“His bespoke approach is a perfect blend of science and intuition, challenging conventional limits and fostering a journey of growth and self-discovery.“
Eric stands out as a beacon in coaching, illuminating the path to potential with an unparalleled blend of insight, empathy, and strategic acumen. In my time with him, he has not only guided me through the complexities of my career but has empowered profound, lasting change. His bespoke approach is a perfect blend of science and intuition, challenging conventional limits and fostering a journey of growth and self-discovery. I continue to achieve both actionable and impactful growth under his guidance and have come to see Eric not just as a coach but as a true catalyst for transformation. Eric is an invaluable asset for anyone serious about achieving significant development both professionally as well as personally. Neville Irani, Chief Revenue Officer, Ekimetrics
“Working with Eric as my executive coach over the past year has been nothing short of transformative.”
I wholeheartedly recommend Eric Fridman as an executive coach. Here’s why.
Working with Eric as my executive coach over the past year has been nothing short of transformative. Eric’s experience with mindfulness practices has made a significant impact on my journey as an executive and leader, helping me navigate the complexities of our profession with greater self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and resilience.
Thank you, Eric, for your invaluable guidance and unwavering support. You are an inspiration and a true game-changer in the world of coaching. Anne Algaze, Chief Operating Officer, SAA Interior + Architecture
“He has a deep understanding of the interconnectedness between personal and professional well-being, and he skillfully helped me address issues that were impacting both areas of my life.”
I am honored to recommend Eric as an extraordinary executive coach who helped me overcome a challenging period in my personal and professional life.
During our coaching sessions, Eric demonstrated remarkable compassion, empathy, and wisdom, which helped me navigate through difficult circumstances with resilience and clarity. He created a safe space where I felt comfortable sharing my vulnerabilities and uncertainties. He provided invaluable guidance, practical and actionable advice, and support every step of the way.
Eric’s expertise in executive coaching extends far beyond traditional career and leadership development. He has a deep understanding of the interconnectedness between personal and professional well-being, and he skillfully helped me address issues that were impacting both areas of my life. Through his guidance, I was able to identify my needs, gain a deeper understanding of myself, and develop strategies for achieving greater balance and fulfillment.
I am immensely grateful for Eric’s unwavering support and wise counsel during such a challenging time. His genuine commitment to my growth and well-being has had a profound and transformational impact. I wholeheartedly recommend Eric to anyone needing a compassionate and skilled coach to help them navigate life’s challenges and unlock their full potential. Rene Leung, Advisor to the CEO, Grandtag Financial Group
“I cannot recommend Eric Fridman highly enough as an executive coach and advocate for our executive team at Encurage.”
I cannot recommend Eric Fridman highly enough as an executive coach and advocate for our executive team at Encurage. His expertise, commitment, and results-driven approach have been integral to our team’s success over the past two years. I have no doubt that he will continue to make a positive impact on individuals and organizations fortunate enough to work with him.
Eric’s dedication to our team’s growth and development has been unwavering. He not only provides guidance during scheduled coaching sessions but also makes himself available whenever needed. His ability to listen, empathize, and provide constructive feedback has been pivotal in our continuous improvement and valued tremendously by both our team and myself. Michael Abraham, Chief Executive Officer and President, Encurage Financial Network
“He is a student of business who understands how organizations run and how to position them for success.”
“To me, Eric epitomizes the things that make the Kellogg School of Management great. He’s smart, thoughtful and collaborative by nature. He is a student of business who understands how organizations run and how to position them for success. But just as importantly, he cares deeply about humanity. On a global scale, Eric cares about organizations and the impact they make in society. On an individual level, he cares about the team of people he works with and leads. He not only seeks to hear their opinions and expertise, but also about their overall happiness and well being. Coming out of times when business leaders have made countless dubious choices, it’s great to see others like Eric who remain principled and committed to the idea that there has to be a better way.” Chris Tussing, Chief Executive Officer, Buddy’s Pizza
“After discussions with Eric, I found clarity and purpose in my actions and felt more confident in my decisions.”
