• Speaker / Trainer Testimonials
• Consulting Testimonials
• Coaching Testimonials
• Recruitment Consultant Testimonials
• Personal Testimonials

Speaker / Trainer Testimonials

Kim delivered an exceptional plenary session at our annual Risk Retreat conference this year. The feedback from our delegates was exceptional with Kim's session being one of the highlights of the entire conference. Her presentation was extremely engaging, informative, and practical with a suite of tools the advisers could take back to their businesses to implement right away which is exactly the outcome we were looking for. Not only did she engage the audience, she has been wonderful to work with and completely tailored her knowledge and research to meet the needs of our clients. We would engage Kim to present at any of our future conferences, and highly recommend her as a brilliant presenter and subject matter expert on the topic of employee engagement. 

 Olivia Romano, Technical Support Manager
Risk Specialist Network | MLC & Nab Wealth

 

• "Very insightful and thought provoking, leaving me wanting more."
  
• "You are an amazing speaker and an inspiring personality."
  
• "Kim was a fantastic speaker and provided great food for thought!"
  
• "Kim was an engaging, interesting and extremely competent speaker."
  
• "Kim's address to the audience was terrific, very commanding and kept me listening."
  
• "Her style of public speaking also inspired me in addition to the contents."
  
• "Kim is very engaging.  Thank you!"
  
• "Authentic, relevant, interesting." 

 

"Over the last 20+ years I have heard 100's of other speakers speak on attracting and retaining staff. Kim was one of the very best I have ever heard. She offers great insight in to todays challenges facing recruiters, hiring managers, and applicants. More importantly she offers tools and techniques to help over come those challenges in a most professional and entertaining way.

I am glad that she had to follow me of the program rather then me having to follow her at the HR Summit in Singapore."

Mel Kleinman, CSP, President, Humetrics

 

“I watched most of the presentations over the two days and you were the shining star.  Your ability to state clearly and succinctly what that audience most needed to hear was impressive, indeed.  With each session limited to only 45 minutes, most presenters tried to deliver way too much material and, as a result, delivered very little.  Of all the presenters, I think you found the perfect balance.”

Donald Cooper, CSP, Business Speaker and Coach

 

"I couldn’t recommend the course enough – having clarity helps you know what makes you happy, you can then take action. It’s empowering to clearly articulate what you ‘want / need’ & understanding when to say no & why you are saying no. I know what makes me tick!" 

Kim Jeanneret, Financial Planning and Analysis Manager, Tourism Australia

 

“I had the pleasure of working with Kim recently on one of our HR events where she was primarily involved as a Chair. Kim was one of the best Chairs I have worked with and she was instrumental in ensuring the smooth running of the event. Her knowledge in the field was substaintial so she had no problem involving and engaging the delegates in discussion throughout the event. The feedback she received was exceptional and I would recommend Kim to any prospective business partner without a hesitation.” 

Dajana Dikic, Divisional Director, IQPC

"Kim recently delivered a key note address to our management team entitled 'Critical Path Career Management', the focus of which was the development of ones own career and staff retention within the managers' respective teams. Kim is an engaging speaker  with a deep knowledge of her field of expertise. She challenged our management team to think about their career paths and provided a wealth of practical advice on managing our number one resource, our people. We look forward to working with Kim going forward as we develop retention strategies for our company"
Kevin England, General Man ager, Planwell Technologies

 

"Kim is a high level, exceptional and perceptive mentor, an outstanding person who treats you like a human being. At a seminar her professional approach is superb and you can't help feeling that she is talking to you personally. Kim has a wealth of knowledge which she passes on effortlessly. Kim is an A1 networker and negotiator, always exuding friendliness and warmth. I like Kim's positive attitude and creative business ideas - she's a star!!"

Elyah Fish, Consultant & Trainer, Sydney, Australia

 
 “The presentation was a great success. Evaluation results rated well above average with very positive comments including; ‘very helpful and great tips to follow, presenter was excellent and very motivational, one of the best and most useful seminars I have been to, passionate speaker and great experience, I'm walking away a lot happier than I walked in.’”
Gabriela Di Francesco, Event Coordinator CPA Australia

 

“Having seen Kim present many times on behalf of organisations like the RCSA we were keen for any opportunity to get her on board.
 
