Kenan Frager

VP OF MARKETING

I cannot recommend Tony enough! Tony’s approach to coaching has been a wonderful fit for me as he thinks holistically about work life and one’s own agency in building a meaningful career. He brings a unique blend of deep active listening, empathy, creativity, patience and structured thinking to approaching some of the most complex questions around work.

I found Tony’s experience as an educator and advisor in an academic setting along with a varied coaching career has given him a deep background in working with all types of people in all types of careers. As a coach and guide, Tony was incredibly helpful in enabling me to reframe some of my own calcified thinking along my own path by drawing on his depth of varied experience. He has a wonderful ability to break thoughts and feelings down into more approachable and examinable parts of the whole.

Kenji Sumida

Chief Science Officer and Head of International Business Development

The last few months I have worked with Tony have been truly transformative. Tony has helped me dive deeply into what truly matters to me in my career as a scientist in a position of leadership, and has placed me in a stronger position to act more intentionally when it comes to making career and life decisions. His approach is a very holistic one, and he took the time to carefully understand all the different pieces of my life and what they each mean in the context of my current situation. Tony is extremely empathetic and supportive, and it is because of this I have been able to be open about my thoughts and reach conclusions about the changes that I need to make in how I approach my future career. I can also now better recognize when I'm falling into bad habits (like failing to say "no" enough and becoming distracted or time-poor), and am much more centered and true to the value system that he helped me articulate in our early sessions. Tony is a highly valued person in my support network, and I look forward to our continued work in the future. Thanks Tony!

Lauren Stein, PhD

Project Manager | Bioinformatics

The most rewarding and influential decision I ever made toward developing my career was to work with Tony. He came highly recommended by a friend when I felt unfulfilled, stuck, and questioning my career path. My time with Tony was and continues to be a safe place for self-discovery resulting in a successful transition to a new field, a better environment, and a significant salary boost. After a session with Tony, I guarantee you will feel heard, supported, and empowered. Tailored to my situation, Tony guided and helped me at every step. We covered all the essential topics, such as creating a solid application, networking and interview strategies, and negotiating compensation. In addition, our invaluable discussions on challenging issues helped me overcome my fears and insecurities about being a woman in a male-dominated field and starting a family before being established in my career. In this way, Tony helped me to get out of the way of my success. So, invest in yourself and work with Tony; you will not regret it! If you have any doubts about the value Tony’s coaching can provide, please message me on LinkedIn, and I will be more than happy to chat.

Joy W.

Senior Product Manager

Tony helped me grow so much within a span of 2 months to a state that I would not have thought possible when I first reached out. I was having a difficult time in a new role having joined during the pandemic and contacted Tony to consider changing careers. Through his exceptional listening and ability to turn my brain dumps into insights that I can act on, I've gotten clarity into the work and career I want to have. I've taken actions to realize my desired work environment and I feel a new sense of confidence, value, and agency. This was even more meaningful to me than a change because I grew from this struggle and made a transformation. I love working with Tony because he always creates a judgment-free environment, and knows how to maneuver the discussion from finding fault within myself into creating opportunities to think in new ways. He is also very attuned to my identity as an Asian-American female professional and supports me to develop my personal leadership style. I am so grateful to Tony for helping me make my life better.

Sunny Zhang

Mental Health/Wellbeing Practitioner

Tony is an incredibly empathetic and client-centered career coach and person, and really engaged in active listening to hone in on what I actually wanted and needed as my next career step. He made me feel very seen and heard, and helped me effectively reframe negative thoughts so they wouldn't hold me back and was a great thought partner when it came to talking through various pathways/options/strategies to implement when I was at a crossroads, while always being compassionate. Tony always ended each session with practical takeaways and insight that helped propel me forward so that I was able to land a job I'm incredibly excited about!

Madison Girifalco

Puppet Designer & Fabricator

If you don't want to read all this, I'll just cut to the bottom line: WORK WITH TONY. It will be one of the best investments you make in your career. MY STORY: In January 2021 I started working with Tony. It was the two-year anniversary of my father's death and in the midst of the pandemic. I had been laid off due to COVID in the summer of 2020 and was unemployed with literally no work for over a year, living on unemployment. I had to give up the apartment I lived in for 8 years and move in with my partner. I had applied to literally hundreds of jobs resulting in only 3 interviews. I was working tirelessly to pursue a career path I hated because I thought it was what I should be doing, and was still getting nowhere. I have always been willing to work very hard and I was frustrated and hopeless because no matter how hard I worked I never felt progress. I felt like I was constantly perceived as a perpetual beginner/intermediate and felt like I was trapped in a system designed to keep me there. It is now November 2021, almost a year later, and I have seen changes I didn't even consider or expect. I have gotten past a lot of the mental blocks and trauma that I associated with work. Through Socratic conversations, Tony has guided me toward new ways of thinking. I have gained a clearer understanding of my value in the workforce. I was able to commit to focusing my energy solely on building puppets/immersive installations and finally started getting the type of jobs I have always dreamed of. I now have a budding reputation as well as work I can point to that shows my experience and capabilities. This lead to doubling my rate and actually feeling confident asking for more. Most of all, working with Tony has given me a newfound hope that I can accomplish my goals because I have made so much progress. And now it all feels so obvious. ABOUT TONY: Tony is the best listener I have ever met. He is funny and kind and so supportive. His style is holistic and sustainable, emphasizing rest as much as encouraging hard work, all while maintaining social justice values. He gives you space to process your feelings and helps to normalize the inevitable struggle we all will face when trying to accomplish difficult goals. The workforce and capitalism can be so brutal, and Tony's persistent but gentle approach has really helped me work through some of my darkest work-realities. I cannot say enough good things about Tony and his style. I tell everyone I love about his practice because I want them to feel the same relief and energy his coaching has offered me.