“Eric was my executive coach in Kellogg’s Executive MBA Program. I found him to be an amazing executive coach and mentor. Eric truly understood my values and motivations and recommended a path of action to me based on what I value the most. After discussions with Eric, I found clarity and purpose in my actions and felt more confident in my decisions. Above all, he was very flexible with his schedule and was easy to work. I will definitely look for more opportunities to work with Eric, and I highly recommend him for executive coaching.” Saurabh Raisinghani, Executive Vice-President and Chief Technology Officer, Ford Credit
“If you want to improve your skills, expand your awareness, and make a larger impact on your professional or personal life, Eric is your coach!”
“I was introduced to Eric through the Career Management Center at the Kellogg School of Management. I highly recommend him if you are looking for an executive coach. I’ve personally worked with Eric, and I was very appreciative of his thoughtful Socratic approach. His thought-provoking questions and dialogue helped me become more intentional about how I might approach different situations. Eric very much enjoys what he does and is a true professional. If you want to improve your skills, expand your awareness, and make a larger impact on your professional or personal life, Eric is your coach!” Michael Hargis, Chief Operating Officer, GoHealth Insurance
“[Eric] helped me…plan for a value-driven career.”
“I worked with Eric a few years ago during my transition from a produce manager to a product leader. I appreciate the wisdom Eric provided. He helped me take a step back from the day-to-day hustle and plan for a value-driven career. I recommend Eric if you’re interested in investing in personal growth.” Bao Nguyen, Product Lead, Instagram.
“If your organization would benefit from learning more about trust, reach out to Eric to learn more about his powerful workshops.”
I enthusiastically recommend Eric as a coach, a consultant, a teacher, a facilitator and as an advisor.
Eric was my instructor at Northwestern University while I was pursuing a Masters in Learning and Organizational Change. He was captivating, genuine, intelligent and supportive. It is for all of these reasons that I reached out to him after graduating to inquire about a workshop I was hoping he would lead for members of my team.
Eric developed a two-part workshop for HubSpot Customer Success Managers centered around how to become a Trusted Advisor. Eric taught us how to leverage the trust equation: Trust = (Credibility + Reliability + Intimacy) / Self-Orientation, how to adapt our communication styles to our clients’ communication styles, how to use silence as a way to “reveal what would otherwise remain hidden” and he taught us the power of humble inquiry: “humble inquiry is the skill and the art of drawing someone out, of asking questions to which you do not already know the answer, of building a relationship based on curiosity and interest in the other person.” – Edgar Schein.
I am so grateful to have collaborated with Eric Fridman; I learned so much throughout the process.
If your organization would benefit from learning more about trust, reach out to Eric to learn more about his powerful workshops. Margaret Harrison, Senior Manager, Customer Success, HubSpot
“Eric was instrumental in my advancing my career to a new level and simultaneously showing me new tools to be successful while helping me uncover skills I already had but needed to use differently.”
“I have been fortunate to work with Eric for the past nine months as my executive coach. To say my expectations were exceeded was an understatement. Eric’s ability to coach, teach, guide, empathize, and of course listen was exemplary. I can honestly say that I learned something from every discussion we had. And most importantly, I learned how to take those lessons and apply them in my career when I was going through a difficult transition. Eric was instrumental in my advancing my career to a new level and simultaneously showing me new tools to be successful while helping me uncover skills I already had but needed to use differently. For anyone going through a transition, I could not recommend Eric more strongly to help guide you through it.” Tina Hohman, Executive Vice-President and Practice Leader, Wealth Management, Alera Group.
“[Eric] has demonstrated an uncanny ability to discern the nuanced differences among teammates and what lies below the surface, and co-create a pathway to take our team to a higher level.”
“Eric has a tremendous gift. He understands how humanity and team performance can be intricately interwoven. In my interactions with him, he has demonstrated an uncanny ability to discern the nuanced differences among teammates and what lies below the surface, and co-create a pathway to take our team to a higher level. I would not hesitate to recommend Eric for any new or experienced leader who is facing challenges with their team.” Nichole Rush, Executive Partner, First Rate Ventures
“Hiring Eric was one of the best personal investments I’ve made in myself…”
“I would highly recommend Eric for his authentic coaching style, especially for those seeking clarity in career transitions. I engaged Eric during a time of much self reflection and exploration as I consider the next 5-10 years of my career. Eric guided me naturally to reach self awareness and clarity of my path that aligns with my internal value system, beliefs and experience. As fellow MSLOC graduates, we spoke the same language, but Eric thoughtfully pushed me to reflect on aspects of myself I had not allowed myself to consider.
