Wendy Allen
Every coaching session I have had with Corey in the last year has been insightful and helpful. I begin each session describing something in my work that is confusing, unclear, or simply stuck in some way and he takes me actively through a process of deconstructing my assumptions, articulating what I know (and don't know yet), and introduces relevant and helpful tools or frameworks I can apply to the situation. I always leave having identified key steps I can take to gain clarity or momentum around the work I really care about doing. I feel very grateful to have had the opportunity to learn with him and from him!
May 11, 2025
Dr. Xanthe Scharff
Corey is an absolutely brilliant coach. He has an unmatched ability to help CEOs move their organizations forward through inclusive processes that draw on the best of design thinking, tech, and strategy.
May 10, 2025
Gloria Karthan
Working with Corey in the 2025 Sulzberger program was a game-changer. He’s a great listener with a sharp mind that gets to the heart of any challenge, and his empathy makes every conversation feel safe and motivating.
Thanks to his coaching, I’ve grown both as a person and as a leader: I set clearer priorities, communicate with more confidence, and move my team forward with purpose. If you’re looking for a coach who blends insight with genuine care, I highly recommend Corey.
May 9, 2025
Ben Werdmuller
I sometimes wonder where my career would be if I *hadn't* crossed paths with Corey. He literally changed the course of my career more than once.
His human-centered approach has transformed the way I think about solving problems, building platforms, and approaching my work across media and technology. His advice is grounded in empathy, directness, and an unwavering focus on helping you move ahead. He saves me time, cuts through magical thinking, calls out my blind spots, and keeps me focused on what really matters.
He builds communities, not just networks. He has a strong ethical core and goes above and beyond to be the wind at your back. A great coach - and a great human.
May 8, 2025
David Fucillo
I first met Corey through the Sulzberger program at Columbia. He helped me re-shape my world view both as it related to my work at Vox Media, but more broadly how I approach problem-solving and my own personal development. The program came with several 1:1 coaching sessions and my first session took place about 3 hours after I learned that my boss was getting laid off. I wouldn’t say I was in a panic, but my mind was racing with what this might mean. Corey was able to help me assess the situation and worked with me to figure out some next steps.
Our sessions ranged from talking through my next steps at Vox Media to a specific project I was developing through the Sulzberger program to my general career development. No matter what topic I brought up, Corey has a special ability to digest the issue and figure out how to get me thinking of next steps and potential solutions. The key for me was that he didn’t just tell me, “do X, Y, or Z.” He helped me think deeply on it and figure out what was best suited for me. He is not trying to impose how he would do something, but rather providing the tools for me to figure out the best solution for myself.
That’s what you’ll get from Corey as coach and I couldn’t recommend him more highly!
May 8, 2025
Johanna Derlega
Corey is a thoughtful, intuitive coach who understands both business and humans exquisitely. He provided space for me to illuminate, shift and move toward what better serves me in my work.
May 13, 2025
Hayley Arader
I had a great experience being coached by Corey. He always took an actionable approach to our sessions, and I left every session with real takeaways that I could immediately apply to my work. He helped me develop a much more innovative mindset and changed the way I approach leading my teams. I would definitely recommend working with Corey!
May 13, 2025
Alban Mazrekaj
As a Columbia Sulzberger Fellow, I had the privilege of being coached by Corey throughout my fellowship. Each session was incredibly productive — in just an hour, Corey helped me reflect more deeply, gain clarity, and walk away with 2–3 actionable steps. His sharp insights and thoughtful questions pushed me to grow as a product leader in my newsroom. I can highly recommend Corey to anyone looking for impactful and focused coaching.
May 13, 2025
Hiroshi Toyofuku
Participating in the Sulzberger Executive Leadership Program led by Corey was a truly transformative experience. I gained invaluable skills and new ways of thinking that have had a lasting impact on both my professional and personal growth. The program was not only insightful and inspiring, but also incredibly energizing—an unforgettable journey that I’d highly recommend to any aspiring leader.
May 13, 2025
Jon Cohn
In a crowded field of excellent executive coaches, Corey stands above the rest. I'm grateful to have had the opportunity to learn from him and be able to directly incorporate his guidance into my everyday.
May 13, 2025
Bene Cipolla
Corey's coaching and leadership is truly outstanding. I left the Sulzberger program that he directs with so much clarity — and with learnings I've applied countless times in the years since. If you get the chance to work with him, do it!
May 13, 2025
Garry Pierre-Pierre
Before joining the Sulzberger cohort, my approach was to take an existing product and adapt it to fit my reality. Corey challenged that mindset, highlighting its limitations and encouraging a bottom-up approach instead. That insight transformed our strategy at The Haitian Times. We conducted a 9-city listening tour to truly understand our audience, which led to the creation of a new product that now serves as our guiding framework. The resulting report is grounded in the real challenges our community faces and has helped us identify solutions through an ongoing, iterative dialogue with our audience.
