Testimonials

Timothy R. Vidra

P.G. Chevron HSE — Manager for Eurasia

‍ ‍‍ ‍As someone relatively new to coaching I was looking for an expert who could help me through what I knew was going to be a difficult year.  I reached out to Craig because his professional background was different than mine and I wanted someone from outside my company who could provide an unbiased perspective.  I chose not to use an internal company coach, as it could have increased the risk of distraction from office politics or speculation. 

‍ ‍‍ ‍The year turned out to be even more challenging than I anticipated, and he was there each step of the way to help me identify and develop solutions.  Over just an eight-month period I navigated a disruptive organizational change, a significant promotion, an international relocation, and adjustment to a new corporate operating model.  In addition to the events above, he helped me to tell my story more articulately, assisted in navigating crucial conversations, and provided advice on stress management.

‍ ‍‍ ‍When I engaged Craig, I thought I was taking a bit of a leap of faith, but who I found was a professional coach that helped me discover the answers I had within myself.  I highly recommend Craig and can honestly say that both my career and my work life balance are better off now than before his coaching.

Josh Schonwald

Journalist/Content Strategist/Marketing Consultant

‍ ‍‍ ‍I can give Craig my highest compliment. Working with him feels like cheating. Yes, he’s like steroids for speech-making. It’s because he’s so helpful at each step of the process -- from helping select the theme, to structuring the speech, to sharpening punch lines, to striking the right tone for the right crowd, to just getting me to breathe, relax, and find the right pace.

‍ ‍‍ ‍When I first contacted Craig, I assumed it was a one-time call – to help me during a speech-making emergency. I had three weeks to prepare a talk for a TED-style event. I had never faced such a strict time limit, without the aid of notes, in a large venue, and I was freaking out. A friend – also a writer-turned-sometime speaker — suggested Craig, calling him “my secret weapon.”

‍ ‍‍ ‍That turned out to be true for me, as well. It’s been almost a decade since that speech emergency. And I’ve continued to go back to Craig – whether it’s a high-stakes speech or not. Sure it’s in part, because Craig always makes the end product better, and sure it’s because there’s nothing more stage-fright-curing than having Craig by your side as a guide. But I also keep going back to him because I learned so much, an invaluable insight every time. I used to dread giving speeches – I’m a writer, after all – but now I actually look forward to it.I can give Craig my highest compliment. Working with him feels like cheating. Yes, he’s like steroids for speech-making. It’s because he’s so helpful at each step of the process -- from helping select the theme, to structuring the speech, to sharpening punch lines, to striking the right tone for the right crowd, to just getting me to breathe, relax, and find the right pace. When I first contacted Craig, I assumed it was a one-time call – to help me during a speech-making emergency. I had three weeks to prepare a talk for a TED-style event. I had never faced such a strict time limit, without the aid of notes, in a large venue, and I was freaking out. A friend – also a writer-turned-sometime speaker — suggested Craig, calling him “my secret weapon.” That turned out to be true for me, as well. It’s been almost a decade since that speech emergency. And I’ve continued to go back to Craig – whether it’s a high-stakes speech or not. Sure it’s in part, because Craig always makes the end product better, and sure it’s because there’s nothing more stage-fright-curing than having Craig by your side as a guide. But I also keep going back to him because I learned so much, an invaluable insight every time. I used to dread giving speeches – I’m a writer, after all – but now I actually look forward to it.

Tim Meinelschmidt

Keller Williams — Real Estate Agent

‍ ‍‍ ‍Working with Craig was invaluable. Whether your Real Estate clients are buying, selling or investing, on the hunt for that perfect property, or in the midst of tough negotiations, it's your ability to communicate that's key. It's the one skill that can keep a deal together or extricate you from a bad one. Craig teaches you how to listen, not just to what's being said but what's NOT being said. He shows you how to read the room and adjust on the fly. To be able to get your point across, to be understood and understand others will help you win the day. And there's no one better than Craig Wallace to get you there. Working with Craig was invaluable.

