StartingBlock Communications
Consulting

StartingBlock Communications ConsultingStartingBlock Communications ConsultingStartingBlock Communications Consulting

StartingBlock Communications
Consulting

StartingBlock Communications ConsultingStartingBlock Communications ConsultingStartingBlock Communications Consulting

From Insights to Influence: Communications Consulting for Business Leaders

From Insights to Influence: Communications Consulting for Business LeadersFrom Insights to Influence: Communications Consulting for Business LeadersFrom Insights to Influence: Communications Consulting for Business Leaders

C-Suite Persona Development  | Thought Leadership | 

 Communications Coaching | Consulting Services

From Insights to Influence: Communications Consulting for Business Leaders

From Insights to Influence: Communications Consulting for Business LeadersFrom Insights to Influence: Communications Consulting for Business LeadersFrom Insights to Influence: Communications Consulting for Business Leaders

C-Suite Persona Development  | Thought Leadership | 

 Communications Coaching | Consulting Services

About StartingBlock

What We Do

Help leaders communicate with impact. 

We Believe

Effective leaders match business acumen and category expertise with communications excellence. 

Our Approach

Through customized, one-on-one discovery sessions, communications audits and peer evaluation, we uncover communications characteristics that make leaders more effective. That's the "StartingBlock" for thought leadership strategy. 

StartingBlock Services

Persona Development

Thought Leadership Strategy

Thought Leadership Strategy

Uncover what makes your communications style uniquely yours, and how to deploy thought leadership consistently with intent and impact. 

Thought Leadership Strategy

Thought Leadership Strategy

Thought Leadership Strategy

Leverage your unique thought leadership persona across all your communications touchpoints: social platforms, internal channels, external visibility moments and more.  

Communications Coaching

Communications Coaching

Communications Coaching

Specialized media training and communications coaching for executives, focuses on techniques that enhance your delivery.

Consulting Services

Communications Coaching

Communications Coaching

With more than two decades of communications experience focused on reputation and c-suite strategy, I can deliver a range of additional public relations services.

StartingBlock's Origin Story

Hi. I'm Kevin Oates. I'm excited to share my venture called StartingBlock.

I had the privilege of spending 26 years at Ketchum, one of the largest global communications consultancies (aka Public Relations agencies), working with leading brands and their leadership teams. I held roles including Corporate Practice Director, Managing Director and was a Global Partner. Within my portfolio, I maintained some of the a

I had the privilege of spending 26 years at Ketchum, one of the largest global communications consultancies (aka Public Relations agencies), working with leading brands and their leadership teams. I held roles including Corporate Practice Director, Managing Director and was a Global Partner. Within my portfolio, I maintained some of the agency's longest and most successful engagements, and was honored to serve as a trusted advisor to clients, c-suite leaders and agency teams throughout the network.  


For more than a decade, I led communications training programs (including media training and presentation skills) and appreciated the impact that even a single session could make on a willing participant. I continually updated and refined the training curriculum, merging traditional media and presentation training practices with the discovery processes, white space analysis and opportunity assessment that inform corporate reputation strategy. That combination, along with a dose of AI, led to a unique system that identifies and defines leaders' unique communications persona, while also uncovering areas for skill development. 


The result is the "StartingBlock" - a credible, confident platform that allows executives to communicate at their best. Working with leaders to bring their persona to life inspired me to start my own practice.


The name, StartingBlock, is a nod to my past. I was on the Track & Field team at the University of Southern California, where I earned both my undergraduate and graduate degrees. I wasn't very fast, but planting my feet in the starting blocks and staring at the finish line in the distance always inspired confidence and excitement... a feeling I hope to create when working with leaders.


I'm passionate about helping leaders become more intentional, impactful and successful communicators. I enjoy working with individuals or leadership teams to create a complementary thought leadership ecosystem. With roots in media and presentation training, I'm always happy to conduct sessions, especially in advance of major company announcements or events.  And with a well-rounded corporate communications background, I'd be happy to consult on just about any reputation challenge, as well. 


Let's Talk...

Contact:

Attach Files
Attachments (0)

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

StartingBlock Communications Consulting

2337 Roscomare Road, Unit 2-350, Los Angeles, Ca 90077

email Kevin@StartingBlockComms.com Call: (310) 869-7519

Interested in Opinions and Insights?

Sign up to hear from us.

Kevin's CV

My Experience

K Oates CV Feb 2025 (pdf)Download

Copyright © 2025 StartingBlock Communications Consulting - All Rights Reserved.


Powered by

This website uses cookies.

We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.

Accept