May 13, 2025
Jason Saldanha
Corey was and is an invaluable coach and mentor for a period of time in media that is extremely volatile. His design thinking approach and deliberate and intellectual style, led to breakthroughs in my thinking and leadership. I am eternally grateful to Corey and his work.
May 13, 2025
Megan Finnerty
Corey is so smart, so thoughtful and so empathetic. His insights were consistently actionable and appropriate to where I am in my professional and personal processes. He is not a therapist - but he knows how to do the emotional work needed to get into the professional work, quickly and without fuss. I would recommend him without reservation to people who are serious, rigorous and ambitious.
May 13, 2025
Chase Davis
Working with Corey woke me up to the value of coaching. Our 1-1s fundamentally changed the way I think about my career. Working with him is an investment that will pay off exponentially. Do it.
May 13, 2025
Rachel Fishman Feddersen
Corey coaching at the Sulzberger program was instrumental in helping me get to clarity on a strategy that would prove transformational for my organization. Amazingly helpful, so easy to talk to, and really kind.
May 13, 2025
Natalia Ramírez Jaramillo
I had the pleasure of meeting Corey during the Sulzberger Executive Leadership Program in January 2024. Over the course of three in-person weeks and four months of virtual collaboration, I had the opportunity to design a project aimed at expanding the impact of Radio Ambulante Studios in the United States.
Corey brings many strengths to the table: clarity of thought, strong strategic structure, deep knowledge of our industry, endless insightful questions, and ambition. But above all, he offers a human and empathetic perspective—one that constantly reminds you why we do what we do, who we do it for, and how we can serve them better. It was a privilege to work alongside him and to have his thoughtful input as we explored new possibilities for my organization. I’m always grateful for your time and dedication, Corey.
May 12, 2025
Amanda Mountain
President & CEO, Rocky Mountain Public Media
Corey has an expansive view of the media industry and can bring actionable insights to most any challenge. He helped me connect dots to simplify complex issues and move forward with solutions that addressed even the thorniest of problems. I've worked with him and encouraged others in my organization to do the same. Each time, we've been able to point to significant "leveling up" for those individuals and the organization as a whole.
May 12, 2025
Isabel Mercado
Congratulations on your new project. There is no one quite like you to lead something like this, especially without leaving Sulzberger's side. I am fortunate to have been part of the program's first generation, and it has changed my life in so many ways. I will always follow your work closely and raise the bar for your achievements.
May 12, 2025
Gabriela Resto-Montero
Corey's coaching has been vital in my transition from being the managing editor of our newsroom to the journalism director. That kind of change requires a shift in thinking from the day-to-day tactics of keeping a newsroom humming to a broader, longterm strategy that sustains our work. It's not a move I could've made without clear guidance and understanding from him and the support of my org leadership. As I settle into my role, I think about upcoming projects and goals in far more structural ways than I did before and that has allowed me to advocate confidently for team resources, collaborations and other elements that I see as important for our growth. I think Corey is at his best at identifying the weak spot in a particular practice or approach and then having the patience to walk you through your options and next steps. I've appreciated that he doesn't prescribe solutions and instead gives you room to find your own way, in your own style. I wholeheartedly recommend having Corey as a coach and am happy to answer any questions about working with him.
May 9, 2025
Markus Ikehata (Stein)
I've gained a lot from Corey’s coaching. He quickly understands the complex realities of leadership and asks sharp, thoughtful questions. At the same time, he's not afraid to take a clear stance and offer practical guidance. What made our sessions especially valuable was his deep knowledge of the media industry and his awareness of current tech and media trends. He immediately grasped the context of my challenges—whether around culture, leadership, or strategy. Highly recommended.
May 9, 2025
John Ness
Corey changed how I think about problem solving more than any boss, therapist or mentor I've had. He's a brilliant listener who gives smart, actionable feedback based on *your* goals.
May 8, 2025
Enrique Anselmo Gomez
Corey is an outstanding coach: inquisitive, empathetic, with a bias toward action and helping clients reach their goals. My conversations with him made me reflect about my behavior, get clarity and work through obstacles much faster than I would have without the space to think through things with Corey's guidance.
Corey helped me focus more deeply on company culture, and it's impact on my team and the work we do. He's not shy or cautious about pushing or contrasting my thinking or about providing actual advice, which is the most significant differentiator vs. other coaches I've worked with.
