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The Shadow Coach™ speeds up to the life of the client while at the same time works with the client to slow down to the speed of thought.
Shadow Coaching™ is observational, situational, in ‘real-time’, fast-paced coaching--two minds working as one increasing awareness and implementing change on the spot.
“In one
word...Donna is "brilliant." She is a world class coach, with
exceptional skills to bring out the very best in her clients. Her
insight and wisdom, coupled with her boundless positive spirit make her
a highly skilled coach. She was a tremendous support to FCG during its
time of transition and great turmoil. We couldn't have made it through
without her. If you need an executive coach with finely honed skills,
who always asks the right questions, look no further than Donna" - Anne
Kelly, CEO, Federal Consulting Group
“Donna Karlin and I have known each
other for over two years. We both serve on the Board of Directors for
the International Consortium for Coaching in Organizations (ICCO).
Rarely in life does one meet someone like Donna. I am fortunate to be
able to work with Donna on a regular basis with our work on the ICCO
board. These are words/phrases I use to describe Donna: --intelligent
--articulate --innovative --superior coach --highest level of energy
--committed --follows through --business savvy --passionate --willing
--giving --technologically astute I would not hesitate to recommend
Donna as a coach, a business partner, a board member or coach trainer
(to name just a few). Donna has helped ICCO grow to what it is today
through her innovative ideas, commitment and passion for the coaching
profession, and her tremendous amount of energy that becomes contagious!
- Vicki Foley -
Senior Vice President,
Lee Hecht Harrison, President of the International Consortium for
Coaching in Organizations ICCO), Greater New York City
“Donna is committed to your success. And she delivers. She challenges you to be your best and helps you find the tools within you to rise up to your full potential. I highly recommend Donna.”
-
Geoffroi Montpetit, Senior Policy Advisor of the Office of the
Leader of the Official Opposition - Liberal Party of Canada
“I have had the pleasure of working with
Donna in several different contexts - IJCO, ICCO and JBL&A, Inc. She is
an extraordinary coach and change agent. Committed, intuitively astute,
creative, energetic and profoundly effective. I have not only enjoyed
working with her on every project we have shared. I also look to her for
perspective and guidance as I take my businesses forward. Her shadow
coaching in the Canadian government is renowned and without parallel.
She also does an outstanding job of teaching and coaching in the
corporate sector. Please consider this the strongest of recommendations
to work with her. She will make a profound difference with you on behalf
of what you care about most deeply.- John Lazar; owner John B. Lazar &
Associates, Inc., Chicago, Illinois
"Donna not only works with the individual, but with
the individual's context --- as she helps improve the environment (the
whole team). Thus her influence can be quite widespread. Donna cares a
lot about the people she works with. Her caring and hard work encourages
us to do our best too." - Alex Volkoff; Chief Information Officer:
Canadian International Development Agency, currently her Excellency,
Canadian Ambassador to Sweden.
"The idea of working with a coach was not initially mine, however my
experiences with Donna have clearly shown me the usefulness and
advantage of her Shadow Coaching. I honestly believe that the eight
months we have worked together has brought me to at least 2 years worth
of experience ahead of where I would have been had I not worked with
her. Thank you Donna!" - Denis Kingsley, Vice-President, Human Resources
and Corporate Services, Canadian International Development Agency
currently his Excellency, the Canadian High Commissioner to Jamaica.
"Donna helped me see myself as others see me. We are
not always aware of what we project to others, particularly our body
language. She also pointed out assumptions that I was making
(unwittingly) in communicating with others. Donna helped me and my team
to communicate better, to understand each other on different levels,
both of which contributed to the dynamics of our interactions and to our
collective productivity.
I have improved my relationships with each of my
direct reports as a result of 2 team- building sessions that Donna
facilitated. We all feel an increased ability to speak openly about work
issues that need resolution and we have greater respect and
understanding for varying points of view. People are less dismissive,
more open, more collaborative and more willing to 'own' their issues.
