Client Testimonials

The women I work with arrive at a crossroads. They've built successful businesses, and they can feel that the next chapter is asking for something different, even when they can't quite name it yet.

What follows is the work of unearthing or getting clear on the conviction underneath everything, building the strategic bridge to what's next, and walking it alongside them.

Some of these women (and the occasional aligned man) reshaped their businesses, some finally said the things they'd been thinking about for years, and some took it all the way to a stage. Here's what they have to say about our work together.

Strategic Thought Partnership That Fundamentally Changed Their Businesses

These are the women who came in stuck at a crossroads in their business and left with clarity, a direction they could move on, and the conviction to actually do it. Each of their businesses is different, but at the core, when they named what they believed, the strategy got obvious.

Sarah Middleton

For much of 2025, I’d been thinking about thought leadership and what it could look like for me. After hearing Jess speak about finding your Big Idea, I knew right away she could help me figure that out.

I’d never worked with a coach before, but Jess made the process seamless and accessible.

With her support, I clarified my Big Idea, launched a LinkedIn newsletter, created new packages for my website, and gained the confidence to put myself out there and charge what I’m worth. I feel more in control of my business and much clearer about where I’m going.

Working as a solopreneur can be lonely. Jess became a thought partner to me and helped me see clarity where all I saw was fuzziness.

Samantha Wilson

Working with Jess was a transformative experience in several ways. I came into our first session as a new entrepreneur with a dream- but I didn't have a strong plan.

Jess helped me build my business from the ground up. She didn't just show up for me- she got on the entrepreneurial rollercoaster with me.

The support I received was above and beyond, and the guidance she provided has taken my dream and turned it into a revenue generating machine for social good.

Jess is a seasoned professional in this space, and yet she's the warmest most uplifting cheerleader and coach you'll find. Your only regret will be not working with her.

Lisa Smith

Jess helped me launch my business from an idea to a successful and scaling mission driven company in the year and a half that I have worked with her.

She kept me clear and focused from my messaging to my clients to my pricing and offers. Jess saw and believed in my potential before I did and I am so grateful for the support and guidance that she continues to give me.

I am a successful entrepreneur who can serve my clients with confidence and compassion because of Jess.

Alisha Lunsford

I was piecing together freebies, trainings, and advice from friends, and still getting nowhere.

I believed in my message, but everything felt overwhelming, urgent, and unsustainable.

Then came Jess. No filler-talk, no rah-rah, just real, actionable strategy that cut through the chaos.

Six months later, I’ve got better offers, updated pricing, a podcast, and a business built on clarity and confidence.

If Jess thinks she can help you, she can, and it'll blow your mind.

Mandy McGowan

When I started working with Jess, my business was profitable, but my messaging, my offers, and how I approached prospects felt scattered. 

Jess brings a wide variety of knowledge to the table and was able to help me get clear on what I wanted to do and how it would land in the marketplace.

Now, I have super clear messaging, my offers have tightened up so they're clear and easy for a prospect to make a decision. Not only did it increase my sales, but I had fun in the process.

Jessica Millhiser

Working with Jess has been a game changer for me. I went into the program lacking clarity and confidence in what services I offered and where I should be showing up.

Through the weeks and months of working together, I was able to find that clarity and focus. I'm now super confident about what I have to offer, where I should be showing up and how to professionally advocate my value when having consultations. I have a clearer vision of who my ideal client is and how, specifically, I can help them reach their goals.

I also really like how Jess works - I like how her mind works, I like how direct she is, and I like how she pushes those she works with to think outside the box and get creative with how they're showing up. You can tell she really cares and wants her clients to succeed. It was a great fit from the start and I can't recommend Jess and her program enough!

 
 

Finding The Conviction-Driven Idea Underneath Everything They’ve Built

My clients don't come to me because they need more information. In most cases, they know they’re circling an idea or a series of ideas, but they haven’t been able to put it all together yet. This is the work of excavating the idea that ties decades of experience and expertise into something clear, compelling, and rooted deeply, and points them to what’s next.

Ashley Jablow

Before working with Jess, I felt fuzzy—about my messaging, my point of view, and my strategy for sharing my voice with the world.

Jess created a joyful, honest space where I could explore my ideas and vision without fear. She listened deeply, synthesized my thoughts, and helped me land on the perfect framing for my message. With her guidance, I realized there’s no “arrival point” for public speaking; I just needed to start and let the journey unfold.

The confidence I gained from working with Jess was unexpected but transformative. I now know I have an incredible message that the world needs to hear.

Jess’s insight and encouragement gave me the clarity and momentum to move forward with purpose. If you’re on the fence about working with her, take the leap. Jess will see you, hear you, and help you bring your unique message to life.

Diane Lam

The biggest challenge I was facing when I started working with Jess was around how to shape the idea of what I had in mind. It was there, but it was in pieces, and Jess really helped me turn that idea into a foundation for my business to build off of.

Working with Jess resulted in a lot more focus, clarity, direction, and structure around my business, my services, and my offers. Jess is really good at asking thought-provoking questions that you wouldn't otherwise think about. She's amazing at pulling ideas from countless conversations and putting them together in a way that makes sense. I'm happy to say that after five months of working with her, I finally have the foundation, I have the focus, I got the direction, and I'm now ready to go!