May 13, 2025
Jennifer Brandel
Corey Ford has the kind of boundless energy and "no BS" attitude that helps people move from stuck to momentum. I was lucky enough to have his experience and wisdom when launching my company and getting it to profitability. He's guided hundreds of people in their learning journey toward breakthroughs and through tough impasses. Highly recommend Corey for the practical to visionary support and everything in between!
May 13, 2025
Mary Margaret Miller White
My experience with Corey Ford was invaluable. The design thinking skills I learned from Corey have made me a better leader, fundraiser and innovator. Learning how to combine the powerful storytelling with impactful data is an art, and Corey is the Picasso!
May 13, 2025
Sharif Durhams
I think very differently about my career because of Corey.
Our 1-on-1 sessions during my time in the Sulzberger Executive Leadership Program gave a better sense of what I can control in my role and how I can be most effective. He taught me how I could have impact on small teams and ways to be strategic when working to change my organization. Corey's feedback is direct, caring and pragmatic. I’ve modeled his approach in tackling challenges with my teams. I've been a better ally to other leaders because of his advice.
I'm grateful to Corey and recommend working with him.
May 14, 2025
Monique Jones
Working with Corey as my career coach has been one of the most transformative professional experiences I’ve had. From the very first session, he established a thoughtful structure and set clear norms that created a safe, intentional space for growth. He listens deeply — not just to what I say, but to what’s underneath it — and consistently reflects my challenges back to me in clear, manageable ways that help me move forward with clarity and confidence.
Each session builds on the last, strengthening not only my leadership skills but also my connection to myself. I walk away feeling more grounded, more self-aware, and better equipped to lead with intention. Through his coaching, I’ve learned to see myself in a new light — and that shift has been powerful. I can’t recommend him highly enough.
May 14, 2025
Tracy Brown
I’m grateful for the coaching I’ve received from Corey over the years. He not only guided me through a critical career transition a few years ago, but his approach was both empowering and inspiring. His design thinking sessions helped me to create, lead and execute on a project that is one of my most proud achievements.
May 13, 2025
Ted Goldberg
Corey is so good at asking the specific questions about your work that get you to overcome a hurdle, get unstuck and brainstorm a solution. Our conversations helped me solve problems with a real sense of ownership. I really appreciate his honesty, his cheerleading and his mantras (that I now say to myself!).
May 13, 2025
Ki Sung
Corey is an insightful coach who's skilled at helping you figure out a path towards accomplishing your goals. He’s a careful listener who can connect you with your next steps, and coaches you in a way that leaves you better able to help yourself and others. I had the pleasure of learning from Corey through the Sulzberger fellowship. He has a particular set of skills that can benefit any individual, team or organization!
May 13, 2025
Shawna VanNess
Corey is the ultimate strategist. He has an innate ability to understand people and situations quickly, which means you get right to solutions. He brings strong vision, a push for innovation and a dose of accountability to our conversations. Every session is a breakthrough.
May 14, 2025
Deborah Douglas
Corey introduced me to so many new skills and innovative approaches that I can't find enough ways to apply them in my day-to-day work as a journalism leader and educator. After completing the Sulzberger Executive Leadership Program at Columbia University, I couldn't believe this was the first time I had been introduced to such vital concepts and practices. I needed these skills at the start of my journey and am glad I have them now. Corey's deep understanding of innovative methods, industry trends and human nature has transformed how I approach my work and given me the confidence to think bigger about what I can build in the world. This isn't just theoretical—it's happening. I reflect on his lessons every day as I build my future.
May 14, 2025
Anne Galloway
As I faced a major curve ball as a leader, Corey Ford gave me the courage to get past my denial and see the situation clearly. His subsequent advice on how to move forward was invaluable. I would highly recommend Corey as a coach. He had my back, and he'll have yours, too.
May 14, 2025
Blair Hickman
I had the pleasure of working with Corey via the Sulzberger program and as a coaching client. As a facilitator, Corey is a master at helping people understand complex design thinking and business topics in a short amount of time, through a range of engaging exercises and learning environments. He's incredible at creating intentional serendipity, forging connections, helping people feel comfortable trying something new (even in front of virtual strangers!), and developing a testable idea quickly. As a coach, Corey has a unique ability to hold space for both emotions and the ruthless focus that founders need. He's able to leverage design thinking to get you unstuck out of almost any situation. People who value connection, practical frameworks that you can take outside of a coaching session, and the idea of testing things before they're perfect would get a lot out of having Corey as a coach.
May 14, 2025
Anna Dubenko
Corey is a fantastic coach. He's direct, empathetic, flexible and easy to talk to. I learned a lot from him.
