What Clients Say
Video Testimonial From Dr. Alan Weiss
So far, 16 of our top executives have benefited from the Bates Communications "Executive Visibility Boot Camp." We have gone through the entire C level; now we're into the business president level. Our CEO said that he can tell which executives have been through the Boot Camp program because they are markedly better communicators than those who haven't.
- Matt Davis, Corporate Director of Executive Communications, The Dow Chemical Company
"The North Face, a division of VF Outdoor, Inc has been working with Bates Communications over the last few years. Bates Communications has been incredibly easy to work with. From the beginning, they've felt like part of our team rather than a vendor, striving to understand our business, our brand, and specific ways they can help us. They've also been amazingly flexible and willing to accommodate our executives' busy schedules. While they recognize the value of staying on course with project timelines, they know when to be flexible and how to adapt to schedule changes, which our executives have especially valued.
- Patty Pierce, Director of Human Resources, VF Outdoor, Inc.
"My team of senior IT managers needed help in connecting with the executive business leaders they were assigned to support. While members of my team may someday BE the CEO or CIO, Bates Communications helped them learn how to speak WITH the CEO and develop the executive presence necessary to sell their ideas at the executive level. Previously they may have been able to effectively communicate their ideas and key points less than half the time, but now my team has the skills, preparation, and confidence to take advantage of far more opportunities and to make an impact with their business leaders more than 70% of the time.
- Jeff Neufeld, retired Executive, GE, Lockheed Martin, Citigroup, Fidelity
"As a startup, we needed to translate a very complex message into one that someone on the outside could easily understand and relate to. Bates Communications was invaluable in helping us shape our message so we could attract funding, partners, and customers. Investors are smart; they invest in substance made really, really clear. As a result of working with Bates Communications, we've been able to raise $60 million, even in a difficult market. As well, Bates has helped us clarify our message to attract significant partners to help us grow and bring our products to market.
- Peter Savas, CEO, Alseres Pharmaceuticals Inc.
"Bates Communications came highly recommended, and we have now run three successful sessions aimed at helping officer level staff build skills in "Executive Presence."
The stakes are quite high when bringing in a new program at the officer level. Bates Communications is highly credible and skilled at dealing with officer level employees. Bates has presented to 100 officer level employees already this year and more in-depth follow-on training is planned. Participants are highly satisfied. They have expressed interest in more in-depth training from Bates on related subjects that we've already scheduled. Based on these results and the demand for more, I highly recommend Bates Communications for developing your executive ranks."
- Richard Arsenault, Senior Learning Consultant, John Hancock Financial Services
"Dow AgroSciences is a profitable business unit of The Dow Chemical Company, and one used to illustrate key elements of Dow strategy. So when our President and CEO, Jerome Peribere, speaks to an investment audience, people listen. His spoken word has impact with many stakeholders; every time he speaks dynamically in front of a community group or is quoted in a key publication, we are making an impression on potential employees, legislators and community members. It's a cycle of success that builds on itself. Jerome has always been a very good speaker, and working with Bates helped him strengthen his focus on preparation, practice and being able to tell a story . He's very quotable! We were in Forbes earlier this year and, this high profile appearance shows the power of a quotable, articulate executive.
- Kenda Resler-Friend, Public Affairs, Dow AgroSciences
"Rarely are C-Level executives dismissed due to incompetence-no, it is usually because there is something broken in their relationship with the CEO, their peers, or even the Board. At this level one's success is less dependent on technical skills and more dependent upon one's ability to communicate, motivate, and lead others. Unfortunately, these increasingly critical skills aren't taught in school or in most job environments. For this critical training, there is Bates Communications.
- Ken Rice, EVP and CFO, Alseres Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
"Although we had very high-caliber customer-facing employees, a third-party research firm scored us poorly compared with our competitors in our ability to deliver effective boardroom presentations to senior-most executives at Fortune 500 customers and prospects. We knew we had to take action because the risks were huge: a good meeting could result in a business lead worth in excess of $1 million or may enable us to keep $500,000 worth of business for 6 months longer.
We hired Bates Communications to improve the executive presence for most all of our client-facing employees, with spectacular results. The third-party ratings rose dramatically within one year as a direct result of Bates Communications' work with us. On average, junior executives improved from a 5 to 8 out of 10 in their overall communications ability, and senior executives improved from a 7 to a 9, with immediate and measurable impact on customers, prospects, and revenue.
- Penny Darcey, Former Sr. Managing Director of Sales & Marketing, State Street Global Advisors
"I have been in the financial services business for 28 years and thought I had networking down pat. Yet I came away from Sarah Woods' presentation with practical and nuanced techniques that I have already begun to apply. ACG Boston is all about networking and the women there that night were both informed and entertained. I saw them practicing their takeaways later that evening and in subsequent events."
- Gail Long, CEO, Association for Corporate Growth, Boston
“The Speak like a CEO Boot Camp provided tools and techniques for communicating more effectively with/like executives. I found this Boot Camp very valuable in this regard. I believe that this experience has made me a better speaker. I also found the instructors and attendees were able to provide candid feedback and constructive criticism that I might not get from colleagues with whom I work everyday. The two days provided a set of tools and techniques I can use going forward.”