Eric was such a great listener and his gift for inquiry is amazing. I have struggled with this tension of future career direction for a few years, and some personal and professional concerns for over a decade. With Eric’s coaching, I found clarity and tools to enable me to move past these points of tension.
Hiring Eric was one of the best personal investments I’ve made in myself since my MSLOC degree, and it could not have come at a better time in my life. No doubt, I will re-engage his services in the future. Thank you Eric. You’ve provided me the gift of better self awareness and self appreciation.” Kathleen Wisemandle, Founder and Principal, Aspire to Grow Coaching and Consulting LLC
“After our work together, I feel both a deep sense of purpose and the ability to make the tough decisions.”
“I began working with Eric in the Fall of 2021, during a time when my personal life was in a state of transition and I was experiencing significant burnout at work. It’s hard to fully articulate all that Eric gave me during the year and half that we worked together. I have him to thank for helping to bring me out of the negative cycle I was trapped in and guiding me to not only understand what I wanted out of my career, but more importantly how to actualize it.
“Through our work together, Eric and I engaged in an in-depth exploration of my value proposition. He enabled me to re-create “the package of me” in a way that re-ignited my sense of purpose. He helped me to articulate what I wanted out of my current position, as well as dream about what could be next for me. Before I met Eric, I had significant indecision and angst about how my career could progress, especially considering my personal goal of also being a mother someday. After our work together, I feel both a deep sense of purpose and the ability to make the tough decisions. Importantly for me, I also have strengthened my ability to “let go” of the external factors outside of my control.
“The skills and introspection Eric gave me in our work together will undoubtedly benefit me for the rest of my career. I am so grateful for his guidance and expertise, and couldn’t recommend him more to anyone who is considering working with a coach. Thank you for all you’ve given me, Eric!” Laura Boukas, Director of Coaching Innovation, Noom, Inc.
“Coaches like Eric are extremely rare and I feel a deep sense of gratitude to have gotten the chance to work with him… I ended up landing my dream role and will continue utilizing the lessons and insights Eric shared throughout my career.“
Eric absolutely transformed my view of coaching and its potential impact.
I started working with Eric after several unsuccessful rounds of interviews. Eric went above and beyond to help me with all aspects of the job search from standing out in applications to executive presence in interviews. I ended up landing my dream role and will continue utilizing the lessons and insights Eric shared throughout my career.
I found Eric to be a uniquely great coach because:
– He met me where I was at – frustrated, hopeless and exhausted. He was flexible with meeting times and played cheerleader to energize and encourage me.
– He is warm, kind and genuine AND extremely knowledgable and motivating. He strikes the perfect balance of support and pushing you to be your best self.
– His insights are rooted in years of experience and he delivers actionable feedback kindly. I had low awareness of how I came off in certain interviews and he helped me reflect on my actions. I believe this feedback played a key role in my eventual success and will continue making me a better business professional.
– He works so hard for his clients. Eric listened to my recorded interviews, read my stories and jumped on calls when I was feeling particularly down.
– Eric himself is an incredibly inspiring individual and I feel so lucky to have gotten to know him.
When I first thought about working with a coach, I thought I would get help with my resume lines and the STAR method. However, Eric unlocked the potential of coaching for me and the transformative impact it can have. Coaches like Eric are extremely rare and I feel a deep sense of gratitude to have gotten the chance to work with him. Thank you, Eric, I cherish all your advice and look forward to continuing to work together! Anna Pomerantseva, Solutions Marketing @Guild
“I was able to increase my presence, awareness, confidence, and motivation…”
“Through our coaching sessions, I was able to increase my presence, awareness, confidence, and motivation in a way that has had tangible, positive impact on my performance and leadership capability. Eric was a supportive and compassionate coach who truly cared about my personal and professional growth.
“I highly recommend Eric as an executive coach to anyone looking to enhance their leadership skills and achieve their full potential. He is a skilled professional and a genuinely caring individual who will make a positive difference in your career and life. Thank you for the lifelong skills and tools you have given me, Eric!” Meghan MacLean, Head of Performance, Noom, Inc.
“Eric understands the dynamic of important business relationships and has advised me on how to manage and resolve several challenges within my growing business.”
