"What is an Executive Coach?
It isn’t a life coach. It isn’t a mentor. The best way that I can articulate working with Mark Koenigsberg is that it is like owning a journal that talks back.
Mark is able to let his client steer the conversation but, at the same time, doesn’t let us off the hook when he hears something that needs further exploration. I come into my meetings with Mark with the intent to improve how I work by cultivating how I speak, listen, and coach others. Most importantly, he has a keen understanding of how each individual must consciously think about their presence in the room. My journal often asks me, ‘what do you want others experience of you to be’. The proof of whether this talking journal relationship works is not in a single action or result but in the steady increase in the ease and efficiency that we do our work."
Marisa Hodes - V.P. Human Resources & Employee Experience Leader at AAA Oregon/Idaho
(Former Director of Human Resources Education Northwest)
"I have had the pleasure of working with Mark at Icebreaker Merino Wool Clothing Company where I was Canadian Sales Director, and most recently in my role at Mustang Survival. Mark coached me on my personal and professional development, and as well he facilitated strategic team planning sessions. Mark’s unique approach gently unravels complexities of professional relationships. He guides the conversations respectfully with a pragmatic perspective that sheds new light on interpersonal relationships and challenges. I look forward to continuing to work with him in my future roles as he brings an entrepreneurial understanding and spirit to the table to help move challenges forward."
Robbie Stevens - Former North America Sales Director / Mustang Survival
"I first started work with Mark in 2012. It was a new experience for me and it’s fair to say I was skeptical about working with a coach and the value it would bring to me individually and to my team. The transformation that took place in the team over the following year was incredible and I attribute much of that success to Mark. Mark’s impact was most strongly noticed in the management team and created unity, trust, respect and a much greater sense of collaboration amongst a group of very different and strong-willed individuals. I’ve since moved countries and don’t see Mark too much these days, but know that I can call him anytime (which I do) If I need some objective advice, support or words of wisdom."
Rob Achten - Brand. Creative Direction. Product Innovation. Go To Market. at Launchsight. NZ - (Former VP of Product Design Icebreaker, merino wool Clothing company)
I started working with Mark shortly after I was hired as executive director of a national nonprofit organization, 3 months before the market crash of 2008 took the bottom out of our funding. Mark helped me find my bearings during the most professionally challenging time of my life by helping me cultivate a sense of compassion for myself and building my confidence in my capacity to lead my organization through difficult times. Honestly, I don’t think I could have survived in my role without him. I didn’t have prior experience working with a coach, and I half-expected that Mark would give me advice and strategies to implement. He didn’t. Instead he did something much more powerful: He helped me discover that I had the answers myself, and he served as an active listener and thought partner as I figured out the solutions that were true to my goals and values. In the words of the proverb, he taught me to fish, and his coaching prepared me for the new challenges that I’ve encountered as I’ve continued through my career. His Gestalt training set him apart in helping me to understand the concept of “presence” and use it to advance my goals. I trust Mark as closely as family, and I value his friendship and good counsel more than ever with each passing year.
Chris Tebben - Principal at Sapient Solutions
Coaching a Coach
I have had the opportunity to work with Mark at two important stages in my life. The first was when I was the PR Director at a marketing firm. Mark helped me gain more confidence and resonance as a leader. He helped our organization "grow up" in a way introducing personal plans, a more refined review process and introducing a whole new language around leadership, authority and presence.
Mark is one of the reasons that I was drawn to coaching myself. Mark has many qualities as coach that I would love to emulate. Three that stand out are his humor, generosity of spirit and laser sharp questions.
I can't say enough good things about Mark. When you work with Mark, you are working with a Master Coach!
Claudia Renchy Morton
Mark has a relaxed tone even when talking about stressful situations. He has changed the way I think about my life and about business. He has helped me see how I can combine the things I love and the things I’m good at to make a living during and after I’m done playing professional soccer. He is someone I am going to tell my friends about.