Unleash Mastery – Transformational Leadership & Business Coaching
Client Testimonials & Reviews
Experience Coaching
It is common for almost every advisor, trainer or consulting service to boast about their superior skills and service however very few can provide the broad range of support that has been given to Joan Pastor by her clients. The video and text-slider below presents a few hand-fulls of remarks based on her work.
Live Video Testimonials
See live interviews of managers speaking about what they’ve learned at a recent presentation from Dr. Joan Pastor Ph.D. These un-coached remarks are one example of the success her work has provided.
Alexis Fink Testimonials Recommendations (Received)
Imran worked with Alexis but on different teams
I had the pleasure of working with Alexis at Meta during a strategic HR transformation project where she was an internal client. Alexis exemplifies authentic leadership, providing clear direction, demonstrating a genuine passion for her work, and making a significant impact. Her personable nature made collaboration seamless and enjoyable. Alexis is undoubtedly a who's-who in the HR/people domain, with extensive experience in people analytics, organizational transformation, and leadership assessment. Highly recommended for leadership roles in people functions across large firms/industries. -"Head of Enterprise Architecture @ Myriad Genetics"
Ryan reported directly to Alexis
I was part of Alexis's leadership team at Meta for 4 years and had the honor of reporting directly to her during that time. I have been consistently impressed by her authentic leadership, strategic thinking, domain expertise, and her empathetic ability to connect with people from all levels. Alexis did more than just manage during my time with her, but she also mentored and inspired me to perform the best work of my career. She is a talent multiplier in that she is incredible at connecting people to opportunities where they can contribute and grow to their fullest and developing them to achieve their potential. Someone rarely gets to work with a mentor and icon in their industry, but I have been very fortunate to have worked with Alexis for the time that I did. -"People Analytics + Operations + Technology @Peloton | Ex-Meta"
McCree worked with Alexis but on different teams
I’ve worked with Alexis for several years in our respective roles within Meta’s People/HR organization. Alexis herself is a deep expert in human resources and I/O psychology who has scaled a world-class people analytics organization at Meta. Moreover, Alexis brings a “one team” mentality that consistently focuses on doing what’s best for the business and broader organization. Our work frequently intersects with projects generally focused on how we weave quantitative and qualitative insight into our HR strategy and programs across the company. Beyond our collaboration on critical initiatives, programs, and governance work (e.g., Board of Directors, diversity & equity), Alexis consistently partnered with me to expand the planning rigor and structure in our HR strategy and program execution. I’d like to highlight what I’ve observed to be a few of Alexis’ key strengths and contributions:
- Communication & Influence: Alexis leverages a communication style that combines brevity, humor, metaphor, and experience. It helps folks grasp complex constructs, understand practical implications, and make decisions - all in a way that invites questions and collaboration. I’ve never talked with her in three years where I didn’t learn something.
- I/O psychology and analytics expertise: In many ways, Alexis has “written the book” and built impressive capabilities at Meta to deliver leading-edge people analytics practices that organizations are adopting today, from approaches to ensure quality in foundational HR metrics to advanced research methods in domains ranging from employee listening to highly nuanced spaces like employee relations and diversity. The outputs of the insights yielded from the capabilities lead to changes in how HR organizations serve the organization and deliver employee experience at Meta.
- Strategic insight: Alexis ensures that she and her team understand the business, talent needs, and HR considerations to explore how people analytics can improve outcomes and solve problems.
In addition to Alexis’ skills and experiences, I’ve always found her to be a delightful human who’s down-to-earth and a teacher at heart. It’s a privilege to know and work with her! -"Global Human Resources and Talent Executive "
Alexis was senior to Abdul-Rahman but didn't manage Abdul-Rahman directly
I had the privilege of being a program manager for Alexis's people analytics workstream at Meta. During my tenure, I found Alexis to be always available, responsive, and present, which is unfortunately not so common amongst leadership these days! She provides input in a measured way to not be overbearing, but more so as an enabler.