May 14, 2025
Kyra Darnton
Working with Corey was a transformative experience, not only for me but for my entire organization. His coaching had a profound impact on the way we approach our challenges and how we think about our place in the industry. At a time when so many things are disrupted, I can't think of a more important voice to have in the room as you chart the future. I'm so grateful every day for all that he taught me (and I wish I had worked with him sooner!).
May 14, 2025
Shanté Cosme
Corey is the rare coach who combines tactical precision with emotional generosity.
He has a gift for asking the right questions and creating systems that help complex ideas stick. While working with him, my purpose and my career’s possibilities came into sharp focus. No one does it better than Corey!
May 14, 2025
Dalit Shalom
Corey is a coach like no other. His ability to listen and hold challenges without judgement is unmeasured and he has a real talent for helping clients mentally unblock themselves and run towards what they desire. He will hold you accountable and provide the most generous support along the way. Can't recommend Corey enough!
May 15, 2025
Joanne Griffith
Corey is an incredible executive coach, one of the best. He listens loudly to fully understand what you're trying to work through and offers insights to help you make your own decisions. Working with Corey has fundamentally changed how I lead, innovate and stay true to my values.
May 15, 2025
Christopher Norris
Corey Ford is an exceptional and insightful coach whose approach is both innovative and transformative. Rather than providing direct answers, Corey masterfully leads with curiosity, guiding clients through thoughtful conversations that spark self-discovery and profound realizations. Through his coaching, I experienced a creative breakthrough that ignited a strategic renaissance in my thinking, which I successfully applied to my work. I highly recommend Corey and am eager to continue coaching with him as he launches Point C
May 15, 2025
Mary Margaret Miller White
My experience with Corey Ford was invaluable. The design thinking skills I learned from Corey have made me a better leader, fundraiser and innovator. Learning how to combine powerful storytelling with impactful data is an art, and Corey is the Picasso!
May 15, 2025
Maritza L. Félix
Conocí a Corey en un momento clave de desarrollo en mi liderazgo personal, cuando mi organización enfrenta un momento de crecimiento sólido, pero a la vez muchas incertidumbres por el clima que se vive en el 2025, y él con la paciencia y experiencia ha sido un gran mentor para que descubra mi estilo y le saque el mayor potencial a mis habilidades, para que mi equipo y yo crezcamos sanos, conscientes, con normas y expectativas y con una clara visión de a dónde vamos, quiénes somos y qué queremos lograr. Corey me ha ayudado a enfrentar mi tendencia a evitar el conflicto y postergar conversaciones difíciles, y seguir innovando y experimentando con propósito. Además tiene un sentido del humor fantástico.
May 15, 2025
Jody Mak
Corey brings a powerfully human and actionable approach to coaching. It's been several years since working with Corey, and the frameworks he's coached me through is enduring, in ways not only professionally, but also personally. I have nothing but gratitude. It's a true privilege to work with Corey and hope you're able to too.
May 15, 2025
Mazin Sidahmed
Corey was my coach while I was a student in the Sulzberger program. His holistic understanding of how to create high-performing cultures was transformative for me. His approach helped me put a name to the things I'd been doing well intuitively while identifying the areas I still had for growth, with tactics on how to get there. As a coach, he's not afraid to challenge you while also bringing a wealth of empathy. I couldn't recommend him highly enough!
May 15, 2025
Dalit Shalom
Corey is a coach like no other. His ability to listen and hold challenges without judgement is unmeasured and he has a real talent for helping clients mentally unblock themselves and run towards what they desire. He will hold you accountable and provide the most generous support along the way. Can't recommend Corey enough!
May 15, 2025
Anna Griffin
Corey is an exceptional coach and guide who has helped me view both individual projects and my broader career through a more thoughtful, deliberate lens. He's also just a wonderful person.
May 15, 2025
Alexandra Smith
I use the frameworks that I've learned from Corey on a near-daily basis. From his coaching, designing and testing my ideas has become much more quick and effective. Highly recommend working with Corey to bring your plans to life!
May 14, 2025
Felix Langenmayr
Corey really gets the media industry! Not just the big trends, but the day-to-day challenges we all face. Instead of giving one-size-fits-all advice, he helped me work through solutions.
What I appreciated most is how Corey combines sharp strategic thinking with a lot of empathy. Every session felt both productive and supportive. If you want someone who can help you rethink your strategy, push your thinking, or just get unstuck, I can’t recommend Corey enough.
May 14, 2025
Kyra Darnton
Working with Corey was a transformative experience, not only for me but for my entire organization. His coaching had a profound impact on the way we approach our challenges and how we think about our place in the industry. At a time when so many things are disrupted, I can't think of a more important voice to have in the room as you chart the future. I'm so grateful every day for all that he taught me (and I wish I had worked with him sooner!).
