We are a boutique learning & development consulting company working with progressive companies in innovative ways. We pride ourselves on creativity, integrity and results.

Our Story

For over 20 years, The Turk Group has partnered with organizations around the world to design and deliver leadership and professional development solutions that actually work in the real world. Our offerings span executive team offsites, leadership training curricula, coaching, and advisory services. Ranging from fully customized engagements to thoughtfully designed, ready-to-deploy programs for teams that need to move quickly.

Our journey didn’t start as a firm. It started inside other consulting organizations, where we saw something missing in the market. On one end, there were large training companies offering scale but little flexibility. On the other, independent consultants doing great work but without the infrastructure or depth many organizations needed. What didn’t exist was a true middle ground: a boutique, agile partner delivering well-researched, high-quality content, facilitated by seasoned professionals, while remaining practical, human, and responsive.

That gap became the opportunity.

From the beginning, our goal was to create leadership experiences that feel real, relevant, and usable. Experiences that speak to people the way they want to be spoken to and reflect how they actually show up at work. Early partnerships, including our work with BuzzFeed, helped shape this approach, and from there the firm grew organically through relationships, results, and referrals.

Today, The Turk Group is known for being highly customer-centric and deeply collaborative. We blend the best of behavioral science, leadership research, and storytelling with real-world application. Depending on our clients’ needs, that might mean building a fully bespoke solution from the ground up, or deploying proven frameworks and programs that can be implemented quickly and adapted over time.

We believe leadership is about influence, not authority. About trust, not titles. And about creating the conditions for people and teams to do their best work. That belief guides everything we design and deliver.

We’re proud to partner with clients across a wide range of industries, including media, technology, finance, pharma and biotech, healthcare, retail, hospitality, professional services, nonprofits, and beyond.

Our team

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James Turk
CEO & Founder

James Turk sets the direction for all of the Turk Group’s consulting, training and coaching services and cultivates relationships with global clients.

Since 2002, James has delivered training and coaching for clients including Condé Nast, FanDuel, BuzzFeed, Droga5, SpaceNK, John Hardy, Strivectin, BP, Shell, Morgan Stanley, Aol, Kantar Media, AXA Equitable, Southern California Edison, CEMEX, Enterprise Products, Irving Oil, Amgen, Crown Relocations Services, Visa International, Manulife Financial, AFLAC, KPMG, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Nike, Disney, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Drawing on his creative, corporate, and life experiences, James is known for his fresh, energized approach. As a trained actor, he intuitively understands the importance of connection to establish trusting, productive relationships. His ability to quickly grasp client needs has made him a thought leader and sought‑after advisor. James is also the creator of TurkTalk℠, a multimedia platform in which James engages his many followers directly through podcasts, webinars, and videos.

James holds a BS degree from The New School. He previously worked in human resources at Random House and at Goldman Sachs.
Adriana Estrada Genao
Facilitator

Adriana has led learning and development programs across a number of industries. Over the last 10 years, she’s worked with established brands like Reader’s Digest and Condé Nast, as well as start-ups like FanDuel, focused on manager and employee development. In addition to overseeing learning and development programs, Adriana has experience in people operations, leading the US HR function for FanDuel.

Adriana received her B.S. from the University of South Florida, with a major in Biomedical Science and minors in Public Health and Physics. She is currently pursuing a postbaccalaureate in psychology and counseling professions.
Hywel Berry
Master Facilitator

Hywel is an independent trainer and facilitator who brings his experience and energy to every session he delivers. His goal is for everyone to leave feeling inspired and energized to change.

Hywel spent the bulk of his corporate career in sales and leadership for the Financial Times and FT.com, where he developed, grew, and managed multiple million-dollar client relationships and recruited and trained over 60 team members, ultimately managing a team of 25 and budgets of $50 million.

In 2010 Hywel transitioned careers and began working for The Mind Gym, a global training and development organization. Over the next ten years, as the head of their facilitators network, he delivered over 1500 training sessions to over 50,000 people, including large-scale events such as a group of 7,000 at the United Center in Chicago. He has worked with companies from startups like Etsy, Uber, and WeWork to Fortune 500 companies such as Nike, JP Morgan, and Microsoft.
Natasha Georgatos
Master Facilitator, Executive Coach, Instructional Designer

As a coach, facilitator, designer, and consultant, Natasha helps senior and rising leaders deliver on their individual and team goals. Having worked for Fortune 500 companies, as well as start-ups, she knows the demanding expectations and challenges her clients face and partners with busy, successful leaders to help them identify what they are trying to solve for and to design and execute on measurable solutions.

Natasha has experience working with all management levels and is especially skilled in helping leaders understand the key emotional intelligence competencies that improve relationship building for effective leadership skills in both individuals and teams. Her clients value her focus on personal and team performance optimization, goal setting, and accountability. She is skilled at conducting needs analyses and getting to the root cause before designing and delivering on a solution.

Natasha incorporates her spiritual and life coaching into her coaching practice where appropriate. Her intuitive abilities and calming approach allow her to guide her clients through difficult times and navigating complex organizational dynamics. Nicknamed by her clients as “Doctor Tash,” she quickly becomes a trusted advisor, coach, educator, encourager, and strategic thinking partner. She is a reiki master and enjoys educating others on the value of mindfulness, meditation, and mental toughness.

