Happy Clients
Helping people bring their expertise, gifts & talents into the world
Nancy Giles, Emmy Award winning contributor: CBS News Sunday Morning
“Over 15 years of friendship and professional guidance, Helen Churko has been an extraordinary presence in my life. She is kind, patient, inquisitive, a gifted listener, a creative guide, relentless when necessary, and wonderfully collaborative. Helen helped shape my comedic solo show and my many commentaries on “CBS News Sunday Morning” into successful speaking engagements. Helen’s support and feedback made each of my speaking gigs that much better, and her faith in me brought my work to all kinds of audiences across the country, something I will treasure always. I love her wit, her intelligence, and her vision. She is an absolute joy to work with and the best coach you could ever ask for.”
Mitch Albom, Journalist & Best Selling Author- Tuesdays with Morrie and The Little Liar
"Helen has done a wonderful job for me over the years arranging and overseeing all elements of speaking events. She is thorough, thoughtful and caring, and I always felt like I was in good hands with her in charge.”
Sue Varma, MD, Author, Practical Optimism: The Art, Science, and Practice of Exceptional Well-Being
“When I was booked for one of the largest keynote speeches of my career, I knew just the person I would call. Helen's help was invaluable. I trust her judgment completely- she is a seasoned professional who is able to read and advise both on content of your speech and the emotional experiences it inspires in others. Helen is generous with her time, decisive in her views, and keeps you on task. Our time together, was productive, illuminating and extremely efficient. As a debut author of the book Practical Optimism, Helen helped me feel very optimistic about my speech on the same topic. I would recommend and work with Helen again in a heartbeat!”
Ricardo Nuila, Practicing Doctor, Educator, and author of The People's Hospital: Hope and Peril in American Medicine
“Before I started working with Helen, I imagined our sessions would focus on the technique of public speaking. Little did I know that Helen offered so much more. Our time together helped me grow as a person as much as a professional. Thanks to her wisdom and compassion, I was able to identify some blind spots and bad habits that prevented me from giving good talks. More than that, with Helen's help, I feel liberated to perform the most personal and best kind of work I'm capable of.”
Bruce Feiler, New York Times Columnist & Bestselling Author of Life Is in the Transitions: Mastering Change at Any Age
“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. Anyone who gets the privilege of working with Helen will no doubt benefit as I and so many others have.”
Kit Miller, Director Emeritus, MK Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence
“During the two years I have worked with her, I have found Helen to be sharp, creative and remarkably intuitive. With her, I have made moves in my life that have been on hold for years, especially related to creative projects and to taking better care of myself. Some of my persistent issues related to grief and trauma have melted away during our time together. In my book, Helen is a rock star.”
Dr. Robin Stern, Psychoanalyst, Speaker, Podcaster and Author, The Gaslight Effect, & The Gaslight Effect Recovery Guide
“I have worked with Helen for over a decade, utilizing her advice and benefiting from her wisdom, insight, expertise and limitless generosity. She has helped me to think through book proposals, the content, why it matters to me and its’ important to the public; develop presentation, both large and small, and assisted me with tough professional decisions. Helen is warm, insightful and super smart, truly a special woman. Working with her has been a transformative experience.”
Zanade Mann, Named Entrepreneur Magazine’s Top 100 Women of Impact & Digital Marketing Expert
“When I made the decision to work with Helen, I knew that the journey would be impactful. As a longtime friend and associate, Helen was my first choice. Helen coached me through a few barriers I faced as I presented myself as a public speaker. She questioned my mindset about value and worth. She inspired me to tap into all the gifts that I hold. I am grateful for our time together.”
Ayser Salman, Filmmaker & Author of The Wrong End of the Table
“I was introduced to Helen through a mutual friend a few years ago when my first book came out. A newbie on the speaker scene, I had no idea what that entailed. Helen gently and patiently guided me through the steps and invited me to reach out again after building up my portfolio. When I did a few years later, Helen offered me another ‘introductory call’ and with the combined skill of coach and fairy godmother guided me into discovering exactly what I wanted to do and it wasn’t what I originally thought. She did this by asking key questions specific to me which helped me decide. Oh, that all of my advisors were this skilled!
I cannot recommend Helen enough, even if you are on the fence about what exactly your career trajectory should follow. She listens with deep respect and compassion and asks just the right questions to get you to come to the realization on your own. A coach who helps you find your “Why” is golden. If you get the chance to work with Helen, do not miss out!”
Susan Parson, Apparel & Fashion Professional
“Helen worked with me as a life coach in 2018-2019. At the time I was deciding that I wanted to retire in approximately 5 years. Within our time period together she provided me with guidance and made me think about what I offer, how I work and how to proceed as the best of me. Her insightfulness was always top of my mind through my work days. I greatly appreciated our coaching sessions and the next steps. You have to be committed to the coaching process in order to feel and see results. Having Helen as a coach made this process possible and enjoyable.”
