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Testimonials
Rabbi Nathan Joiner
When I began a yearlong transition from Associate Rabbi to Senior Rabbi at our synagogue, I realized that I needed help. While my master’s degree and Rabbinical training had prepared me to be a spiritual guide and community leader, we didn’t have any classes on management. I was now responsible to manage an office, plan events and lead strategic planning! Our Synagogue graciously brought Bob O’Neil on board as a leadership coach and management consultant.
At first, out meetings focused on problem solving, strategic planning and leadership development. With his background in human resources, he coached me on “HR” issues. Over the first year, we covered Emotional Intelligence, Leadership Styles and Situational Leadership and were able to apply these concepts to real life situations. The pandemic came right in the middle of my transition into Senior Rabbi and Bob helped us to navigate through this difficult time by focusing on relationships, processing difficult situations and Change Management. Speaking personally, what has been most helpful to me has been Bob’s unique ability to coach me through deeper self-development challenges, goal-setting and time management skills.
As our time together continues, Bob became a coach, consultant, teacher and trusted advisor. He always has just the right questions to ask and there is nothing that we haven’t discussed! I look forward to my times with Bob knowing that I will leave our meetings with new tools and new inspiration to bring into my family and community.
Sheila Khan
Inspirational, insightful, a true motivational leader and teacher: This is what comes to mind when I speak of Bob. I was fortunate enough to be in Bob’s Leadership class during my MBA studies at Boston College and it was the highlight of my experience there. Bob is an exceptional teacher not only in terms of preparing for classes and creating appropriate work plans, but more so because he is able to help students draw upon personal experience and learn from that.
He gave me the tools and understanding to be introspective and think about what kind of leader I want to be and how I want to interact with and motivate others in the workplace. It is rare that we find teachers like this in the real work place. In addition, Bob is kind soul and a devoted leader. He always gave extra time to discuss and coach myself and other students whether it be about leadership strategies or real work place situations. Bob is a true motivational leader, inside and outside of the classroom and I would step forward to join his team any and every day.
Raenell Harmsen
Bob is kind, compassionate, caring, wicked smart, helpful and the best darn mentor and professional coach ever! Bob is a really great listener and is so patient. He is thoughtful in how he coaches. He asks the right questions to have you look at things differently. He doesn't give you the answer, he is the perfect guide to help you get to the right answer. At the end of one of our coaching opportunities I am amazed at how much I have learned. I count myself lucky to have him in my life, as my trusted adviser and coach!
Nathan Morel
My first impression of Bob was that he was a professional, kind, hardworking coach who knew exactly where to hammer the nail into the floorboard. Bob knew what to listen for, what questions to ask and when to challenge me as a client. I worked with him for a year (every week) and to this day it has had a lasting impact.
Bob and I first worked on establishing my core values. We spent a few weeks clarifying what each value meant to me and exactly how I can live out my values. Today I am able to achieve the life I want rather than letting life happen to me because of my established values. We also worked on improving how I showed up day to day in challenges at home and work. This helped me gain clarity on issues instead of just avoiding them. I was able to act and move past what I had struggled with for years.
Also, Bob is an excellent coach to have during times of high stakes. Four months into coaching, I had a high stakes situation: my company closed its location. I had to start my own business and transfer existing clients from the old company I worked for to my new business. This had to happen in less than 30 days. During this time, I needed someone who could bring both the wisdom of a consultant (knowing what to do in fast paced start up) AND a solid coaching process (achieve personal clarity, help me forward my actions, and hold me accountable to my own goals).
Bob is more than just a coach. He shows up for his clients in a professional, consistent manner, as a great coach, consultant, or trusted advisor. If you need someone to help you take yourself to the next level, manage change, create a more intentional life/business, look no further.
Sammi Nguyen
I’m a former student of Bob at Boston College’s MBA program. He was one of the best instructors I had during my time in the MBA program. Further, the Leadership course that he taught was one of the most memorable, interesting, and valuable courses I took during the program. To this day, I still refer back to and practice many of the skills I learned from that course. What set Bob apart as an instructor was his genuine passion for the material and his exceptional ability to connect with students. One could instantly tell he had a lot of experience in that field, and that it was something he thoroughly enjoyed sharing with others.
He thoughtfully planned his course to complement reading material with real-life experiences and educational, yet fun in-class activities. In addition, Bob encouraged interaction among students so that we not only learned from each other’s experiences, but also felt engaged in the class. He was always available outside of class for advice. Even after the course was over, he was very resourceful to me by helping me work through some work-related issues. I would highly recommend Bob as a Leadership instructor with no hesitation.
Lisa Frank
I have had the privilege to work with Bob as a corporate colleague for several years, and then later as a valued career coach and trusted advisor. Bob’s professional experience, kindness, relatability, trustworthiness and patience make him a “go-to” person when I need support and guidance for my personal development as well as sensitive human resource issues. In most cases, Bob has seen it all and can help navigate people through even the most complex situations. His expertise and passion for coaching make him extremely effective and outstanding in his field!
Mitch Borin
I had the pleasure and privilege of taking Professor O’Neil's Leadership class while undergoing my MBA at Boston College. Professor O’Neil was a very special individual, who took great pride in the material he taught, conversations he had with his students and his overall desire to witness his students achieve great measures inside and outside the classroom. He really took the time to connect with his students and build a personal relationship with them. I was not just another student; I was someone who he genuinely cared about, which I very much appreciated.
The class not only helped position myself to become a future leader, but it also helped me understand my strengths and weaknesses and where I needed to improve. I thought the class was unique with its curriculum and added tremendous value to my overall experience for my MBA. Something that separated Professor O’Neil from other professors was his availability outside the classroom. Professor O’Neil went above and beyond when I needed him for advice regarding my job search. He was extremely instrumental in helping critique my resume and cover letter and most of all he provided me with excellent interviewing tips. I can confidently say that he was a big reason why I was able to obtain THREE job offers after I completed my MBA. His lessons and teachings have lasted long after the course ended.