May 14, 2025
Jean Friedman-Rudovsky
Corey is brilliant. I've worked with and among many executive coaches over the last 10 years and Corey is up there with the best and brightest of those. He's also kind, caring, and a lovely human.
May 14, 2025
Emily Holden
Corey is a tremendous asset for leaders and organizations navigating change. He can help you thoughtfully evaluate your situation and chart a path forward. His journalism and audience engagement expertise is especially helpful for newsroom clients.
May 14, 2025
Ed Batista
I've known Corey Ford for many years--he was in our very first cohort of Leadership Fellows at the Stanford University Graduate School of Business--and he's a gifted coach and facilitator. Highly recommended!
May 15, 2025
Ethan Toven-Lindsey
I worked closely with Corey during the height of the pandemic, and Corey went above and beyond to work with me and provide mentorship, coaching and real insight during that difficult period. I can't recommend Corey highly enough as someone to provide real coaching support and strategic thinking.
May 15, 2025
Nicole Lewis
Corey is an incredible coach. I worked closely with Corey as member of the Sulzberger Executive Leadership Program at Columbia University. From the very beginning Corey helped me see the promise of my idea, and then worked closely with me (while working closely with others!) to execute it. His blend of active listening, creative brainstorming (flare!), and synthesis (focus!) was a game-changer when I was stuck or doubting my next steps. I always appreciate an opportunity to run ideas by Corey, and he continues to be supportive of my growth in the industry. He's also genuine and generous with his time to boot.
May 15, 2025
Matt Kiser
Corey helped me bring structure and intention to my solo creator journalist business by encouraging more meaningful conversations with readers (i.e. user research) – and then helping me apply those insights using design thinking and business fundamentals so that my work more clearly aligns with reader needs.
May 15, 2025
Shigeyuki Yamashita
President, Nikkei America, Inc.
I am learning under Corey at Columbia Journalism School's the Sulzberger Executive Leadership Program. I also had the opportunity to receive one-on-one coaching sessions with him. His coaching, grounded in deep expertise and experience, provided me with numerous valuable insights.
Having recently made a significant career shift from editorial work to the business side, I’ve been able to adapt quickly to this new path thanks to the insights from his coaching.
I'm confident that with the launch of his new company, many more people will have the opportunity to experience the same kind of transformative coaching I did.
May 15, 2025
Jin Ding
Corey is an absolute gem. He’s sharp, deeply thoughtful, and unafraid to tell the honest truth — always with care and intention. His communication is clear and grounded, and he leads with a strong sense of purpose and core values. Corey has a way of pushing me to seek clarity, lean into the unknown, and stay steady during uncertain times. He’s been a source of both challenge and encouragement — the kind of teammate and thought partner anyone would be lucky to have.
May 15, 2025
Kerstin Hasse
I really enjoyed working with Corey. He has an incredibly positive manner and can always see opportunities, even in big challenges. He is creative, humorous and smart, and he has always motivated and challenged me to think bigger. He encourages people to recognise their own potential and make the most of it. His empathy and creativity are just as remarkable as his ability to think outside the box and to find solutions quickly and efficiently. I'm so grateful that he's part of my network, and I really hope we'll get to work together again soon.
May 19, 2025
Michael Anastasi
Every Olympic athlete has an elite coach, and you need one too. Corey is it. Perceptive. Clarity. Insight.
May 17, 2025
Mio Wakasa
Meeting Corey through the Sulzberger programme was a truly life-changing experience in my career.
Corey's classes and coaching are future-oriented and action-based. With his keen observational skills, he identifies what students and clients truly need, and through his thought-provoking questions—sometimes direct, sometimes innovative—he provides guidance that has given me the wings to be a leader living in the present. I sincerely hope that everyone can experience the same transformation.
May 17, 2025
Amy King
I had the pleasure of getting to know and working with Corey when I was part of the Sulzberger program. In addition to leading the group, Corey held individual coaching sessions with each of us. Corey is a focused, considerate listener and has an extensive network and knowledge base within the media landscape -- making him an excellent person to help guide those of us making our way through careers in journalism. Years later, I still hear Corey's advice in my head. My favorite example: He helped me change how I give and receive feedback. He offers a welcoming space to help navigate everything from personal career choices to being more effective in your current role.
May 19, 2025
Lisa Garcia Grace
I had the privilege of being coached by Corey as part of the Sulzberger Executive Leadership program. Corey is a unique and perfect blend of active listener, empathetic human and strategically practical mentor. He guided me through personal growth opportunities as well as organizational strategies. I know I’m a better leader and person because of his guidance. No matter where you are in your career or business planning, Corey can get you to the best next step for you. Thank you Corey!