Kim has been holding regular webinars and one day sessions for our registered candidates.

This is a small example of the brilliant feedback we have had……
 

‘So great…I feel very motivated now!’

‘Very clear, practical and inspiring’

‘I was privileged to be a part of last night’s webinar – WOW! Is all I can say....oh and of course THANK YOU!’

‘These webinars with Kim and also her seminar have been really great, and I just wanted to thank you and the team at Beaumont once again for introducing this wonderful and inspirational lady to us.’
 

Kim is full of energy and new ideas. She has had a massive impact on our candidates and as a result our reputation in the market and we would have no hesitation in recommending her.”

Patricia Leech, Operations Manager, Beaumont Consulting

 

• "I enjoyed Kim's presentation and the way she related it to her own life experiences."
  
• "Kim's session was interesting and well presented. Points of discussion were free flowing; open and honest as well as a desirable topic for discussion for most people at this time of the year. The session was delivered with enthusiasm and made her points of discussion all the more interesting. Kim has a pleasant nature and oozes excitement and self passion for what she believes in. A good motivator."
• "Kim - Loved the content and thought your examples were appropriate and had a nice personal touch."
• "I thought Kim was very enthusiastic and enjoyable to listen to."
• "Kim gave all of us good ideas."

 

“Hi Kim, Thanks so much for hosting such a marvelous presentation for The Sydney Business Networking Group. We got such wonderful feedback from our members who really enjoyed your presentation before our business networking event. In the words of one of our members 'An excellent speaker who gave practical advice that could be used across all business sectors.' Other testimonials about the event are posted at http://bit.ly/by7xGZ. Thanks again Kim. You did an excellent job.

Ilana Eberson Upscale Small Business & Entrepreneur Networking Events

 

“On Behalf of the Executives of the Mortdale Chamber of Commerce I would like to recommend Kim for her remarkable presentation 'Reinvent Your Business'.  She presented us with practical stratagies to implement in our businesses to Grow and Prosper and convert "Sea Change Events" to "Tree Change Events"

Farid Zakai, Managing Director, ATP Accounting and Taxation Professionals

“Kim was a refreshingly insightful and pragmatic expert presenter. She shared real life examples and provided practical and realistic suggestions on how to manage and progress your career successfully.  I walked away with three actions I could implement immediately.  It was obvious Kim has a wealth of experience, this coupled with her own perspective and energy for motivating people to be there best, makes her of great value to any conference program.”

Kathryn Sydney-Smith, Community Relations Manager, WA Operations,
Alcoa Australia

"Kim was a special guest presenter at one of our monthly Professional Development Forums where she shared valuable insights into how to manage one's own career in this period of economic turmoil. Her advice was relevant to today's workplace. She gave practical ideas that could be put to use straight away. She was very passionate and her ideas inspired particularly the Gen Y'ers in the group. Kim's presentation resulted in record attendance with a lot positive feedback afterwards. I would highly recommend Kim for any young professionals seeking to succeed in their careers.”

Jeffery Wu, Senior Accounts Executive, Telstra and Director, Sydney Professional Development Forum

 

"Kim's presentations were very well received by our very critical audiences, and we were often asked for her details for personal follow-ups. Kim gave excellent and detailed sessions, with useful and relevant material that attendees could take away and implement immediately, and assist their own careers in a very real way. Her knowledge and experience in the recruitment space cannot be over-stated, and we would not hesitate to recommend her."

Dominic Duncan, Sales Director, Conferenz Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand

 

"I have known Kim for three years and worked closely with her at joint industry speaking engagements. I would highly recommend Kim as a well informed public speaker on human resources, recruitment and relevant market trends."

Craig Richardson, Chief Financial Officer, Coca Cola Amatil, Auckland, New Zealand

 

"My training with you gave me solid skills which I could use to develop an approach to my customers to understand the sales process. Kim you know your stuff and have a good set of skills base to get the message across. I have since done a similar one day course and would not have got anything out of it unless I had done the two days with you. I am happy to recommend you and support any recommendation.”

