Testimonials

^{Rachel Knight}
^{General Manager}
^{Ozarks Public Broadcasting}

Working with Lesli has been one of the most meaningful professional development experiences of my career. As a lifelong reader and learner, I have encountered – and even taught – most of the big ideas and best practices offered by leadership experts. What Lesli brings to coaching is very different. Lesli possesses a unique combination of experience, knowledge, authenticity, and curiosity that allows the conversation to move very quickly to fertile soil. Lesli’s coaching is both supportive and challenging, and her assignments are both thought-provoking and practical. What you’ll find in Lesli is not just a teacher of concepts, but an insightful guide in identifying and dismantling the specific barriers that can keep you from leading the way you want to – from a place of confidence and alignment with your personal and professional values.

^{Jennifer Cook}
^{Executive Director}
^{WUCF TV & FM}

It has been a privilege to work with Lesli and one of the most transformative leadership development experiences of my career. Lesli leads with compassion, but isn’t afraid to push for a deeper connection, digging to find the root of what is really happening. Her superpower is this ability to verbalize what I’m struggling to communicate through her questions, homework, and goal setting projects.

Much of what we have worked on revolves around reframing and confidence. Often, these go hand-and-hand for me. Through exercises and reminding myself of larger goals, our work together has changed my life. As a leader, this has helped my organization, allowing me to bring my best self to tough conversations as well as bring some of this important work we’ve done into workplace culture.

^{Jaime Jimenez}
^{General Manager}
^{KLCS Public Media}

Lesli has provided extremely useful coaching and mentoring resources in our career development sessions. She has an effective manner of both validating my leadership capabilities while simultaneously challenging me to continuously improve upon them. She is an empathetic listener and provides insight for my professional and personal growth. I love our ideation discussions that lead to all things being possible. I always come away charged and inspired!

^{Jeff Tucker}
^{General Manager}
^{Idaho Public Television}

Coaching from Lesli is like a combination of management boot camp and a counseling session. She skillfully helped me to negotiate strategic directions, and was there to listen to my concerns along the way. Lesli’s approach to coaching allowed me to think out loud about strategies and then she carefully guided me to my ultimate destination. Lesli was able to help me focus my thoughts on what I needed to do for long term success. She helped me identify my strengths, but more importantly she helped me strategize on how to capitalize on them. Her approach gave me the ability to better communicate so that I could lead my staff to the next level.

^{Darren LaShelle}
^{President & CEO}
^{Northern California Public Media}

Working with Lesli has helped me immensely as an organizational leader to better understand myself through a comprehensive examination of my individual behavioral responses to challenges. When we walk through that door of honest self-evaluation, a new world opens up to us. We gain a broader view of group dynamics, organizational priorities, and how we can play a more effective role in leading our teams to greater success. When we make honest and objective observations about our personal skill-set, we begin a journey of empowering others, fostering mentorship, and strengthening our organizations.

^{Judy Braune}
^{Founder and President}
^{Modern Eyes Mid-Century}

I had the great privilege and pleasure of working with Lesli for over 10 years. I would follow Lesli anywhere because I know that she would never lead me astray, only enhance my experience and steer me to greater personal and professional heights. Lesli believes in people—and in their potential to accomplish great things. She has an uncanny ability to unlock your “special sauce” and inspire you to refine it to achieve your vision. Insightful, intuitive, authentic, honest, innovative and charismatic, Lesli possesses a unique elixir of qualities that add up to something almost magical—helping to transform inner visions into reality.

^{Lisa Henson}
^{CEO of The Jim Henson Company}

Lesli Rotenberg is a model for what leadership should look like. Her legacy at PBS has truly made the world a better place. Lesli’s infectious energy, joy, wisdom and support has made her a part of our forever family.

^{Dr. Stephanie Frazier Cook}
^{Assistant General Manager/Deputy Director
South Carolina ETV and South Carolina Public Radio}

Lesli was exactly what I needed in terms of professional support at this juncture in my career. She asked challenging questions and made me feel comfortable talking through scenarios, whether personal or professional. She was never judgmental, but always honest in a caring and thoughtful way. Any ‘assignments’ between sessions were always practical and manageable for a working professional. Her expertise as a public media professional was an added benefit, but was not the focus of our conversations and that was great.