Alexander Gedeon

Opera Director

Tony is the most sophisticated and compassionate listener I have encountered. The extent to which these attributes make him an effective adviser cannot be overstated. Several years ago, I found myself stuck in the mud with my career, and my resolve was diminishing. I felt like I couldn't think straight, and I was 'getting in my own way' in ways I didn't even realize. With Tony's help, I began taking steps towards my dream job as a stage director in opera -- something I didn't even realize I wanted to do when I started out. Additionally, Tony guided me through the creation and completion of a full-length LP. I credited Tony as a co-producer, and the album received more than a year of radio play in the local LA market. As I have navigated changes in career path, Tony's voice has become one of the most valuable tools in my arsenal. His intuition is preternatural.

Anna Iglitzin

Youth Educator / Non-Profit Strategy Consultant

Tony may be a wizard in disguise as a coach. I can’t purport to understand how he works the particular magic he does (and I really never knew where our coaching sessions might take us). This said, I would highly recommend him to anyone searching for a supportive mix of career and personal coaching. I believe he is an excellent coach however broadly or narrowly one defines the term. During each session and interaction we have I feel him listening deeply, responding with expert emotional intelligence, and finding windows to showcase his great sense of humor. He has supported me with honoring my creativity and slowing down enough to see what I want to be moving toward, but I have no doubt that he attunes to every one of his clients in the specific ways that they need in whatever moment they arrive with him. I feel so lucky to have connected with him during a time of personal and professional transition and hope you have the pleasure to get to know and work with him as I have!

Gustavo Oliver

Digital Marketing Strategist

I loved working with Tony. I approached Tony during the interview stage and he helped prepare me mentally and truly increased my confidence. He is a great listener and tailored our sessions based on my needs. I will continue to work with Tony as I prepare to move forward through my career goals.

Mike Cusenza

Organizational Effectiveness Leader

Tony is not like most coaches. For example, the first question he asked me was "What's your Lion's Roar career path?" - who asks that?!?!?....Tony does.

That's the type of thinking he encourages of his clients, big and bold. But from there is where the magic happens. As an exceptional listener capable of seeing both the bigger picture and tangible action one must take to achieve goals, Tony has helped me tie my behavior patterns to my Lion's Roar.

Put another way, Tony has encouraged me to not loose sight of my purpose. He knows when I'm compromising my beliefs, values and dreams and holds me accountable in a friendly but direct way.

I would highly recommend working with Tony, it's been an absolute pleasure.

TJ Butler, MPA

DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

I have been working with Tony for over a year now after he was recommended to me by a former colleague. Tony is an empathetic listener and has supported me in having a work life balance. Tony has coached me through ways to handle stress and has provided me with valuable tools to stay focused on what matters to me most in my career. Since working Tony I have been reminded of the purpose that drives my career choices. After each session with Tony I enter the next work day with extra confidence in my decision making, skills, and creativity. He has a unique set of skills and understanding that make him an excellent coach and mentor. I am always recommending Tony to friends and family and I am extremely grateful to have connected with him.

Hugo López-Muñoz

Student at UC BerkeleY

What's the value of coaching, especially in the professional sense. In short, coaching is giving someone what they need in order to optimize their ability to reach their highest potential. That can mean saying the right thing one needs to hear, listening to one's ramblings and cutting through the weeds to find the essential part, being a cheerleader when one needs it, challenging the coachee to step outside that proverbial comfort zone in order to discover the amazing possibilities, and showering the one who's stuck in a rut with truthful motivations and affirmations that will lift him or her back up into the air where they can reach new heights. Tony Leonard's coaching has been known to do all of that in just one session. Tony has a keen eye and the experienced perspective to listen intently and offer great feedback in a kind, compassionate, considerate way while at the same time providing new options and possibilities that challenge the coachee to grow in ways and through avenues that they may not have considered. I should know. I had the privilege to work in the same team as Tony and at the same time receive his coaching. Therefore if you, the reader of this, are thinking about getting coaching, search no more. You will not regret being coached by Tony. You will be likely to pleasantly surprise yourself after you receive coaching from Tony, so don't be afraid to reach new heights. Give Tony's coaching a try. I'm glad I did and I think you will be too.