Grahame Hale, Branch Manager, Mortgage House Miranda

"I just want to say thanks, for sharing your knowledge and resources and for providing the You're Hired Workshop which I attended a few months back. It has helped me to overcome the problems of not even getting a reply for job applications to securing interviews. In following your tips for a good resume, I have now secured a job in less than 2 months of the job seeking process. So I say thank you. I said I hoped it was agood investment, and it was."

Carrie Wong, Student, University of Technology, Sydney

 

"Kim is a highly motivational speaker, professional in her appearance and trustworthy. Kim will add a positive dimension to your next seminar or conference. Contact me if you would like to discuss further . Country access for New Zealand, then 64-27-472-8610."
Denis Orme, Founder, Project Recoveries Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand

 

Consulting Testimonials

I first met Kim at an IT Recruitment and Retention Forum in Sydney and was impressed with her presentation, which I found highly engaging and very informative. Through that introduction, I later engaged Kim on a project to help revamp our talent management website due to her industry knowledge and understanding of the talent attraction, hiring and retention lifecycle. Kim has a lot of passion and enthusiasm for what she does, so it’s been a pleasure to work with her.

 

Sue Tu, Program Manager, Cisco Systems

Kim has worked with Energizer in delivering an Interviewing Skills program to the managers in our business. Feedback from the sessions has shown Kim to be energetic and highly engaging, demonstrating an ability to effectively work with a diverse group of people. Content of the course was relevant to the audience with good tips, tools and examples. Manager’s who have attended the course have come back energised and very positive about applying the knowledge gained. I would not hesitate in recommending Kim as a facilitator to other organisations.

Elise Barter, Human Resources Executive, Engerizer Australia

 

Kim has delivered several training courses to our management team. On each occasion the feedback received has been fantastic, with the course exceeding expectations. The course focuses participants attention on the importance of hiring the right staff and provides practical, relevant examples. Kim’s training is both informative and engaging inspiring participants to be prepared when conducting interviews and utilise the tools and techniques presented. 
Kim is an exceptional presenter who is impressive in her delivery and shares a wealth of knowledge within her field of expertise.

Daniela Burton, Human Resources Advisor, CARDNO

    "The quality of your program is excellent and equal to anything I have seen in the market. However, it is your commitment, professionalism, and passion that was far beyond my expectations and what made the experience such a positive one for all. You have established an excellent rapport with the Foodco team, so much so that they think of you as one of the staff!"

Serge Infanti, Managing Director, The Foodco Group

 

"The leadership within my organisation found the results [of the Employee Retention Diagnostic Survey] to be so potent that we asked Kim to present her analysis to the leading 30 stakeholders of our business. Kim's presentation was excellent and underscored her professional demeanour.

 

I am pleased to report that the experience of this firm and myself in each of our dealings with Kim Seeling Smith has been nothing less than to deal with a consummate professional who delivers on her promise, is flexible and commercial in her approach and is a personal joy to work with." 

Rick Bensted, Manager, People & Business Services, CBP Lawyers

Coaching Testimonials

 

"I had the fortunate opportunity to attend one of Kim's webinars and from that initial meeting, I confidently engaged Kim as a career coach. The energy, passion and expertise she brings to the table cannot be over emphasised. She certainly has an arsenal of refreshingly new perspectives and practical tips that any professional can benefit from. She is, without doubt, an expert in her field." 

 Prevevan Naidoo, Design Specialist, Testra

 

"Kim will help you work out how to plan the career that will really make you happy. She can pass on the latest in international thinking - making it fun and accessible. You need to see Kim if you want to make your happiest and most successful career a reality!"

Jane Campbell, Senior Case Manager, Colonial First State

"I engaged Kim to assist me in marketing myself in the job market. I chose Kim amongst many competitiors because I was impressed by her career background and that she had been a very experienced "hands on" recruiter.

I got from Kim a renewed and energised approach of how best to position myself to prospective employers. She has great knowledge of the tools that recuiters use and also provides some great information on her site.

I found Kim so easy to work with and really enjoyed her bright "can do attitude" which has encouraged me immensely."

Lyn Iacumin, Operations Manager, Sydney

“Thank you Kim for your skilled approach to coaching. I have had great success since our session and feel confident months later that the results are here to last. Your innovative and creative approach to your work makes the session comfortable, yet challenging, energising, yet calming and exploratory, yet reflective. I feel far more balanced and able to tackle the major challenges thrown at me through my business each day. You've given me a gift that will ensure I succeed and my business will thrive. Thank you!”