The impact that Donna makes is amazing. She has such
presence, such a positive outlook and energy, you can't help but be
drawn to her. When you combine that with her deep knowledge of behaviour
and keen observational skills, her impact is life changing." - Jennifer
Benimadhu; Vice President, Canadian Partnership Branch, Canadian
International Development Agency, Gatineau, Quebec
"I think the concept and the program is first class. Instead of simply
preaching some well known principles, it works with the client to effect
the changes required to get a new start. I have already begun to speak
enthusiastically about this program and the coach to colleagues and
workers." - Francis LeBlanc; Chief of Staff: Office of the Minister of
International Trade; Honourable Pierre S. Pettigrew, Ottawa, Canada
“Donna blends imagination, vision and hands-on execution
in a dazzling way. Her multitude of interests and connections,
world-wide, made her an invaluable resource to our organization. I've
often wondered about the deep source of her untiring energy,
resourcefulness and results-orientation: I'm sure it is her passion for
continuous learning and for creating spaces for other leaders to learn
and grow beyond their limits.”
- Agnes Mura -
President at ICCO, Los Angeles, California
“Donna is a force of nature! She brings
boundless energy, technological prowess, creativity, and a deep
commitment to the impact coaching has on the world of business and
governments globally. Internationally savvy, Donna is all action and has
much to contribute to your personal and professional growth. I highly
recommend her! Donna gets things done.” -
S. Pomerantz - Vice President at ICCO - Washington D.C.
"
“Working with Donna has
resulted in me having more confidence in myself as a leader - her
discretion, tact, expert advice, friendly and energetic vibe and her
commitment and professionalism and keen observations have brought me to
a new level at work.
Donna has, in 3 days, changed my
life. The suggestions and observations Donna made were provided by a
credible, caring and well-informed person, witnessing the environment
and dynamics in my workplace and then providing commentary which could
be debated and discussed from a shared experience. The experience blew
my mind and has moved me to a new plateau." - Natasha Alimohamed:
Director, Cabinet, Portfolio & US Relations; Strategy & Coordination
Branch; Canada Border Services Agency, Currently Chief of Staff and
Strategic Advisor to the President, Ottawa, Ontario
“Donna is a rare kind of coach. Powerful, sharp, successful and humble,
keen insight, and a force to be reckoned with.
She tells you like it is and doesn't fluff all the while making
you feel secure in the knowledge that she believes in you and that you
can take it. She leads the way in shadow coaching of government and high
profile officials. A maverick, a rock, and a saint - you want her in
your corner.” - Matthew Rochte; Working Intentionally™,
Minneapolis-St. Paul
“Donna's laser
insights keep my direction steady. Her way of getting to the heart of
the matter, with humor and joy, serves as a compass for me - and for
anyone whose life she touches. Anyone who has the privilege of having
Donna Shadow them will see their personal and professional life improve
exponentially.” – Susan R. Meyer; President, Life-Work Coach, New York
City
“Donna is the real deal, a one in
500,000 person who has the empathetic ability, self awareness, and
domain knowledge to inspire and offer deep insight to leaders at all
levels. She focuses attention on the real-world that surrounds others,
without making it all about theory, or all about herself -- bad habits
that hold back some practitioners in this field. I recommend Donna to
anyone who honestly wishes to develop as a leader and a person in a
professional environment.” – Bruce Wilson; Owner, Wilson Strategies,
Seattle, Washington
“
"Donna Karlin is a living example of the attraction program she
promotes. She leads by example. She is open, engaging, supportive,
transparent yet discrete. She looks for the positive in people and helps
them determine how to build on it. She taught me that responding rather
than reacting is always more effective. She also caused me to reflect on
what was sub-consciously motivating my behaviour that could be called
sub-optimal.
I am more confident about the things I am doing well and I know where I
need to improve. I think I view people differently. I consciously try to
think of their strengths and we can collaborate using their strengths so
we succeed together. The program re-enforced that there is no substitute
for really caring about the people you work with and believing in what
you do. I am more confident, upbeat, positive and open to new
suggestions.” - Anne La Salle - Director General, Information Management
and Corporate Reporting, IMTB, Canadian International Development
Agency. Gatineau, Quebec
“I hired Donna as a coach on a
recommendation from one of my staff. I really did not know what I was
getting into. I was afraid that she would just rehash typical managerial
theories on staff relation and time management. Oh was I in for a
surprise!! Donna's approach was refreshing, challenging and totally
adapted to my style and strengths. Donna comes in your environment with
no preconceived views or opinions. She observes and adapts her vast
knowledge to you and your workplace. She grasps rapidly the managerial
culture and helps you with immediately applicable advices and
techniques. In a word, she gives you what you need to better yourself.
