Sample Clients

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As President of Pandemic Studios, I relied on Roberta's sage advice on numerous occasions through our $860m transaction with Electronic Arts.  Since then, I still regularly seek her counsel whenever I'm faced with complex leadership challenges. I am beyond fortunate to have Roberta in my corner.

Josh Resnick

Co-Founder & GP, OpenSky Ventures

Co-Founder & CEO, Sugarfina

Co-Founder & President, Pandemic Studios

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When I met Roberta, I was at a fork in my career. Her methods and coaching are different from what I expected but I fully put my faith in her guidance. It worked for others who I have seen succeed. It’s not without effort and hard work – you have to be prepared for brutal honesty and be open to your own shortcomings (whether you're self-aware or not). Since going through Roberta’s coaching program, I am now running my own boutique investment bank, doing what I love, and not being a stress ball 24/7. Roberta's coaching equipped me with communication tools, the ability to recognize stressors and deal with them directly. I am moving through problems and tough conversations rather than avoiding them. I couldn't be happier with my results. 10 stars out of 5!

Zain Pirani

Co-Founder Partner, Zenn Capital

 Founder & CEO, No Thank You

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What makes Roberta an excellent executive coach is her experience-based pattern recognition paired with her ability to tactfully help me arrive at the right decisions, even if they aren't comfortable or obvious. I have been working with Roberta for nearly a year now - she began with a measured approach to getting to know me through the lens of my executive team as well as through in-depth conversations I had with her. She was great at quickly building the mutual trust necessary for this partnership to be successful - effortlessly parsing through my personal motivations, professional background, vision for the company, and expectations from others. Since then, Roberta has become an invaluable 'sherpa' for my journey. She is fast-paced in her thinking, adapting her coaching style and tone as needed, and always brings focus back to the issues that can have the most impact. She is complimentary but also constructively critical when needed. She is very precise with her observations and consistent in her feedback. She is effective and a force-multiplier!

Arch Rao

Founder & CEO, SPAN

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Roberta is the coach’s coach! Following my 25 years as a public servant and 12 years as an international developer and coach, Roberta ushered me directly to my next level in private consulting and coaching services. For the past 13 years, I have kept her at my side at the beginning and during every significant initiative I have undertaken. It is an honor and privilege to have Roberta’s support and guidance in what is now the most challenging service of my 44 years of worldwide public/private service.

Chief (Ret.) Nicholas A. Sensley, MBA

Founder & CEO, Institute for American Policing Reform

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I would not be who I am as a CEO, a mom, a daughter, and a friend without Roberta as my long-time executive coach. I get through messy, unpleasant situations and show up as a mature steady leader every day because I have Roberta on my side. 

Yoky Matsuoka

Founder & CEO, Yohana | PanasonicWELL

former Executive, Google

former CTO, Nest 

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  Roberta has been an invaluable advisor to me and my company - from when I was VP of games at Zynga to now CEO of my startup.  She provides practical business changing advice while helping me grow as an authentic leader. She holds up a mirror so I’m reminded that I have the power to enact change within myself and in others. I’ve recommended her to many other entrepreneurs and executives who inevitably feel empowered after working with her. I’m honored that she still has time for me!    Roberta’s powers are so respected that she has an amazing network. She has connected me with those she feels would complement my skill sets and EQ growth areas and vice versa.  Many of these connections have turned into great friends and we rely on each other throughout our careers.

Maureen Fan

Founder & CEO, Baobab Studios

 former VP Games, Zynga

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Roberta is a fantastic Leadership Coach and Facilitator. Her ability to take insights from my team and build out a plan to improve accountability, partnership, and strategic outcomes was outstanding. I was so impressed that I brought her back for another iteration a year later.

The work I did with Roberta left a permanent change in the way that I see myself as a Leader and the way I can best use my leadership skills to influence and drive change across the organization. 

Jamal Anderson

Sr. Director, Technical Program Mgmt., Google 

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I’ve had the distinct pleasure of knowing and working with Roberta for well over a decade -- first during my time as co-founder of Nest and then later when I co-founded mission-based investor Incite.org, I have continued to be impressed by Roberta’s keen instincts and compassionate leadership. She empowers her clients to lean into their strengths. Whenever I’m asked for an executive coach referral, I immediately recommend Roberta. 

Matt Rogers

Founder & CEO, Mill

Founder, Incite.org 

Co-Founder, Nest

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Roberta is the best!  She was my coach back at Riot, where she also worked with many other Riot leaders. She has also coached several executives and founders that I now work with here at a16z Games and they all sing her praises! 

Jordan Mazer

Head of Talent, a16z Games 

former Sr. Dir. Talent Acquisition, Riot

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Roberta is my secret weapon. As a trusted partner, her help is invaluable in navigating the challenges of building a startup and making sure that both my personal and professional growth keep up with the growth of the company.

Chris Hopper

Founder & CEO, Aurora Solar

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Simply put, Roberta changed my life. A while ago I was promoted into the biggest role of my life, and in over my head. I burned out and was about to give up when I was lucky to meet Roberta. For the next 6 months, we worked together to get me to a better state, delegate more, set clear boundaries, be kinder to myself, push back against unrealistic expectations and not take everything so personally. Roberta not only got me through this very tough time, she also helped me become a much better executive and a better person, and eventually succeed beyond my wildest expectations in the toughest role of my career. I owe her so much of my success. I then recommended Roberta to everyone who would listen and had her coach some of the leaders who reported to me, with similar results. One leader told me that Roberta’s help was worth so much to them, they’d be willing to mortgage their home to get her coaching if the company didn’t pay for it.  Roberta is best in class, and I cannot recommend her highly enough. She changed my life – she’ll change yours too. 

Oksana Kubushyna 

Founder & CEO, Seeker Entertainment

former COO, Entertainment, Riot Games

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Roberta is an incredibly impactful advisor to Voldex and to me. Her coaching is instrumental in my development to become a better CEO, and she helps me successfully navigate complex challenges as they arise.

Alex Singer

Founder & CEO, Voldex

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Roberta is amazing! She brings both deep operational expertise (having been an executive many times herself), as well as an exceptional level of EQ and intuition to her coaching. She is gifted at unlocking new pathways, speaking the truth, and being a true partner in my leadership journey.

Kelly Buchanan

Chief People Officer, Revinate

former Head of L&D, Zynga 

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I am not sure that there is a better executive coach in the world of tech than Roberta Riga! I've been fortunate to have worked with her since the early Nest Labs days and I give a lot of my own success to the lessons and training she has provided me! She continues to deliver for me at Humane and she is our trusted advisor when it comes time to invest in our people.  I don't make these types of recommendations often but when I do, it is because I can stand behind it and it is easy to stand behind Roberta's capabilities.

José Benitez Cong

Chief People Officer, Humane

former Nest Head of Talent, Google

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