Testimonials

“Sylva is a great example of a velvet hammer. She is so very comforting and reassuring while simultaneously being completely honest and reflecting reality. She has a way of helping clients that creates a safe place for discussing tough issues. I respect her insight as a business professional and her emotional intelligence as a powerful human. Sylva began coaching me following a serious illness and assisted me in recognizing my strengths, setting my priorities and getting back to my professional pursuits. I am very grateful for her support and encouragement.”
Andrew Hottell,
AVP Strategic Initiatives,
The Hartford, Small Commercial

“Sylva needs no further recommendations. She is an amazing executive coach and professional. I pulled her out of her usual corporate world and asked her to facilitate some general public candidate debates (for 2008 & 2010 Arizona Clean Elections). From the moment I met her, I knew Sylva was the proper choice. Her reviews were outstanding and contributed immensely to the entire process. The audiences loved her articulate presence. It is an honor to work with Sylva; I hope that honor continues long into the future.”
David A. Ryder, MBA Managing Director
Veer Consulting, LLC www.veerconsulting.com

“Sylva has provided valuable coaching one-on-one for me and for some members of our management team. She is always helpful, goes the extra mile and has helped me to develop my own potential as a CEO. All in all, I would not hesitate to recommend her to both non-profit and for-profit companies. Sylva also generously donated a huge amount of her time to provide a professional service for Child Care Resources. This helped us identify goals, develop objectives and carry through on them with regular review of how we were performing as an agency. As a result, CCR did achieve every major milestone that we set out for ourselves.”
Nina Auerbach, CEO Child Care Resources

“Sylva is thorough in understanding your needs leading to creative business solutions. Her approach to the business and industry challenges allowed Sylva to propose solutions allowing our organization to maximize its effectiveness.”
Sunshine Pegues,
Sr Technical Manager
AT&T Wireless

“Sylva has walked the walk. She created a successful software company and sold it to one of the world’s largest and most respected publishers. She understands what it takes to build an organization from the ground up, satisfying customers, managing employees, negotiating with the best and create enduring value. Like all great leaders Syl can’t stop. She is putting her knowledge, experience and considerable talent to work helping other leaders optimize their operations, develop winning teams and maximizing their success. A brief conversation with Syl is all you need to understand her value to your organization. It has been my pleasure collaborating with Sylva Leduc. I encourage you to get to know her.” Mike Kramer, President
tsWB Strategies, Inc.

“I worked very close with Sylva during a large re-engineering effort at our plant. She was the senior consultant advising us on all personnel issues and impacts. She was great to partner with and was very effective in helping us transition our employees through the desired transformation. She works with the highest integrity and has my highest recommendation.”
Kent Oliver
Pacific Gas & Electric

“Sylva is one of the brightest, most engaging, and most courageous coaches I know. I’ve had numerous conversations with Sylva over the years about new, innovative ways to bring valuable coaching services to leaders and organizations. She’s one person I can always count on to “give it everything she’s got” when she commits to a project or a client. And what’s she’s got is substantial – business acumen, tech knowledge, coaching and assessment skills, and an accumulated wisdom that is only acquired through a wide range of life experiences. Sylva is a rare jewel in the field of leadership development and coaching.” Ken Kesslin
Kesslin Associates Inc

“Sylva was instrumental in consulting me to implement a new contact software system from her company. She is an expert in her field, is very warm and personable, cares about delivering the results and is consistent and reliable.
Susan Klein, MCC, executive coach

“I have worked with Sylva on various projects since 2002. I was a client using her company’s software: Client Compass (acquired by Wiley & Sons). Since then we have collaborated on a number of projects and I have found Syl to be generous, creative and fun to work with. She has provided me with valuable business advice and support and I look forward to our continuing professional relationship.”
Roberta Hill, Partner / Owner, Ward-Green & Hill Associates Ltd.

“Sylva walks her talk and is a pure entrepreneur – I like her style, her communication abilities and her skill set. If I were shipwrecked I would want this lady in the lifeboat.” Chris Barrow, Owner The Business Coaching Company

Sylva is extremely flexible as a coach and will quickly adapt to what you most need at the time. She is very encouraging and supportive, but not afraid to give honest feedback, even if it means learning something about oneself that is an opportunity to grow. She is generous with her time and resources. I definitely recommend her.
Nina Auerbach CEO, Child Care Resources Seattle, Washington

I couldn’t have asked for a more rewarding coaching experience. Sylva knew when to push me, when to back off, and when to coast. She has an uncanny ability to say the right thing at the right time. On several occasions, her direct, thought-provoking questions resulted in some big “aha” moments for me. Just when I thought I had something solved, she would ask me a question that would truly take me to the next level of an issue we were discussing. Her flexibility was also an asset. Sylva is consistently exceptional, from her keen strategic insights to her amazing communication skills. She is a consummate professional and a pleasure to work with. She is a true leader and innovator in the field of executive coaching and leadership development.”
Jonathan Dariyanani Attorney, San Francisco, CA

Sylva is excellent at looking at a particular situation and using her keen analytical skills to see both the personal and professional strategies that are needed to attain the desired goals. Her energy is intensely focused and you know she is giving you and your world her full undivided attention. When I discuss a challenge or concern with Sylva she has the ability to assist me in seeing the 360 degree viewpoint that I may have otherwise missed. Hire Sylva and be ready to attain your goals. Eileen Hannegan Author, Know Your Truth

Sylva is one of the nation’s top coaches who combines absolute professionalism with energy and passion for her work with companies and individuals. Sylva has a talent for quickly sizing up an organization, its strengths and issues. She works exceptionally well with groups that are not working well together. She helps them focus on resolving the issues, not the conflicts. She helps the group develop a plan for improvement, then monitors the progress, checking at key points. She is great to work with – always professional and positive. Name Withheld by Request Seattle, Washington

“The leadership development I have done with Sylva over the last year has had a dramatic effect on my working relationships. I learned how to work on tough issues with my peers in an effective way. Part of this effectiveness is in knowing who I am talking to — and it’s usually not the person I want them to be, but who they are.