Damian Sol

Managing Partner at Two Hats Consulting LLC

I've been coaching with Tony for a few months now, and I've experienced rapid forward movement. I came to him to get unstuck around my primary passion, and future career: music. When it became clear that many aspects of this unpleasant inertia were actually related to other areas of my life, he steered me gracefully into the headwinds of change. Unlike many coaches I've worked with, Tony truly listens when he's quiet. I never feel judged, and I always trust that he's leading me somewhere useful, even if it isn't obvious at first. I feel free to let go of inhibitions and "protective" self-imposed restraints, and the words just come rushing out. Through the course of our weekly meetings, I've restarted my music project and now have the powerful momentum I've sought for so long. I would recommend Tony to anyone who feels stuck in their career or passion project. After a few weeks I'll bet you'll find yourself moving in ways you hadn't thought possible in a long time.

Peter Scheidl

Mechanical Engineer

Tony was recommended to me by a friend when I was between jobs. I was skeptical at first, as I've never had any hugely positive experiences with career or life coaching in the past. However, I was very surprised and impressed with his approach. If I can name the single most important thing, it is his deep listening skills that helped me the most. He was really able to hear my story and tease out insights and make connections and suggestions I was not able to see. He helped me recognize strengths I was not giving myself credit for and helped me see that my goals are possible, which kept me motivated. He anticipated and tactfully guided me through a "doubt dip" that I experienced after an initial broad view approach we did as an exercise because I am pivoting from a well-worn past career path. I appreciated his customized methodology to my particular needs which happen to be focused on more time-flexibility than my career track normally allows. His process with me was insightful and creative as well as practical. I recommend Tony highly, especially for shifting career directions.

Barbara Montano

Project Manager AT The Black Studies Collaboratory

When I started working with Tony, I had been struggling to find a new job for over a year. I had stopped and started so many times that the thought of starting again made me too anxious to try. I dreaded the job search and couldn’t figure out what I wanted to do. Working with Tony rid me of all my anxiety with the job search, allowed me to find an ideal job, and changed my life. In the beginning, Tony guided me in thoughtful discussions and exercises that helped me focus on what I was really passionate about. This allowed me to articulate what I wanted to do and gave me a clear purpose. Working with him gave me a direction for my career and helped me see how I wanted to present myself to the world in the job search. He helped me with this kind of big-picture, strategic thinking, and then helped me build a concrete, detailed plan of action to make moves, apply to jobs, and build my network. But Tony also helped me transform on an even deeper level - he helped me tackle my issues with confidence, which not only improved my job search, but all areas of my life. With his guidance and support, I was able to see myself in a whole new way and feel I could get the jobs I really wanted. This work helped me show up confidently to interview for an ideal job, which I never dreamed was possible before starting this process. And in the end, I got the job! Tony helped me see what more was possible for me, and helped me find a job that aligns with my passion and values. Tony will always meet you where you are and respond to your needs, providing constant support and productive challenges to move you forward. I recommend his coaching services to all those looking to start their job search, change their career, or change their lives! After working with Tony, I can say I have the skills and confidence I need to move forward in my career and tackle any future job search.

Janee “Levi” Moore

Executive Director at The FETCH Project Inc.

Working with Tony was a refreshing experience. I live in Boise and we started working together in April, which is about when Idaho saw a surge in COVID cases and the state shut down. I was struggling significantly with my mental health at the time and, because I was also unable to work and continue pursuing a career I loved, I was also feeling scared, aimless, and without purpose. Tony was incredibly compassionate, empathetic, and supportive, and he seemed to have a good understanding of how my mental health might impact any goals that we set. I have worked with coaches in the past who have been entirely results-driven; I was given homework and though I often met my weekly goals, if I was unable to complete the homework for any reason, it was difficult to move forward and I felt like I'd wasted a coaching session. With Tony, it was different. We had clear goals, both long-term and short-term, but if I was only able to complete, say, 3 of 4 action items, we were still able to move forward and make progress in our next session. Tony was quick-thinking and adaptable, and he never made me feel guilty or inadequate if I didn't get a piece of homework done. One of Tony's strengths is understanding that making permanent change is about more than goal-setting and direct productivity. One also needs to consider the overall needs of their client and all the intricate components that impact their client day by day. By taking a holistic approach and really seeking to understand me as a person, my personal and professional goals, as well as what my life looks like, Tony was able to help me achieve the goals that we set and increase my productivity because he had a solid understanding of my lifestyle and was able to adapt his recommendations to fit that lifestyle. Furthermore, he also made me feel heard and understood. Even when he was pointing out maladaptive coping strategies or destructive patterns of thought, he was always compassionate and listened to understand rather than to fix, and he helped me make my own connections. By gently pointing these out, he was able to make me think and become more self-aware about how these patterns were influencing me professionally and how they might be creating barriers to positive change. Overall, I have been very happy in my work with Tony. I was able to make progress personally and professionally. We worked until about mid-July and though I have taken another job while my career is still up in the air, I plan to continue working with Tony once things start settling down again. Tony is a genuine coach who really cares about the whole client, not just about meeting the goals of the client on paper but ensuring that the client has a positive and safe experience while doing so. Tony helps his clients achieve long-term goals because, unlike many coaches I have worked with, he really focuses on helping his clients make lifestyle changes and really takes the time to help you apply his methods and recommendations.

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