Tara Bracco, Producer & Journalist
“Working with Helen is like being given a road map to your better self! With her guidance you'll stop seeing limitations and start seeing possibilities.”
Diane T. Ashley, Founder and CEO, DTA Diversity Counts & Independent Board Member
“Helen was instrumental in helping me to launch into the next chapter of my career. She listens, challenges, and encourages with both expertise and empathy. Her focus and approach are customized to your needs. We have developed a relationship which will continue far beyond the coaching experience. I would recommend Helen without hesitation to anyone seeking to become his or her best self!”
Douglas Rushkoff, Media Theorist & Social Commentator
“Helen is a gift and treasure to anyone who has the opportunity to interact with her. She doesn’t dole out advice so much as help people listen to the advice they’ve been trying to give themselves. Helen is strategic yet holistic, conscious of business needs while also a woman of conscience. If you have the chance to bring Helen into your life and work, by all means take it.”
Jacqueline Buckingham, Activist & Filmmaker
“Working with Helen was life-changing. Her forthright honesty and sincere compassion are a rare combination that I was grateful to have as a guiding light while in pre-production for a tv series I wrote and produced. Extremely insightful and generous, I appreciated Helen encouraging me not to try and fit into a box for the convenience of others, but to embrace the bigness that is inherent to my being.”
Dr. Helen Fisher, Neuroscientist & TED All Star
“Helen Churko is a remarkably accomplished Speaker Coach. She’s fiercely smart, highly intuitive, exceedingly well versed in the complex details of business issues, and stunningly creative with her appraisals and advice. But she is also deeply kind and very funny - and she has a unique integrity and gravitas that makes you like and trust her instantly. I am lucky to work with her. Helen has made major contributions to my business success.”
Stela Lupushor, Founder, Reframe.Work Inc.
“Our work together was truly transformative and anyone would be lucky to work with you. She knew exactly the right questions and asked them at the very perfect moment, she found the right inflection points and gently pushed you over the threshold into the uncomfortable zone of soul-searching, and unleashed the imagination and hunger to explore the long-suppressed dreams. Your coaching was a gift! Thank you.”
Maceo June, Actor, Educator & Youth Development Professional
“Working with Helen has been an empowering experience. She has helped me to identify career and personal goals, to be more accountable to myself, put a plan in place, and execute the steps to achieve success. Helen compels you to do the work that you need, and provides you with the tools get it done. I have become a more centered person through my work with Helen and I have a better sense of what I aspire to be.”
Robin Wolfson - Founder, Robin Wolfson Agency
“Helen has nurtured the careers of numerous prominent authors and she has a deep understanding of how to create & communicate content in a highly competitive marketplace. There is no doubt that Helen’s coaching will have a lasting effect on anyone who is looking for guidance about the next step in their careers.”
Anisa Mehdi, President & Executive Director, Abraham Path Initiative
“Helen Churko listens with laser-like ears, deep respect, and vast experience in forwarding people's careers. She hears behind, between, and inside the lines, helping you decipher your dreams. With the information she gleans, Helen will help you see options for a future that is waiting for you if you'll only step in. She's a terrific editor and will assist you in articulating what's next.”
Carlton S. Sedgeley, Founder, Royce Carlton, Inc.
“Helen Churko, a colleague for over 30 years, was a major contributor to Royce Carlton in the areas of marketing, sales and talent development. She served with honesty & integrity and was indeed a very important part of our organization, contributing greatly to its success.”
Zoe Kirkpatrick, Founder, Mamatekla
“Helen has keys to open worlds within us we don't yet know we have. As if that weren't gift enough, she has the seasoned expertise to then help us shape and share the stories we find there. Helen helped me to find my story, my confidence, and embrace my voice.”
Robin Huffman, Painter & Primate Advocate
“While crafting a pivotal point in my life's story for a speech, Helen pushed - inspired - me to dig deep, very deep - all the way down to my core - to mine the valuable essence of my story. Helen is like a pearl diver. She spots something in an offhand comment or little story. And upon prodding and prying, a precious jewel is revealed. If you have a chance to collaborate with Helen, I would say, without hesitation, DO IT! Your life will be better for it, and she will help you bring your gifts to the world.”
Sunny Sea Gold, Journalist, Mom & Author of Food: the Good Girl's Drug: How to Stop Using Food to Control Your Feelings
“I would highly recommend working with Helen to anyone who is at a crossroads in life—work, personal, some combination of both. It was an incredibly helpful investment for me, and I'm grateful to know her!”