Marijo Franklin

Founding Partner

In 1989, Marijo Franklin founded the California Leadership Center, Inc., a team of consultants who use coaching as one way to produce change and growth - in individuals, their teams and their organizations.

Marijo created a personal and team development workshop called Leadership Practices © that has been received enthusiastically throughout Silicon Valley, and across the United States, Europe and Asia. From inception, Leadership Practices © participants were asked to pair up so they could coach one another in applying what they learned in Marijo's workshop.

Early on in the evolution of Leadership Practices © a participant asked Marijo to be his coach. So began the coaching career of one of Silicon Valley's first (and now legendary) coaches. Marijo has coached many of the Valley's luminaries, through careers that saw them become presidents, CEOs, founders of major Silicon Valley companies, and often ultimately venture capitalists.

What Marijo Says about her Work

"Throughout the 70s and 80s I managed teams of people producing outstanding business results - first at the U. S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington, D.C., and later at the Michael Thomas Corporation. As Vice President, Program Development for this consulting firm, I designed trainings and re-engineered processes to improve results for our small business clients.

"Part of our work was to meet with each client once a week to guide them through the process of being more effective. I met with hundreds of clients over eight years, with dramatic a long-lasting impact - on them and on me. Today that work would be called 'coaching'.

"In the California Leadership Center I have brought together a body of Leadership Practices © and accompanying tools. For example, we show clients how to 'change their results by changing their minds'. Simple, not easy.

"I help clients develop and integrate a model of effective leadership, management and interpersonal effectiveness. I may use 360 degree feedback as a way of zeroing in on growth opportunities. Often, I help design meetings or difficult transactions, to increase the likelihood of success for my client.

"Sometimes I attend staff meetings, or even facilitate meetings, to give my client a model for producing the results s/he wants.

"My commitment is to do what it takes"