Every day, you make million-dollar recommendations. You solve complex problems. You lead critical initiatives.
Yet when you speak, does the room lean in? Do your ideas inspire immediate action? Does your expertise translate into executive influence?
I’m Ira Koretsky, CEO of The Chief Storyteller® (bio). For 25+ years, I have coached Fortune 500, Federal, and Non-profit executives (customers) who’ve won $515M contracts, transformed entire divisions, and accelerated their careers. How? By amplifying how they communicate their brilliance.
Individual Excellence Coaching ensures you Deliver THE Expected Experience™ every time you communicate.
1. What Makes Individual Excellence Coaching Different?
Individual Excellence Coaching transforms how you influence, persuade, and drive change. This isn’t generic communication training. You receive:
- One-on-one coaching tailored to your exact challenges
- Immediate solutions for real presentations, emails, leadership and team meetings
- Proven learning resources that work for analytical minds
- Hands-on support for developing/writing your actual work materials
Professionals choose Individual Excellence Coaching because they want polished deliverables AND enhanced skills. Every session solves today’s challenges while building tomorrow’s capabilities.
2. Who Benefits Most From Individual Excellence Coaching?
I specialize in coaching professionals who think in systems, data, and logic:
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- Technical Leaders ready to expand their influence
- Executives driving complex initiatives
- High Performers accelerating their trajectory
- Rising Stars preparing for senior roles
- Thought Leaders amplifying their expertise
- Subject Matter Experts translating brilliance into action
You know your field inside out. Now ensure everyone else recognizes your value instantly.
3. What Coaching Paths Can I Choose?
Three powerful paths—often blended for maximum impact. Coaching FAQ #4 below describes the coaching packages in detail.
- Storytelling Coach, including Data Storytelling. Transform data into narratives that inspire action. Build your story library. Make complex ideas simple and memorable (learn more)
- Public Speaking Coach. Command every room with authentic confidence. Design presentations that audiences remember. Become the speaker you want to be AND the speaker audiences want to hear (learn more)
- Executive Communication Coach. Excel in board meetings, C-suite interactions, and All-Hands Presentations. Master executive presence with authentic confidence. Develop a presence that matches your expertise (learn more)
Choose one path or blend all three. Your goals drive our focus.
Top 10 Executive Communication Coaching Company
We are honored and proud of the award from Manage HR Magazine as one of the “Top 10 Emerging Executive Coaching Companies for 2022.” Manage HR Magazine is one of the premier human resources, training, and talent development magazines internationally.
As part of the award, CEO Ira Koretsky was interviewed by the editors. He talks about how he started The Chief Storyteller®, some of today’s communication challenges, our coaching methodology, and more.
4. What Types of Coaching Packages Do You Offer?
Your expertise already changes outcomes. Now amplify your influence at the pace you choose. Each package blends immediate solutions with skill transformation—turning today’s challenges into tomorrow’s capabilities. Select your acceleration level.
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| MONTHLY | ACCELERATOR | COMMUNICATOR | ADVISOR |
| Audience | Accelerate your success with weekly coaching and hands-on support | Achieve sustained success with bi-monthly coaching and hands-on support | Achieve your goals at a steady pace with monthly coaching |
| Minimum Commitment | 3 months | 6 months | 6 months |
| Complimentary Session | 30 min | 30 min | – |
| Live Zoom, 1 hr | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| Live Zoom Intensive, 2 hrs | Extend 1 Session | – | – |
| Hands-on support (see #9 below) | 2 hrs | 1 hr | – |
| Learning Resources (see #9 below) | ✓ | ✓ | Limited |
| Email support | ✓ | 4 | 2 |
| Quick call support, 5 minutes | ✓ | 2 | 1 |
| Audio recording of session | ✓ | – | – |
| Transcript of session | ✓ | – | – |
| Follow-up email with suggestions after each session | Detailed | Detailed | Brief |
5. What Happens During a Typical Coaching Session?
I provide BOTH coaching advice and hands-on support (think of this as consulting).
When providing advice, I offer suggestions for you to think about and for you to implement in your presentations, stories, emails, interviewing, hiring, internal communications, HR, etc.