Roberto Orci

Growth Consultant/Integrated Marketing/Multicultural Marketing, and Acento Advertising

‍ ‍‍ ‍Craig is the best communications coach I have worked with. In advertising you have to be a top communicator to keep clients and win business. Craig coached me, as well as most of my team. This was key since many great creative thinkers may not be great communicators. His technique involved the content of the communications as well as the delivery. One service I really valued was him coming in as we were getting ready for a big pitch to help sharpen our presentation.

‍ ‍‍ ‍ I would recommend Craig Wallace to anyone who would benefit by upping their game.

Russell T.

Google — Managing Director

‍ ‍‍ ‍Craig Wallace saved me! After a promotion. I took charge of a large team who were quite set in their ways. The previous director was very well liked as well. I needed help in transitioning this team into the present circumstance of me being their director. Craig gave me the tools to meet them where they were instead of trying to push them into “my way.” He helped me personalize my approach to each individual and in doing so I was able to formulate clear plans person by person. He also had amazing team building exercises for me to implement that helped the team feel so much more confident in me as their new manager. He guided me to a stronger executive presence and made me a stronger leader. I am much more skilled now at creating psychologically safe spaces for my team to communicate and work in. He calmed me down and woke me up at the same time and, dare I say it? He made it fun!

Audrey Kim

Blue Meridian Partners — SR Portfolio Manager

‍ ‍‍ ‍I was lucky enough to work with Craig at an important juncture in my career. Craig brings knowledge from a wide variety of sectors that is invaluable and was comfortable pushing me to consider many different perspectives and approaches that I would not have otherwise landed on myself. Our coaching relationship was built on trust and a mutual appreciation for directness in our style of communication (which is helpful when you only have an hour together!). I appreciated the opportunity to work through many tricky scenarios in our sessions and found new confidence in myself as a result of the reassurance and guidance I received while we were problem solving out loud. With Craig's advice, I was able to successfully establish a completely different rapport with an important manager on my team and I am still reaping the benefits of this "reset" almost an entire year later. He is an incredible coach and I encourage anyone needing that extra push in their career to spend some time with him - you won't regret it!

Monsur Hossain

Google — SR Engineering Manager

‍ ‍‍ ‍I worked with Craig to sharpen my skills and improve my executive presence.

‍ ‍‍ ‍What stood out to me was Craig’s ability to quickly identify specific habits to avoid as well as to give me concrete, actionable techniques to address them in the future. He was direct and precise, which allowed me to focus on areas for growth.

‍ ‍‍ ‍Beyond the mechanics of communication, Craig also encouraged me to think differently about executive presence: rather than centering solely on yourself, to focus on how your communications and actions add clarity for others.

‍ ‍‍ ‍If you're a leader looking to communicate with more impact, I'd highly recommend working with Craig.

Eric Latham

Guidewire — Software Engineer

‍ ‍‍ ‍Working with Craig was life changing, both professionally and personally. He helped me identify some of the limiting patterns that were holding me back and showed me how I'd been underestimating my own strengths. With his direction I developed an authentic leadership and communication style that pushed me beyond my comfort zone while still feeling true to who I am. The presentation and communication techniques he taught me are tools I still use to this day. Most of all, he helped me connect with my true intentions and ambitions for my career and life more broadly; his steady guidance toward living the life I really want is the part of our conversations I value most. I can't recommend him highly enough!

Maya L.

Intuit — Director of Marketing

‍ ‍‍ ‍I am a strong manager who prides herself on being respected by my teams and my direct reports. My department is strong and never misses a deadline. My career, however, was stalled. I was being passed over for promotions and had no idea why. I reached out to Craig and he spotted the issue. I was good at managing down and sideways but needed work on managing up. Craig taught me the power of asking questions and truly listening to the answers. In this way, I was able to gain deeper insight into my director and VP’s perspective and tailor my approach to a promotion accordingly. I was trying so hard to prove myself that I actually would end up looking insecure, not like the equal I need my higher ups to see me as. Part of this had to do with being a woman, a topic we dove deeply into. I have never had anyone teach me how to trust myself. Craig did, and it changed everything.