Testimonials

Maya Angelou once said, “In order to be a mentor, and an effective one, one must care. You must care. You don’t have to know how many square miles are in Idaho, you don’t need to know what is the chemical makeup of chemistry, or of blood or water. Know what you know and care about the person you’re sharing with.” My first impression of Alan was that he genuinely cared. I met Alan as an ambitious entrepreneur with a grandiose vision for change, but no real sense of direction. At the request of a mutual colleague, Alan agreed to meet with me during the startup phase of my newly founded nonprofit. Alan’s sincerity, compassion, charisma and expertise was striking. Alan’s reflective approach to coaching supported in my professional development and greatly strengthened my ability to lead and scale a small startup. That being said, what I most appreciate about Alan, and what I will forever be grateful for, is his friendship. His belief and commitment to me makes him an amazing mentor, however, his commitment to my family makes him an exceptional person. Through Alan’s mentorship, I began to understand I can be both personally and professionally fulfilled. Many coaches can make you a better professional, but few can truly change your life.

Alan is a skillful coach who truly understands how to bring the best out of people. He has helped me navigate some crucial decisions in my life and the young life of my organization. What strikes me about Alan’s coaching style is that he rarely, if ever, leads with an answer. His greatest superpowers are asking questions, listening deeply, and reflecting back what he has heard in ways that help me see what is really driving me or what has me ‘stuck.’ In that way, he is much more than my coach; he is a true friend. It is for these reasons and so many more that I recommend Alan to anyone looking for a coach, critical friend, or champion on your personal or organizational leadership journey.

Whether in the comfort of his office or within a zoom meeting, Alan puts you at ease through his unique ability to create a space that feels at once safe, supportive and inspired. He creates a safe, supportive and inspired space, and asks perceptive questions that unlock my creativity and realize my best self. He's patient and genuine, doing what he does simply because he loves it and he's so good at it. I know so many people who have been transformed through working with Alan, I'm one of them.

It may sound hyperbolic to claim that my relationship with Alan set in motion every good thing that has happened in my life over the last decade, but it’s nearly true. He not only sparked my desire to become a changemaker, but he laboriously fanned the ember when the troughs of entrepreneurship threatened to extinguish it. He has been my first call when I achieve incredible successes and when I face crushing losses as well.

Alan is the kind of coach where you can start the session by taking a deep cleansing breath, washing away the frenetic speed of the rest of life, fully let your guard down, and be completely open with. No fear of judgement. No need to wear your mask of “successful CEO”. Over the years Alan has helped me grapple with things such as firing my first employee, managing tumultuous Board dynamics, planning 5X growth in one year, writing a personal values statement, building an environment that allowed for continued personal development, knowing when to leave, and figuring out what’s next.

Alan knows when you need to go down every branch of the decision tree to fully unpack a problem or opportunity, and he knows when you just need a hug or to go for a walk. Alan knows the right questions to ask to get to the root of the issue, which is often the emotion or insecurity underneath the surface-level challenge. Alan knows how to take a jumbled, disorganized, interconnected set of thoughts and feelings and frame them in a coherent way, so the right path almost presents itself magically.

Some of my fondest moments have been sitting around Alan’s dinner table with other social entrepreneurs, where we seamlessly flow back and forth between gut-busting laughter at stories of adventure and soothing support of someone describing a current hardship with glassy eyes. He is a coach, yes, but everyone who is fortunate enough to receive his coaching gets so much more than that - they get community.

When I first started working with Alan I was in the middle of a pretty intense situation. I was struggling with feelings of self-doubt, unsure of how to move forward in a positive meaningful way.

One of the powerful ways Alan helped me as a coach was through asking questions and helping me to dig deeper into my own thought process with the choices I was making both in the moment and for my future. Alan has a way of connecting with his clients that is authentic, purposeful, and driven towards growth and change in business, life, community and school. Alan knows that the journey is as important as the end goals and he is more than willing to sit down and really spend the time making the journey worthwhile, connecting, and creating meaningful moments. Even in the points and times when I was challenged or I stumbled in trying to make my goals Alan helped me to see the good and the purpose even in those moments of stumbling. I never doubted Alan’s faith.

