TESTIMONIALS
Real transformation from real people. Here's what clients say about the inside-out work.
FEATURED TESTIMONIALS
"Alex is an amazing listener. He is compassionate. He's empathic, he's a strategic thinker. He is everything you would want to have in someone who you're opening up to about something such as a career choice or a lifestyle change... I highly, highly recommend Alex."
— Victoria Nwankudu
"Alex is an amazing listener. He is compassionate. He's empathic, he's a strategic thinker. He is everything you would want to have in someone who you're opening up to about something such as a career choice or a lifestyle change. I highly, highly recommend Alex."
— Jeffery Perrin, PhD, Associate Professor of Psychology, Lesley University
"Working with Alex gave me the courage to develop my own path in order to fill a community need that is not being addressed by anyone else. It was a privilege to talk with Alex on a weekly basis and I consider my time with him to be one of the best investments I have made."
– Nicole Jurek, Founder, Local Circles
"What sets him apart is that he refuses to treat your career as a silo. Through our work I've made genuine progress, including laying the foundation for the new company I'm now leading as founder and CEO. Alex is warm, engaging, and unmistakably in your corner — a coach who thinks deeply about your challenges and wants nothing more than to see you succeed."
— Mike Putnam, CEO and Founder, Bildbot
REWIRED MY MINDSET
"Alex is a truly transformational coach. In working with him you will have an unconditionally supportive mentor who, through deep compassion and wisdom, will help you channel the best version of yourself based on your own terms."
— Will Weiss, Founder at More Human Internet, Chief Technology Officer at Virtual Hospitals Africa
"Before coaching, my greatest struggle was being driven by a survival-based inner voice that kept me in a cycle of burnout, self-judgment, and inner conflict. Through our work together, Alex helped me recognize this pattern, trace it to its roots, and move beyond the noise of fear and paranoia to access a deeper sense of inner clarity and wisdom."
— Connor Cassidy
"I've gained so much from my sessions with Alex, particularly from his emphasis on finding a way to lean into my authentic self. This led me to a whole new way of seeing the world and my place in it."
— Joanna Welborn, Communications Arts Director
"I have found my coaching sessions with Alex Poeter to be impactful. After an hour-long session, I go from being overwhelmed to feeling empowered with a clear directive of how to move forward."
– Nadeen Bir, Program Director
"Before doing coaching with Alex I knew in my heart and my mind what the right things to do or say were but I didn't have the structure to process my thoughts and feelings. I used to struggle with not being able to see myself beyond my current situation but coaching helped me to focus on the possibilities and a brighter future."
– Ramón Zepeda, Economic Justice Organizer
Alex was the Executive Director at the Brighton Park Neighborhood Council where I was a youth leader. As a youth leader Alex always pushed me to exceed far beyond what I thought my capabilities were. He challenged me to stand up for what I believed in and helped me become a strong leader in the community. With Alex’s guidance and support I was able to grow as a leader more than I thought ever possible.”
– Lisa Rodriguez, Chicago
FOUND PURPOSE & ALIGNMENT
"What sets Alex apart from other coaches is his ability to deeply listen and connect with the underlying thoughts and issues holding a client back. After each session, I receive a detailed email summing up what I shared and we discussed, with additional thoughts, insights and recommendations... Alex has a gift for coaching and combined with his extensive learning and knowledge, he can help anyone move past inner and outer barriers and start the life they intend to live."
– Aurora Meneghello, Founder, Repurpose Your Purpose
"What I discovered was an extremely intelligent, kind, caring person that was able to very deeply understand where I was coming from, establish trust, confidence and inspire me to create my own change. Change inspired by Alex is change that lasts forever because he helps you to build your own foundations."
- College Student
"I cannot recommend Alex enough. Anyone who is feeling stuck will benefit greatly from his coaching. It is truly life changing and the best investment I ever made."
— Usha Pillai, Consulting Partner, Your Carbon Steps, LLC
BUILT THRIVING ORGANIZATIONS
"Alex Poeter was one of the wisest and most strategic nonprofit leaders in Chicago for over twenty years. He was a leader in Chicago's community organizing community, and he built a strong organization with numerous high-quality programs and services for both youth and adults. He is also a very creative problem solver who anticipates trends and understands how to marry big ideas to clear action plans."
– Brian Brady, Executive Director, Mikva Challenge
"Alex is smart, committed, supportive and has decades of leadership experience. When I am working with him on a project, his contributions make that project better. He has helped me grow both personally and professionally."
— Tara Mack, Executive Director, Education for Liberation Network
"To start one organization is most difficult – it takes energy, intelligence, and focus. To start two is exemplary. Alex is uniquely qualified to educate and encourage people in such a way that they feel both supported and more powerful. This demands patience, resilience and a deep understanding of human nature – three other qualities that Alex showed in all of his work in Chicago."
– Regina McGraw, Executive Director, Wieboldt Foundation
"Alex is committed to collaborative and participatory community-based work with multiple stakeholders. He is an excellent facilitator and organizer – with the ability to garner resources and support multiple voices in consensus-building and decision-making processes."
– Keisha Farmer-Smith, PhD, Director of Programs
"The weekend was impeccably organized... Alex impressed me with his ability to both 'step up' and 'step back' among his peers. He made sure that he never dominated the conversations and activities, yet he made sure that his fellow participants stayed on topic and provoked deeper discussion at appropriate moments... His humor, charisma, intelligence and passionate commitment to social justice infected every conversation I had with him."
– Kathy Emery, PhD, SF Freedom School and SFSU
"I have partnered with him professionally on a number of projects... His calm and analytic approach to challenges and his way of reaching consensus in making decisions together have been valuable assets. Alex creates a very nice and comforting work environment. All in all he is the best business partner I have had so far."
– Juergen Scheer, Programmer & Consultant
"Working with Alex Poeter has proven to be invaluable to our staff's ability to move forward in a positive way with mentoring and coaching young people, creating a healthy environment in which our staff and students can thrive."
– Melinda Wiggins, Executive Director, Student Action with Farmworkers
"Having worked with Alex for years, I remain steadily impressed with his abilities to perceive and articulate short and long-term needs in a deeply caring manner. If you are looking for a caring and thoroughly competent coach to help you break out of what's holding you or your organization in harmful patterns, you've found him."
– Leigh Patel, PhD, Writer, Sociologist, Educator
"Alex is a dynamic, thoughtful and values-driven leader... He is truly collaborative in his approach and excels at building genuine partnerships with individuals, groups and organizations... He does this work with joy, always knowing how to make those around him smile."
– Kristen Atkinson, PhD, Visiting Professor, UIC