Kate vanderVoort, Director, 3 Degrees of Connection

“Kim has a wealth of knowledge, tools, skills and experience to draw on, which she shares freely and without reservation; these tools are strong enablers for growth, change and transformation and used, along with Kim's own brand of care and support have provided me with such a strong foundation from which to launch the change I have experienced in my life. Kim is kind, warm and patient and an inspiration as she lives her truth in her own life. It has been a wonderful gift having Kim in my life to open doors and provide guidance for growth.”

Perryn Slighting, Key Account Manager, SAS Institute Australia PTY Ltd.

 

"Meeting her in person for the first time I immediately knew that Kim is very good at what she does. I know this to be true because even though it was only a little over an hour that I spent with her on that day I left her totally inspired. Thank you Kim for re-igniting my flame."
Michael Fox, Owner Foxy Marketing and Foxy Logistics Solutions

 

"In working with Kim, I have been able to achieve in three months what I have been seeking to achieve over the past ten years – clarity and direction!"
G.P., Sydney Australia

"For those determining Kim’s eligibility, let me provide a solid endorsement. I have been coached by Kim since July 2009 and have found her advice and support fantastic. She has a rapid uptake of information and can quickly synthesize developments with past issues, then provides insights that drive straight to the point. As one example, I’d been coached in the past and carried forward two issues that I believed were blocking my performance. What amazed me was Kim’s questioning that led me to realise these were yesterday’s issues! Instead of recognising my progress past coaches had leaned on my self-identified limiting beliefs. Kim shattered them and helped me find the larger, underlying issues – then work on a plan to resolve those.  In short I felt and continue to feel empowered and liberated. I operate on a higher plane thanks to Kim Smith."
Walter Jennings, Partner and General Manager Sydney, Fleishman-Hillard

 

“Prior to working with Kim I'd never heard of nor considered the idea of writing a value statement about myself as an employee. It was only due to Kim's conviction in it's benefit that I sat down to write one. I'm so glad that I did. In order to write such a statement I had to direct my thinking to answer some fundamental questions that are relevant to anyone who is or who wants to be an employee. This process drove me to consider a question that is at the core of employment and employability - "How will an employer benefit from having me on their staff?". Working through this process has enabled me to understand and verbalise more clearly what it is I have to offer a prospective employer. It has highlighted my points of difference and has clarified for me what my value will be to a future employer.”

Melissa Roberts, Sydney Australia

 

"Kim helped me rediscover what I liked doing most and then helped me develop my Value Proposition, CV and Interview skills. Kim ... has been a great sounding board to help me better understand how I should present myself to recruiters and then the client, ... ensuring I focus. I now have found a job that ticked all the boxes of the 5 key things I wanted. Thank you Reinvention Guru."
Paul Beks, Senior Regional Manager NSW & ACT, One Test

 

“Kim is a truly passionate individual who inspires others with her own example. I really appreciate her valuable advice on career search and resume preparation. After her workshop I started to think more as an employer rather than employee and therefore, was able to highlight my personal achievements and distinguish myself from other job hunters. Thank you Kim !!”

Maria Gura, MBA Student, University of Technology Sydney

 

"Talking with Kim was a really valuable experience! She helped me to improve my resume and provided great insight and invaluable advice on how to change my career path. Thanks Kim for all your help!"
Mark Stubbs, Senior IT Auditor, Sydney, Australia

“Kim was able to find the words I could not find as a dedicated numbers person for my resume. As a career consultant she understands the needs of the candidate and is always willing to help. I would highly recommend Kim if you are having problems with resume or need a supportive career coach.”
Colleen Chan, Business Analyst, Sydney Australia

"Kim's professional experience is vast but she is still able to see the world of career through a fresh perspective. I found her guidance invaluable at a turning point in my career. I always felt confident in her abilities and that evaluating my career path with her guidance was going to lead to a richer and more fulfilling life. Kim possesses a wealth of tools and knowledge in order to help you, but her real talent lies in looking at life balance in a holistic way and asking "What do you want?". After answering that its just a question of approach!"
Andrew McAvinchey, Film Director / Producer, Dublin Ireland