One word of a humble advice: do not hesitate to call upon her. From that
moment on, your only way will be up. Thank you Donna!” -
"Donna has shifted the way the coaching profession 'sees' what is
possible for them, to broaden and deepen the impact of coaching to
politicians and political bodies of the very highest order. Talk about
striking at the heart of where change means most. As Donna leads the way
for others, I'm sure we will see a sea change at the identity level in
(1) these organizations and (2) in coach's’ hearts and minds. If you're
a politician without a shadow coach like Donna, get one. Now. And if you
are a coach looking for a niche...get a hold of Donna… Yesterday." -
Andrea J. Lee; Author, entrepreneur, mentor, coach and consultant to
business owners on five continents, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
"Donna shows personal integrity in her innovative
Shadow Coaching. Some people do not really want honesty. These people
will not last long with Donna. She is willing to risk rejection to wake
a person up to their own self-sabotage. Until you get out of your own
way, no coaching will create significant changes and, of course,
results." - James Roswell Quinn; Trainer, Author and Speaker - Sleepy
Hollow, Illinois, USA
"In this fast-paced world where the time to think and reflect has become
a luxury, Shadow Coaching offers a tremendous benefit. It, in effect,
out-sources the process of reflection until it can become second-nature
enough for the executive to do on their own without disturbing the flow
of the day. Its power to create an executive who approaches their world
in a conscious, not reflexive, manner is critical to improving life both
within the world of work and outside it. It is especially gratifying to
see Donna establishing a school to "clone" her talents so that the
benefits of this unique and important art isn't limited to the
executives that Donna can coach directly. Bravo!" - L. Braun; Phi Beta
Kappa scholar, Intel America, Inc. - East Windsor, New Jersey
"Donna shares her insights and strategies for
success in a manner which is easily assimilated. Her ability to
transform thought energy into reality rivals that of great philosophers
and teachers. She has amalgamated conventional wisdom and her insightful
agility to create a powerful benefit to mankind." - John Pistorius;
Author, webmaster and advocate for persons with disabilities -
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.
"Donna is an amazing person - bright, intelligent, funny and human - but
above all FAST. She can get to the heart of an issue in the blink of an
eye. Her energy and humor are infectious to everyone around her. She's
accomplished amazing things and has enabled her clients to do the same."
- John Satta; Founder and Principal of JohnSatta.com and
CoachingTechnology.com - Blairstown, New Jersey
"This program helped me learn how to alleviate the
weight of the day, making my work more enjoyable. I no longer react to
problems. I now facilitate solutions." - Réjean Poitras – Director;
Operations and Re-engineering Operations Branch; Systems; Social
Development Canada.
Gatineau, Quebec
"Donna is a very dangerous person. She has forced us to take a hard look
at ourselves and pro-actively take action to overcome our own often self
imposed constraints to more completely realizing our potential. We have
participated in other programs and engaged other consultants to try to
support change but none have be anywhere nearly as effective.
We have seen significant positive changes in the performance of all
staff in this office and Branch as direct result of Donna's efforts.
Even in cases of employees that had become marginalized we have seen
major turn-arounds."
"Donna is an amazing woman who is changing the world
for the better, one person at a time. The beauty of Donna's approach is
that the people she's impacting and changing are people that directly
impact us all and the direction of society." - Kimberly Sobie; Tax
Attorney - Seattle, Washington
"Donna found a way to mirror what was inside of me so I could see how
good I really was, boosting my self-confidence immeasurably." - François
Montour - Director General Information Management and Corporate
Reporting; Canadian International Development Agency.
Gatineau, Quebec
"Donna has a wonderful gift of showing how 'weakness' can be worked on
for improvement without making you feel 'not good enough' for having the
weakness in the first place. She has encouraged me to face things I have
ignored because I was uncomfortable about them -- and to realise that
they can only improve if I pay attention to them." - Joy Scharf - Acting
Director Strategic Planning / Chief Architect; Information Management
Technology Branch; Canadian International Development Agency. Gatineau,
Quebec
"The immediate feedback is
most useful --- The hints along the way of things to try and how
the results might turn out if the new action was applied helped take
some of the anxiety out of " trying the new practice on." I can't wait
to apply all this new material out. Thank you for energizing me ---
more!" Barbara Cretzman - Director of Operations and Re-engineering;
Human Resources Development Canada. Gatineau, Quebec