Hear from Clients
Clients span a range of sectors including finance, professional services, consumer products, tax, law, non-profit and academia.
“I owe Wendy a big debt of gratitude. I speak to large crowds quite regularly, and I used to race through my speeches. Now I am comfortable pausing and slowing things down – it improves my focus, while giving the audience time to digest my messages. I recommend Wendy to anyone who wants to get better at engaging audiences. She’s terrific – an expert and fun to work with; she helped me a lot!”
Roger Martin
Writer and Strategy Advisor
Former Dean & Director of the Martin Prosperity Institute at Rotman School of Management
“Wendy’s focus, combined with a disarming and personable approach, makes it easy to learn and get better. She has helped me analyze my audiences to truly understand what will resonate and persuade. Rehearsing with Wendy has also helped me to connect more with my audiences, and achieve results. I have recommended Wendy on a number of occasions – and will continue to – for improving formal presentations and boosting boardroom presence.”
Mary Lou Maher
Corporate Director
Retired KPMG Partner: Canadian Managing Partner Quality & Risk and Global Head of Inclusion and Diversity
“I engaged Wendy to help me prepare for a big client event. Wendy and I worked intensively through three separate 2-hour sessions to (1) hone my presentation skills and (2) craft a compelling presentation for our event. Initially, I found the prospect of watching myself on video daunting but Wendy quickly put me at ease. Her feedback was sequenced in such a way that each session built on the previous one. The culmination of our hard work was an engaging speech in front of 250+ people which received lots of positive reviews. I’m thankful for all of Wendy’s assistance in preparing me for that event and look forward to working with her again. ”
Jamie Coulter
Former CEO, Raymond James Ltd.
“I’ve known Wendy Chong for 20 years and she has been a real delight to work with. She has been very effective at helping me with public speaking and I cannot recommend her and her services enough.”
Tony Arrell
Chairman, Burgundy Asset Management Ltd.
“I’ve been giving speeches for a number of years and wish that I had worked with Wendy sooner. Her process helped fine tune the content of my speech, ensuring the material would resonate with the audience. She provided many specific recommendations on how to improve delivery (she considers every detail). I rehearsed with her, practiced these refinements further on my own, and implemented them on the day of my keynote. Wendy’s feedback encouraged me to make more meaningful connections with the audience members during the presentation. After working together, I had much more confidence in my content and delivery. I highly recommend working with Wendy. The skills I learned are ones I will continue to implement in all future presentations.”
Rosie MacLennan
Two-time Olympic Champion, MSc.
Vice-Chair Canadian Olympic Committee Athlete Commission
“Working with Wendy reminded me of the importance and value of continually refining and updating our skills, even at the executive level. She both firmly and professionally moved me out of my comfort zone to attain the results I was after.
Wendy helped me prepare for a critical and strategic board presentation; it went well, which had considerable impact on how I have been able to lead a project for offices in Canada, US and Latin America. It felt like I was working with the “Wolf”* of presentation skills.”
*The Wolf is a reference to Harvey Keitel’s character in Pulp Fiction
Glen Brookman
Chief Information Officer, KPMG Canada
“I have been fortunate enough to work with Wendy and have achieved noticeable success with her guidance. She has helped me unlock a new level of confidence and awareness with my speaking and presentation skills.
I’ve known Wendy for years and she consistently brings the same things to the table: intelligence, integrity, energy and a true desire and ability to help me achieve my goals.
Wendy has a unique ability to listen intently and offer meaningful adjustments and suggestions. The calm, confident and safe environment she establishes with her clients allows them to open up, practice and fine-tune their approach.
Even when the ideas or concepts are vague or cloudy, Wendy is able to decipher the meaning and effectively articulate a direction. I have achieved sustainable change through our work together. ”
Christina Sorbara
Vice President, Corporate Knowledge, Sorbara Group of Companies
“Never in my wildest dreams did I think I could deliver a speech to an audience of 800 clients without notes! Wendy planted the seed and got me there, fast. Her positively infectious ‘can-do’ attitude and highly effective coaching strategies gave me the tools and confidence I needed to show up and deliver on game day.
Wendy is a master in the art of communication. She taught me how to ground my words, tone, gestures, expression and posture in something real and personally meaningful. In this way, she taught me how to communicate with impact.”
Anne Maggisano
Vice President, Burgundy Asset Management
“As a first time CEO, and the new leader of Canada’s oldest staffing firm I felt a great deal of pressure to improve the impact of my communications. I had to be able to communicate and gain approval for my new vision for the company from the Founding Chairman; make it inspirational and actionable for our team, and inspire confidence from our current and future clients.
Having worked with Wendy in my past role; I immediately reached out to her for assistance. She spent multiple sessions with me to gain clarity on the needs of each stakeholder group so that I was able to deliver a focused and powerful message. Six months into the role, we are making huge changes to an established business; while increasing revenues and lowering costs. I attribute this success to the work that Wendy did in helping me become a better communicator.
Wendy is a fantastic coach for anybody whose success is dependent upon the ability to communicate and inspire.”
Chris Welsh
Founder and Partner, People Machine
Former CEO, Drake International
“Wendy is really an all-encompassing coach with public speaking. Her help ranges from content refinements and messaging, to presence, poise and delivery. She keeps you focused on what is important: what is best for the audience. Her pleasant personality and working style makes practicing easy. I highly recommend Wendy for anyone trying to deliver a more impactful, engaging speech. Her help was the difference maker.”