When providing hands-on support, I make specific suggestions to revise and develop content, narrative, slides, stories, emails, anything related to communication activities and tasks you are working on. We also practice and role-play to build and maintain your skills and abilities.
6. What Results Do Professionals Achieve?
Real transformations from real leaders… Three short success stories:
- “Quadrupled revenue in 6 months.” Mike, CEO, dramatically improved storytelling for sales and customer success
- “Won $515M in contracts.” Blane, Executive Director, mastered data storytelling and executive presentations
- “Transformed 800+ person global team.” Sanjay, Fortune 50 VP, revolutionized all-hands meetings and C-suite messaging
Your expertise deserves this level of impact. View and read a variety of Success Stories and Testimonials from happy customers.
There are absolutely no guarantees implied or offered. Like any skill, whether it be a hobby, sport, fitness-related, or musical instrument, to improve, requires a plan, application, and exercises. The more exercises and the more application, the faster you will gain the skills and expertise you need to achieve your personal and professional goals.
7. Why Work With Ira Koretsky?
a) Recognized Excellence: Named “Top 10 Emerging Executive Coaching Companies” by Manage HR Magazine (2022)
b) Proven Track Record:
- 23+ years coaching Fortune 100, Federal government, and Non-profit executives
- 41,100+ professionals inspired globally
- Customers in 15 countries
- 210,115+ presentation slides transformed
c) Unique Perspective: I…
- Blend being a military officer who was both a Chief Information Officer and Public Affairs Officer (Marketing Communication), a tech executive, and an improv comedy performer with today’s role as a coach, consultant, speaker, and trainer
- Embraced storytelling as a strategic skill in high school. I won a regional science fair competition because of my story. And I was one of only 26 students across the State of New York to secure a spot in the state’s debate championship
- Am an adjunct professor of communications at the University of Maryland Business School since 2014
- Understand both technical excellence and executive influence
d) Different Approach: Blend coaching with consulting. I solve your immediate challenges while building lasting capabilities
8. How Does the Investment Work?
Individual Excellence Coaching represents a strategic investment in your leadership trajectory.
Getting Started:
- Schedule your complimentary 30-minute coaching session
- We’ll explore your goals and I’ll provide coaching and advice
- Agree to coaching and select Accelerator, Communicator, or Advisor
- Provide a 50% investment to secure your coaching schedule (check, ACH, credit card)
- Schedule your coaching sessions
9. What Resources Do You Offer to Accelerate my Progress?
The table is best viewed on a laptop, PC, or tablet. For mobiles, please change your view to horizontal or landscape.
| MONTHLY | ACCELERATOR | COMMUNICATOR | ADVISOR |
| Audience | Accelerate your success with weekly coaching and hands-on support | Achieve sustained success with bi-monthly coaching and hands-on support | Achieve your goals at a steady pace with monthly coaching |
| Hands-On Support | |||
Between your coaching sessions, Ira is your one-on-one consultant. He helps you with reviewing, editing, and developing various communication materials you need in the workplace. Examples of Hands-On Support include:
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| RESOURCES | |||
| Frameworks | ≤ 2 | ≤ 1 | 2 per 6 months |
| Proven Systems that Work. Structured blueprints guide you through complex communication challenges. Each framework provides easy-to-use and immediately practical, fill-in-the-blank templates. Based on 20+ years of working with Fortune 500 executives, these frameworks break down overwhelming tasks into manageable steps. Flexible enough for your unique situation, structured enough for consistent results. |
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| The Great Story Framework™ |
✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| The System of Credibility™ for Thought Leadership |
✓ | ✓ | – |
| The Great Leadership Story Framework™ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| The Great Success Story Framework™ | ✓ | ✓ | – |
| The Great Data Stories Framework™ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| The Great Presentation Framework™ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| The Great Elevator Pitch Framework™ | ✓ | ✓ | – |
| The Great Email Framework™ | ✓ | ✓ | – |
| The Great Q+A Framework™ | ✓ | ✓ | – |
| The Great Sales Story Framework™ | ✓ | ✓ | – |
| The Great Science Story Framework™ | ✓ | ✓ | – |
| The Great Biography Framework™ (“About Me”) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Tools / Worksheets | ≤ 1 | ≤ 1 | 2 per 6 months |
