Testimonials
“Executive Coach Monica Blake has been the answer I needed to guide me through the complex organization of academic medicine.”
You have to have the necessary tools of leadership and ability to make a decision, but making the right decision again and again, requires training through coaching. Thank you Monica for helping me make right decisions with equanimity, where the wrong decisions would have ended my tenure as chair the first year. Managing is as difficult as leading, a skill set not taught in medical school.
Oscar E. Streeter, Jr, MD, FACRO
Professor and Chair, Department of Radiation Oncology
Howard University College of Medicine
Washington, DC
“Monica helped me to get started”
Changing careers is a frightening proposition. Monica Blake has been a great resource for me in the difficult transition. She combines extensive HR experience with an expert knowledge of human nature to be Coach, Cheerleader and Adviser all in one. Without her help, I could not have applied for my Masters Degree at UCLA nor navigated the complex issues at work to make it happen.
In a time when Human Resources departments have been cut back to primarily administrative functions, Monica can provide her extensive HR background and current consulting work experience to fill in the gaps. I started with a LifeHacker article on hiring a Career Coach for a job change which led me to the Intemational Coach Federation web site where I found Monica. After four years of procrastinating on my career change, Monica helped me to get started and keep going when I had doubts. I will be started work
on my Master degree this fall.
Monica, thanks so much for all your help and I look forward to working with you as I begin my new career.
Sonia C. – Systems Administrator
“In seven weeks, Monica got me on track”
Hi, I am a doctoral student at a Research 1 university and when I contacted Monica I was feeling like my life was in shambles. There were assignments that I hadn’t been able to finish for my classes. There was work that I was way behind on for my job and I was in serious danger of alienating my coworkers. There were so many deadlines coming in rapid succession that I just couldn’t keep up. Worse, my physical and emotional health was deteriorating because I just didn’t have time to take care of myself. I knew I needed a coach—needed one fast—and that even coaching probably wasn’t going to be enough.
I contacted Monica and at the end of the introductory conversation I immediately signed up for twice-weekly sessions. Monica’s ability to listen is unparalleled. She is able to quickly identify the thoughts and feelings that are underneath the words. I’ve had coaches who spend so much time trying to figure out the ‘diagnosis’ that there isn’t much time for the ‘cure.’ This is not the case with Monica. Her years of experience developing the potential of others really showed. She could tell me things about myself that I didn’t know. For example, I was stressed out about a paper that I was writing for my statistics class. Monica said that I’m a person who works things out in my head; that I already knew more than I needed to know in order write the paper. I was doubtful… but she was right! Seven weeks after starting coaching with Monica, I am amazed at how much I’ve accomplished. I successfully completed my classes. My coworkers are happy with me because by the end of the semester I was able to do my part (and even help out one of them). I was even able to meet a deadline for submitting a paper to a scientific journal. Best of all, I am healthier and happier now because my life is on track.
Doctoral Candidate, Cambridge, Massachusetts
“Without [Monica's] help, we would not have been able to achieve such outstanding results within a very limited timeframe.”
Since the start of the year my associate and I have been meeting regularly with Monica on issues relating to overall work performance and have thus far, witnessed a remarkable transformation. With Monica’s help, we’ve been able to drill down into the issues using real life examples, and to speak candidly about them in a relaxed, private environment.
Like the great coaches, Monica is a keen listener who seeks first to understand before recommending simple, straightforward solutions and providing unbiased encouragement.
I unequivocally recommend Monica to anyone seeking a coach that listens, provides solution, encouragement and support every step of the way, and enjoys helping others. Without her help, we would not have been able to achieve such outstanding results within a very limited timeframe.
Thanks Monica for helping us become better at what we do and who we are!
Thomas S. – Vice President, Sales
“Monica Blake has done an excellent job coaching the cross-functional Team that I came on board to lead.”
She helped turn a relatively low-morale and accountability team to a highly effective and empowered Team that has began to deliver results.
What helped make it happen is Monica’s dynamic personality, her candidness and her ability to tailor her coaching style to individual members’ opportunities/needs. I personally benefited by sharpening my leadership skills.”
Yiota A. – Marketing Director, CPG/Entrepreneur
“I have worked with quite a few experienced leadership coaches over the years and Monica stands out from the others by her direct but highly supportive approach towards personal and professional growth.”
In the past two years, she provided me with high quality “reflective back-talk”, or the plain but often unspoken truth about perceptions others had of me that I needed to face into and address to increase my organizational impact.
This, combined with helping me to more clearly articulate my career goals, enabled me to realize I needed to switch companies to get closer to achieving my goals. Monica is very people-perceptive and knowledgeable about how to improve one’s performance in organizations as well as how to better manage their career. And at all times, I truly felt she cared about me which comes from her caring nature. I highly recommend having a leadership coach and that Monica Blake be that person!”
Steven D. – CEO, Consumer Products Company
“Monica helped me put my life and career back together again.”
Working with Monica I have become a more effective manager, and found my spark of inspiration again. She has helped me remove “career blockers” that no one else has had the courage or insight to share with me in the past.
When I am about to take on difficult interpersonal situations, I consult Monica. She provides clarity to problems and new perspectives, and has given me extremely good advice time and time again. She is clear, concise and courageous enough of a communicator and individual to tell it like it is, skillfully guide me into solving the problem.”
Robert R. – Director Finance
“Monica Blake is an excellent coach.”
I have changed jobs/careers several times in my life, and had always done my own research and made my own decisions – with decidedly mixed results. Monica was extremely helpful in my most recent career/life-change decision process.
She listens well, provides excellent feedback and guidance, and was very helpful in keeping me focused on what was important to me. I am sure that I arrived at a better career decision than I would have reached on my own, and I feel very strongly that it is an excellent decision.
I am very happy I had the opportunity to have Monica as my career coach and would recommend her highly to anyone.
Judith S. – Director Market Research
