Testimonials
Read what people had to say about working with David as a public speaking coach
I’ve had the great fortune of seeing the incredible impact David’s coaching has had on over 100 new employees at our organization. In running a company that’s predicated on delivering workshops in schools, the role of Head of Coaching was critical to our ongoing success. We got that role right with David. His training methods balanced the need to create a supportive and fun environment with the radical candor and technical feedback needed to get the most out of each and every individual. Years later, many of my employees continue to reference their engagements with David as one of the primary drivers of their success as presenters. The proof of David’s impact on Elevate was in the numbers – with him driving our team’s performance, customer satisfaction ratings increased, participants in our sessions had improved learning outcomes, and the company doubled it’s revenue base. We have a lot to thank him for.
- Rob Edwards | General Manager, Elevate Education
I’m very grateful to have gotten a chance to work with David.
I would easily place David in the top 1% of coaches I’ve worked with in the last half decade, since I’ve started.
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I was speaking at schools, developing an online course, and in the midst of transitioning to a formal corporate role (went through a Fortune 500, McKinsey, and now Private Equity). Communication has only become increasingly critical for me in my career.
In my short time working with David, he was able to coach me on speaking through different mediums (stages, interpersonal, and video) and turn various seemingly complex techniques I still can’t name from disciplines I’ve never studied into natural behaviors that I still draw on today.
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I was already a confident and decently skilled communicator, but David is a large part of why I’ve been able to take it to the next level and really speak in a way people want to listen to.
Approachable and kind, yet still constructive, David is a gem and I would not hesitate to work with him again; and when my next major presentation comes, I will.
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- Matthew | Former McKinsey Consultant/Private Equity
I had the pleasure of working with David when I was a presenter at Elevate Education. I knew virtually nothing about public speaking and was overwhelmed by all of the different strategies and techniques people suggest when it comes to presenting. From the moment I met David, I felt comfortable. One of David’s supervisory tasks at Elevate was to train and mentor new presenters. David started our training with fun, engaging warm up exercises that loosened us up. When we were all feeling comfortable, David listened intently to what we had rehearsed. While waiting for feedback on my first presentation, I expected to feel intimidated. Instead, I felt empowered. David was exceptionally kind and able to effectively analyze each of our presenting styles and offer expert insights distilled into easy-to-understand takeaways. In my case, David counseled me not to speak as though I were putting on a character, but to embrace my own communication style, allowing me to connect better with my audience. I’ll always appreciate how all of David’s feedback, from the very beginning, felt like that of a friend as much as a coach, as he seemed genuinely invested in my doing well. With David’s instruction, I developed the skills needed not only to present in a classroom but to speak before groups of any size, age or denomination. David is a real pro and an absolute class act. I highly recommend him without reservation.
- Miguel | Former Presenter, Elevate Education
When I began preparing for a three hour proposal in the form of a presentation, I was terrified. The topic was a unique scientific study design including software and hardware components. I spent the entire previous year developing the protocol, designing the software, integrating the hardware, and writing a massive report on the topic. But whenever I stood up to deliver the presentation, I faltered. No matter how much I practiced, I never felt prepared. The day before the presentation I called David for help. He sat in front of me and asked me to begin. After listening, he asked me to stop. “Your audience is interested in what you’re saying”, he said. “you're treating every sentence as an apology”. I hadn’t realized I was. I was so caught up in communicating my material effectively, I had let my anxiety control my tone. “Take a deep breath every time you rest”, David said, “and engage with your audience. They are excited to hear from you”. And you know what? They were. I went on to give a presentation I felt proud of, and my committee members remarked at how confidently I had communicated my information. Before David I had great content, and a solid grasp of my material. After David I had a complete presentation that I was incredibly proud of. And I have carried his lessons with me to every presentation I have done since (and there have been many). He didn’t give me any checklists of things to remember, he just taught me how to work with my body, with my worries, with my habits, to give the best presentation possible. I am incredibly grateful for David’s help, and I encourage anybody who is worried about a public speaking engagement to reach out to him for help. He will tailor an approach to your needs, and allow you to speak naturally.
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- Rebecca | PhD Candidate, Engineering