^{Kelly Chmielewski}
^{Founder, The Possibility Shop}

Lesli is a big picture thinker, thoughtful listener and believer in possibilities. She is deeply empathetic, curious and unafraid to take risks. That’s why I love her as a coach! I recall a recent coaching session when she asked one super smart question that got me thinking so differently, it completely shifted my perspective. In a very short time, it not only helped me unlock new opportunities for myself, it also helped reenergize me around the work I love most. I highly recommend her for leaders looking to go further, feel braver and unlock new possibilities for themselves and their teams.

^{Heather Reese}
^Director
^{Wisconsin Public Media}

Lesli is a rare treasure. Her ability to observe, listen and provide relevant feedback and guidance beginning with your first session is amazing. Working with Lesli was instantly comfortable, reassuring and a confidence builder. She sees you as a person in a leadership role first and understands that leaders need individual support to lead their teams and organizations.

^{Susanna (Xana) Locke} ^{LICSW, CCM}
^{Principal Case Manager, Sanofi}

I will always be grateful to have had the opportunity to bask in the glow of Lesli Rotenberg’s leadership, poise, and generosity of heart. She encourages and expects her team to bring their best selves to work. She sets ambitious goals to inspire innovation and growth. She is creative, intuitive, and business minded. Lesli will leave a wonderful legacy behind her, and she will bring new light to whatever she does next.

^{Lavanya Mohan}
^{Director of Family and Community Learning, PBS}

I want to thank Lesli: For championing, supporting, and encouraging us. For learning with us and nurturing innovation. For her vision and dedication to PBS for 20+ years.

^{Debbie Hamlett}
^{General Manager}
^{Milwaukee PBS}

Lesli’s superpower is a combination of charming curiosity with laser beam insightfulness. She has a sixth sense kind of talent when it comes to asking questions and coaching you to “deep think.” It never felt intrusive, more like a persistent guide to find your own answers. This professional training isn’t a one size fits all approach. It’s challenging but not overpowering. I appreciated her ability to listen intently and reflect back what she heard allowing me to clarify along the way. Assignments were thoughtful and strategic without being overwhelming timewise. I had a few aha moments which helped strengthen my approach and path forward. I feel more informed about what inspires me and how to use my superpowers more effectively to motivate my team.

^{Vince Commisso}
^{President & CEO, 9 Story Media Group, Producers of Clifford the Big Red Dog, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum}

What an indelible mark Lesli Rotenberg made on our industry! There are very few people who can balance leadership and vision with the grace and positivity that Lesli does. I’ve learned a great deal from watching Lesli, which I will always appreciate.

^{Linda Simensky}
^{Head of Animation and Scripted Content, Duolingo}

I had the good fortune to work with Lesli Rotenberg for many years at PBS where I benefited from her sharp insights and astute guidance. Her ability to listen and to focus on the salient issues has always been uncannily precise. And best of all, she brings extensive experience and knowledge of branding, communication, writing and psychology to everything she does.

^{Dawn Ciccone}
^President
^{Brand Licensing LLC}

What a brand Lesli Rotenberg built! I have so much respect for what Lesli accomplished over her 20-year journey. Who could have imagined that PBS KIDS would ever have a 24/7 channel? Lesli is tenacious and a fighter for what she believes in. Lesli has so many qualities to admire—strength, grace, presence, perseverance, smarts, toughness, elegance, kindness…

^{Karin Jue}
^{Senior Director & Head}
^{PBS KIDS Distribution}

Lesli Rotenberg has been an iconic figure within PBS and her leadership is reflective of our KIDS’ mission. I have always appreciated Lesli’s keen, strategic perspective, asking those inquisitive questions that provided the backbone to the future and relevancy of children’s media in the public space. Her leadership over the past 20 years will leave an incredible legacy for our team.

Kratt Brothers posing with a bird — ^{The Kratt Brothers team}
^{Producers of Wild Kratts}

We are so grateful for Lesli Rotenberg’s leadership, support and one-of-a-kind positive spirit that makes everything possible and attainable. All of us who worked with Lesli know how much she has done for countless kids and families and the impact she has had.