“Eric has quickly become a trusted advisor and resource since we began our work together. Eric has been my Leadership Coach for the past several months and has helped me work through several critical business related situations with a calm and supportive approach. Eric understands the dynamic of important business relationships and has advised me on how to manage and resolve several challenges within my growing business. Eric is a great listener, speaks from a position of experience and value and is interested in working collaboratively to achieve my goals.” Ira Singer, Founder and Chief Operating Officer, Mosaic Construction
“I developed a greater sense of self-awareness..”
“Eric and I began our work together at a time when I was looking to enhance my capabilities as a manager. I soon recognized that his guidance was critical to my growth both as a professional and as a person. Our coaching partnership spanned a 2 year time period. Through meaningful conversations that balanced practical leadership insights and genuine care for my personal growth, I developed functional management skills and a greater sense of self-awareness. Our weekly conversations covered everything from the challenges of being a manager to integrating personal beliefs and values into my leadership style. I feel lucky to have had his support and guidance during the tumultuous working landscape that was brought on by the pandemic. I am deeply confident in Eric’s skillset as an executive coach and would recommend him for anyone who is looking to optimize their performance in the workplace. Eric embodies what it means to be a coach and I am grateful that our paths crossed. Thank you, Eric!” Peter Athans, Founder and Director of Performance Programs, Athans Performance Coaching
“Eric helped me think and work through a pivotal job transition in a way that I couldn’t have done on my own.”
“I have been working with Eric for over six-months now and highly recommend Eric to anyone that is looking to lead with greater awareness, intention and impact. Eric helped me think and work through a pivotal job transition in a way that I couldn’t have done on my own. Eric’s approach not only involved thinking about my next leadership role, but most importantly my personal values and the positive impact that I wanted to have on others. I appreciated the way that Eric balanced supporting me when I needed it, but also pushed me to do the hard work necessary to achieve my goals. Not only does Eric have a wealth of life and industry experience, but he is mindful and insightful in a way that is valuable to numerous coaching scenarios. Regardless of your age, stage in life/career, individual or corporation, I highly encourage you to consider working with Eric. It’s an investment with an exponential ROI.” Tim Hughes, Vice President, Business Consulting & Chicago Market Lead at EPAM Systems
“Eric…has the ability to connect with individuals – meeting them where they are and helping them think through how to get to a better place.“
“Eric Fridman has served as a leadership and team coach for the Kellogg Executive MBA program for the past 2 years. Being an alum of the program, he has particular insight into the challenges that students and teams can encounter during this experience. Eric’s genuine and authentic talent for coaching is truly rare. He has the ability to connect with individuals – meeting them where they are and helping them think through how to get to a better place. He has on many occasions, intervened in a situation that seemed unresolvable. Using relevant frameworks, active listening skills and a perfect balance of compassion and accountability he has consistently helped our students separate the person from the behavior, identify constructive ways to deal with conflict, build self awareness and overcome barriers. His success rate in helping both teams and individuals get back on track and realize the most value from the EMBA experience has been truly remarkable. I respect Eric enormously – as a person and a coach – and offer my highest commendation of the work he has done for us.” Colette Feldges, Director, Executive MBA Program, Evanston at the Kellogg School of Management
“His guidance helped me determine a plan of action to step forward confidently in ways that were true to my values.”
