Complexity is the environment.
Composure is the edge.

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I move beyond pure-play coaching to serve as a strategic advisor and partner for leaders navigating high-consequence roles. Together, we trade performative urgency for the grounded authority required to drive lasting impact.

About Kim

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Coaching Services

Surko Coaching bridges the gap between where a leader is and where the boardroom needs them to be. By merging twenty years of executive tenure with data-backed frameworks, we transform abstract leadership concepts into a manageable roadmap of behaviors. Excellence is not a performance; it is a discipline built on a foundation of integrity and self-awareness.

For businesses + executive teams

Leadership is the primary bottleneck of hyper-growth. Surko Coaching partners with organizations to resolve the friction that stalls momentum—from cultural pivots to organizational alignment. We address the unspoken complexities of the C-suite to ensure leadership capacity and culture evolve at the same speed as the business.

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For Individuals

Leadership requires a strategic edge and the resilience to sustain it. Surko Coaching acts as a strategic advisor for executives navigating high-stakes roles. Through the refinement of presence and the optimization of personal leadership energy, we help leaders command the room with an authenticity that is both powerful and sustainable.

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Media Features

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Kim Surko

Meet Kim Surko

CPC, ACC, ELI-MP

High-stakes leadership requires a rare duality: the empathy to build culture and the composure to hold authority under pressure. Known as 'The Velvet Hammer,' I draw on 20 years as a marketing and tech executive to help leaders navigate the complexities of power, identity, and alignment.



I move beyond 'pure-play' coaching by serving as both a strategic advisor and a dedicated partner—providing the situational insight that only two decades in the corporate trenches can offer. I partner with leaders to transform instinct into unshakeable presence, ensuring their authority is built on substance, not performance.

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Why Client’s Trust Kim

  • "Kim is amazing! She is able to support me as a neurodivergent overachiever! She helps me break down my large goals and tasks to manageable and meaningful accomplishments. I am a big thinker and sometimes that is my downfall. She understands that and appreciates who I am and how I am and that makes me feel safe. "

    Margaret ELLIS R. | Co-Founder & Executive Director

  • "Kim's coaching services were invaluable for me. What felt like drift and burnout became a focused strategy for my next chapter. Kim doesn’t hand you platitudes, she helps you articulate your value, build confidence for real conversations, and move past self-doubt into decisions that actually feel intentional. If you’ve felt stuck, unanchored, or overwhelmed by what’s next, this coaching partnership is the kind of strategic, human-centered support that makes change feel doable rather than impossible."

    Victoria Flynn | Creative Translator for Founders and GTM 

  • “Kim's coaching has been truly life-changing. She consistently goes above and beyond, offering thoughtful reflections, practical advice, organized notes, thought-provoking homework, and actionable next steps, including quick check-ins after tough meetings. She is both my accountability partner and a steady source of encouragement, guiding me through professional challenges with empathy and patience. Kim has created a safe, supportive, and authentic space where I feel understood. Her energy work has been eye-opening and transformative, helping me shift and sustain my energy. I am incredibly grateful for her as a coach; she is one of my most trusted support systems and a guiding light. I cannot recommend her highly eno

    Darcy R.   |  Creative Director

  • "Working with Kim has been one of the best investments I’ve made in myself. After experiencing an unexpected layoff, I felt uncertain about my next steps—but her guidance helped me bounce back with confidence and clarity. She gave me the tools and mindset to not only move forward but to see new opportunities where I once saw setbacks. What I appreciate most is that she doesn’t just give advice—she really listens, asks the right questions, and challenges me to think differently. She has helped me recognize my strengths, rebuild my confidence, and set meaningful goals that I’m actively achieving. Every session left me feeling energized and focused, with practical steps I was able to put into action right away. If you’re looking for someone who is supportive, insightful, and genuinely invested in helping you grow, I can’t recommend Kim enough!"

    Elliott L. | Sales

  • "Kim isn't just a coach; she is also a mentor. Her intelligence, thoughtfulness, and ability to balance solution-driven thinking with genuine empathy transformed my career. She possessed an intuitive sense of when to challenge me to speak up and when to offer unwavering support, creating a safe space for my growth. She empowered me to confidently navigate complex operational challenges, directly impacting my ability to streamline processes and improve team efficiency. Under her guidance, I not only found my voice but also developed critical leadership skills that I continue to leverage today. I am so grateful for her influence and the lasting positive impact she's had on my career."

    Danielle Kim | Director of Customer Success

  • “Kim's coaching, which mirrors her strong leadership style, was essential in navigating significant periods of change after my sabbatical when clarity was difficult to find. She offered non-judgmental guidance, allowing me the space to think and holding me accountable without pressure. Her flexible approach, combined with practical tools, provided the pause needed to recalibrate. When I was questioning everything, Kim helped me reaffirm my purpose and uniqueness, forming a framework for my next steps. The answers were already there; Kim simply helped me slow down, connect the dots, and give them shape. For anyone navigating change, feeling stuck, or needing a trusted guide for clarity, Kim brings conviction that truly lasts.”

     Richard Bull, PhD  | Senior Transformational Leader

  • “Kim has been instrumental in my career, from an individual contributor to a global team leader. Her coaching helped me navigate major transitions—from Financial Services to Marketing Tech and Agency Services—and build confidence for greater leadership. Kim offers strategic guidance while fostering independent problem-solving by asking the right questions and helping me prioritize. For instance, her coaching was key to successfully reshaping our complex customer support model, focusing on core impact elements to implement a scalable framework that improved customer outcomes and operational efficiency. Kim's ability to empower others makes her an exceptional coach for anyone seeking to navigate career changes, develop leadership, or drive professional growth.”

    Brian Guiles | VP of Customer Success

  • "Kim's support was truly transformative. It wasn't about management; it was about empowerment. She didn't just give me answers; she helped me discover them within myself. She skillfully guided me to understand my own motivations, ensuring my actions aligned with my authentic desires, and she taught me how to own my achievements and present them strategically. Kim's unwavering support and insightful guidance enabled me to progress from an individual contributor to running the professional services department in just six years. Through her coaching, I not only found my voice but also developed critical leadership skills and a deep sense of self-belief that continue to shape my career."

    Caroline Thompson | VP of Customer Success

  • “Kim was instrumental during a difficult career transition after a layoff, providing a safe, non-judgmental space to process feelings of anger and failure. She helped me reframe the experience, encouraging me to focus on growth and control. Beyond her support, Kim was an inspiring leader—bold, empathetic, and sharp—who balanced honesty with encouragement. Working with Kim is highly recommended; her unique blend of boldness, warmth, and insight makes a lasting impact.”

    Andrea Breslin | Director of Product

Leadership Pharmakon

In Ancient Greek, pharmakon represents a paradox: it is both the cure and the toxin. This newsletter examines how modern leadership operates on the same edge. Every action is a dosage—either healing your organization’s culture or poisoning it.

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