Executive Coaching, Events, and Resources

As an Executive Coach, I bring a rare blend of global leadership experience, entrepreneurial success, and deep personal development insights. With over 15 years driving growth at companies like Amazon, Unilever, and Ford, I understand the pressures executives face. My journey spans corporate boardrooms and startup ventures, including founding and scaling businesses in New York and Asia. As the President of the HBS Association of Southern California, I lead professional development for thousands of top-tier executives. My coaching is uniquely informed by this breadth of experience, coupled with certifications from Erickson Coaching International and a General Management Program from Harvard Business School. I specialize in helping leaders break through limitations, master resilience, and align their personal and professional purpose. Clients value my ability to combine strategic business acumen with a human-centric approach. I empower executives to lead with clarity, foster high-performance teams, and navigate complexity with confidence. My coaching unlocks lasting transformation, enabling leaders to thrive in both their careers and lives.

Welcome! With over two decades of experience in leadership and coaching, I specialize in empowering high-potential leaders to excel in their careers. As the Founder of Surko Coaching, I have partnered with executives to enhance their executive presence, mental resilience, and strategic decision-making, leading to significant career advancements and organizational influence. My background includes senior roles at Flowcode and Bluecore, where I successfully led cross-functional teams and drove substantial growth and customer satisfaction. As an ICF Accredited Coach and Certified Professional Coach, I leverage tools like the Energy Leadership Index to help clients overcome self-limiting beliefs and achieve sustainable success. Let's work together to unlock your full potential and achieve your professional goals!

I spent over 23 years leading and coaching teams in the technology industry, most recently at Salesforce, one of the world’s top Technology Fortune 500 companies. I know firsthand how tough leadership can be: the sleepless nights before big decisions, the pressure to perform without burning out your team, and the weight of leading through change. Now, as an ICF-certified executive coach, I help leaders and founders navigate those same challenges with clarity and confidence. My clients learn to make hard decisions without losing empathy, communicate with influence, and build high-performing teams that thrive even in uncertainty. They rediscover purpose, elevate their leadership presence, and lead with more calm, focus, and joy. My coaching is direct but deeply human, grounded in real-world executive experience, emotional intelligence, and evidence-based practice. If you’re ready to lead with authenticity, courage, and lasting impact, I’ll help you get there.

Nice to meet you! Here's a bit about me: In my two decades of tech and marketing leadership experience, I’ve realized that for executives to truly sustain high performance, they need more than just a solid growth strategy - they need a holistic approach. My executive coaching focuses on helping leaders enrich their Career Wellness - providing concrete strategies and support. Why work with me? With an MBA from Harvard Business School and extensive experience in executive roles at top companies like Oracle and Ibotta, I bring a wealth of knowledge in leadership, strategy, and sales effectiveness. As a leadership and executive Coach, I've successfully guided over 500 professionals to enhance their leadership skills and achieve their career goals (including by building and running Oracle's Women's Leadership Circles program from the ground up!). I bring deep expertise in team leadership, strategy, mindset and career development. My approach focuses on helping executives build a balanced portfolio across the following areas: 1. Career Advancement: The "How-to Guide” - My coaching provides concrete strategies to build your executive presence - like personal branding, negotiation, self-advocacy and communication skills. 2. Mindset & Confidence: The "Operating System" - I'll help you hone your mindset and cultivate self compassion - so you can overcome imposter feelings, move through setbacks, and find courage to take risks. 3. Well-Being & Health: The "Battery” - We'll explore how you charge your personal battery so you can show up as your best self - and get comfortable asking for the space needed to put these strategies into action. All of this supports my personal mission - to help more women reach the C-Suite. Sound like a fit? Schedule a free, 15 minute call with me to explore a partnership.

Executive leadership isn't a title — it's a set of skills most organizations expect you to already have before they give you the room to develop them. I learned that firsthand navigating senior roles across three continents, three global organizations, and ultimately into one of the most demanding technical leadership environments in the world: Google DeepMind. At Google, I wasn't just executing — I was leading cross-functional teams across APAC, EMEA, and North America, aligning Research, Engineering, Product, and Operations around shared goals under real pressure, and making decisions that had nine-figure consequences. At Accenture in London, I managed client relationships at the executive level in fintech and banking. At Deloitte, I built the foundation — learning how to communicate up, lead without authority, and drive outcomes in complex organizations where nobody reports to you but everything depends on you. And now as a founder, I'm doing the hardest version of executive leadership: building from zero with no safety net. What I bring to executive coaching is pattern recognition across every stage of that journey — what it takes to get into the room, what it takes to stay there, and what it takes to lead in a way that actually moves organizations forward. If you're stepping into a senior leadership role for the first time, trying to expand your influence, or preparing to make the jump from operator to founder, I've lived every one of those transitions personally.

Leadership is hard work. Leading in a dynamic, high stakes environment is even harder. The practices and skills that got you here won’t get you where you want to be. Much like elite athletes and performers, the most effective leaders get coached. And they get coached by elite coaches. I provide top-tier coaching to high-impact executives and operators who want to perform at a higher level. I leverage my 15+ years of experience as an operator and executive where I built some of the top companies in the world, including DoorDash, Neighbor, and LinkedIn. My coaching is customized to meet the needs of each client and addresses the whole person, not just their work self. I use a combination of best-in-class assessments, quantitative and qualitative 360-degree feedback, and intense inquiry to help clients achieve outstanding business outcomes and live an intentional life. Common areas of coaching include: * Strengthening your ability to succeed during periods of complexity, doubt, and uncertainty * Building confidence in your ability to deliver results, take calculated risks, and build trust * Improving essential leadership skills including setting expectations, giving feedback, prioritization, accountability, and communicating effectively * Discovering your blindspots, developing greater self-awareness and enhancing your ability to emotionally regulate * Balancing competing demands and priorities at work and in life What you get from me: * Hard-won perspective from an executive who’s sat in boardrooms, made the hard decisions, and built industry-changing companies * Access to my world-class network; I’ll connect you with functional experts as needed * Access to my “best of” library, including the top templates, frameworks, models, and content I’ve created and curated over the last 15+ years * An unbiased partner who’ll create a personalized development plan that delivers results * A coach who always has your back but won’t hesitate to call BS as needed

Coached seasoned executives across multiple functions and industries

I'm a coach with extensive experience as Chief of Staff to senior Executives. I specialize in turning strategic visions into actionable results. My role has involved leading high-impact initiatives, streamlining operations, and fostering a culture of trust and data-driven decision-making. I have a proven track record of coaching leaders, driving AI fluency, and managing complex projects to success. Whether you're looking to enhance your leadership skills or navigate organizational challenges, I'm here to help you achieve your goals. Let's connect and explore how I can support your executive journey!

I am now a C-Level Executive of a company, and have previously served as a controlling shareholder (when I worked in Private Equity) and Board Member. I can help advise on how to make it to the C-Level, how to interact with shareholders (particularly Private Equity and Venture Capital), how to be successful, etc.

Former VP of Strategy & Transformation, BCG Project Leader, and Kellogg MBA with 20+ years leading at the highest levels of corporate strategy. I’ve navigated CEO transitions, driven multi-billion-dollar growth strategies, and led enterprise-wide transformations. I coach leaders to accelerate impact, influence effectively, and navigate complex challenges with confidence—drawing on real-world executive experience to deliver practical, actionable guidance.