Most importantly, Alexis shows deep empathy for others, constantly seeking ways to reduce pressure by either removing blockers or simply granting reprieve at times of high stress and anxiety. -"Strategy & Operations | Program Management | Business Transformation across tech, healthcare, and consulting "
Alexis was senior to Gopal but didn't manage Gopal directly
I had the fortune of working under Alexis' leadership in Meta's people organization for some very high-priority projects regarding org design and workforce research. Alexis is an inspirational leader who leads by example in all facets of the people analytics landscape, fostering an environment for creative thinking, which is the biggest asset for an analytics and research team. She's always present and connected with her team and stakeholders, and it's a pleasure working with Alexis. Alexis is also a prominent voice in our industry, and I always look forward to the knowledge she shares on platforms like SIOP and many others. -"Business Intelligence I People Analytics I Strategic Consulting "
Alexis was senior to Stacey but didn't manage Stacey directly
Alexis Fink is the epitome of true leadership. She is amazingly smart, surprisingly humble, and downright likable. She charismatically brings out the best in everyone with a charmingly droll wit that makes working with her fun and inspiring. Hands down, she is one of the best business leaders in the world. -"People Analytics Consultant"
David worked with Alexis on the same team
The origin of the name Alexis (Greek ἀλέξω or aléxo) means "to help, defend," and that she does. Alexis Fink is a force multiplier that dramatically increases the effectiveness of people. A brilliant and creative systems thinker, Alexis is one of those rare people that lead with head and heart. She is exceptionally gifted at gleaning insights from data and once described to me her delight at watching numbers “dance” across an Excel spreadsheet. Alexis is as strong as she is smart. I’ve seen photographs of Alexis collaborating with gravity as she performed aerial acrobatics suspended from the ceiling wrapped in a piece of silk. I’ve also seen photos of her tethered to a speedboat on water skis—her strength and will sculpting time and space. With intellect, heart, and humor, Alexis makes the people around her better. She is among the finest people I know. -"Oracle Early Career Campus Programs"
Alexis was senior to Ming but didn't manage Ming directly
Alexis is a wonderful mentor who is highly sought after for her expertise in talent management and data analytics. Her breadth and depth of experience enables her to appreciate the nuance of various issues at hand, and to deliver sharp and pragmatic insights accordingly. She can be relied upon to immediately pinpoint the crux of the matter and address problems in a candid and straightforward manner. Beyond that, she is approachable, accessible and always eager to help others. -"Global Compensation Advisor"
Dr. Isil worked with Alexis but on different teams
She is a true leader who has a rare combination of genuine personality/technical advancement . When she walks in to the room, you will know - as she has an executive and yet very authentic presence. Her uplifting, focused and engaged style will provide you to not only set the right goals, but to execute the work needed for success. -"Helping businesses leverage AI while I grow DigiFab.ai to $10M."
Alexis was senior to Jenna but didn't manage Jenna directly
Alexis is the best leader I've had the pleasure to work for and I'd follow her anywhere. A born multiplier, she brings vision, innovation, and open-mindedness to the teams she leads, and genuine care to the individuals she cultivates and supports. As someone with a love of data, a progressive mind, and an understanding of how to build and grow new programs, she's a rare find in HR. -"Business Intelligence / People Analytics / Project Leadership"
Mike worked with Alexis but they were at different companies
Alexis is one of the most talented, hard-working, and inspirational people in the field of I-O Psychology and the Talent Analytics space. Since we met 5 years ago, she has consistently made herself available to candidly provide career advice and has made me feel extremely comfortable asking questions that stir in the minds of aspiring I-O psychologists. I recently reached out to Alexis as a very 'green' early-career practitioner seeking advice on ways to demonstrate value as the only I-O on a 30+ person HR analytics team. In addition to being empathetic, she shared her experiences in similar situations and helped me realize that my position is brimming with opportunity. In every conversation we have, she empowers me to have confidence in my training and ability and motivates me to give back to the field of I-O. I consider myself very fortunate to call Alexis my mentor.
