Who is Ken Jacobs?
Ken Jacobs, PCC, CPC, ELI-MP, an experienced consultant and certified coach, is the principal of Jacobs Consulting & Executive Coaching, which serves agencies, companies, senior leaders, executives and managers in the public relations, corporate communications, integrated communications, advertising, and marketing space.
Since 2007, he has helped agencies grow and manage business, improve client service and relationships, and enhance staff performance, communications, and leadership skills, while empowering communications CEOs, presidents, leaders, and senior managers to achieve and surpass their goals.
Jacobs holds Professional Certified Coach (PCC) credentials from the International Coach Federation (ICF), and is accredited as a Certified Professional Coach (CPC), Energy Leadership Index (ELI) Master Practitioner and a COR.E Leadership Dynamics Specialist by the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching (iPEC).
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Testimonials
- "I enthusiastically recommend Ken and his coaching services. We brought Ken in to provide executive coaching for three of our senior leaders, and the impact was clear. Having them go through the coaching process together — each with their own goals — created a shared experience that enhanced their individual development. The feedback from each of them was consistently positive. They appreciated his approach, the tools he provided, and the space he created for reflection and growth. It was especially valuable for leaders who are strong performers but still evolving in their leadership journey. I would recommend Ken to any organization looking to support their leaders with thoughtful, professional coaching that meets them where they are and challenges them to grow."
Malika KlinglerManaging Principal, PRR - "Through Ken's leadership coaching, I learned to refocus my attention from what I felt was happening to me to how my actions impact situations. This important shift in mindset has helped me realize the power I have, freeing up mental space for how I can best use that power to lead my teams and clients. Ken served as a thoughtful guide, helping me realize my leadership potential through a process that will live with me well into the future."
Executive Vice President of a 100+ person PR/Public Affairs agency - "Ken was a delight to work with. His coaching approach is structured and goal-oriented: it involves setting measurable objectives, discussing obstacles, and tracking the energy with which you approach your work week to week. He is patient, yet firm in holding you accountable. I especially appreciated the way we set weekly objectives that laddered up to long-term goals. I would highly recommend Ken to anyone looking to grow their executive presence and transform the way they approach their career."
Thomas BlakeSenior Vice President, Fenton - "Working with Ken, even after more than 30 years in my career and over a decade in senior leadership, was very worthwhile. Ken is a great listener, insightful and empathetic. While he coaches leadership for multiple sectors, I found his knowledge of the communications/PR industry to be a great value add. I would recommend Ken to anyone who wants a thorough and thoughtful approach to developing their leadership skills."
Jennifer HahnChief Client Officer, Fenton - "I had the pleasure of working with Ken Jacobs as my executive leadership coach, and it was an invaluable experience. His coaching style is gentle yet impactful, creating a safe space for exploration and growth. Ken's expertise in energy leadership and the Energy Leadership Index system brought clarity to my own strengths and weaknesses as a leader. I continue to apply his teachings, especially when mentoring junior executives on setting goals, harnessing their energy, and staying focused. I highly recommend Ken to anyone seeking transformative leadership coaching.
Stephen ChavezCEO and Owner, ChavezPR - "I had the pleasure of working with Ken Jacobs for executive leadership coaching. Ken's approach was comprehensive and thoughtful. I truly appreciated the Energy Leadership Index as a framework to better understand how my leadership manifests and how to stretch across the index to be the ideal and anabolic leader my team needs me to be. Ken is your guy if you're looking for a coach who will push you with strength and gentleness while helping you unearth deeper parts of yourself."
Shakirah A. Hill TaylorChief Digital Officer, Fenton - "Ken is an icon in our industry, helping countless leaders find the courage to continuously improve. I recently met Ken at a Public Relations Society of America International Conference, where a good friend shared how much Ken's coaching and mentorship had helped him as he launched his new career as a public speaker. Then, I attended his session "Be a Lion: The Role of Courage in Leadership" at the 2024 International Conference in Anaheim. I'm always looking for new knowledge to be the best leader I can be for my teams. This presentation was a great reminder of how important it is to show courage in your role—so many nuggets of great information. You can read his recap here. I'm so grateful for his wisdom and willingness to share it with us all."
Janelle Guthrie, APR, Fellow PRSAVice President-Communications, Building Industry Association of Washington - "At the 2024 international conference for PRSA I heard Ken Jacobs speak about courage. His presentation, "Be A Lion: The Role of Courage in Leadership" resonated with me. I incorporated his message into my own presentation at ICON. When a crisis is brewing, as PR professionals we need to ask the right questions, decide what a reasonable person would expect of our organization and present our advice to the C-Suite. Ken’s point, which I reiterated in my presentation and have used since, was we need to have the courage to take a stand, be strong in our beliefs and stand up to counter arguments. As I prepare to retire from my full-time job, I have a lot more courage than I did earlier in my career. I wish I would have heard Ken speak about courage years ago. I believe I would have been a better counselor. Ken’s presentation on courage should be a must hear for all PR professionals, whether you’re beginning your career or a seasoned pro. To that end, I invited Ken to speak about courage to PRSA’s Fellows. I can’t wait to hear him again."
Janet KacskosDirector of Communications at Millersville University - "Ken hosted programs for two membership groups at the Institute for Public Relations: ELEVATE and NEXT. Attendees raved about his content, praising his wealth of experience and deep knowledge. Ken’s approachable style made him highly engaging, and he generously offered ongoing support, encouraging attendees to follow up with him to foster their growth and accountability in achieving their goals. I highly recommend him!"
Tina McCorkindale, Ph.D., APRPresident and CEO of the Institute for Public Relations - "I attended Ken's workshop on providing constructive feedback and learned so much during this engaging, interactive, and informative session. Not only was Ken a great presenter, but he was also a good listener during the session--walking the walk of the principles he recommended. Highly recommend!"
Fay Zifei ChenAssociate Professor, University of San Francisco
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