Many of the people management issues that I faced at work were easy for me to dismiss as not important enough to address. I discovered that what I was doing was avoiding conflict and not really providing people with clear expectations and operating rules. Since I recognized this I have been able to improve communication and have healthier relationships with my peers and those I supervise. What pleases me most about the work we all did with Sylva is that she was able to get us talking together in a meaningful way. Her facilitation taught us how to meet, talk, and make decisions about important issues, like our vision and mission. We were able to come to agreement about where we were headed as a group. Now, even though she no longer facilitates these discussions, when we meet, the lessons we learned still guide us in our working together. I’m sure in the future when we hit a bump in the road in working together we will call on Sylva to help get us back on track.”
David H President
Bodypoint Designs www.BodyPoint.com

DEFINITELY A TALENTED AND POWERFUL COACH… “As a fellow coach, I can recognize the talents and skills of another great coach when I see them — and you are definitely a talented and powerful coach! There are a few things that leap out when I consider the shifts I have made over the last few months in our coaching relationship.First, I have gained more confidence in my business leadership abilities. I have learned through working with you more about what I am not willing to do, and how to handle tough situations with clients with compassion and boundaries. I have also figured out how to implement administrative aspects of a coaching practice that I was going around in circles with in my head. Second, through your validation and encouragement, I have been able to see how to evolve my practice to include more of my target niche. Through brainstorming and creative discussion, I have been able to create a new business name that incorporates everything that I do. And in doing so, I had tension, stress and procrastination fly out the window! I have also learned how to use my strengths to incorporate additional tools and techniques in my coaching practice, such as the value of assessments for some clients. Last but not least, I feel that in working with you I have been empowered to find even more of my power and passion in my work. And as a bonus, I have developed a wonderful relationship with a fellow coach, which is a core value to me. Thanks for everything you do, and your commitment to my success!” Melanie L. Strick CEO, Success Connections www.successconnections.com

What a powerful concept. Being one who has directly seen the mirror’s reflection (through their 360 program), and improved as a leader because of it, this is a concept that will certainly grow geometrically in acceptance as time goes on. Charlie Nichols – Paso Robles, CA

Ms. Leduc really captures the heart of executive coaching. Humanizing the workplace – creating a place where it is safe for people to be their best selves – that’s what brings success to the leaders. HOORAY for her “hitting the nail on the head.” Amy Sayre, PMP – Minneapolis, MN

Here’s a frontline change agent, offering and braving the truth, generating a more humane workplace, obviously from her own humility and wisdom rather than command, control, power and fear. Ben Sherman – Mercer Island WA, USA

I have worked with so many leaders who are desperate for coaching and mentoring, but are too afraid to ask – what a great service they provide! Leanne Petersen – Cleveland, OH United States

I love her rounded and direct approach to leadership, the leaders’ teams are lucky to have Sylva coaching their boss! Heather Johnson www.globalchi.ca Vancouver BC Canada

I have had the fortunate opportunity to work with Sylva LeDuc. Her great leadership and mentoring created an exciting new career direction and tremendous personal growth. Her honest feedback and innovative approach is inspiring and refreshing! Jacqueline Claessens – Everett, WA, USA

Sylva continues to bring the business coaching profession into its deserved light. Coaches like Sylva are true catalysts who guide leaders to effect lasting changes in their organizations for the betterment of not only the leaders, but also the entire organization. Hats off to Sylva for taking such a refreshing and honest approach to her coaching relationships. Christina Madrid – Carlsbad, CA, USA

Each of us, one at a time, is responsible to show our own values based leadership. Sylva, eloquently shows how we as Leadership Coaches can not only hold up the mirror for others but for ourselves as well. Roberta Hill, MBA AssessmentsNow.com Ottawa & Geneva

Sylva has provided our management team the motivation and tools that we need to meet our objectives. She has provided us with leadership tools and personal coaching that we needed to move to the next level. I’m not surprised she is being recognized by Fast Company. Jack Nichols – Salt Lake City, UT, USA

Excellently presented. I can see the effectiveness of her concept in just these few words. No wonder she’s successful. Randy M. Multack, C.P.A. – Bellevue, WA 

As coach I believe in socially responsible companies. Ms. Leduc shows a good example of how coaching supports business toward achieving this end, one person, one company at a time. She is contributing toward building the next generation of businesses, those who are sustainable and socially responsible. Ana Maria Irueste-Montes Ph.D, MPEC – Ventura, California, USA

This is a timely commentary on an issue that is still largely unaddressed, especially in large companies. Successfully managing “down” is one thing, but successfully managing “up” is another. Karin Brennan – San Diego, CA, USA

I have known Sylva for a few years now and in my personal experience, I firmly believe that Sylva is one of America’s Top Executive Coaches. Her integrity, demonstrated leadership in the field of professional coaching, and cutting-edge vision is a bright, penetrating light in a darkened world. There is no one I could recommend higher than Sylva Leduc. Stephen Fairley, Business Coach Bestselling Author – Chicago, IL USA