Dean Dennis Di Lorenzo, New York University, School of Continuing and Professional Studies

NYU 2014 Award for Teaching Excellence
“Since Fall 2006, Paulette Rao has consistently received high evaluative praise not only from her Coaching students, but also from her colleagues as well as the Academic Department of Leadership and Human Capital Management. As one of the students from the inaugural beginnings of the Coaching program, Paulette is the exemplar of excellence, proving the indispensable need of non-credit curriculum and its positive effects on an individual’s professional, and personal, development. Because SCPS had such a profound effect on her academic experience, Paulette in turn has devoted every semester since Fall 2006 to recreate that very same robust educational environment. This has resulted in non-credit alumni students becoming brand ambassadors who promote the program. These very same students emphatically notate Paulette Rao as the reason for their inspiration to pursue Coaching careers. Paulette has continued to maintain connection with all of her students, as well as provide networking events so that alumni students commingle with current students. A team player, a caring instructor, and a passionate supporter of SCPS, Paulette Rao receives our highest praise for nomination for 2014 Teaching Excellence.”

Ellen Browning-Lafferty, Founder and Owner, Source Bodywork, Philadelphia

Before taking Paulette's course, I had only a rudimentary knowledge of coaching, and was unsure of how to integrate the practice of coaching into my current career. This course gave me a solid foundation of coaching theory and practice, and the opportunity to hone my coaching skills under the tutelage of one of the industry's top coaches. Paulette's vast experience and expertise are incredible resources for students. Her warmth and candor create a classroom environment ripe for learning. I've walked away from the course with greater knowledge, confidence, and a renewed clarity of purpose in my work that I am now able to translate into abundant income.

JimiBeth Myers, Vice President Global Marketing Operations, Global Association of Risk Professionals

Paulette’s coaching training is powerfully presented, evidence-based coaching information packaged into lessons and assignments that are pedagogically sound. Her instruction is delivered with deep and genuine care that is strongly rooted in years of personal experience as a coach. Paulette gives you the tools to live your life on purpose and create a coaching practice that is poised to positively impact each client.

Donna Janssen, Director, Texas State Educators

“Paulette’s knowledge and delivery of coaching skills and competencies is polished and world class by all description. We all sat riveted, fascinated, and laser-focused as she facilitated a deeper understanding of coaching concepts. She is a stellar trainer and mentor coach.”

Mike Cave

“I highly recommend Paulette her to anyone seeking mentoring in preparation for ICF certification.  Thanks to her, I now have a much clearer understanding of the logistics of the certification process.  Paulette provided me with numerous tips for successful completion of the oral exam.  I am much more confident now that I will be successful with the exam and more importantly, I am more confident in meeting the needs of my current and future clients.  Thanks, Paulette!“

CB, Principal at Major Global Management Consulting Firm    Cindy L. Becker Principal, Towers, Perrin

“I wanted to write and express my gratitude for you and your Mentor coaching program. I expected to receive help on the ICF certification process and to receive suggestions on how to improve my coaching but I ended up gaining so much more.

Thank you for an impactful class and personal growth experience.  Before class I was confused, challenged, scared, not feeling able to market coaching. By the end of the class, I believe I can do it if I set my mind and heart to it.  Your process helped me identify my gremlins, put them aside, create my vision, understand the elements of an effective marketing plan and mindset so that I had all the components of what I needed from the inside and out.  It was transformative. I could not only feel it in myself but could see it in others in the class.  You have a truly unique combination of marketing skills, talent for helping others reach deep down into their core and bring out their authentic self, and a frame to think about it all that makes it easy to understand and implement.  I really learned a lot from you and the wonderful dialogue you facilitated in the classroom. I really appreciate your approach and sharing your insights.  Thank you for helping me push past my fear.”

Josephine Rotolo, Personal and Professional Coach

“Paulette’s course helped me take all of my thoughts about marketing and organize them in a way that I can attract clients that I am energized by. It gave me the confidence to use what I learned at a recent networking event which resulted in a brand new client for my practice. I highly recommend this course to every coach. It zeroes in on helping you authentically focus your energies towards finding your ideal client.”

Francine T. Taylor, M. Ed., Educational Specialist – Texas State Educators

“Paulette’s class completely reframed how I think of and do marketing. Any negative connotations I had about ‘marketing’ have disappeared and I now have a framework that allows me to reach my target clients in a clear and compelling way. I have used the tools and skills covered in the class to successfully attract clients in a way that feels easy and natural to me. I highly recommend this class to anyone who wants a fluid and authentic way to expand their practice.”

Elena F. Deutsch, Personal & Career Coach

“I’ve got to thank you again for an extremely well structured and powerful learning opportunity. It was a great delight to have you as my marketing mentor. I admire your presence, generosity and ability to help me get in revealing yourself and leading by example. Walking the talk! Great stuff! I’ll keep you posted on my success so you can be proud of your piece in it.”