 
"I was fortunate to receive a consultation with Kim Smith to get clarity on my future employment and life direction. Kim is so confident, funny and warm that she easily drew my real intentions for wanting a change out of me. She took me through a series of exercises to allow me to figure out what I really wanted as my outcomes in life (including work, family, romance, finances, creativity, health, spirituality). Through that, I was able to propose some options of how I could achieve my goals and then brainstorm these options. Kim also gave me tools to manage my brain and get to the heart of how I want to live. It is difficult in life to cut through all the stuff that is not really that important. Kim helped me see what it is that is truly important to me and how to focus on that and let everything else that wastes energy and time fall away. I use these tools in my everyday life and they have helped me tremendously. Kim's warm, energetic and creative spirit created a sense of immediate trust and "fun". Thanks so much, Kim, for this gift that I will use forever!"
Jessica Walden, Technical Specialist, Quality Assurance International,
 San Diego, California

"Kim really took the time to give me constructive and helpful advice about my resume. The advice that Kim provided has been invaluable to my job search and has enabled me to better articulate my achievements and experiences in interviews. I would recommend Kim to all candidates."
Matthew Clarke, Sydney, Australia

 "I would encourage candidates and employers to consult with Kim on your next important career or recruitment decision."

Craig Richardson, Chief Financial Officer, Coca Cola Amatil, Auckland, New Zealand

"I recently had a career planning session with Kim Smith. She was able to help me gain insights into what my strengths are and how to combine those strengths with my passions to create a career opportunity that is incredibly exciting! I'm just getting started on my new career search, but I feel that I have the tools to put together a great resume, cover letter, and ideas on where to look for that perfect position. Kim helped to get organized so that I have a 5-year plan and I know what each step looks like, and what is needed to accomplish my goals at each step. Thanks Kim!"
Jen Brown, future yoga retreat owner, Laguna Beach, CA

"Kim was a joy to work with - a consummate professional, dedicated, energetic, and with a strong work ethic. She is a great communicator and really connects with candidates. She is an incredible asset to an organization."
Anna Langston, Consultant, The Remmick Group, Chicago, IL

Recruitment Consultant Testimonials

"Kim is one of the finest recruiting professionals I have ever seen. She has a rare blend of commitment, skill, passion, and knowledge. She has a great knack of understanding the business need for a particular resource requirement and is able to align these with the expectations of the candidates. Highly action oriented and rallies her team towards achieving the objective. Kim is one of the few recruiters who ensure that job requirement and skills are matched. Kim ensures that right candidates are interviewed by the prospective employers. Always ready to take new challenges, Kim works equally well with local experienced candidates as well as new immigrants." 

Chandan Ohri, Director, BDO Spicers, Auckland, New Zealand

 

"When I think of recruitment, I think of Kim Seeling Smith"

Mathew Croad, Group Financial Controller, Beca Carter, Auckland, New Zealand

"I have always used Kim advice and services in my various roles over the past 6 years. There are a number of reasons why I selected Kim as my preferred accounting and finance recruitment consultant. She provided candidates with the experience and qualifications we required. In addition, Kim's candidates fitted well into different firm cultures that I was recruiting for as she takes into account the dynamics of the team and business. The high standard of Kim's candidates has reduced the hassle of recruitment significantly. I have always found Kim's work to be of a high standard and her communication skills are exemplary. Overall Kim made my experience of the recruitment process to be both enjoyable and highly successful. I will continue to use her services in the future. Wayne Bowler BMS, CA Group Reporting Manager Stella Travel Limited."

Wayne Bowler, Financial Controller, Cadmus Technologies, Auckland, New Zealand

 

"I have worked with Kim on numerous occasions in order to recruit the right individuals for our finance team. What made Kim stand out above all others was that she actually listened and responded quickly to what the requirements were and understood the environment that we worked in. There was no beating around the bush with her…..this was an attractive quality about her that I and my company desired."

