FAQ's

Q. What training have you taken?
I have an MBA from Harvard Business School and have take executive education training in leadership, design thinking, communications, improv, and coaching at Stanford, IMD, Harvard, and Second City.  At Harvard, I was co-chair of the Career Teams program for 1st year Harvard Business School MBA students and for that work I received a Student Association Award. I have also completed Google's internal executive coaching training program and coach 20 employees from across the company per year outside of my extended org 15-20 product managers. Recently in 2021, I completed Shirzad Chamine's 7 week Positive Intelligence Coaching training program. I've also taken over 100 hours of management training classes provided by my various employers over the years such as Microsoft, YouTube, and Google. Aside from that I've been working for 25 years and over the last 10 years in executive leadership roles where I have the privilege of coaching teams of managers and dozens of individual contributors.

Q. What's the most common approach to working with a client?
Every client is different. However, I have found that understanding someone's life line and unpacking their decade high's and low's since childhood to present can provide a very clear foundation for deeper self-awareness. I then like to get more tactical and help clients think about where they are today and where they want to be in the future. Then I get even more tactical with role playing exercises to practice hard conversations or meetings. For some people this process can take a few sessions and for many it can be a journey spanning months or longer. It really depends on what's right for you and where you are.

Q. I need more tactical help. Do you do that?
Yep. Many folks get help from me on very specific, time-sensitive decisions, meetings, presentations, conversations, or job interviews. Sometimes they need a steer or sanity check. Happy to provide detailed observations and suggestions on how I'd approach the problem.

Q. Do we meet virtually or in person?
Most of my clients meet virtually due to the convenience and out of an abundance of caution given the current covid-19 pandemic. However, I can arrange for in person meetings on an exception basis for 90 minute coaching sessions in an outdoor venue. Email me if you want more details.

Q. How do I know if this is right for me?
Finding the right coach-client match can take time so if you buy more than one session and decide it's not the right time for you, any unused sessions are 100% refundable, transferrable to friends or family, and never expire if you want to re-engage later in your career. 

Q. Other than the lower cost per session, are there any reasons to pre-purchase a pack of sessions?
The scheduling system only lets you book unused sessions so if you wanted to get priority access to times well in advance, that can be helpful.

Q. Why do you charge so much?
It's mainly supply and demand. Clients tell me they appreciate someone who cares about coaching and has a long, and current operating background as an executive leader. I also want to make sure I work with people who will benefit a lot from my coaching and are willing to invest their time and effort to get breakthrough results. 

Q. Given your career, why do you charge so little?
I consider coaching my passion project. Some day, I might do it full time but for now it is a highlight of my weekends  I usually donate about 4/5's of my coaching fees to charitable causes such as my kids' local public school robotics program, non-profits promoting voting reform, climate change readiness, and poverty reduction.   

Q. Is there a cancellation fee if something comes up for a scheduled session?
I get that we're all busy and unplanned stuff comes up. I ask for 7 days notice for cancellations (unless someone else was able to take the slot on short notice). Similarly, if I need to cancel I will give you 7 days notice or if it's truly last minute, I will give you an additional session credit in addition to rescheduling the missed appointment.

Q. Do you do pro bono coaching for non-profit executive directors?
Yes, I do offer limited sessions gratis for Executive Directors and VP's of non-profits with an operating budget of $500K or more. Email me at tom@tomleungcoaching.com to see if I have any more slots available and if you and your non-profit would be a good fit for me.

Q. Do you work with startup CEO's?
Yes, I do. They can book time with me like any other client. If you're a Seed funded startup and are interested in having me as an exec coach for a discounted rate in exchange for equity or deferred payment, email me a bit more about yourself and company and we can try to figure something out if there's a good fit.