“Eric is a gifted coach and wise advisor. I had a coaching conversation with Eric during an important moment in my life. Throughout the course of our conversation, Eric listened attentively and asked several thought-provoking questions that I continue to use as a decision-making framework today. His guidance helped me determine a plan of action to step forward confidently in ways that were true to my values. He encouraged me to develop a disciplined practice of contemplation, network to connect in authentic ways, and reframe my desire to answer life’s questions into a desire to live life’s questions. I’m thankful for ways Eric has enriched my life!” Lindsey (Hardenbergh) Battaglia, Senior Knowledge Analyst, McKinsey & Company
“Eric helped me think differently about my apprehension with public speaking…”
“Eric has the right combination of what it takes to be a coach – he is a thoughtful listener, asks insightful questions and offers effective tools to help address client needs. Eric helped me think differently about my apprehension with public speaking and by working with me, brought to light some amazing insights I never would have discovered on my own.” Hafiza Adam, Associate Director of Administration, Northwestern University
“As a result of that session, I made decisions in the following week that shaped my choice of graduate school program [and] clarified my professional vision…”
“Eric Fridman coached me on a career conundrum I’d struggled with for several years. I’m a coach myself and had been coached by a number of skilled people, but I still struggled with what seemed to me like an impossible puzzle. Eric brought his marketing background, his business hat and his coaching expertise to bear on the problem. His approach was remarkable for the deep respect he showed me when I let down my guard and let him see where I didn’t know what to do next or where I needed to go. I also valued the fact that he did not assume the problem was solved before I said it was. Toward the end of the session, I was able to bring up one specific aspect of my career that I had not yet found a place for in my “vision,” and Eric used his decades of experience to help me to shift my perspective so I could see where that piece fit. As a result of that session, I made decisions in the following week that shaped my choice of graduate school program, clarified my professional vision and made me feel I’d found the way to weave together multiple, seemingly disparate loose threads of my abilities and interests into a coherent tapestry. I am deeply grateful to Eric and recommend him without hesitation.” Lora Williams, Wellness Coach, Andover, MA
“His course inspired (and prepared) me to do a Master’s program at Northwestern and focus my research on leadership.”
“Eric’s Leadership course was a transformative part of my career and he exemplifies to me what makes a fantastic educator and coach. The class had a powerful combination of thoughtful readings, self reflection, and engaging discussion. Eric challenged students to expand our understanding of leadership beyond management and start to articulate our own ideas about what makes a great leader. He is passionate about helping others toward their goals and is genuinely interested in the lives of his students. His course inspired (and prepared) me to do a Master’s program at Northwestern and focus my research on leadership. I highly recommend him as a faculty member and coach!” Megan Redfearn, Director of Doctoral and Student Affairs at Northwestern University School for Education and Social Policy
“I am a better and more confident leader because of him.”
“I had the honor of having Eric Fridman as my supervisor, collaborator and coach for 3 years. He coached me through difficult conversations I needed to have, encouraged me in my journey to expand my leadership both within the College and the University, and allowed me to experience great leadership in action. I am a better and more confident leader because of him. Eric trusts the people he works with and allows them to grow in skill and confidence. He mentors just as much by example as he does in having thoughtful conversations and in giving feedback. He is truly a team member and would often introduce himself as a member of my team versus my supervisor or the head of the team. He was never above jumping in at events and helping with the smallest task. If it was important to the overall event then it was important to him and worthy of his time. At the same time, I could drop by his office and discuss the larger strategy of an event and he would either listen and let me come to the conclusion that I just needed to verbalize or have an open and productive discussion on ways we could take on challenges or make changes to enhance success. He is an inspiring, thoughtful leader and mentor who encourages his team to do their best work.” Elizabeth Foster, Senior Associate, Marketing Automation and Delivery, JP Morgan Chase & Company
“Eric is supportive, collaborative and insightful as he inspires others to bring forth their best work.”
“I worked with Eric for nearly six years to build the brand of Northwestern’s Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences. I can truly say that working for Eric was a joy. Together, we worked to redesign an underperforming alumni magazine — a challenging endeavor that required buy-in from many stakeholders, the shaping and manifestation of a creative vision, and identifying and telling brand stories in new and unexpected ways. Eric’s support for creative risk-taking allowed us to produce a magazine that was not only warmly embraced by alumni and donors, but recognized repeatedly with best-in-class honors from professional and design associations. Under Eric, our small team also tackled a variety of additional projects, including a top-to-bottom website redesign, newsletters, digital signage, videos and social media initiatives. Again, Eric’s inspiring, inclusive and insightful leadership turned each project into a success. Eric is supportive, collaborative and insightful as he inspires others to bring forth their best work. His ability to truly listen and inspire trust — both within our team and the organization at large — allowed our team to make a lasting impact well out of proportion to our small size.” Rebecca Lindell, Brand Storyteller
“I learned a tremendous amount from Eric about dealing with adversity, managing others, and leading with integrity.”
