Testimonials
Corporate Leadership
“The Talk Sense training changed me. Every leader and aspiring leader should take this course. It’s transformational and insightful. Those around you will appreciate the difference and you’ll walk away with a widened perspective.”
Brenda Hernandez, Senior Information Security & Authentications Manager, eBay
“I feel like I just discovered fire! The Talk Sense seminar has helped me tremendously. I feel that I have the tools that I need to understand and be better understood and it has really been instrumental to my growth in and out of work.”
Renato Garcia, Executive Director of Software Engineering, JPMorgan Chase
“This was one of the most transformational weeks of training of my career. The curriculum was uniquely tailored to diverse leaders like myself, and touched on some of the unique challenges and impediments diverse professionals run into. The training was eye-opening, informative, and incredibly engaging.”
Troy Cosey, Senior Product Marketing Manager, LinkedIn
“The skills that I learned in the Talk Sense training are extremely valuable. I use the listening skills daily—both at work and with family—and often reflect on the impact they have on getting better information. The impact of the training has been that I’ve been able to solve challenges more quickly and build better relationships.”
Derrick Thomas, Senior Vice President & Director, PNC Financial Services
“At work, my manager communicated to me that he has seen a difference in my management style since the training and expressly called out my improved communication. At home, my wife greatly appreciates the extra effort I put in to understanding what she is trying to communicate rather than immediately trying to provide an answer or direction.”
Mario Fanduiz, Senior Vice President, Citi Private Banking
I promise you, I thought I was an excellent listener. How could I not be? I practiced employment law for 10 years and have been an HR Executive for another 6, so I figured, “All I do is listen to people! I must be an expert!” Well, 7 minutes into the training it became abundantly clear that not only was I not an expert, I was nowhere close. From becoming more self-aware, to setting up difficult conversations, to really working to truly hear what people are saying beyond the words being said, this has been transformative for me. I highly recommend this for anyone who just wants to get better.”
Wes Alexander, 2nd Vice President, Employee Relations, Travelers
Educational Leadership
“I have found Dr. Cediel to be an extremely skilled and thoughtful educator. He has a wealth of expertise related to teaching, learning, and school improvement; he has a nuanced understanding of what it takes to lead reforms on a district-wide scale; and he understand the conditions, parameters, and challenges that a superintendent faces when trying to operationalize complex initiatives.”
Xavier De La Torre, Superintendent, Ysleta Independent School District
“I've known Dr. Antonio Cediel for several decades, and I've relied on his expertise in nearly every district where I've worked. His services have been instrumental in launching key initiatives like instructional rounds and reflective communication with school leaders. Dr. Cediel is not only thoughtful and knowledgeable in his practice but also has a proven track record of success in schools. I trust him completely with both my leaders and my own professional development.”
Dr. Almi Abeyta, Superintendent, Chelsea Public Schools
“Dr. Cediel brings a wealth of experience and credibility as a teacher, principal, and deputy superintendent in multiple urban districts. School leaders benefit immeasurably from his expertise and his keen awareness of how to fundamentally shift teaching and learning within and across schools. Those who work with him gain a deep understanding of how to analyze rigorous instruction as well as methods for providing teachers with evidence-based, meaningful feedback on their practice.”
Steve Zrike, Chief of Schools, Chicago Public Schools
“Dr. Cediel’s ability to work effectively with a variety of educational stakeholders, administrators, teachers, counselors, parents and students is rarely matched. He provides those committed to educational reform with supports to look at large issues while identifying day to day strategies that can be implemented at the classroom, school, or system level.”
Shayne Evans, Managing Director, University of Chicago Urban Education Institute
“I want to thank you for helping to make our professional development make "sense." This is really the first time in my 28 years of education that I have had such focused and purposeful PD.”
Leslie Romero-Kilmer, Principal, Santa Fe Public Schools
“I was extraordinarily lucky to work with Antonio in my first year as a principal as his guidance and coaching left me with a lasting framework and approach that I still utilize years later. Antonio effectively guided me in a process to prioritize school needs through qualitative and quantitative data analysis and then guided me in the process of alignment of resources to address those priorities. He fully understands school systems and school cultures and how to move all of it forward to support students. He instilled in our leadership team the critical importance of engaging in difficult conversations as well as properly preparing for them by mapping out, role playing, and debriefing challenging scenarios which our team does to this day. Since his work with us, we have made huge strides on our campus in terms of having common understanding of expectations and purpose. I will forever hold tight to the tools he shared with us and see the impact of his work with us on a daily basis.”
Patricia Hanson, Principal, Southern California
“Antonio Cediel’s training on Talk Sense was outstanding. He provided invaluable insights into navigating difficult conversations, offering practical strategies for both leading and learning through dialogue. Antonio’s approach was clear, engaging, and actionable, making complex communication challenges feel manageable. He emphasized the importance of active listening, empathy, and clarity, equipping us with the tools to handle tough conversations with confidence. His expertise and real-world examples made the session relatable and impactful. The training left a lasting impression, highlighting how effective communication can drive growth and understanding. Highly recommended for anyone looking to enhance their communication skills.”
Dr. Mac Wolfe, Principal, Chaffey Joint Union High School District
“Talk Sense is the real deal. Between Dr. Cediel's strong facilitation, the use of relevant case studies, and a combination of instructor and peer feedback, I learned more about having challenging yet affirming conversations in two days than I did from years of independent reading, self-reflection, and coursework. A very strong framework taught by a dynamic presenter.” Adam Aronson, Principal, Chelsea Public Schools