Dan Nestle

I'm a serial idea guy. As a business owner and content creator, ideas are my currency. But at some point, you have to make a decision and choose the idea or ideas to invest your time and money in, and I couldn't do it. I was effectively paralyzed. Until I found Jess.

Jess helped me clarify my thinking, see my ideas from the customer's POV, and distill my unique value proposition. She probed, prodded, and encouraged me to work through hard questions and held me accountable for doing what I said I would do.

She kept me focused at a time I truly needed it. By the time we finished, I had developed a new product architecture, refined my messaging, and redesigned my website based largely on what Jess and I talked about.

If you're looking for help with your big ideas and want to spend some time with an insightful and delightful coach, hire Jess now.

Allison O’Brien

I engaged with Jess when I had the beginnings of a big idea to share with the world but didn't know how to get it out there and needed some guidance with the process.

Jess is an absolutely brilliant listener. As a result, she asks brilliant and insightful questions that not only make you feel completely heard, but allow you to more deeply connect to what is at the core. Through her careful prodding and genuine inquiry to understand, she helped me define (for myself) what my message was.

If I hadn't worked with Jess, I don't think I would have had the opportunity to speak on the TedX stage. Her knowledge of the process and her gift for bringing your message to the surface is unmatched.

Abby Stason

I started working with Jess because I wanted to support my landing a TEDx Talk. She is helping me with that, but even more importantly, she’s teaching me her process of getting to my big idea and the impact of that on me personally and professionally.

During the process, she provided an opportunity for me to revisit my brand and points of view. She challenged me to bring myself forward and face the difficulties of being a 58 yr. old LGBTQ female in today’s society.

She’s inclusive, able to hold opposing viewpoints, insightful, present, and lots of fun. She has made this process an uplifting experience. Clearly, I highly recommend her! Thank you Jess.

Jen Morris

Before working with Jess, I was overwhelmed and trying to take multiple ideas and streamline them into something cohesive and aligned, and profitable.

Working with Jess, I got clarity on what my skill sets are and who my audience is, and a plan in place to create the ecosystem to serve them.

As a result of our work together, I feel clear, excited and much more organized! I also feel like I trust my instincts again. Jess, thank you for EVERYTHING!!!



 

Bringing Their Ideas To The Stage

Naming the conviction-driven idea is the most foundational work I do with my clients. As their thought leadership and courage grow, often those ideas end up on stages big and small.

Sherry Sutton

Sherry Sutton

If a TED Talk is on your radar, you absolutely need to get a coach like Jess Sato to help prepare.

I knew going into my talk "How Facebook Saved My Life and Started an Authenticity Revolution" that I needed guidance to really nail it. On my own, I would have procrastinated and the content wouldn't have come together cohesively.

But Jess changed everything. Over 4 months, she helped brainstorm, outline, draft and refine my talk through tons of practice. Because of her coaching, my message ended up being so much richer and more authentic than I could have achieved alone.

Jess made sure I was able to maximize this rare TED opportunity to its fullest potential. I cannot recommend her enough - working with Jess allowed me to have an absolutely incredible experience I'll never forget.

Lisa Smith

In a short period of time Jess was able to help me see clearly exactly what I wanted to say and to whom. She supported the challenging process with a combination of support and compassion as well as the tough questions or critiques that needed to be said in order for my talk to grow into what it became.

The process of preparing for a TEDx is the single most difficult thing that I have prepared for - and my performance and speaking experience is large.

Because of Jess I was able to feel confident not only in my message, but in presenting and owning the hard things that I was saying. This made my experience exactly what I had hoped it would be.

Monica Harris

As someone with minimal TEDx experience, Jessica’s coaching made all the difference in the world for me.

She has a special gift for understanding and appreciating the nuances of any material and subject matter.

With her guidance, I was able to identify the unique elements of my presentation that inspired me, which is the key to passionate and vibrant storytelling.

Her patience and encouragement were so vital during my preparation and gave me the confidence to not only share my “Big Idea", but to also enjoy myself during the process. I can’t recommend Jessica highly enough!

Kara Napolitano

I was lucky enough to have Jess as my TEDx coach for my first TED talk.

Jess was thoughtful and patient with me as I struggled to balance my day job, preparing for this talk, and a more-than-expected set of nerves.

She helped guide me from the development of the speech (by asking me some big, important questions up front) throughout the journey, and to the nitty gritty of wordsmithing and body language.

I'm super grateful for her and highly recommend others who work in social justice or related fields that she is both a great coach and great person. Thanks Jess!

Ashlie Weisel

Having Jess as my coach for my TedX talk was an unmatched experience.

Going in, my confidence was really low as I had no prior public speaking experience.

Jess helped me to find my voice and build my confidence with every meeting. She nurtured my ideas and helped me to mold them into complete thoughts.

She is an absolute joy to work with and to have had the opportunity to work with. A once in a lifetime experience that I can only hope you have the chance to bask in her greatness! Thanks for everything, Jess!!

Kristen Howorko

Working with Jess Sato was truly transformative!

She took me from feeling terrified to confident, guiding me step-by-step and helping me form a real connection with my audience.

Her expertise and encouragement made me feel fully prepared, and I even enjoyed being on stage.

If you want to go beyond just getting through your presentation and actually stand out, Jess is the person to trust!