Alexis is one of the most talented, hard-working, and inspirational people in the field of I-O Psychology and the Talent Analytics space. Since we met 5 years ago, she has consistently made herself available to candidly provide career advice and has made me feel extremely comfortable asking questions that stir in the minds of aspiring I-O psychologists. I recently reached out to Alexis as a very 'green' early-career practitioner seeking advice on ways to demonstrate value as the only I-O on a 30+ person HR analytics team. In addition to being empathetic, she shared her experiences in similar situations and helped me realize that my position is brimming with opportunity. In every conversation we have, she empowers me to have confidence in my training and ability and motivates me to give back to the field of I-O. I consider myself very fortunate to call Alexis my mentor. -"People Analytics Leader @ Wells Fargo"
Eric worked with Alexis but they were at different companies
I have reached out to Alexis for advice when looking to raise the bar in my own organization for leading practices in talent analytics and Insight. Alexis is one of people out there forging new ground in the field. She balances creative thinking with pragmatism to add value to the business. -"Global People and Organization Leader at Novartis "
Jill Campbell Testimonial
I have had the pleasure of working very closely, nearly every day, right alongside Jill for coming up on 8 years and I would say that anyone lucky enough to work with her in any capacity is blessed! She has an incredible ability to connect people, ideas, and opportunities in a way that drives real impact—whether it's building high-value partnerships, optimizing systems, or leading a mastermind community. Her strong background in business development, marketing, and operational efficiency is matched only by her commitment to supporting the military and coaching communities. Jill is not just a high performer; she’s a true leader who brings clarity, creativity, and a relentless drive for excellence to everything she does." -Certified High Performance Coach"
“ I found Joan very knowledgeable in helping me with personal coaching. She helped me understand myself better and provided practical guidance in resolving work-place issues. The most important thing is Joan’s coaching provided me with a principle in balancing between what I want in life and career.!”
“ We ended up with 67 attendees including one person who is driving 6 hours for your presentation. She said she heard you speak before and was willing to make the trip. I don’t know any speaker I would drive 6 hours for. That’s impressive!”
“Since I met my mentor at Ford, I can’t think of anyone who has done or is doing more to help me develop. Yes, several people have helped my career progress but this is more. You are helping me become a better person. Thank you and you are amazing and gifted.”
“I attended your “Meeting Facilitation Skills for Managers” session during the IIA conference. It was very informative and presented well. I can still vision the red ball when I am in a difficult meeting. Recently I successfully used your bridging technique to control a meeting. My Executive Director was very interested in what I had learned in your session as well. Thank you very much for presenting the Meeting Facilitation Skills program”
“I really enjoyed our session yesterday and find myself mulling over our discussions throughout each day and trying to incorporate suggestions you’ve made. The changes I’m making are very empowering!”
“Although my work with Joan was brief she definitely had an impact on me. I was at a point in my life where I was so lost in my career, but the root of the matter was that I was especially lost in life. Joan recognized that immediately. From the get go she was so supportive, kind and positive. She had so much faith in my skills and abilities despite not having known me for very long and that was such a great feeling – just knowing that I had someone out there, someone relatively unbiased, i.e. not a family member or friend, who was utterly confident that I was capable of great things. Her concern for me and my success was always genuine and she even encouraged me to keep in touch after we stopped working together. Her staff was also such a pleasure to work with and always responsive! They too were as positive as she was even when it just to book appointments :). I’m a little closer to where I want to be in life and I know that I owe some of that to Joan!”
“The training was a complete success and there is no doubt I will be a champion for you for our future training needs.”
“I enjoyed working with you. Your coaching was very valuable”
“Dr. Pastor has been a very valuable resource for our psychiatrists office. In addition to giving us insight on issues of introverts she has helped us develop better treatment processes.”
“I attended your seminar in Las Vegas and enjoyed your presentation. You said you would not “shrink” our heads and you succeeded – as you actually opened our minds! Thank you for speaking at the conference.”
“Joan was a true asset to our organization. Her business acuity is as strong as her understanding of people and processes, which is a rare combination. She can fully recognize issues and translate the application of sales and marketing to all types of organizations then dissect the real status of the financial state of an organization. Most important of all- I can trust her and I greatly respect her. She has a way of helping you see which challenge areas must be improved using as much humor as possible. Joan played a big role in getting our Association off and running in the direction l feel it should be moving in, and while change takes time I can already see the positive results of decisions we made together while she was here.”
“Joan’s dynamic energy, intelligence, and skills communication, leadership and management make her a powerful ally. She demonstrates an excellent understanding of sales and what it takes to be a professional, successful, salesperson. She shows tremendous clarity in keeping people to their goals by developing the very best in themselves. She will not let you do any less than your best! One of my goals was to establish better communication and spirit in the office. Joan established open and ongoing communication up and down the chain of command and among the representatives. She is a master at resolving conflicts between people and is mostly responsible for the tremendous shift in our district towards mutual support and teamwork. There has been a 70% increase in production in our district. Thing’s definitely move forward when she’s around! I highly recommend her.”
“Since I met my mentor at Ford, I can’t think of anyone who has done or is doing more to help me develop. Yes, several people have helped my career progress, but this is more. You are helping me become a better person. Thank you. You are amazing and gifted.”
