In 2006, Elizabeth Koraca left her homeland of Canada, abandoning the beginnings of a promising career in politics after a stint as a policy advisor to a cabinet minister with the Ontario government. She headed to New York City to fulfill a dream of becoming an on-air reporter.
But when she arrived, her dogged enthusiasm was met with a barrage of rejection and criticism: “You’re not good enough.” “You don’t have the right look.” “You’re a foreigner.” “You don’t have the right experience.” “You need to go to a smaller market,” she was told whenever she interviewed for a position.
The dismissals mounted, and her enthusiasm waned. It was a painful blow for the young woman who had always been tenacious in pursuing career goals. Her drive to overcome obstacles stemmed from her childhood, when she battled extreme shyness and self-doubt, and was discouraged by a teacher from ever considering a future in public speaking. When her first job finally materialized—a low-paid camera operator position, requiring her to carry 70 pounds of equipment to shoots—she began to channel her frustrations into action, with a laser focus on the future.
“Everyone’s path to empowerment is unique.”
Soon, she got a big on-air break with a job in the Bronx. Not long after, she was offered the position of financial TV journalist at Reuters, the largest news organization in the world at a publicly-traded company, working not just on local stories but at the global network level. It was the beginning of an auspicious career, managing a team and overseeing direct reports for the Reuters/Chinese Central Television (CCTV) business partnership.
As a TV anchor, Elizabeth traveled the globe for stories, reported from the New York Stock Exchange, and interviewed hundreds of top CEOs and billionaire investors. She learned how to simultaneously ask critical questions of her sources and put them at ease in front of the camera. Many of them were petrified. She realized there were a number of financial executives in powerful positions who had attained success, but still lacked confidence in their abilities. And they didn’t have the tools to overcome their fears. She soon launched the Reuters/CCTV Singapore bureau where she trained and coached print reporters to develop and improve their on-air skills for daily live reports on Asian markets, broadcasting to viewerships in the hundreds of millions. As her expertise grew, so did her confidence and certainty. She was no longer riddled with fear and self-doubt. And others began to notice. She was emboldened by her leadership position, growing knowledge, and the positive feedback from those around her.
“A state of fear is not sustainable.”
Nearly seven years after joining Reuters as a TV anchor, she was deemed “top talent” and hired as a consultant to work with corporate professionals at Thomson Reuters. She launched her own coaching practice, working with clients from Morgan Stanley, top hedge fund firms, entrepreneurs and founders running their own businesses. Today, Elizabeth leverages the skills she gained as a TV anchor and the formal education she gained through professional coaching programs to empower people across industries to take charge of their careers, grow their revenue, expand their client base, and shed personal insecurities, much in the same way she did when she tackled the competitive New York television market years before.
While she has built a core clientele in the corporate world, her practice has evolved, serving all industries and professions, ranging from financial executives and fellow coaches to entrepreneurs and educators. Elizabeth has been a TV contributor on CNN, CNNi, Fox News, Fox Nation, Business Rockstars, and iHeart Radio on topics ranging from goal setting to time management and finding your purpose. Her advice has also been featured in the print publications New York Magazine, NASDAQ, Yahoo, Entrepreneur and more.
“Changing your professional outlook will translate into direct rewards.”
With clarity of vision, Elizabeth shows clients how to identify blind spots, cultivate relationships, and self-promote without seeming inauthentic. Intimately familiar with the pressures of the financial world and the rigors of New York’s daily grind, she has helped high-powered executives conquer anxiety and has taught shy, aspiring leaders to speak with authority. She is meticulous in her execution, but approaches each client without judgment, guiding them to a new purpose with a firm but patient voice: Engage your audience and retain your composure. Speak from the diaphragm and don’t muddle the message. Be assertive but not defensive. Be passionate, certain and confident. Channel fear into action. Don’t succumb to self-doubt. She shows her clients how to overcome adversity and seize the spotlight they thought was out of reach. With her guidance, the unassertive gain direction, and the lone wolf becomes the leader.
Elizabeth Koraca is a Career Coach and TV Contributor in Los Angeles & New York City. She helps business executives, entrepreneurs, and other professionals improve presentation and communication skills so they can wield more influence, excel in their careers, and attain new leadership roles. Ms. Koraca travels the globe as a coach and expert TV guest, offering a range of services, including executive coaching, career strategizing, and media and presentation training to help clients boost job performance, seek promotions, and plan new careers. She specializes in helping business and other professionals improve their image, messaging, and personal branding. Through her step-by-step program, clients learn how to deliver effective presentations, cultivate stronger professional bonds, and speak confidently to print and broadcast reporters.
Her clients include professionals at Morgan Stanley, Thomson Reuters, Pfizer, JLL (Jones Lang LaSalle) and multiple prominent New York-based hedge fund firms, but her practice also has evolved to serve professionals across all industries.
Elizabeth is also an expert TV contributor and a regular on CNN, CNNi, Fox News, Fox Nation, Business Rockstars, and iHeart Radio. Her advice has been featured in print publications New York Magazine, NASDAQ, Yahoo, Entrepreneur and more.
Prior to starting her own business, Ms. Koraca was a financial TV news anchor for Reuters. In that role, she interviewed hundreds of industry leaders from large asset management firms and Fortune 500 companies, including Blackstone CEO Stephen Schwarzman, and renowned investors Jim Rogers and Wilbur Ross.
She launched the Reuters/Chinese Central Television (CCTV) Singapore bureau, where she trained and coached print reporters to develop and improve their on-air skills for daily live reports on Asian markets. In addition to her experience at Reuters, Ms. Koraca worked in television news at NBC, NY1, BronxNet and PBS.
Ms. Koraca also hosts media and presentation workshops for organizations such as The Newswomen’s Club of New York. She is an experienced public speaker and has hosted the Outstanding 50 Asian Americans in Business Awards Gala Dinner. She is an expert panelist for events such as the Asian American Business Roundtable Summit.
Ms. Koraca received her Bachelor of Arts from Saint Mary’s University. She also completed the certificate program, Seminar in Business Journalism and Finance, at The Wharton School of The University of Pennsylvania. She is a certified Professional Coach through the International Coach Federation and attended the Center of Coaching Mastery’s Graduate Program.
Ms. Koraca is a recipient of the 2014 Outstanding 50 Asian Americans in Business Award, one of the most prestigious business awards recognizing the achievement and leadership of entrepreneurs and business executives in the U.S.
Elizabeth Koraca’s consulting practice operates on three
defining principles:
Each client requires a careful assessment to determine which tools are needed to overcome obstacles, reach new goals, and discover new abilities. That assessment will determine which combination of coaching and training sessions is necessary to achieve peak performance and evolve in his or her professional and personal world. A customized approach considers the dynamics of each professional environment, as well as the unique perspectives of the client.
Self-doubt, fear and anxiety are common across professions, in every industry. While they are normal feelings, they are not ones that should be accepted or ignored. We should not make the mistake of assuming these destructive feelings can’t be overcome as they ultimately impede our path to success. By confronting and removing self-doubt, we unshackle our natural personalities, unleash our passions, and discover a new path to success.
Improving job performance contributes to the overall health of a professional organization. But each successful step also generates personal rewards, and collectively, they serve as powerful tactics that lead to higher salaries, better bonuses, more promotions, broader influence, expanded client bases, and more opportunities.