| Ready-to-Use Templates. Single-topic templates streamlining your communication preparation. Build your communication knowledge, skills, and tools systematically. No more starting from scratch. Practical tools saving you hours of development time. |
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| Examples: Story Library – Personal Experiences; Story Library – Customer Success Stories; Writing Enhancements (Figures of speech); Know Your Audience; Know Your Event; Presentation Timeline | |||
| Resource Guides | ≤ 1 | ≤ 1 | 1 per 6 months |
| Comprehensive Communication References. In-depth guides containing 100 to 200 pages of tips, pro tips, techniques, examples, how to’s, and proven strategies. Each guide serves as your desktop reference. Real before-and-after examples show you exactly what works. Practical wisdom from decades of corporate, government, and non profit communication experience. |
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| Examples: Better Communications Resource Guide™; The Big Book of Positive Words™; American Business Slang vol. 1; Story Idea Generator; Open + Close Your Presentation, > 350 Ideas | |||
| Tip Guides | ≤ 2 | ≤ 1 | 3 per 6 months |
| Quick-Access Professional Insights. Focused resources under 50 pages for when you need answers fast. Pure techniques and actionable tips without lengthy explanations. Perfect for tomorrow’s presentation or today’s crucial email. Each guide addresses specific communication challenges with proven solutions. Your quick reference when time matters most. | |||
| Examples: 25 Best Tips for Email; 50 Best Tips for Developing Memorable Personal Stories; 18 Unforgettable Ways to Start Your Presentation; Write for Readability (Keep it to the 10th Grade); Strategic AI Prompting; Top 10 Tips for a “Read Me Now” LinkedIn Profile | |||
| Smart Exercises | ✓ | ≤ 4 | ≤ 2 |
10. How Do You Conduct Your Coaching?
Meetings are via Zoom with support and assistance by telephone and email.
11. During What Time is Coaching Available?
Coaching is provided Monday through Friday, 1000 to 1700 Eastern Time.
Note to professionals outside a six-hour time zone from Eastern. Depending upon my travel schedule, workload, and time of year (I am an adjunct professor in the Fall), I may be able to accommodate additional time options. Please contact me and let me know the times you are available.
12. Can You Tell Me a Little Bit More About Yourself?
I am a coach and consultant, author, blogger, professional speaker, trainer, US Army veteran (CIO and Public Affairs Officer in Military Health), and adjunct professor, with more than 40 articles published. I have inspired more than 41,720 people with my speaking and training in more than a dozen countries. I am an adjunct professor at the University of Maryland Robert H. Smith School of Business, where I teach communication, public speaking, data storytelling, and storytelling. The student final is a 5-minute TED-style talk.
Today, The Chief Storyteller ® is one of the world’s most recognized business storytelling firms. We have more than 690 happy customers in more than a dozen countries.
- Fun Fact 1. I performed in more than 1,000 improvisational comedy shows with ComedySportz. The shows I did are just like television’s, “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” I use these skills gained from performing to improve retention and enjoyment of the exercises I share with you.
- Fun Fact 2. I keep a running count of the presentation slides we have worked on for our clients. The count is more than 209,990 slides. This does not include any of the presentations we have developed for our services.
- Fun Fact 3. I delivered the first-ever, two-part webinar for WebEx in 2003. The two topics were Webinars to the Power of Storytelling and Webinars to the Power of Public Speaking.
You can find my bio here.
13. How Do You Handle Personal Identifiable Information (PII) and Confidential Information?
Our Privacy Policy is available here.
The Chief Storyteller ®‘s recognizes that both parties will likely have access to confidential proprietary information, trade secrets, and confidential personal information. Accordingly, The Chief Storyteller ® hold’s your materials and information in the highest regard. We NEVER share your information in any form, without prior written consent, in perpetuity. We expect the same rigorous confidentiality policy from you in regard to The Chief Storyteller ® intellectual property. Our contract includes a confidentiality section and information on our Intellectual Property (IP).
14. Ready to Amplify Your Impact?
Please fill out this coaching form. Then, I will contact you to set up our introductory call to discuss your goals for communication coaching.
Photography Source: All photographs, © Copyright The Chief Storyteller®, LLC. All Rights Reserved.