CLIENT REFERENCES

CAREER COUNSELING

Early Career

Barbara inspired me in a time when I needed help the most. She gave me the assurance I was looking for to choose a career path in a transitional time after my Rutgers University graduation. The results of her services include improved self-confidence, accurate personality assessment, workplace conflict resolution and developed career goals.

Barbara made her services very available – she made me feel comfortable discussing my likes, dislikes and past experiences. I highly recommend Barbara’s services to any other
young graduate without direction after college!

Laura Vaughn
Countryman Packaging Design

As a young attorney embarking on my career path, my meetings with Barbara were truly helpful. Through my consultations with her, I was able to more clearly understand what I valued in the workplace and the personal fulfillment I sought from my career. I came to Barbara feeling overwhelmed in my current position and unfocused about my career path. However, after our sessions, I developed a newfound sense of clarity and appreciation for my strengths and weaknesses. I highly recommend Barbara’s services for anyone, whether they are looking to make a career change or need strategic advice for handling an existing work environment. I feel more confident in my job I currently have
and am more excited about my future prospects.

KB

Mid-Career

I contacted Barbara after being laid off from my job in secondary education. As a struggling professional who was having a difficult time coming to terms with my current career situation, I appreciated how compassionate and understanding Barbara was as she listened to my professional narrative. She used a comprehensive approach to career counseling. During our first session, she allowed me to explain how I came to be in need of counseling. Our second and third sessions consisted of a series of diagnostic tests ,which determined my professional needs, values, and interests. Finally, in our last session, Barbara and I discussed a variety of career paths, which reflected my professional needs and interests. Our sessions were complimented by suggested career-building websites and reading materials. I appreciated how thoroughly Barbara came to understand my needs
as a professional and as a person.

It is without hesitation that I recommend Barbara’s counseling services to anyone who is in need of professional guidance. During this difficult economic time, most people cannot afford to proceed into a career without serious consideration of how it may or may not fulfill their needs. I am confident that Barbara’s services would be a compliment to anyone facing a career change or uncertainty.

Elizabeth A. Clark

I initially sought Barbara’s advice because I knew my job and industry at the time wasn’t one where I felt satisfied. I was successful at my job but could not see myself in the industry longer term. With Barbara’s help, I was able to find a career, not something that would be just another job. She helped validate my personal strengths, skill set, and helped me think outside of the box to identify a career which is aligned with my personal values and morals. The process was thorough and taught me a lot about myself. Barbara’s advice helped me get comfortable knowing that it’s never too late to make a career change. Her passion for her work and clients is evident along every step of the way through her counseling. I was also able to develop skills that had a positive impact on my relationships with those inside my workplace but also with my friends and family. I would recommend Barbara to anyone looking for career advice, but also to challenge those who don’t feel they need advice because she can help anyone take their career and life outside of work to higher level of satisfaction. 

-Anonymous (former Wall St executive)

I went to Dr. Gronsky to help with a mid-career personal crisis I was experiencing as a physician in a private practice. She gave me the advice and insight I needed to mitigate the mid-career challenges I was facing. She also helped me to improve my work/life balance. I am now again enthusiastic about my future and intellectually stimulated.

-Stacy S., MD

Job Search

Dr. Gronsky helped me formulate a plan to search for my second career. After working 28 years with one company, my job search skills were unprepared, to say the least. With Dr. Gronsky’s coaching, I was able to utilize social media, search engines and have a well-developed, professional resume to share with recruiters. I have recently landed an awesome job with one of the most admired companies in the world. Dr. Gronsky was instrumental for me to gain their attention and to land the position. I am very grateful for her assistance and encouragement at a time when it was most needed.

Tim Smyer
Amazon

I hired Barbara to assist me with my sales career transitioning. She was able to help me target the industry that would be the best fit for me, personally and professionally. She kept me on track and showed me the tools that I needed to utilize to make my transition rewarding and successful. I am happy to say that she provided the guidance and stability that I needed at this time in my life. She is trusting, kind, professional, and an expert in the coaching field. I am thrilled to report that with Barbara’s coaching, I have successfully made this sales career transition. I have already recommended her to many of my friends and business associates. She is well worth the investment!

Barbara, thanks again for helping me find my “dream sales position.”

Loretta Noonan
Sales/Marketing Representative

I am not sure you remember me, but you helped me out with my resume and LinkedIn profile back at the end of 2018. I want to say thank you for your help. I am now working at the University of Pennsylvania as Assistant Manager of Research Facilities in the Cancer Biology Department. I am confident that your amendments to my resume helped me obtain this position.

-JC

Second Career

I was a mental health administrator at a crossroads in my 36-year career. I left my position at a well-respected organization to recover my sense of well-being, which had eroded through many years of intense work, without enough life-balance. I was fortunate to be able to indulge in 10 work-free months of personal rediscovery and growth. It was a wonderful experience, but when it came time to seriously consider returning to work, I was at a loss. I didn’t know where to begin, and I didn’t want to lose the equanimity and balance that I had regained.