Dean Miles, Certified Executive Coach

"Today was excellent. The information you shared and reminded me of would be worth the cost of the entire program. If I had gone for the MCC and not participated in today’s call, I would not have shown MCC skills."

Andrew Oliver, Coach

“Paulette teaches a powerful program on how to authentically market yourself and your services that gets results! On a recent call with a prospective client, I was able to use a compelling message created in her class to clearly and compellingly convey my solutions to the clients’ problems. Now, this prospective client is excited to see my follow up presentation! I know this call would not have been as smooth, and the presentation I will give him would not be as clear, if not for learning the skills taught in her class. I cannot thank Paulette enough!”

David Giese, Life Coach

“Paulette helped me get clear about my target markets, their problems, the solutions I deliver, and how to speak and write about it all. I left the process with a workbook chock full of my messaging which I refer to regularly. I now have my ‘elevator speech” down pat and sets of success stories I can use pull out of my pocket in any conversation to let a prospect know what I’ve successfully done for others.

Additionally, and maybe more subtlely, Paulette’s personalized approach helped me solidify my understanding of who I am as a coach, what I bring to the table, how others benefits, and how I am unique and credible. This has amped up my ability to go out there and get new clients, which is what it’s all about.

The investment I made in having Paulette coach and consult with me in this area has provided significant dividends in the areas of confidence, improving my verbal and written communications with potential clients and providing me with an invaluable marketing roadmap to grow my business.”

Walter Fuellemann

Paulette Rao has made the Foundations of Coaching Class at NYU’s SCPS the most memorable, human and beautiful learning journey that I have ever experienced in a training or academic setting.

As a teacher, Paulette crafted a learning environment and dynamic that was uniquely positive and trusting. Paulette accepted all her students as we are, and allowed us to learn from her, from each other, and from within ourselves. There was never a moment of seeking to demonstrate who is right or who is wrong, or who knows better. She masterfully guided us in reaching our own insights, which is precisely what we are expected to accomplish as coaches!

Like a great director of an orchestra, Paulette is incredible gifted in making the learning journey fluid, smooth and harmonious, with just the “right” tempo, interaction, intensity, structure and discipline.

As a coach Paulette is a great role model! As a teacher and coach, Paulette is open, flexible, intuitive, respectful, empathetic, caring, honest, authentic and sincere. And there is one aspect that I found particularly important and powerful: being non-judgmental! At all times we felt that we were in a safe space, filled with mutual support and trust, allowing us to unpeel our vulnerabilities and fears, and bring our strengths to fruition. What a wonderful feeling!

As a mentor – a role that Paulette slipped into graciously once in a while – she was a source and a force of inspiration and motivation. With exquisite timing and tact she shared her own learning experiences, knowledge and advice to either illustrate the foundations of coaching and/or respond to queries by the students.

As a fellow human being I cherish Paulette’s charisma and passion, as well as her genuine acceptance of and belief in others.

Annie Merkle, The AMI Solution, Inc. Organization Effectiveness and Change Management, President of ODNNY

“Paulette is a truly gifted coach. She creates an open environment so discussion of all relevant topics – personal and professional – comes naturally and quickly. She has an uncanny ability to zero in on underlying issues and asks challenging questions that create forward movement. Paulette also has a wealth of knowledge – by being open to her references, simple tools and suggestions I got powerful results in a short time. I highly recommend Paulette and will not hesitate to work with her again.”

Jessica Flint

“Thank you so much for the terrific semester. I absolutely loved your class. It was transformative, to say the least. The energy and care you put into making sure every student had a productive and optimal learning experience was so apparent, and everyone is so appreciative of all you did for us. Thank you, truly.”

Victoria Gandolf

“Anyone fortunate enough to have taken a class with Paulette Rao would surely agree she is a wonderful teacher. She is knowledgeable, experienced, professional and caring, generously sharing all relevant class information in a way that is always appropriately challenging yet comprehensible. Paulette is skilled in making sure to balance out the needs of the class with supportive, individual attention, something I greatly appreciated in her. Her love of coaching is infectious, inspiring and I would study with her again without hesitation.”

Carroll Welch, Coach

"I feel privileged to have gotten my start in coaching with Paulette's inspired teaching at NYU in her Foundations of Coaching I class and her Marketing Your Coaching Practice class. Paulette is a skilled and natural teacher and created a fantastic atmosphere in which to learn and exchange ideas while always demanding a respectful, structured classroom environment. Through her ICF Credentialing Made Easy program, Paulette masterfully dissected the credentialing process and ICF Competencies in a way that was designed to lead to participant success. Throughout my engagements with Paulette, she has been consistently generous, responsive and supportive, and I am very grateful to have benefitted from her instruction and mentoring."