Testimonials and Book Reviews
Coaching Testimonial
“I have had the pleasure of working with Jesse for some months now, including observing him in an intensive coaching seminar, in which he coached a number of leaders about a wide range of issues. Jesse has some unique experiences and capabilities that set him apart as a coach, advisor, and leader.
First, he rose from the front lines to a senior leadership position in a Fortune 200 company, which allows him to understand and empathize with employees, managers, and leaders at all levels of an organization.
Second, he has a track record of results that is very impressive — from developing an extremely successful leadership development program to launching a visionary product development process. Jesse has a talent for taking theoretical information and turning it into practical applications that gets results.
As a coach, he uses all of these skills to help executives and leaders develop insights and perform better. His style is calm, poised, and professional, and at the same time he will hold you accountable for what you need to do to improve results. He is a great listener and thinker, and this helps people to think about issues in new ways. I recommend him highly.”
- Andrew Neitlich
Founder and Director of the Leading Executive, Leadership, and Business Coach Training Organization
Speaking Testimonials
“Sir, you spoke at our commencement today, & I enjoyed your advice to us. Your story of all that you overcame to achieve your dreams is inspirational. I finally graduated at the age of 45. I hope the younger graduates heed your advice on integrity, & understand the dedication your story shows.”
- R. Farley, Graduating Student
“Great speech at Bluefield State College today. Thank you for an inspirational message!”
- R. Holiday II, ITSM Consultant
“Dr. Jesse Calloway’s commencement speech divulged some of life’s best kept secrets. Being tenacious, even when the world casts its doubts, embracing change especially when uncomfortable and practicing integrity in even the tiniest of moments are not only the tenets of a successful career, but they’re also essential traits for personal development. Dr. Calloway’s speech was enlightening, reassuring and empowering. He inspired me to self-reflect on my personal goals and to also live life with zeal and curiosity.”
- J. Davis, Program Director, Anthem
Seminar Testimonials
Taking this seminar “reinforced the behavior that I need to strive to achieve.”
- G. Kirkpatrick, Executive Director
- G. Kirkpatrick, Executive Director
[This seminar] “has given me great insight to reflect on my leadership to transform to better lead others.”
- Steven Wilson, NCO in Charge Deployment Instruction
“We lead in and out of the workplace, and these tools are both applicable personally and professionally. Thank you!”
- Christie Tite, Paralegal
- Steven Wilson, NCO in Charge Deployment Instruction
“We lead in and out of the workplace, and these tools are both applicable personally and professionally. Thank you!”
- Christie Tite, Paralegal
[This seminar] "broadened my perspective by ensuring I am open as a leader and understanding that feedback is a gift.”
- Cassi Czechowicz, Material Manager
"Taking this seminar has refreshed my perspective as a leader in my organization and how I listen in the future to my co-workers, interact with leadership and lead in my section overall.”
- Julie Nix, Section Chief Fitness Center
[This seminar] “has helped me reflect and see what areas I need to work on and given me the tools necessary to achieve those goals.”
- Thomas, USAF
This seminar has influenced me to “take stock of how people interact with each other, reinforce listening skills from all parties when striving to meet goals and objectives [and] keep eyes wide open and check with your people.”
- K. Shanner, Manager
Taking this seminar has “made me more aware of the type of person I am and how I can implement different leadership styles during different situations, I will never forget that ‘feedback is a gift.”
- M. Haluga, Supervisor/Financial Analyst
Taking this seminar has “reengaged my direction and approach to leading my division into the future.”
- J. Walker, QA Manager/Supervisor
Resulting from this siminar, “sharing my values with my subordinates helped them understand my expectations.”
- D. Bryan, Supervising Records & Information Management Specialist
Taking this seminar “made me aware of different styles of management and how to use [them] for different personnel styles.”
- P. Massalin, Supervisor
“I will do my best to tailor my leadership style to fit the people I am leading. This seminar has incentivized me to invest more time in my subordinates to understand how to lead them to realize their maximum potential.”
- R. Kilpatric, Supervisor Business/Industry Specialist
“Dr. Calloway kept our students engaged and received high marks from them on the usefulness, content, and interactive nature of his presentation. His seminars include a variety of scenarios and activities that simulate critical thinking while increasing their understanding of the various aspects of leadership.”
- Marsha V. Krotseng, Ed.D. President, Bluefield State College
“[This seminar] helped me to focus on strategies and development of competencies needed to become an effective leader.”
- T. Baynham, Sr. Field Clinical Engineer
“[This seminar] made me think more about the type of leader I am currently and ways to improve.”
- T. Padmore, PhD
“This seminar has helped me reflect on the type of leader I wish to be and understand the skills & qualities I must hone in on to be successful.”
- J. Hauser, Microbiologist, PhD
“This seminar helped me to realize the necessity of different leadership techniques for different people, places, and purposes.”
- S. Soso, Data Analyst, Ph.D
“[After attending this seminar I] have more understanding of the challenges a scientist or other functional roles have with managing and leadership responsibilities.”
- D. Dunk, Lead Associate, PMP, Booz Allen Hamilton, Inc.
“[This seminar] encouraged me to seek more information about leadership & its relevance in my life. Dr. Calloway was resourceful & relevant for women in leadership today.”