I also want to touch on something that I feel is key the work that I do, restorative justice depends on building relationships and being able to actively listen and connect with others. In America and across the globe we are struggling with and having conversations about how white privilege and racism have played out across the business and education landscapes. Alan understands the importance of supporting efforts to make changes, radical changes, to move ourselves forward in a way they can have true impact. Alan has done the work within his own life addressing the dynamics of power and privilege and researching how he needs to listen, advocate and knows racial justice is everyone’s problem. He works to be a part of the solution.

If you’re looking for a coach who really has your back, if you’re looking for a coach who is willing to put in the time, If you’re looking for a coach who understands that transformation happens when we elevate the voices and perspectives of people with lived experiences and put our energy into making changes at local levels then call Alan. He will answer the call, listen to your voice and ask questions that get to the root of issues.

Testimonials that earn the highest praise usually begin with lines like… Working with person "X" changed my life and the trajectory of my organization. It’s hard to read these and fully believe them because it sounds too good to be true. Really? Changed your life? AND… Changed the impact you and your organization wished to make in the world? That sounds like a tall order. However, let me be clear. I have never written that phrase until today and it is 100% true about Alan Harlam. Alan changed my life, work and personal, and I am forever grateful.

He is the personification of a catalyst. He shows up learning about what change you wish to make in your life and the world, then helps you realize what elements you need to gather to create the change. He becomes a guide for you to see what tools you already have to ignite forward motion, and the next thing you know, you are on to the next lesson. And the lessons of life are of course endless and Alan stays by your side as long as needed and without judgement, to help you tackle what is ahead.

The only place where Alan is not like a catalyst is that he himself demonstrates powerful vulnerability and gets personally invested with you. He allows himself to be changed as an ally. What I mean by this is because he doesn’t hold himself as some truth owner, but simply a leerie to shine light on the dark spots where truth already exists for you, he is in your corner with you. He is curious with you. He is your "ups and downs" with you. You are never going to find another Alan Harlam.

The tragic events in the spring of 2020 with George Floyd, Armuad Aubrey, and Breonna Taylor ignited a fire within me that I needed to do more for my community. It was not enough to share my views on social media. I was angry. I had passion without a clear purpose.

Alan listens, validates, and challenges you to dig deeper from within. Our time together has allowed me to focus more singularly on my goals and what I need to do to achieve them. It is not enough to have a plan. What is the purpose, and why is it important? The deep dive allows me to reflect and to push through my fears and biases. What I enjoy most about Alan is that our time together is like old friends catching up. His depth of knowledge, humility, and passion for helping others shines through.

Conversations with Alan were always a beautiful combination of social change theory, mentorship, and storytelling. Alan took the work of social change seriously — complete with reading recommendations, diagrams, and reference books. But he also knew that first and foremost we were people, curious about things, motivated to solve problems, testing theories of the world. He listened intently, sharing stories and jokes, and supported us as we grappled with newfound responsibilities and choices. When I remember those times, it is the listening that stands out more than anything else, the feeling of being completely supported.

In retrospect, one of the most incredible things about working with Alan was the fact that he believed in us young people, consistently, despite many reasons not to. At an age when so many people were inclined to think we couldn’t do things, Alan took us and our ideas seriously. But the true gift is that he made it seem unremarkable, so it is only in retrospect that I realize how rare and valuable a gift his support was.

I met Alan when the idea for my organization, Generation Citizen, was just that, an idea. When many other people were telling me that I had no idea what I was doing, Alan was one of the first people that actually believed in me, my vision, and what I could accomplish. But not just that, Alan's support, coaching and mentorship have been so indispensable over the last decade plus as I built up Generation Citizen. There are two traits that stand out, and are unique in the world we live in today.

First, Alan listens, deeply. He wants to understand your motivations. What's working. What's not. He listens first before providing thoughts. His is, at the core, a relationship-builder, and his ability to listen is so vital and valued.

And second, Alan believes in the best in people. He sees possibility when others are struggling. He pushes you, supportively. There were so many moments when I didn't know if I could make it- when Alan's belief in me, and my idea, propelled us forward.

Generation Citizen would not be what it is today, and I would not be the leader I am today, had Alan not listened to my idea and passion, and believed deeply in my ability to make a difference.

Working with Alan has been one of the most transformative experiences of my life. He has a natural talent for asking the right questions and has provided the necessary space for me to explore my inner landscape. Every conversation he facilitates prioritizes exploring deeper meanings and underlying beliefs allowing me to bring greater creativity to my work and leadership. I've grown tremendously under his guidance and regularly leverage his critical insights to inform my work with others.