May 23, 2025
Samantha McCann
The Sulzberger fellowship changed my life, and Corey's coaching was central to that. The program was so thoughtfully designed, really a one-of-a-kind leadership program. Corey's design-thinking bootcamp taught me fundamentals that have become a mainstay for how I think about getting from problem to solution. And the 1-1 coaching sessions with Corey really helped me get past key barriers, reframe challenges, and bolster my confidence in my abilities. Understanding his perspective on leadership, innovation and what a healthy organizational culture looks like made the coaching even more impactful. I recommend Corey without hesitation.
May 21, 2025
Freek Staps
How lucky one can be when Corey is the Director of the Sulzberger Program at Columbia University and you are one of 'his' Fellows! Corey is a mentor, a friend, a helicopter and a step stool at the same time. You feel and are heard, helped and hugged at the same time. Your work will benefit from his thoughtfulness and professional sincerity.
May 27, 2025
Ian Sager
When I think about the moments that have shaped me as a leader, Corey’s 1:1s are near the top of the list. If you’re a founder, executive, or builder at an inflection point, take a moment to read about what Corey Ford is building, and consider what it might look like to have him in your corner.
Jun 2, 2025
Andrew Ramsammy
This program had a huge impact on me and my cohort mates continue to inspire me with their work years later. A must for anyone who understands the urgency and need for media transformation. Even switching industries, the process work remains the same and just as relevant. Make time.
Jul 6, 2025
Bene Cipolla
I cannot recommend this program enough — or the coaching and mentorship of Corey Ford. I use the learnings from my 2021 cohort *all the time* and am so grateful for the support that the greater Sulzberger network has provided. If you're thinking of applying and have any questions, I'm happy to chat.
Jul 6, 2025
Ben Werdmuller
I can't overstate the effect Corey's thinking, insights, mentorship, and advice have affected my career. I carry these tools and mindsets with me every day.
It's also obviously true that media needs real change: a shift from ivory tower, legacy strategies to human-centered, prototype-driven experimentation. That's what Corey unlocks: the tools to experiment, but also the tools to create a culture where experimentation is safe and effective.
Throughout the course and beyond, he'll be the wind at your back. Go take a look.
Jul 15, 2025
Patrick Boehler
Corey's mentorship was transformative during a pivotal moment in my career. Beyond guiding me through a complex corporate environment, he taught me to trust my instincts, analyze opportunities with structural rigor, and embrace the "fail fast" mindset (at first most painfully now joyfully) that is essential for innovation.
He provided the strategic perspective and confidence I needed to launch my own media research venture following my Sulzberger fellowship. Most importantly, Corey showed me how to be unapologetic about taking a seat at the table and driving meaningful change.
His encouragement was instrumental in my decision to embrace entrepreneurship, a journey I wouldn't have embarked on without his support and insight. Corey combines passion for great journalism and exceptional business acumen with genuine investment in his mentees' success.
I wholeheartedly recommend Corey to anyone ready to challenge the status quo and transform their career. He doesn't just guide you through existing paths, he empowers you to create entirely new ones.
May 13, 2025
Alexa Sonnenfeld
Put most simply, Corey’s a voice that has stuck in my head. Always curious, sometimes provocative, and refreshingly direct, Corey’s a master at helping you find the right next question to ask— during direct coaching sessions but also far beyond them thanks to his thorough modeling of an approach, a process, and a playbook to draw from.
May 12, 2025
Sean Jordan
Corey's dynamic leadership has helped me navigate & thrive in two professional worlds: the world of corporate innovation while working as an executive at Disney, and the world of entrepreneurship as I build my own venture.
Our relationship started through his leadership of the Sulzberger Fellowship at Columbia University, and he's continued to be a great mentor, coach & friend to me in my journey beyond. I highly recommend Corey's services.
May 11, 2025
Jon Laurence
Working with Corey on the Sulzberger program didn't just change my working practices - it changed my life. Through coaching, amongst many other things, Corey helped me become a significantly more effective presenter, and made me realize that my journalistic storytelling ability could be used to make me a better leader and communicator.
As a coach, Corey is a genuine triple threat - he was equally comfortable guiding me through business strategy, editorial vision and cultural change. On a personal level, I was extremely grateful that Corey had a rare ability to be direct and kind at the same time, and it was always clear even when he was occasionally telling me things I didn't want to hear, that he was doing it with my best interests at heart.
I would wholeheartedly recommend Corey to news leaders looking to level up or to media leadership teams that are going through a transformation.