I sought out Dr. Gronsky for her dual experience in both psychology and business, and I am so grateful to have worked with her. Barbara blends a rare combination of sincere compassion and truth-telling professionalism. She deeply understands the process of helping people find what’s important to them – and how to find a professional direction to match who they really are. She also gave me valuable resources and tools to improve my resume, expand my search options, and market my strengths. I am back to work in a setting that I enjoy again, with a healthier perspective and a renewed sense of professional optimism. I would highly recommend Dr. Gronsky to anyone who may be facing their own crossroads, and may need professional guidance and support. -LL

Executive Coaching

I have known Dr. Barbara Gronsky for a few years, during which time she worked separately with myself and two of my staff on different aspects of management and leadership within a large pharmaceutical company.  These were diverse and challenging assignments, which Dr. Gronsky approached in a rigorous and systematic manner, with in-depth collection of relevant background information, appropriate planning and clear articulation of the objectives and outputs.  The face-to-face meetings were focused and productive, with Dr. Gronsky exhibiting an engaging, pleasant and very professional, results-oriented style; importantly, there was significant follow-up.  Overall, she made a big difference with my staff and I, and we continue to see the fruits of her work.  Dr. Gronsky clearly has a breadth of experience and expertise and I would have no hesitation
in recommending her as an Executive Coach.

 

Douglas Hay, Ph.D.
President, Hay Drug Development Consulting
(former Vice President, Drug Discovery GlaxoSmithKline)

Executive coaches are a dime a dozen these days, but Barbara is one of the original professionals. She is exceptionally smart and insightful, empathetic and tough when she needs to be. She helped me navigate a difficult time in my career, and she has been a wise sounding board for me ever since.

Betsy Balderston
Managing Partner (retired)
Marsh USA Incorporated

Dr. Gronsky helped me clearly understand my strengths and gaps and then use that insight to work with me to creatively improve my leadership skills and performance.

Bruce D. Hoechner
President and Chief Executive Officer
Rogers Corporation

Barbara has been my executive coach for the past 5 years and she has made a significant impact on my career. She is exceptional at engaging her client on both a professional and personal level which allows her to dig beneath the surface and identify the real areas for development, and she backs that up by providing the kind of real world coaching necessary to experience true growth in those areas. I rely heavily on Barbara’s insight and coaching and I highly recommend her to anyone who is on a trajectory towards, or already in, a senior management role.

Brian McVeigh
Chief Business Officer, Zafgen Inc.

When I began working with Dr. Gronsky, I was a mid-level academic administrator at a private college. My supervisor had told me that I had the talent to move up the administrative ladder, but I was frustrated and burned out. In our sessions, I shared with Dr. Gronsky the variety of issues and challenges I faced at work.

As I described the complexities of an issue and the decisions I had made, she would provide valuable insight and feedback on things I could have done differently, and she would often suggest additional steps I could take going forward to improve the situation or strengthen a relationship. We would also discuss issues that I was in the midst of dealing with at work – focusing on ways to successfully navigate the minefields of a politically charged environment. When appropriate, Dr. Gronsky models how to manage difficult situations, such as dealing with an angry colleague or supervisor. Not only does this assist me with resolving the problem du jour, but I also learned skills that are transferable to a variety of situations.

Dr. Gronsky has an uncanny ability to dissect an issue and offer practical solutions that, when I try them, work amazingly well. Along the way, we have tackled issues related to self-confidence, work style, interpersonal communications, dealing with conflict, meeting deadlines and time management. I was recently promoted to a senior leadership position in academic administration at my university. I believe that Dr. Gronsky has and continues to play a significant role in my success – serving as the mentor I never had.

Dr. J C.

Barbara is an extraordinary business and career advisor. She understands the realities of the business world and is not afraid to give direct advice. She cares about the impact that her advice has-practically and emotionally. She is sensitive, kind and honest. She gave me great advice and guidance through a difficult time in my business. I recommend her without any reservations.

Al S. Brown, PMP IPMA-C
Projects without Pain

Barbara has played an instrumental role in my professional progression over the last 4+ years. I initially started working with Barbara to gain a 3rd party perspective on a potential career pivot. On one hand, I had invested a few years honing one skill set and was eager to reap the short benefits from those skills. On another hand, I was eager to put myself on a path to find long-term professional happiness and was skeptical my current track was a long-term fit. 4 years of monthly meetings later I can confidently say I would not be the business professional I am today without Barbara. Her intuition is a major strength – she’s able to dissect a business situation through Q&A no matter how complex or mundane. This skill allows Barbara to make strong recommendations to her clients – sometimes the recommendation comes in the form of reassurance that you’re on the right track, other times she may advise you to consider an alternate perspective or strategy you hadn’t yet considered. Barbara is a major asset for any business leader, I’m grateful for my time with her. Highly recommend!

David Balderston
SVP at EatStreet