself questions. I also wanted to be able to be more present in meetings and hear all the voices in the room. Coaching helped me realize there is no quick fix, that this is a work in progress.  Working with Barbara, I became more mindful, and developed more meaningful interactions with team members and peers.  This applies both in and outside of work.  Coaching resulted in a smooth transition to Chief Medical Officer.
- N.B, MD, NYC

Resulted in a Promotion:
When I began coaching, I was hoping to receive honest and challenging feedback on what I perceived as opportunities and growth as a leader. hoped to build on my strengths as well as leverage resources available to me to gain experience, build a network and develop those around me.

With Barbara, I felt heard, understood and supported. I gained confidence in my strengths and insights. My occasional linear/binary thinking was challenged, in a productive way, that has expanded my “toolkit” as a leader. The coaching experience resulted in 2 new positions at a major Healthcare System: 1) SVP, Chair of Surgery, and 2) Regional Physician Executive Director. - A.C., MD, NY

Accelerate My Growth:
“Barbara helped accelerate my growth into a new executive leadership role. She was an invaluable sounding board for difficult decisions and navigating workplace politics. Barbara helped organize and focus my strategy during a challenging departmental merger. I gained confidence through my work with her and tools that will continue to advance my career.” - K.B., M.D.

Invaluable and Crucial:
“My work with Barbara Kurka was invaluable. From helping me better identify my true career goals, understanding how to manage my blind spots and assisting in working with difficult personalities, my sessions with Barbara were a crucial part of my career progression!” - N.L., M.D.

Excellent Coach:
“Barbara was a really excellent coach who helped me very significantly improve my work performance and overall leadership approach.   I have not missed a deadline since completion of coaching.  My colleagues recognize higher productivity and an general improvement in my demeanor”.  - C.T., SVP, Financial Services

Amazing Experience:
“I also wanted to take a minute and thank you for this amazing experience. You truly have a skill set for making me comfortable while at the same time being firm and ensuring I stayed on track to expand on my leadership skills. Coaching was the best part of our leadership program.”   - P.R., Manager, Energy Company

Influence Key Decision Makers:
"Coaching with Barbara has improved my ability to influence key decision  makers, paving the way for approval to close a major deal.  I am more confident when dealing with our board of directors and better able to tailor my answers to that group."   - VP, Energy Company

Better Relationship with Difficult Partners:
"Coaching has allowed me to develop better relationships with difficult business partners.  Pausing and listening to what they say, rather than jumping in to solve what might not be the real problem, has made the difference.  The simplicity of the coaching surprised me: making small tweaks in some behaviors got big results. Everyone, including my team, benefits."  - SVP, Financial Services

Make a Successful Shift:
"Making the transition from a practicing attorney in a law firm to a corporate role not as a lawyer,  was rocky.  Barbara's coaching helped me make that shift successfully.  I have improved my listening skills, and help my team and my colleagues frame possibilities first, rather than initially focusing on the risks. This creates an atmosphere of creativity and innovation, which is crucial to bringing new products to  market."  - VP, Media

Transition into a Promotion:
"I was promoted to Director of Medicine at my hospital. Coaching helped me transition from being a clinician and managing a department, to a role that required me to develop and share my vision and create followership.  I was able to introduce changes in a way that did not criticize what the professionals and staff were doing previously, but brought people along in a positive way." - DOM, NYC hospital

Uncanny ability to engage, mentor and motivate:
"At an important crossroads in my life, I felt constantly confused and lost my true north. It can be very hard to know your authentic self in this ever changing environment. To help, I engaged Barbara as my coach. I can't thank Barbara enough for her guidance in defining goals, developing clear objectives and setting priorities that align with my values. She has an uncanny ability to engage, mentor and motivate." - S.S., Finance Director

Finding true fulfillment and joy in life:
“I highly recommend Barbara for anyone who is serious about finding true fulfillment and joy in life.” - Anonymous Feedback

Passion for her career and those that she works with: 
“I wanted to increase my professional satisfaction and development, but also needed to find balance between my professional and personal life. Barbara was critical in helping me find balance. Her calm and welcoming presence, along with attention to details I gave her, allowed me to trust her whole-heartedly. The coaching program was eight months, each time we met, we would cover a topic of my choice and Barbara was there to help me pursue my goals and motivate me to meet challenges I wasn’t sure I would be able to overcome. I couldn’t have asked for a more professional, yet caring person to go through this program with. Barbara is an asset to any company she works for. What a great example of a woman with passion for her career and those that she works with.” - E.B., Media Sales Director

Corporate Colleague Reviews:

A Valuable Resource to Business Operations:
“During my tenure at Katz I had the opportunity to work with Barbara both as a coworker and as her manager. Barbara is a professional at all times and an excellent advisor and coach. She clearly has a broad knowledge of all facets of HR management and is able to apply that knowledge as a valuable resource to the business operations. I highly recommend Barbara as a senior HR executive.”

Always calm under pressure: 
“I have known and worked with Barbara for nearly 20 years, since she was my law firm’s client at Grey Advertising and Sumitomo. Barbara is an excellent listener, always calm under pressure and the consummate professional at all times. Barbara’s experience as a corporate executive has always added value to any endeavor with which she is involved. I also greatly admire Barbara’s commitment to family, church and volunteering – particularly with regard to Habitat for Humanity and Hurricane Katrina victims – and would highly recommend Barbara’s services.”

Strong understanding of the issues faced in a sales environment: 
“Throughout my career at Katz Media Group, I often had the opportunity to work with Barbara. She was always professional and helpful in dealing with issues including talent identification, employee development, performance analysis and associated legal implications. Barbara offered sound guidance and demonstrated a strong understanding of the issues faced in a sales environment.”

Knowledgeable, helpful and empathetic: 
“As a senior executive with the Katz Television Group, I worked closely with Barbara on a variety of HR projects. I always found Barbara to be knowledgeable, helpful and empathetic when tough personnel decisions needed to be made. When it came to HR training for our sellers and managers, she was clear and concise in explaining both the need and value of such programs.”

Solid guidance and direction: 
“During my tenure at Katz I was frequently presented with talent recruiting challenges, legal issues and employee performance situations. Barbara was always available for solid guidance and direction. I found her to have a strong knowledge base and a large network of experts, if needed, to deal with a variety of HR issues that often surfaced within my department. She was always open and available to listen and respond to me.”