May 9, 2025
Liz Kelly Nelson
Working with Corey was a turning point in my career. As director of the Sulzberger Executive Leadership Program at Columbia, Corey helped guide me through one of the most transformative professional experiences I’ve had. Later, through one-on-one coaching, he played a key role in helping me find the clarity (and courage) to launch (and persevere with) Project C, my independent initiative to support creator-model journalists. Corey brings an extraordinary mix of strategic insight, emotional intelligence and entrepreneurial energy to every conversation. He doesn’t just ask great questions – he helps you hear your own answers more clearly. If you’re navigating a major transition, building something new, or trying to reconnect with your purpose as a leader, I can’t recommend Corey highly enough!
May 11, 2025
Jay Allred
It is not an overstatement to say that Corey's coaching and mentorship changed the trajectory of my career and improved most aspects of my life. Corey's singular talent is creating environments where powerful, opinionated leaders who are accustomed to deference open themselves up to the magic of authentic, ground-level user feedback. It's simple, but so powerful and often transformative. Corey taught me to inject humility and curiosity into venture design, which is something people in my business struggle with. Me included.
Three years out from Sulzberger, we've woven Corey's teaching into the DNA of our company's HR policies, our explicit norms for behavior, our product design principles, how we listen to audiences, and how we give and receive feedback to one another.
There's no way for me to recommend Corey more highly. He's just the best I've worked with. Period.
May 13, 2025
Rebecca Norris
Head of Product & Design Research, The New York Times
As my executive coach for the past two years, Corey Ford's coaching is as good as it gets. From my first session to the most recent one a few weeks ago, he's able to listen and simultaneously process information in a way that he can see the insight in whatever topic we're discussing. Oftentimes, I'll come to him thinking I'm struggling with problem X, and he's able to shine a light on how it's really a problem Y issue. Over time, he's become someone that I trust so much that our coaching sessions have integrated both professional and personal struggles. Having Corey as a "whole-person" coach has been tremendously valuable. I unequivocally recommend Corey Ford!
May 15, 2025
Jim Kennedy
Senior Vice President, Strategy & Enterprise Development, The Associated Press
My association and collaboration with Corey goes back a decade, when I persuaded The Associated Press to invest in his (at that point) fledgling venture fund, Matter Ventures. The pitch to my fellow execs at AP was to use Matter as a gateway into the startup scene in Silicon Valley, get our people exposed to some potential new partners and give our news, technology and product teams an infusion of entrepreneurial thinking. It was the single most transformative move I made in my 20 years as head of strategy for the global news agency. We worked with Matter through the life of the fund's investments and then hired Corey to work inside AP as a design-thinking coach. Over the course of all that work with Corey, we were able to train more than 150 of our staffers in his special brand of design thinking. Corey's super-power is his ability to embed himself directly and deeply into a company, study and understand its culture and develop programs that speak the company's language while communicating the new language of design thinking. I couldn't be more enthusiastic and grateful for the time we invested with Corey, and I'm excited for him to push onward to "Point C."
May 15, 2025
Claudio E. Cabrera
Vice President of Newsroom Strategy and Audience, The Athletic
When I joined the Sulzberger program, I was incredibly grateful for the opportunity—but also shy and carrying my own version of imposter syndrome. At first, it was a little intimidating to be in a room full of such talented, accomplished individuals. It took me some time to open up, and Corey was instrumental in helping me do that.
He challenged me with thoughtful, pointed questions that pushed me to deeply examine every aspect of my project. Corey didn’t just want me to complete something—he wanted me to bring it to life in a way that would have real impact for The New York Times and its business.
What I appreciated most about Corey was his leadership and teaching style. Every time he pushed, it came from a place of belief—he saw potential and wanted to help you reach it. It never felt like frustration; it felt like support. As someone constantly looking to improve, I would absolutely work with Corey again, and I've only heard great feedback from Sulzberger fellows who followed after me.
I highly recommend Corey as a consultant, teacher, and coach. He brings out the best in people—not just for the sake of their organizations, but for their own growth and confidence.
May 15, 2025
Kathy Baird
Chief Communications Officer, The Washington Post
Corey is one of the most insightful and pragmatic coaches I’ve had the pleasure of working with. He has a rare ability to help me see the bigger picture for my leadership journey while also offering clear, actionable guidance on how to get there. That balance—between vision and execution—is exactly what I need at this stage of my career as an executive. I’ve learned so much from Corey during the Sulzberger Fellowship and fully intend to continue that growth with his support.
May 14, 2025
Christiane Mack
Chief Content Operations Officer, Condé Nast
It's been several years since I was a Sulzberger Fellow, regularly receiving project feedback and executive coaching from Corey, but his approach and wisdom—all the "Corey-isms" we grew to know and love—are still engraved in my brain. In fact, I continue to draw from them on a regular basis. Corey's guidance was thoughtful and effective. He understood that navigating complex leadership dynamics is a critical component to personal and career development.