“Eric’s leadership has had an immeasurable impact on my career. I had the privilege of working for him at the Kellogg School of Management from 2003-2005, which were formative years in my career. Eric focuses on mentoring and coaching his employees, rather than simply managing them, and his approach to leadership both teaches and inspires. I learned a tremendous amount from Eric about dealing with adversity, managing others, and leading with integrity. One of the strengths of Eric’s coaching approach is that he helps others work through challenges from multiple perspectives, which builds one’s capacity to lead, rather than simply teaching someone how to tackle the issue of the day. It’s been more than 10 years since I’ve worked with Eric, and I still apply his leadership lessons to my work every day.” Mario Polizzi, Associate Vice President, Office of the President, University of Chicago
“Eric combined exceptional capabilities as a facilitator, strategist, and coach…”
“As the leader of our small but mighty communications team, Eric combined exceptional capabilities as a facilitator, strategist, and coach. He provided clear and consistent guidance, encouraged our development as professionals, and leveraged resources from throughout the broader organization to enhance our ability to create compelling marketing and communications products meeting strategic goals and audience needs. Eric always made himself available as a sounding board for new ideas and as a mentor and advocate during challenging situations. It was a pleasure collaborating with, and learning from, Eric during the six years we worked together.” Chris Handzlik, Head of Digital, Argonne National Laboratory
“Eric… stressed the importance of reflection and taught me not only to think deeply about current marketing challenges but also to deliberately plan my career.”
“I learned a great deal in my time working in Eric’s group. He placed a strong emphasis on professional development and encouraged me to grow as a marketer. Eric also stressed the importance of reflection and taught me not only to think deeply about current marketing challenges but also to deliberately plan my career. Perhaps most important, Eric modeled exemplary integrity as the leader of our group and consistently put the good of the organization first.” Adam Rowings, Head of Data, Character AI
“He not only reached out to build bridges across organizations, but he was the catalyst for bringing together a subgroup of leading global schools to think deeply about the future of our industry.”
“I had the pleasure of getting to know Eric when he joined Kellogg after years in the tech and telecom sector. His background in a fast moving industry and his personal commitment to excellence, collaboration and community-building quickly made him a key contributor to UNICON, the international consortium for executive education. He not only reached out to build bridges across organizations, but he was the catalyst for bringing together a subgroup of leading global schools to think deeply about the future of our industry and what we as key suppliers had to do to adapt to meet the demands of tomorrow’s challenges. His efforts brought together a diverse group of leaders to create an informal learning community. That select community of peers became the highlight of our industry conferences. On a personal level, Eric is a trusted peer and a respected competitor. In a sense he got the new world of business before many others, and he practices what he preaches. He reaches out to learn from others and shares that learning with all. Mike Malefakis, President, University Partnerships, Emeritus and former CEO and Associate Vice Dean, Wharton Executive Education
“[Eric] orchestrated dramatic improvements in the quality and motivation of the staff, marketing communications, data analytics, and all of our marketing processes.”
“Eric did a superb job of building a first-rate marketing department in support of Kellogg School Executive Education during the eight years that we worked together. He orchestrated dramatic improvements in the quality and motivation of the staff, marketing communications, data analytics, and all of our marketing processes. Through the efforts of Eric and his team, we were able to recover from the impact of September 11, 2001, on the business and go on to achieve record revenues and profits.” Stephen Burnett, Professor Emeritus, Kellogg School of Management
“Eric is an incredible team builder who cares about engaging individual contributors to yield the best organizational outcomes.”
“I had the fortunate opportunity to work on Eric’s team for six of my years at the Kellogg School of Management. Eric is an incredible team builder who cares about engaging individual contributors to yield the best organizational outcomes. A thoughtful listener, supportive manager, and natural collaborator, Eric is encouraging and trusting of his colleagues. He fosters both creative and analytic thinking in his team and appreciates the value of multiple perspectives in the decision making process. Eric’s leadership showed me how cultivating team commitment, providing growth opportunities, and creating a positive environment has the power to drive individual performance, inspire great ideas, and exceed goals.” Christina-Mai Takahashi Just, Chief Equity Officer, United Way of Salt Lake
“He is an inspirational leader who taught me a lot about how to be a good marketer but more importantly how to be a good manager and leader.”
“I had the privilege of working for Eric for over 8 years during our time at the Kellogg School. He is an inspirational leader who taught me a lot about how to be a good marketer but more importantly how to be a good manager and leader. Eric is one of those rare managers who is able to provide strategic vision and direction while trusting his team to make good decisions and develop their own portfolio of skills and experiences.” Meghan Manchon, Founder and Consultant, Manchon Marketing LLC
Fridman Associates 