expert PR Services & Leadership Communications Strategy
C-Suite Communications Strategy | Thought Leadership |
Media Training | Public Relations Consulting
StartingBlock Services
Fractional Communications Counsel
Fractional Communications Counsel
Fractional Communications Counsel
Whether scaling your communications team for short-term demands, pitching new business or developing a long-term strategic roadmap, outside expertise may be valuable. Let StartingBlock add depth and perspective to your team. Consider engaging us as your fractional chief communications officer, new business pitch lead or client director.
Persona Development
Fractional Communications Counsel
Fractional Communications Counsel
Uncover what makes your communications style uniquely yours, and how to deploy thought leadership consistently with intent and impact. This customizable, 90-minute discovery sessions results in a personal branding strategy to set you apart from peers and competitors. Ideally suited for new leaders or leaders new to their role.
Thought Leadership Strategy
Fractional Communications Counsel
Thought Leadership Strategy
Leverage your unique thought leadership persona across all communications touchpoints: social platforms, internal channels, external visibility moments and more. Customized content strategy, speaking recommendations, bylined content and speechwriting will enhance your public relations profile.
Communications Coaching
Strategic Planning and Narrative Development
Thought Leadership Strategy
Executive media training, presentation skills, "train the trainer" sessions and communications coaching focuses on techniques that enhance delivery. Sessions range from brief, 1-hour online refreshers to multi-day intensive sessions for full teams.
Strategic Planning and Narrative Development
Strategic Planning and Narrative Development
Strategic Planning and Narrative Development
Award-winning communications programs start with a diligent planning process designed to meet business objectives, not just generate coverage. Having developed hundreds of communications plans and corporate narratives with dozens of teams, we can guide your next planning process to create impact beyond impressions.
Consulting Services
Strategic Planning and Narrative Development
Strategic Planning and Narrative Development
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.
About StartingBlock
What We Do
Help executives and communications teams with high-impact communications strategy and thought leadership.
We Believe
Effective communications creates impact, not just impressions. Leading communications teams combine business strategy and category expertise with communications excellence. Strategic planning, thought leadership, media training and communications skills development will elevate your game.
Our Approach
Through consultative discovery sessions, communications audits and peer evaluation, we uncover what will make your brand, product or leadership team break through a crowded communications landscape.
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.