Corey has a rare ability to balance strategic insight with empathy, and, like any good coach, can shift in and out of therapist mode as appropriate. The advice from him was not only relevant and practical, but often exactly what I needed to hear—even if it wasn’t always what I expected.
May 19, 2025
Melissa Parsons
Executive Producer, The TODAY Show
Working with Corey was easily one of the best experiences of my professional life. He had the ability to listen to ideas and synthesize information in a way that helped me, as a leader, grow. He could help me identify what I truly wanted to achieve for my team, for my goals and identify ways to get there. It felt like a magic skill and is almost hard to put into words as I write this recommendation. . . Corey taught me how to lead from a place of strength and have confidence in my ability to do so.
May 15, 2025
Wendy Allen
Every coaching session I have had with Corey in the last year has been insightful and helpful. I begin each session describing something in my work that is confusing, unclear, or simply stuck in some way and he takes me actively through a process of deconstructing my assumptions, articulating what I know (and don't know yet), and introduces relevant and helpful tools or frameworks I can apply to the situation. I always leave having identified key steps I can take to gain clarity or momentum around the work I really care about doing. I feel very grateful to have had the opportunity to learn with him and from him!
May 11, 2025
Dr. Xanthe Scharff
Corey is an absolutely brilliant coach. He has an unmatched ability to help CEOs move their organizations forward through inclusive processes that draw on the best of design thinking, tech, and strategy.
May 10, 2025
Gloria Karthan
Working with Corey in the 2025 Sulzberger program was a game-changer. He’s a great listener with a sharp mind that gets to the heart of any challenge, and his empathy makes every conversation feel safe and motivating.
Thanks to his coaching, I’ve grown both as a person and as a leader: I set clearer priorities, communicate with more confidence, and move my team forward with purpose. If you’re looking for a coach who blends insight with genuine care, I highly recommend Corey.
May 9, 2025
Ben Werdmuller
I sometimes wonder where my career would be if I *hadn't* crossed paths with Corey. He literally changed the course of my career more than once.
His human-centered approach has transformed the way I think about solving problems, building platforms, and approaching my work across media and technology. His advice is grounded in empathy, directness, and an unwavering focus on helping you move ahead. He saves me time, cuts through magical thinking, calls out my blind spots, and keeps me focused on what really matters.
He builds communities, not just networks. He has a strong ethical core and goes above and beyond to be the wind at your back. A great coach - and a great human.
May 8, 2025
David Fucillo
I first met Corey through the Sulzberger program at Columbia. He helped me re-shape my world view both as it related to my work at Vox Media, but more broadly how I approach problem-solving and my own personal development. The program came with several 1:1 coaching sessions and my first session took place about 3 hours after I learned that my boss was getting laid off. I wouldn’t say I was in a panic, but my mind was racing with what this might mean. Corey was able to help me assess the situation and worked with me to figure out some next steps.
Our sessions ranged from talking through my next steps at Vox Media to a specific project I was developing through the Sulzberger program to my general career development. No matter what topic I brought up, Corey has a special ability to digest the issue and figure out how to get me thinking of next steps and potential solutions. The key for me was that he didn’t just tell me, “do X, Y, or Z.” He helped me think deeply on it and figure out what was best suited for me. He is not trying to impose how he would do something, but rather providing the tools for me to figure out the best solution for myself.
That’s what you’ll get from Corey as coach and I couldn’t recommend him more highly!
May 8, 2025
Johanna Derlega
Corey is a thoughtful, intuitive coach who understands both business and humans exquisitely. He provided space for me to illuminate, shift and move toward what better serves me in my work.
May 13, 2025
Hayley Arader
I had a great experience being coached by Corey. He always took an actionable approach to our sessions, and I left every session with real takeaways that I could immediately apply to my work. He helped me develop a much more innovative mindset and changed the way I approach leading my teams. I would definitely recommend working with Corey!
May 13, 2025
Alban Mazrekaj
As a Columbia Sulzberger Fellow, I had the privilege of being coached by Corey throughout my fellowship. Each session was incredibly productive — in just an hour, Corey helped me reflect more deeply, gain clarity, and walk away with 2–3 actionable steps. His sharp insights and thoughtful questions pushed me to grow as a product leader in my newsroom. I can highly recommend Corey to anyone looking for impactful and focused coaching.
May 13, 2025
Hiroshi Toyofuku
Participating in the Sulzberger Executive Leadership Program led by Corey was a truly transformative experience. I gained invaluable skills and new ways of thinking that have had a lasting impact on both my professional and personal growth. The program was not only insightful and inspiring, but also incredibly energizing—an unforgettable journey that I’d highly recommend to any aspiring leader.
May 13, 2025