- K. Allen, Industrial Engineer
BOOK REVIEWS - All THE WAY TO THE TOP
“Exceptional in its depth, this is a business book with particular relevance. Books about business leadership are almost uniformly ‘light’ in the sense that they mostly offer strategic platitudes but few implementation guidelines. Calloway, an executive coach and former operations executive, takes the opposite approach, providing a leadership playbook that is comprehensive and textbook-like.
The book begins with an overview of leadership, which includes a solid definition, a brief explanation of leadership models, a discussion of ‘leadership levers’ (teams, feedback, and coaching), emotional aspects of leadership, leadership credibility, and leadership psychology and behavior.
The author presents all of this information in a single chapter that is peppered with numerous scholarly references, suggesting that he not only painstakingly researched the topic but also provided a strong, supportable platform for the material. The manner in which the author describes the fictional company is quite impressive: Calloway provides a financial snapshot and an organization chart and, even more remarkably, plays out the backgrounds and roles of seven specific employees.
As a leadership manual for teaching MBA students or a guidebook for business leaders who want their executives to excel, All the Way to the Top should be ideal.”
- Foreword Clarion
“Calloway’s academically oriented work presents leadership strategies and tactics from a number of sources, including his own models. He provides a detailed description of his own leadership improvement model – the 5C LIM and explains how to use it. Calloway gives a number of public-speaking tips and explains the 5P model for building and delivering presentations.
In this book…Calloway’s detailed stories about his fictional managers are entertaining and help to provide real-world examples of common leadership dilemmas. The author finishes with several useful appendices. For those looking for an introduction to the technical side of leadership, this book delivers an engrossing…read.”
- Kirkus Indie
“Climbing the corporate ladder, based on its very image, is a journey linked to terra firma…but author Jesse Calloway, in All the Way to the Top, takes exception to this metaphor…readers will find useful guidance here.
An adjunct faculty member at the Batten College of Engineering and Technology at Old Dominion University in Norfolk Virginia, Calloway is no stranger to ‘textbook-ese’ …fortunately he also finds ways to break that mold by using charts and diagrams to illustrate his concepts.”
- Blueink Review
BOOK REVIEWS - FROM POVERTY TO CORPORATE EXECUTIVE
“How is leadership manifested? In this memoir and motivational book, Dr. Calloway outlines a program for aspiring leaders that answers this question. For those looking to improve and develop skills and step up the leadership ladder… the strength of this book supports the notion that regardless of the circumstances of early life, in Dr. Calloway’s case poverty, anyone with the right drive and commitment can rise above difficulties and “be all that they can be.” I highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone!”
-Pacific Book Review
“From Poverty to Corporate Executive is an outstanding book that combines real life experience with classical, business, and technical theories. This book is synonymous with a great motivation story which inspires the reader… it is clear that family, friends and the entire community are great sources of support in achieving one’s purpose in life. [This book] was written for people in learning institutions and the working class. The book addresses why the mind behaves in a particular way during hard times and how one should utilize his or her brain to make a difference in [the] future. The book’s main point is for one to take charge of life, finding people and opportunities that support their talents and dreams.”
-Hollywood Book Reviews
“The wise counsel offered by Jesse Calloway throughout [this book] should provide a solid platform for achieving success and becoming a leader. The first section of his book is autobiographical and candidly shares memories from his precarious childhood, including living in poverty with five siblings, the death of a parent, and a home life under the care of an aunt and uncle who had six children of their own. Rather than overwhelming or defeating Calloway, however, these challenges steeled him… One of the most useful chapters, “Lessons Learned and Lessons Shared,” is a potpourri of topics, including mentors, bosses, peers, customers, collaboration, feedback, first impressions, second chances, and telling the truth [it] reads very much as if Calloway is providing one-on-one coaching to the reader.”
-Foreword Clarion
-Pacific Book Review
“From Poverty to Corporate Executive is an outstanding book that combines real life experience with classical, business, and technical theories. This book is synonymous with a great motivation story which inspires the reader… it is clear that family, friends and the entire community are great sources of support in achieving one’s purpose in life. [This book] was written for people in learning institutions and the working class. The book addresses why the mind behaves in a particular way during hard times and how one should utilize his or her brain to make a difference in [the] future. The book’s main point is for one to take charge of life, finding people and opportunities that support their talents and dreams.”
-Hollywood Book Reviews
“The wise counsel offered by Jesse Calloway throughout [this book] should provide a solid platform for achieving success and becoming a leader. The first section of his book is autobiographical and candidly shares memories from his precarious childhood, including living in poverty with five siblings, the death of a parent, and a home life under the care of an aunt and uncle who had six children of their own. Rather than overwhelming or defeating Calloway, however, these challenges steeled him… One of the most useful chapters, “Lessons Learned and Lessons Shared,” is a potpourri of topics, including mentors, bosses, peers, customers, collaboration, feedback, first impressions, second chances, and telling the truth [it] reads very much as if Calloway is providing one-on-one coaching to the reader.”
-Foreword Clarion
© COPYRIGHT 2020 LEADERSHIP & MOTIVATION CONSULTANTS, LLC.