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YOUR SPEAKER COACH FOR PROFESSIONAL SPEAKING

My name is Ira Koretsky, and I started The Chief Storyteller® in 2002 (testimonials, bio). I did workshops and webinars here and there. I never thought of myself as a professional speaker. As I did more and more, I realized just how little I knew about the ins and outs of speaking.

Over time, with bumps and bruises, I figured most things out. Fast forward to today. I have delivered over 550 keynote presentations, workshops, and webinars to more than 40,100 people in nearly a dozen countries (success stories). Currently, I also am an adjunct professor, teaching public speaking, storytelling, and communication at the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland (customers).

When they contact me, speakers, trainers, and professionals alike ask, “How can I make a bigger impact?” “How can I be more memorable?” “How can I truly inspire action?”

I designed the Speaker Coach Learning Modules to answer these and many more questions. The Speaker Coach modules are based on The Inspire ActionTM Public Speaking Framework.  The framework helps you become the type of speaker you want to be. AND become the type of speaker audiences want to see.

ACHIEVE YOUR GOALS WITH IRA KORETSKY, SPEAKER COACH

In the two windows/drop downs [+] below, you’ll find more detailed information on the goals I help you achieve and the types of public speaking I can help you with. Press [+] to read the speaker coach information and [-] to close the windows/accordions.

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.

Learn More & Read Ira's Interview

A DIFFERENT KIND OF SPEAKER COACH

I ensure you Deliver THE Expected Experience ™. How. By being a different kind of speaker coach. More like a 1-on-1 consultant. I blend together the best of my experience and expertise from being a consultant, professional speaker, trainer, and adjunct professor.

I am an adjunct professor at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business, where I earned my MBA. My course teaches public speaking, communication, and business storytelling to about 70 honors students. The student final is a five-minute, TED-Style Talk. Each student picks his/her own topic, develops engaging presentation visuals, crafts a compelling narrative told through the eyes of a personal story, and teaches us something new, as all good TED and TEDx speakers do.

YOUR PERSONAL TRAINER FOR SUCCESS

Depending upon what we are working on, sometimes I act like a coach, sometimes like a consultant, and sometimes like a professional trainer. The professional trainer comes into play when you need to build, hone, or maintain various communication skills. I draw from over 100 written and verbal Smart Exercises developed by The Chief Storyteller ® team.

FLEXIBLE & CUSTOMIZED COACHING

Since starting The Chief Storyteller ® in 2002, I continually develop and refine our exercises, tools, and frameworks. And I continually refine speaker coach engagement. Consistently, I have found co-creating your engagement structure for our meetings works best. The structure will be a blend of your goals, milestones, timetable, and availability.

Sometimes we will practice, sometimes we will collaborate, brainstorm and strategize, sometimes we will revise, sometimes you’ll do some exercises, sometimes you’ll share your activities and the results. I use a combination of in-person meetings, Zoom video, telephone calls, and email during your coaching engagement.

Whatever we do, my approach to your coaching, is to ensure you achieve your personal and professional goals, in your own authentic way.

Why Us? Key Differentiators

When it comes to differentiating factors, these are the ones that make us really stand out.

  1. First and foremost, we emphasize storytelling, the oldest and most effective form of communication
  2. I’m an active practitioner of what I coach. To date, I have delivered more than 550 keynotes and workshops, inspiring more than 40,100 people in a dozen countries
  3. I’m an adjunct professor of public speaking, data storytelling, and storytelling at the University of Maryland Business School for nearly a decade
  4. Coaching is hands-on (“coaching consultant”)
  5. Receive practical and proven learning materials such as frameworks, tools, worksheets, and tip guides — all designed to be immediately applicable and easy-to-use
  6. Benefit from more than 50 learning modules
  7. Benefit from more than 150 Smart Exercises
  8. We use improvisational humor like television’s Whose Line Is It Anyway? in our coaching to improve information retention, participant enjoyment, and impact. I performed in over 1,000 shows with ComedySportz
  9. We “get you.” I am a techie at heart, having started the computer club in high school. I won a science fair. I was a CIO of an Army hospital. I worked for three managed web hosting companies
  10. I nudge and push you to be better, helping you achieve your personal and professional goals

ACHIEVE YOUR PROFESSIONAL SPEAKING GOALS

Here are the typical professional speaking goals I can help you achieve. If there is something not listed and important to you, let’s discuss it in our initial call.

ASPIRING SPEAKERS

  • Transition from speaking inside your organization to speaking publicly
  • Learn the ins and outs of professional speaking
  • Reduce the learning curve substantially
  • Start receiving fees for your speaking
  • Seek proven and practical coaching and hands-on help complemented with tools and templates
  • Address your fears and anxieties

NEW TO SPEAKING

  • Learn the business of professional speaking
  • Desire hands-on coach to get you to the next level and levels beyond
  • Develop your signature stories and exercises
  • Create a powerful public speaking package (e.g., bio, titles, topics, and handouts)
  • Improve your delivery skills from body language to vocal variety
  • Increase your speaking fees

SEASONED SPEAKERS

  • Improve substantially your storytelling skills
  • Improve substantially your presentation visuals
  • Develop engaging audience interactions and exercises
  • Expand your program topics
  • Prepare for that BIG speaking opportunity (e.g., main stage and keynote)
  • Improve your public speaking package materials (e.g., bio, titles, topics, and handouts)
  • Seek accountability to help you meet your personal and professional goals

TYPES OF PUBLIC SPEAKING IRA KORETSKY CAN HELP WITH

As mentioned above, I will be using The Inspire Action™ Public Speaking System  throughout our coaching. The system was designed around a structured and flexible process. Structured in the sense of providing specific coaching advice, hands-on help, and skill-building exercises. Flexible in the sense of offering more than 30 learning modules customized to your goals. During our initial call, I can learn more about your goals and share more about the learning modules.

CONFERENCES

  • Keynote presentations
  • General sessions
  • Plenary sessions
  • Workshops
  • Webinars
  • Panelist & Moderator
  • TED Talks & TEDx Talks
  • City and Regional conferences
  • Local associations

TRAINING & FACILITATING

  • Training programs
  • Workshops
  • Webinars
  • Board Meetings
  • Emcee
  • Facilitation / Facilitator
  • Retreats

EVENT-BASED

  • Holiday parties
  • Emcee / Event Host
  • School events
  • Fund raiser / Charity event
  • Radio interviews
  • Banquet / Gala
  • Business networking groups
  • Media interviews (the friendly kind)

Before we talk, please ensure your answer to each question is an enthusiastic “Yes.”

  1. I am ready to try new things… that may be uncomfortable
  2. I will diligently try to complete the Smart Exercises, practice drills, and preparation on time
  3. I want to invest in my future success

VIDEO CLIPS OF IRA KORETSKY SPEAKING

COACHING SUCCESS STORIES / PAST PERFORMANCE

Collaborating for Success

Collaborating for Success

More Confidence. More Viewers.

More Confidence. More Viewers.

“You Saved the Day!”

“You Saved the Day!”

Storytelling Increased Revenue 80%

Storytelling Increased Revenue 80%

Successfully Sold ~$70M Family-Owned Business

Successfully Sold ~$70M Family-Owned Business

Doubled Revenue Over 3 Years

Doubled Revenue Over 3 Years

Photography Source: © Copyright 2018, The Chief Storyteller®, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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