Doug Winslow, CFA
Vice President, Portfolio Manager, Burgundy Asset Management
“Wendy was exactly what I needed to tackle my first industry conference presentation. Wendy’s approach is honest, fun and exceptionally effective. Rehearsing with Wendy was intimidating at first but she is very positive with her feedback – she knows exactly how to help you undo your bad habits and replace it with positive habits. I am now more confident taking on presentations knowing how to better connect with my audiences to more effectively get my messages across. I also apply everything I learned from Wendy with my day-to-day meetings, internal presentations & vendor meetings – Wendy has helped me improve my overall executive presence. I strongly recommend Wendy’s coaching to elevate your executive presence & effectiveness!”
Debbie Lai
Vice President, Marketing, Staples Canada
Former Senior Vice President, Marketing, Loyalty & Strategy, Rexall Pharmacy Group ULC
“A trusted friend introduced me to Wendy as her “secret weapon.” That was an understatement. Wendy took my ability to present publicly to another level.
While I’d witnessed my own increasing confidence as a result of more speaking opportunities, Wendy helped me add a layer of professionalism and confidence. Through our work together, I am developing innate finesse and comfort, while engaging the audience more intimately. Equally important, Wendy ensured I remained true to myself, my own image and personal brand, never compromising authenticity. That was of the utmost importance to me.
Wendy always delivered feedback in a positive way, knowing the right amount at each stage, almost magically understanding my capacity at each meeting. It was truly iterative, and we continued to build skills at each level. I look forward to continuing to evolve my skills with Wendy for the next opportunity that comes my way. Instead of being nervous, I’m actually excited. And that matters. Because an audience can see and feel your enthusiasm. It’s captivating… and contagious. ”
Andrea DelZotto
Director, Tridel Group of Companies
Co-founder, Concrete Cardinal
“I have worked with Wendy for several years on several speeches targeted at both internal and external audiences. Wendy is a true expert in how to craft and deliver a meaningful and memorable message to any audience. She is highly astute, extremely thoughtful, and is just as passionate about the end result as the individual ultimately delivering the speech. Wendy’s approach is effective as it is not ‘one-size-fits-all’. In fact, it’s far from it. Wendy has challenged and inspired me – definitely testing my comfort zone along the way – but never at the expense of remaining true to myself. I would recommend Wendy to anyone who is committed to becoming a better speaker.”
Robert Sankey
Chief Executive Officer, Burgundy Asset Management
“Vulnerable. Extremely vulnerable. That’s how it can feel when, as a senior leader, you need to deliver a message that makes the difference between securing that next mega-project for your company or losing it. Wendy not only helps to refine your overt ability to present but she also helps you develop confidence – and yes, even joy, around being able to do it in a deeply relational and genuine way.
After just a couple of sessions with Wendy, my presentation team demonstrated marked improvement under very challenging circumstances where we not only had to present to an auditorium full of judges but also had to do it under the added pressure of “down to the second”, time and accuracy or be disqualified.
Wendy is truly the “presentation-whisperer” who can literally bring out the best communicator in all of us, regardless of experience and level of confidence. Her coaching is nothing short of transformational and her methods allow for immediate, clearly apparent, progress – regardless of who you are.
(And incidentally, we won the bid for the mega-project!)”
Danielle Feidler
Former Senior Vice President, Brand Experience, Tridel
“Wendy was highly recommended to me by global speaker and strategist, Roger Martin. I was interested in brushing up on my presentation skills both in the board room as well as speaking engagements–after a long hiatus from any formal professional training/coaching. Wendy had the innate ability to home in on areas of improvement through her warm, yet serious demeanor peppered with humor. She was able to wipe away ineffective habits through insightful tips and clever challenges, while reinforcing strengths, including highlighting my personal brand. She is a terrific coach and champion and now I, in turn, can highly recommend her!”
Marie-Louise Skafte
General Counsel & COO, Roger L. Martin Inc.
Founder Skafte Global Law
Board Member
Pilot
“Working with Wendy has been a monumental professional and personal win. Wendy gave me confidence in public speaking that I’d never had, and didn’t think I could ever have. While I knew I didn’t love it or feel great doing it, I could never pinpoint what was missing, until Wendy. The feedback and tools she gave me during our work together are so easy and tangible, I remember them automatically! Even now over a year later. Wendy went above and beyond our sessions, making sure I met my deliverable and goals. Unexpectedly I delivered my mom’s eulogy a few months after working with Wendy. Not something I’m sure I could have or would have done with the same energy before improving this skill. And I looked up and found Wendy in the audience, cheering me on, she is there supporting her clients, close and afar, always! Wendy is an exceptional human who I’m honoured to say has become a dear friend. Her energy, intellect, passion, and sheer genius for public speaking is unmatched. I can’t recommend Wendy enough to everyone at every stage of career and life. I only wish I had discovered her earlier!”
Katherine Marr, CPA CA
Partner, The Mason Group Strategic Search
Business & Personal Mindset Coach
“I have done a fair bit of public speaking and even worked with speaker coaches over the course of my career. In my current role I haven’t been on stage for a few years and was feeling a bit rusty. I really enjoyed working with Wendy to prepare for a panel session in front of a large audience. Her process helped to break my preparation into manageable pieces. Wendy’s feedback is very direct and tangible: a great mix of positive and constructive.”
Karen McNally
Managing Director, Head of Investment Solutions, RBC Global Asset Management Inc.
“I had the privilege of working with Wendy to help prepare our senior leadership team to present at a priority event in front of thousands of key stakeholders. We were on a very tight timeline and Wendy worked miracles within record time to coach our team with real, tangible and useful tools that yielded immediate results in their presentation style and delivery. Wendy was able to connect with our leaders immediately and they all raved about how comfortable they felt with her laid back yet extremely professional style. I’ve worked with many coaches over the years and can say without hesitation that Wendy is absolutely one of the best. Our speakers showed up with a truly elevated presence thanks to Wendy’s support and we can’t wait to work with her again.”
Anika Malik
Head of Communications, McDonald’s Canada