“I would like to report that Joan’s people skill courses are excellent and very well received. I used Joan at three different Fortune 500 companies for the people skill training, and the staff loved the courses. Also, at each of the companies, the staff requested additional courses by Joan. I think a combined training course with Joan and me, especially in an international country, would be a big success. Hopefully we can try this concept, and it will be a win for all parties involved.”
“Our chapter’s response to Joan’s presentation was overwhelmingly positive. Her full-day presentation on Conflict Management and Leadership Skills kept our members intrigued throughout the day. We were delighted to have someone of Joan’s expertise and enthusiasm provide her insight to our chapter.”
“I wish I could put you in my pocket! You are an excellent instructor of leadership and collaboration, the best I have had in many years. The added coaching was invaluable. Thank you!
“I attended the How To Effectively Run Meetings training taught by Dr. Joan Pastor. The two-day training was intensive and simply excellent. Joan has a way of delivering difficult concepts in a simplified manner which is easily retained mentally. I plan to incorporate some of her concepts immediately. Once again, the training was great!”
“Joan always delivers and is a true professional. Her personal approach is greatly admired.”
“We are pleased that you accepted the invitation to be the keynote speaker at the 10th Biennial Joint DOE Conference. Your presentations Harnessing the Mental and Emotional Skills for Outstanding and Effective Leadership and Psychology of White Collar Crime were timely and very well received by attendees. On behalf of Paul Schafer and Michael Sinko, I want to thank you for your participation and excellent presentations.”
“This was the most enjoyable leadership training that I have attended in a long time. Thank you so much.”
“Joan’s presentation on the link between Leadership and Emotional Intelligence was absolutely fabulous! And I heard many others say that, too. She had all 350+ attendees listening to her every word. Joan is extremely informative, interesting, engaging, and funny! Her topic was one that everyone related to and she tailored it perfectly for our audience. I highly recommend Joan! We will definitely be using her again!”
“Joan’s training programs are exceptional. Joan was hired to provide communications skills training and presentation skills training, and exceeded my expectations. She learned about our corporate culture at Yazaki to tailor the training to our needs. Her course covered every aspect of interpersonal communication that related to our organization. Joan also did some consulting work with our Office of Program Management that yielded positive results.”
“Joan’s course was a big help, for me personally and my colleagues, when I was tasked with helping our group become proficient in facilitating workshops. I facilitated my first risk assessment workshop a month after taking the course, and it helped me go in well-prepared and confident. A few years later, when I was the Director of Enterprise Risk, I brought Joan in to teach the course a second time. In addition to the obvious value for risk workshops, the skills and principles that Joan teaches are very useful in a broader context. They help you be a better manager and a better communicator.”
“I am having Joan Pastor speak for the International Conference in Boston. I know her well and she spoke at the earlier conference in Atlanta. I actually recommended her for our Boston Chapter over 20 years ago and she has done a lot with our organization now for years. She gets rave reviews and has a lot of experience doing training worldwide.”
“Joan Pastor provides interactive, informative, and extremely relevant sessions. Her enthusiasm for her work and her commitment to providing excellent content is clear in the evaluations we receive from the people who attend her workshops and sessions. Joan has always been flexible in working with us and has often been called upon to pinch hit in last minute agenda changes. We frequently ask Joan to speak because of her professionalism and we know that we will receive 110% effort from her.”
“Joan’s presentation was definitely different than any other fraud and ethics class I have attended. Her superior knowledge within the field of psychology and how it relates to both business and ethics was praised by all who attended. The participation through questions and case studies made it a very exciting and interactive class. This presentation is a must for human resources, finance, or departments of any business or association worldwide interested in fraud, and for people at all levels of the organization. Last, but certainly not least, her office staff was great to work with and made the process of bringing in a speaker as simple as possible. Thank you for a great JPA International, Inc. experience!”
“On behalf of the board of directors of the New Jersey Bankers Association, thank you for presenting your seminar on The Psychology Behind Fraud, Unethical Behavior, and White Collar Crime. This full-day seminar was the first of its kind for the NJ Bankers. One of our members had seen this seminar and recommended it to us. We were not disappointed! The attendance alone was great for a first-time topic—but the real proof that this seminar was great was that the attendance was full from morning to evening! There are not many speakers who can retain the crowd for the entire day! Your blend of case studies, humor, psychology, and statistics definitely met the seminar’s objectives. In the economic times we are living in today, any other State Banking Association should welcome this seminar into their course catalog.”