Natasha’s work is informed by 15 years of experience in Learning & Development supporting leaders and teams. She has worked with companies such as Lehman Brothers, Barclays Capital, Geometry Global (a WPP company), AOL, and Disney ABC. She has experience building Learning & Development departments, implementing learning management systems, and creating programs such as “The Art of Selling Creative” and “Account Management 101.” She later moved into advertising tech and Sales Enablement, helping leaders and teams improve their sales effectiveness.

Prior to becoming an independent consultant and coach, Natasha spent five years as the lead Talent Development Partner at Disney ABC in New York. Her experience included managing teams, consulting, instructional design, facilitation, teambuilding, mediation, change management, mentoring, coaching, and conducting 360s.
Melissa Gutierrez
Graphic Designer

Melissa is a freelance creative director with over 16 years of industry experience. She believes that the most successful designs are created through problem solving and visual storytelling. Melissa has worked with clients including A+E Networks, The Players’ Tribune, Ad Age, FanDuel, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, Glory Kickboxing, and Excel Sports Management.

Previously Melissa worked at AS Roma Football Club as the lead designer of the Global Partnerships department and ensured that the club’s creative strategies were consistent across all platforms. Before that, she worked at Madison Square Garden as a Creative Director, supporting the NY Knicks, NY Rangers, NY Liberty, MSG Sports, and MSG Entertainment through the creation of sales and marketing materials.

Melissa graduated from the University at Buffalo with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with a concentration in Communication Design.
Desiree Saddler
Master Facilitator & Executive Coach

Desiree Saddler, President and CEO of Saddler Consulting Group Inc., is passionate about helping businesses build strong teams that communicate clearly and work efficiently. Her clients value her expertise in leading process improvement initiatives combined with her ability to connect with diverse groups.

With over 30 years of experience in human resources, coaching and mentoring leaders, and training and development, Desiree and her team have worked with clients across education, government, corporate, and non-profit sectors. Saddler Consulting Group has taught thousands of workshops and designed curriculum in areas including management and supervision, leadership, communication, generational differences, diversity, performance management, customer service, team building, conflict resolution, employee engagement, and emotional intelligence.

The team is certified in numerous behavioral and leadership assessments including MBTI, DiSC, Situational Leadership II, and many others. Desiree is also affiliated with organizations such as the American Management Association and the Ken Blanchard Companies and is experienced in delivering high-level consulting, facilitation, and coaching designed to drive individual and organizational effectiveness.
Patrick Murphy
Executive Coach & Facilitator

Patrick Murphy is an executive coach and facilitator based in Brooklyn, NY, known for his enthusiasm and commitment to helping leaders succeed.

He has served organizations including Capital One, McKinsey & Co., AARP, CNN, Bloomberg Industry Group, 3M, Dow Jones & Company, TEGNA, Aramark, ServiceNow, Princess Cruises, Vital Voices, USAID, and many others. His work with Capital One has included major leadership and coaching initiatives, and he has partnered with clients on communication, leadership development, and high-performing team skills.

Patrick is certified through The Co-Active Training Institute (CPCC) and is accredited by the International Coach Federation (PCC). He is also trained in leadership, polarities and paradox, neuroscience, mindfulness, and performance techniques, and is certified to administer multiple 360 and assessment tools.
Juan Cortés
Master Facilitator & Executive Coach

For more than 25 years, Juan Cortés has been building and guiding inclusive cultures for world-class brands in industries including advertising, digital marketing, hospitality, media, entertainment, retail, and publishing. As cofounder of MatterOfCulture, he helps organizations become exceptional places to work by designing employee-centric strategies and programs that foster intentional culture and inspire employee engagement.[web:83]

In his most recent corporate role leading Learning & Engagement at Wunderman Thompson, Juan founded the agency’s first employee resource group and helped establish the framework for additional affinity groups. As a member of a cross-agency executive council, he contributed to defining the DEI mission and objectives for the holding company’s global workforce.[web:83]

Earlier in his career at POSSIBLE, a WPP digital agency, Juan built the learning and development function, creating platforms for experts and industry leaders to share knowledge quickly and designing leadership and interpersonal skills workshops grounded in emotional intelligence. At Starwood Hotels, he led service culture transformation efforts for several brands, training hundreds of leaders and supporting measurable gains in guest satisfaction and employee engagement.[web:83]

Juan is a master facilitator and innovative change agent with a growth mindset and holds professional certifications in training, facilitation, executive coaching, and the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI).[web:83]
Kristine Kern
Executive Coach & Master Facilitator

Kristine Kern has a track record of helping entrepreneurial and creative companies build stronger teams and accelerate growth. She has a passion for coaching founders and senior business leaders and works regularly with CEOs and executive teams.

Her consulting approach is informed by years of orchestrating results in fast-paced environments. As a facilitator, she is known for her energizing style and actionable takeaways. Kristine’s clients have included Pinterest, Microsoft, Genentech, and Airbnb. Previously, she was director of business development at Inc. magazine and oversaw creative teams at Wired magazine. She holds MBAs from Columbia University and the University of California’s Haas School of Business.
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Book cover titled 'The Giving Game' by James Turk, with a yellow background and colored arrows.

'Becoming the leader that
others want to follow'

Master the First Year: Lead with Confidence and a Giving Mindset

The Giving Game
from $17.95

In The Giving Game, thought leader, executive coach, and CEO James Turk, provides an essential guide for new managers navigating the transition from team member to team leader. Focusing on the critical first year, with an emphasis on the first 45 days. The Giving Game offers practical, easily implemented strategies to set new managers on the path to lasting success.

Enjoy it your way! Get the digital or audiobook version now on Kindle, Audible, or Apple Books.