- William Symans, Director of Implementations, Bottomline Technologies
"While Bates Communications has certainly helped me become a better presenter, the greatest benefit they've delivered is in helping me develop "executive presence." I needed become a better diplomat in handling challenging internal communications, conflicts, and situations. Unlike many of the other programs I've been through, Bates provided intensive, one-to-one coaching on real-life, critical issues that I was facing at that very moment. They've helped me navigate thorny situations in a much more professional manner. I estimate that my internal communications score has risen 30% or more and that I've improved at least 75% in my ability to handle tough situations more appropriately than ever before. I've learned the finesse that has helped me become much more effective in dealing with colleagues, direct reports, and senior management. This translates into significantly improved productivity in meetings and amongst my team. The payoff for me is reduced frustration for myself and others, an increased ability to sell my ideas in the organization, and most importantly, increased responsibility over time.
My experience in working with Bates Communications has been incredibly valuable-so much so that I'm bringing them back to provide specialized coaching for my select members of my team."
- SVP of a Major Financial Services Company
"Congratulations on the session with the leadership team. According to the session objectives … I'd say you hit a grand slam with the team. [You} drove home the message about the need for their communications to be directional and inspirational. Thank you for the work you are doing with Dow and Dow AgroSciences."
- Kay Y. Wallace, Corporate Strategy, Dow AgroSciences LLC
"The return on the investment in your coaching has exceeded expectations."
- Brian Gorin, Managing Principal, Analysis Group
"Coaching helped me develop a professional presence, and my colleagues have noticed. I've since become a better communicator in every venue - while presenting, during meetings, and in written communication."
- Nicole DeVita, Vice President - Performance Management, Partners Community HealthCare Inc.
"What a wonderful job you did for both our groups. You gave us thoughtful and experienced insights that will help us all be better communicators. Thank you so much for your professional, polished work with our women engineers of Textron and with my staff - great stuff!"
- Elaine Vaught, Textron/Bell Helicopter
"The single greatest improvement I experienced is that I am now able to bridge the message I want to send from just about any circumstance. I don't allow myself to be side-tracked. I'm just more comfortable handling the media now."
- Jeff Saviano, Ernst and Young
"Suzanne Bates' competitive advantage is experience before the camera and expertise on what you have to do on a practical basis. She is hands-on and real. She really knows what will work and what doesn't. She's the best I've ever worked with."
- Diane Fulman, Babson College
"You had the ability to advise me as to what I needed to do without judging or pushing too hard. I really enjoyed our work together. The skills I developed will make a great impact on my career going forward."
- Nicole DeVita, Vice President - Performance Management, Partners Community HealthCare Inc.
"Our work together has been very beneficial to me and my firm since we completed our coaching program. My daily interactions with clients and potential clients are much more efficient now and I've seen a marked improvement in business development results."
- Brian Gorin, Managing Principal, Analysis Group
"Suzanne did a remarkable job with one of our senior executives. She coached him into giving a great speech. It was like night and day, what she did with him."
- Pam Montpelier, Strata Bank
"Through Paula's coaching, I was able to identify my key communication strengths and play those up, while at the same time developing useful strategies to manage my areas of difficulty. I now have the tools, and more importantly, the confidence, to communicate persuasively with a variety of audiences."
- Rebecca Schulman, Room To Grow, Boston
"The strategic link between what Bates does and our business goals is (helping us be) the provider of choice to our customers. The better we articulate and present ourselves, the higher the probability that we will be the one they choose."
- Kathy Jones, Mass Bankers Association
"Bates Communications' greatest strength is to make people feel comfortable about public speaking."
- Mary Lou Andre, President, Organization by Design
"Bates Communications gave me a way of not being defensive; a way of being open and authentic while not disclosing more than I needed to disclose. It was incredibly helpful to me."
- Eleanor Uddo, Feigenbaum and Uddo, LLC
"Suzanne Bates was magic. She was able to craft a message for our audience that combined her body of expertise with their immediate needs. Her delivery was exemplary. By combining humor, examples, and an informal but highly focused presentation, she demonstrated her command of communications principles and gave her audience immediately useful take-aways. True learning took place. The audience left feeling excited and motivated."
- Pam Lassiter, Execunet
"We received very positive feedback on your seminar. Participants left with insight and next steps to elevating their Executive Presence. Your presentation combined the perfect amount of instruction and engagement of the audience - for that, we are most appreciative!"
- Amy Steverman, Programs Manager, Boston Chamber of Commerce
"Bates has added real value to the quality of our presentations, including the one used on our successful IPO roadshow."
- Jim Barber, President & CEO, Metabolix, Inc.
"Paula's expertise in communications and passion for what she does is contagious. Every person who works with Paula will raise the bar in their communication skills, as well as the impact in their business world."
- Fran Goldstein CPC CSP, President, Gold Staff Consultants
"Through Craig's coaching, I was able to identify my key strengths and maximize them, while at the same time developing useful strategies to improve my areas of difficulty. I now have the tools and confidence to communicate and manage my firm resources effectively."
- Bill Riley, Clarke, Snow, and Riley LLP
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"As a result of Bates' training…our executives are far better communicators than ever before, and the results show in our increasingly positive press and ability to move these audiences to action."
Matt Davis,
Corp. Director of Executive Communications,
Dow Chemical Co.
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