“I had the privilege of experiencing training conducted by Dr. Joan Pastor. She facilitated courses on Risk Assessment (CRSA), Conflict Management, and Interviewing Skills. The attendees consisted of auditors and accountants with various years of experience but the course felt like it was geared for all. I enjoyed the interaction that Joan incorporates into her training; it requires everyone to participate and makes the training fun. She is very knowledgeable about the subject areas she offers but her personality is so vibrant that you will find yourself wanting more.”
“Thanks for presenting to us at our conference. Fraud training usually provides foundation suggestions on what to do and what to avoid in handling fraud incidents. However, Joan offers a unique and valuable fraud education with her psychological approach and insight. She highlights psychological factors and behaviors of a fraudster that are highly useful for everyone to consider. The case studies and participants’ interaction made this session very interesting and enjoyable! Her presentation is great for all personnel levels, including management, executives, and boards members who may be interested in ethics, creating ethical business cultures, and preventing fraud. We look forward to having you back for a future seminar!”
“You spoke July 24 at the American Institute of CPAs’ Interchange conference at the Ritz-Carlton in Key Biscayne. My colleagues and I thoroughly enjoyed your presentation. In fact, we now analyze our behavior to determine if we’re creating, promoting, or allowing certain situations in our lives!”
“We have had nothing but positive responses from the people who attended the conference on 4/8. Your presentation on Psychological Profiling of White Collar Criminals was extremely well received.”
“Joan’s seminar was excellent! I hope to attend another of her’s in the future.”
“Thank you so much for the great session you led the team through! We all thought it was great and are so thankful you chose the 5.11 team to test it on!”
“I’d like to make you aware of a dynamic speaker I saw earlier this year–Joan Pastor, Ph.D. Dr. Pastor presented Conflict Management and Interviewing Skills to the Clinical Quality Assurance group. While the group had a diverse background, all agreed that the information presented on communication styles and conflict management was very useful and relevant to our strategies. I would highly recommend that she be considered for a presentation at the annual meeting on this topic.”
“Joan’s course on Negotiation Skills provided insights and strategies that I have employed in recent investigative interviews with outstanding results. She provided information that can be applied immediately to achieve positive outcomes. I highly recommend this training for any investigator looking to improve their interviewing skills.”
“The communication training was a success. Not only did all the engineers participating enjoy the sessions, they actually put the new tools and knowledge to work. We are able to measure a decrease in communication-related problems at constructions sites as a result of this training.”
“On behalf of the Trusteeship for The Betterment of Women and The Women’s Forum West, I would like to thank you for your informative and stimulating presentation on dreams. The topic was exciting and different, and I’m sure we are all paying more attention to our ‘sleeping hours!’ Once again, thank you for your contribution toward making our weekend retreat a success.”
“Joan’s seminar on The Psychology Behind Fraud was excellent! I hope to attend another in the near future.”
“I hope our paths cross down the road. I always enjoyed our time together and I know you are working with many other business people, bringing them great values to improve on what they do daily in their jobs as well.”
“One of the areas Joan excels in is developing a plan to correct identified problems and to monitor progress. In every session I have been in with Joan (it must be close to 20 now), she has left us with an action plan, critical success factors, and a follow up plan. I would not be overstating Joan’s ability by saying that every session I have been in has been a huge success and that profitability, morale, and team work all improved significantly due to the training.”
“We requested some insight from Dr. Pastor to assist us with a litigation matter. This was a very sensitive and private matter that needed skill, discretion, as well as insight. Dr. Pastor was exceedingly helpful in all areas in assisting us with understanding in-depth the issues we were dealing with. She gave us some wonderful ideas to assist us in creatively helping to solve the issues surrounding these problems. Dr. Pastor is an excellent resource and I wholeheartedly endorse her.”
Testimonials include remarks from the following companies: Office Depot, First Premier Bank, Chevron Corporation, New York Life, Union Bay Sportswear, Home Federal Bank, Yazaki Inc, Washington River Protection Solutions, Anonymous-Fortune 100 Company, The Women’s Forum West, Steven A. Shapiro, Esq., Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Ontario Power, Jefferson Wells International, American Institute of CPAs, Takeda Global Research, New Jersey Bankers Association, Clinical Quality Assurance Group, MCNAFAS, Sharp HealthCare, Texas Society of CPAs, FBI Philadelphia Office, AICPA, Icicle Seafoods, Washington University
