Success Stories

Real people. Real results.

Whether through coaching, presentations, programs, retreats, or other services, we help our clients hone their innate skills, reach their full capacity, and achieve unprecedented results – both personally and professionally. No matter what changes or improvements our clients seek to make, at AIM, we help transform the whole person, so that our clients develop and master their own strengths to lead better and live better.

We are proud of our clients’ hard work and dedication, and we are pleased to share with you some of their success stories:

Melinda

Melinda came to AIM Leadership two years ago for executive leadership coaching. A top executive at an NGO, she managed a global team across seven time zones. Meetings were a mess – a cacophony of voices. No matter how hard she worked, she felt that she never “caught up” at work or at home. She felt overextended and underappreciated. She was frustrated with her boss, her team, her work, her family – her whole life. Melinda was overwired, overwhelmed, and overwrought.

Together, we explored what it was she wanted to achieve (better work/life balance, a more “regular” lifestyle, better communication with her colleagues and family, firmer boundaries. Then, we came up with an executed a series of small but tangible and actionable strategies to achieve this: scheduled down (unplugged) time each day to recharge and regain herself; set start and end times for meetings with a clear agenda; no e-mails after 6 p.m.; no work on Saturdays after noon or all day Sunday; etc.

It didn’t happen over night, but within a few days she had better clarity. Within a few weeks she had new-found energy and purpose. And within a few months she was on the path to becoming a different person, with greater clarity, focus, and purpose. Her colleagues noticed, too, and appreciated the boundaries. We helped her develop her innate skills so that she could manage her work and her life, in the way that worked best for her.

Laura

Laura, an oncologist, came to AIM for personal coaching. She felt she never had enough time for her work or for her family. She was always plugged in – literally. She always had a screen in front her face, checking e-mail, looking up dorections, texting colleagues. Her family, too, was wired, and she felt that there was a growing distance there.

We worked with her to determine what she wanted most – time for herself, away from it all, to think and recharge, and time with her family without any distractions. SO we helped her establish a series of rules: no screens in the car, no screens at the table, no e-mail after 6 p.m., TV-free Fridays; etc. She also started scheduling time for herself: a 90-minute yoga class twice a week; 10 phone and computer-free minutes every day to meditate; every other Thursday, her secretary blocks off the entire day, so she can catch up and think deeply.

Laura was able to make little shifts in her day, every day, to find the time she desperately needed. Together, we established actionable strategies for getting where she wanted to go.

Michael

Michael, an executive at a major airline, felt he was in a rut. He felt that he had stopped learning and stopped progressing. He knew he wanted to do something different, he just didn’t know what. He came to AIM for executive coaching.

Testimonials

“When I met Dr. Preston my life was in need of major change. She was the sole catalyst behind that change. She helped me to understand that decisions were in my hands, and that I could make that difference in my life – if I wanted to. Dr. Preston exudes tremendous optimism and provides encouragement that there is light at the end of the dark tunnel. She provided key suggestions for change, techniques to work through the issues, and, most important, hope. She continued to support me through the difficult, evolving process, encouraging me along the way, and helping me to see the good within myself when I did not. Nothing could be more valuable.”— Executive, Northwest Airlines
“When I accepted the biggest challenge of my already 14-year career, I was not sure which way to turn. Camille not only understood where I was but had the patience, tenacity, perseverance, and encouragement to guide me through that challenging time and accelerate my career. She has provided me with weekly tools and resources to guide me to that next level. Although we communicate over the phone 2,000 miles apart, I feel as though she is right there with me at every session. Camille not only addresses tough work-related issues, but she has a huge heart and cares deeply about people. She encourages me to grow and stretch myself beyond my own expectations. Today, because of Camille, I am more in control of my life professionally and personally and have become a better leader and father. I was lost but now I have a clear direction to head in with an arsenal of great tools to support me.”–Director of Security, MGM Mirage Corp
“As a Georgetown graduate and a coach myself, I had access to the full complement of Georgetown’s faculty and a range of veteran coaches – I chose Camille. Camille was committed to me as far more than a client – extending sessions, seeking resources, and consistently making herself available as I navigated uncertainty. For example, after much frustration and circling, I called Camille, quite impromptu, to explore some alternative approaches. She found a way to support me and to hear my needs and frustrations and offered a structure that both allowed me to really be where I was while also moving forward. She did all this while being direct, open, and honoring of her own commitments. I have benefited tremendously from her coaching and this kind of modeling. Camille is skilled at getting to a deeper level of consciousness and finding the right set of tools to extend it.”–Coach, Trainer, Business Owner
“In 2005, Camille delivered a customized high-impact, powerful retreat for members of the US Army and their spouses. Participants left with new communication skills, more tools for building effective partnerships, expanded understanding of leadership at home and at work, renewed energy, and ideas for applying the new knowledge personally and professionally. Camille meets military personnel where they are, understands their pressing challenges and addresses their needs in a language that they understand. With her expertise and warmth, she won over several unwilling participants. She created unprecedented results by combining her interpersonal grace with her knowledge and expertise.”–Colonel, US Army