Eve Langford-Smith, Financial Controller, Life Technologies, Auckland, New Zealand

 

"I worked with Kim both in terms of recruitment needs for my Finance team and for my personal career development. Kim is the utmost professional. She is fantastic for staying in touch and ensuring the recruitment process runs smoothly. I never had the issue of inappropriate candidates being put forward for any of my roles, as she took her time to make sure she understood the company, the job spec and the required 'fit'. On a personal level, I used Kim as a sounding board on a number of occasions when considering new positions or career paths. Kim always showed complete integrity, never attempting to push a particular option in order to get a 'sell'. Highly Recommended - and missed in NZ!"

Kate Parsons, Financial Controller, TPF Corporation, Auckland, New Zealand

 

"Kim as a senior recruiter for Campbell Arnott's has shown a detailed understanding of our business from both a technical and cultural perspective. This holistic understanding has allowed Kim to provide a short list of suitable candidates who have a strong match to our organisation."

Stewart Kearney, Financial Controller, Campbell Arnott's, Auckland, New Zealand

 

"Kim really listens to the clients and candidates requirements, and ensures candidates put forward can not only add massive value, but also the candidate knows the placement will be a great match for his own values, ethos and attitude. I have no hesitation in using Kim again not only for potential placement for me, but also to recruit great staff for my team."

Jo Muir (nee Kefford), Finance Manager, APN, Auckland, New Zealand

 

"It was great speaking with you yesterday and thank you again for your understanding of my situation. I wanted to let you know how nice it has been to work with you and Aequalis these last few weeks. Having worked with other recruitment companies in Sydney in the past, I can easily say my experience with Aequalis has been far superior. Every communication has been professional, courteous, and timely, and I really enjoyed the initial interview with you where meaningful and important topics were discussed. I especially appreciate your clear desire to understand my qualifications as a candidate and my future career goals. With you, I truly feel you have both the employer's and my best interests at heart which I would assume would result in the best possible match."

"If you ever branch out into other areas, please let me know as I have told friends (who are not in Finance) about my experience with you and they have asked me for contact details! Thank you again for your assistance and support."

Erica Lekawski, Vodafone, Senior Financial Analyst, Sydney Australia

 

"Kim placed me in my current role and I have since used her to fill a finance role. Kim is a clear leader in her field, she takes the time to understand the clients business and also the candidate - this is a win win for both parties. I highly recommend Kim."
Sean Ryan, Financial Controller, Navman Technologies, Auckland, New Zealand

 

"Kim is one of those unusual recruiters who understands the teams that clients are really trying to build within their organisation and does her absolute best to find candidates that will make those teams even stronger."

Mark Benjamin, CFO, Excell Corporation, Auckland, New Zealand

 

"Thank you very much! Fanatastic executive summary, is exactly what I needed. The rest of the resume is also all the words I could not find as a dedicated numbers person."

Colleen Chan, Sydney Australia

 

"I worked with Kim over a four year period from 2003 to 2007. In this period Kim placed more than 20 staff into the Financial Services team that that I managed. I was so impressed with Kim's service and passion to truly match a suitable candidate to the available the role that within 12 months we entered into an exclusivity agreement which proved beneficial for us both. I have found Kim to be highly reliable, trust-worthy and honest and would happily recommend her."

Nick Padfield, Finance Manager, Turners and Growers, Auckland, New Zealand

Personal Testimonials

"Kim and I shared the office of VP Programs at the American Woman's Society of CPAs in 1992-1993 and ended up with the national award in best programs for that year. Kim was and continues to be energizing to work with. She is bright, ambitious, competent, creative, flexible, and has great people skills. She was a natural at Robert Half and was able to build a substantial business for them pretty much from scratch. Having known Kim for roughly 15 years now, I am confident that she will be successful in anything she takes on, and I recommend her without reservation."
Sandi Smith, President, BrainWays Training & Development, San Jose, CA

"I have known Kim for over 20 years. She is professional and proficient and has always excelled in the endeavors she has chosen to pursue. She is loyal, personable and respectful and always delivers above and beyond what is required of her. She is poised and confident, in control of any obstacles or challenges and can quickly, concisely and independently solve any issues that she may encounter. I highly recommend Kim to any business that is seeking a strong addition to their team."
Mary Johnson, Director of Concierge Dept. and Asst to GM,The Hermitage Hotel, Nashville, TN