Natalie Engel posing with Bert from Sesame Street — ^{Natalie Engel}
^{Children’s Media}
^{Independent Consultant}

Lesli has been an invaluable sounding board to me during a period of major professional reassessment. She asks thoughtful, provocative questions that have helped me process and clarify my goals and motivations in making a career change. She is a deeply engaged listener, warm and direct in her insights; she will encourage and challenge you in equal measure. Her coaching has helped me define where I want to go next in my career, and grown my confidence to act on those intentions. In our many conversations, Lesli helped me find my voice and use it in bigger, bolder ways. I have felt fortunate to have her in my corner.

^{Jenna Krasnoff}
^{Director of Creative Project Management, Noggin, Nickelodeon}

Lesli Rotenberg’s leadership, poise, and ability to juggle it all with grace continues to inspire me. Lesli taught me so much about how to be a dedicated and compassionate team member and leader.

^{Veronica Toney}
^{Director of Digital Content Development}
^{PBS KIDS}

I want to thank Lesli Rotenberg for her leadership, support and encouragement over the years. It’s been an honor to learn from Lesli through the thoughtful questions she asks in meetings to the way she explains our work to others, to the excitement she shares as we experiment with new ways to reach children, families and educators.

^{Kemp Battle}
^{Investment Banker and Strategic Advisor, Battle Strategic}

Working closely with Lesli over the past year, I have begun to experience the deepest sense of having been fully met, heard and seen. She has listened to me with wisdom while always inviting me to press more deeply into the insights on offer. She has held space for me to draw the most profound connections between my working and personal life. I feel nothing but awe and gratitude for her work and for her skillful partnership.

^{Sara Schapiro}
^{Senior Fellow at the Federation of American Scientists}

Lesli is the best mentor and boss I’ve ever had the privilege of working with in my career. I arrived at PBS as a fairly new senior leader, and working with Lesli helped me reach new heights in my own leadership journey. Whenever I faced challenges, Lesli always struck the right balance between support and empowerment; she asked the right questions and provided advice when I needed it, but also gave me the opportunity and space to solve things on my own. Lesli taught me that true leadership is setting up the people with whom you work to succeed. She did that for me and helped me do that for my team. I will forever be grateful for Lesli’s confidence in me, her friendship, her advice, and her investment in my personal and professional success. I can’t think of a better coach than Lesli.

Anonymous testimonial placeholder image: a view of Earth from space

Founder and CEO
Financial Technology Startup

Lesli is a tremendous coach and has really helped me improve my stage presence, clarity of communication and ability to communicate in a relatable way to my audience. Throughout our sessions, we kept coming back to “what good looked like”, which really helped me benchmark the delta between my communication skills today and what’s required to inspire high-impact change.

^{Maria Vera Whelan}
^{Senior Director & Head of Marketing & Brand Engagement, PBS KIDS}

Lesli is an amazing leader, role model and mentor. She taught me so much about so many things. Grace under pressure. Calm in crisis. The glass half full. I always ask myself, “what would Lesli do?” in any difficult situation.

^{Scott Scornavacco, COO of Spiffy Pictures, Producers of Donkey Hodie and Nature Cat}

Lesli developed an amazing culture that allowed us to see our creative visions through.

^{Mary Hope Garcia}
^{Senior Director}
^{PBS KIDS Content Marketing}

PBS KIDS is what it is because of Lesli and the amazing team she assembled. Her laser-like focus on our mission—uplifting kids and families—continues to inspire me every day.

^{Sharon Philippart}
^{Vice President}
^{Initiatives & Creative Production, PBS KIDS}

During our work together at PBS, Lesli was committed to my success. Her encouragement and leadership gave me the support and freedom to identify and build upon my strengths, focused on continuous improvement, both personally and professionally. Her coaching, mentorship, optimism and insights helped me become a more confident leader and amplified my ability to inspire my team, and to build impactful relationships across our department and throughout the organization.

^{Alexandra Pressman}
^Founder
^{Belay Legal}

Lesli is remarkable for her mix of excellent strategic judgment and off-the-charts empathy. I was struck by how insightful she is–and at the same time how profoundly kind she is. While I know a lot of people who are either incredibly insightful or incredibly empathetic, it’s rare to find someone who is both. For an effective coach it’s exactly that combination that you so often need. I recommend Lesli to anyone looking to be a more effective leader and better decision maker.

Schedule a Free Consultation

Testimonials

Founder and CEOFinancial Technology Startup

Founder and CEO
Financial Technology Startup