Meet Hilary Kole
Helping professionals — especially women — manage nerves, find their voice, and speak with presence.
“Most people think that singers, performers and actors don’t get nervous. I’m here to tell you that that isn’t actually true. Most people — even professional performers — DO get nervous when they are in high stakes situations. The difference between these people and you is that they know how to perform at their best even when they are nervous. Through my decades of stage experience and using the GK methodology I am so grateful to be able to change people’s minds about performing, giving them tools that they can use every day to perform at their very best. “
Hilary Kole is GK's Vice President and a Master Executive Coach with more than fifteen years of experience coaching leaders around the world. She partners with professionals at every stage of leadership—from emerging talent to CEOs, C-suite executives, managing partners, and executive leadership teams—helping them communicate with confidence, authenticity, and impact when the stakes are highest.
Hilary is highly sought after for preparing senior leaders for high-profile presentations and organizational events. She has coached the CEO and executive leadership team of an Am Law Top 25 firm for its annual partner meetings, the CEO and C-suite of the New York Compensation Insurance Rating Board (NYCIRB) for its annual State of the State conference, and regularly works with many of the nation's leading Am Law firms, coaching everyone from summer associates and
business services professionals to practice group leaders, executive committees, and managing partners.
A specialist in executive presence, vocal production, and live performance techniques, Hilary helps clients strengthen both their vocal and physical presence, manage nerves, and communicate with clarity, authority, and authenticity. She has a particular passion for coaching women in leadership who have been told to "just be more confident" or to "speak more like Bob." Rather than offering generic advice, Hilary provides practical, research-informed techniques rooted in decades of
professional performance and years of executive coaching. Her clients learn how to command the room, remain composed under pressure, and communicate in a way that is both persuasive and genuinely their own.
Before joining GK, Hilary enjoyed an internationally acclaimed career as a jazz vocalist and recording artist. A frequent featured soloist with the New York Pops, she performed multiple times at both Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center, and headlined renowned stages around the world, including the Umbria Jazz Festival, the Montreal Jazz Festival, Birdland in New York City, and the Blue Note in Tokyo. As a performer and writer, Hilary co-created and starred in the critically acclaimed, long-running Off-Broadway productions Our Sinatra and Singing Astaire. Praised by The New York Times as "the always perfect Hilary Kole," she brings the discipline, presence, and artistry developed through a world-class performing career to every coaching engagement. Hilary received her conservatory training from the Manhattan School of Music.
Executive
Presence
Stage
Fright
Vocal Presence
& Performance
Vice President of GK Training
Executive coach to leaders at global firms across finance, law, healthcare, and tech
Specialist in vocal production and live performance under pressure
Helps women leaders overcome nerves and own the room with confidence
Real Results: From Rushed to Commanding
How a Presidential Candidate Transformed His Presence On Stage
Before Coaching: Fast Talker, Missed Impact
In his first presidential debate, Andrew Yang spoke at over 7 words per second — the fastest of any candidate. The result? His message got lost. He struggled to connect, couldn’t land key ideas, and had the lowest speaking time on stage.
After Coaching: Presence, Clarity, Confidence
Just a few weeks of GK coaching transformed his delivery. He slowed down, added strategic pauses, and spoke with confidence — leading to his campaign’s highest fundraising night to date.
What Hilary's Clients Say
Read what professionals, founders, and public figures say about their experience with GK coaching.
"In the 9 years I've worked at this firm, this was, no doubt the most worthwhile training I've ever attended. Confidence level went from 5 to 8 in less than 2 hours. Awesome! Thank you so much for providing this."
Attorney
AM Law 100 Firm
"The whole program was fantastic...They are a wonderful team...They had such great energy that put me and the others in my breakout group at ease. My breakout session was with Hilary. I thought she did a great job leading the group and gave helpful feedback to everyone...! left the breakout group with some great tools from Hilary and feeling like I had gotten a lot out of the day."
Associate
Global Law Firm
"Thank you very much for your help in going through the various presentation strategies... the presentation went great. I felt very confident and comfortable interacting with the other panelists."
Managing Director
Financial Firm
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