Meet Helen
After being in the front row of the celebrity speaker industry for over 35 years as a senior agent and marketing executive, I became a certified professional coach in 2014, through the Coaching for Transformation program of Leadership That Works, Inc. In 2019 I established Helen Churko Coaching, merging my professional expertise and creative experiences to work with speakers and professionals, in order to help them shine a light on what matters in life, at work & on stage. For me it was the perfect next step, in a lifetime committed to helping people share their gifts.
My clients, whether they are speakers, experts or professionals in their respective fields, all have a desire to bring their voices out to the world. It is a joy to support them; to discover the unique nature of their ideas, experiences and expertise, and to help them carve out strategies and a step by step plan to get them to their next stage. For some it is to write the book they have been dreaming of, for others to launch the project that has been on hold. For speakers, it is to deliver their message in a way that will resonate far and wide.
For those looking to take their expertise to the stage, I’ve developed a public speaker coaching system that will get you there. We will explore your ideas and find the ones that spark your imagination and make your heart sing. Then we will gather the stories & experiences that best illuminate those ideas and weave them together into a speech (or set of speeches) which will allow you to take people on a journey. I will help you hone your authentic style so you can deliver your presentations in a way that will resonate best with the audiences you want to reach. I invite you to explore this overview of Intellectual Architecture ®, my signature coaching system for speakers.
For those looking to create the life or career they want, my work as a Life Coach will serve you best. Some folks know what they aspire to and others don't. It may seem like a simple place to begin, but identifying where you are can be eye opening. We will then get busy defining goals, clarifying beliefs, identifying pathways and creating a plan of action to get you where you want to go.
No matter your goal, Helen Churko Coaching will be a launching pad for each person, no matter what level you are at in life or career. We start with a deep dive conversation inviting you to define and articulate the outcomes you desire, and then we get to work to determine what is needed. It is a privilege to accompany people on their path.
Professionally Speaking:
My life, like most others, has been a mix of opportunities and challenges, influences and insights. I believe in the power of people and ideas to change the world and it continues to be the fuel to my fire in making a difference in people's lives.
For 38 years I worked at the legendary Royce Carlton Agency (now CAA) representing public figures, celebrities, and renowned experts exclusively for their speaking engagements. As Senior Vice President, I was a speaker agent, speaker advocate and a coach. I served on the Executive Management Team and was involved in all areas of speaker acquisition, brand development and marketing. My expertise was utilized in nurturing and supporting the career goals of countless public figures on how to reimagine their ideas and make them relevant to a wider audience, as well as improving their delivery, resulting in presentations that inspired and educated audiences.
I worked on behalf of such luminaries as Jon Meacham, Anthony Bourdain,Thomas Friedman, Anna Deavere Smith, Brian Greene, Daniel Goleman, Angelique Kidjo, Mitch Albom, Fareed Zakaria and many more.
Personally Speaking:
I have always made time for public service, serving as an advisor to Global Cooperation for a Better World and as a board member for the M. K. Gandhi Institute for Non-Violence. I helped to bring women’s voices into the world by teaching public speaking at The Woodhull Institute for Ethical Leadership.
As a life-long learner, I’ve sought out teachers and trainings, including: The Empowerment Training with David Gershon and his wife Gail Straub, Writing Down the Bones; Freeing the Writer Within with Natalie Goldberg, The Artist's Way with Mark Bryan (co-creator with Julia Cameron) and Strong in the Broken Places with Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estes.
I’m a born and bred New Yorker, who is thrilled to have had the opportunity to travel throughout the world. A fervent reader, I’ve toyed with writing my memoir for years. Who knows, maybe now is the time. I love visiting art museums & craft fairs and as an avid photographer, I am passionate about sharing the beauty I see in everyday life.
“Over the many years I’ve worked closely with Helen Churko, I’ve had a simple motto: ‘Any day I get to speak to Helen is a good day.’ The reason: She’s a passionate advocate for her clients, their hearts and their minds. That means she’s nurturing when she needs to be and direct when she needs to be. And she’s fearless in both.”