Marc Lipovsky
Google

“When I first started working with Basil, I was overwhelmed, second-guessing myself, and struggling with visibility, communication, and confidence. Today, I’m leading cross-functional initiatives, mentoring others, and regularly engaging at higher levels of influence. Basil’s coaching helped me find not only my voice, but my value and to own both.”

Basil has an extraordinary gift for seeing both the professional and personal sides of growth. He helped me see blind spots I didn’t know I had and guided me through the uncomfortable but necessary steps to become the kind of leader I’ve always wanted to be—thoughtful, influential, and dependable. I’ve gained not just tools, but a mindset that continues to pay off every day.”

Dr. Christian Rosenkranz,
Vice President, Automotive Components,
Henkel Corporation

“I worked with Basil when I stepped into a Vice President role, and his coaching was truly transformative. He helped me grow into my new leadership position with clarity and confidence and guided me in setting the right priorities. His support not only fueled my personal growth, but also helped me achieve strong business results and build meaningful, lasting relationships at work. His wise advice, empathy, and deep well of experience made all the difference!”

Del Costy,
President
Siemens Digital Industries, USA;
Managing Director, Digital Industries Software, America

“I’ve had the pleasure of working with Basil over the past several months.  He provides incredibly valuable insights focused on what it truly means to lead through serving.  Not just through counselling, but also tangible structure and process recommendations to aide in people transformation. Fostering an environment in which our people can shine is at the heart of vertical empowerment, and more importantly, critical to any company’s success.”

Karen Bathanti,
President
OakMac SHRM

“Basil Denno delivered an insightful webinar for OakMac SHRM, shedding light on the evolving landscape of HR compliance. His expertise provided our members with valuable strategies to navigate upcoming regulatory changes.”

Jennifer Beattie,
CEO
Culture on Camera

“Working with Basil is truly an honor. His passion for leadership, business development, and coaching has profoundly impacted not just my thinking—but my heart. Every conversation leaves me inspired, brimming with fresh ideas, new perspectives, and a deeper appreciation for his wisdom and insight.”

Steve Lishansky,
Hall of Fame Executive Coach,
Optimize International 

“Having known and worked with Basil for more than 10 years, I call him one of the most insightful, authentic, genuine, and caring professionals I know.  Filled with a passion for improvement, a commitment to excellence, and a determination to make a huge difference with everyone he works with, Basil consistently demonstrates what great leadership looks like.  When you get the chance to tap his experience and wisdom – jump at the opportunity!”

Maureen C. Radulski
Human Resources Manager,
Notre Dame Preparatory School

“Vertical-Empowerment partnered with our leaders to enhance self-awareness and emotional intelligence. Our staff gained valuable self-regulation techniques, including the ability to find ‘common ground’ in challenging situations. This workshop has become a valuable addition to our school’s toolbox for fostering collaboration and effective teamwork.”

Brendan Yang,
Manager Software Development
Crio

“Through Basil’s coaching, I’m better equipped with tools and strategies for aligning my organization’s goals with that of my department. He has encouraged me to build upon my intrinsic strengths, inspiring me to better lead with authenticity, transparency, and trust. If you are looking for ways to better your leadership skills, I’d highly recommend meeting with Basil to find out what kind of leader you could be.”

Kristen Bosse,
Vice President Product Development,
Crio

“Since beginning my work with Basil last year, my attitude about myself and my career have shifted in such a positive way. I always look forward to my conversations with him. He has been an exemplary leadership coach and always asks the right questions to lead me to very solid decisions. Throughout our time together, I felt very supported and championed in the attainment of my goals and the goals of my department. I can safely say I am a better leader today because of the coaching I received from Basil.”

Tony Sciucco,
VP of Customer Experience,
Crio

“Working with Basil has been a transformative experience for both my leadership and my team’s performance. His coaching helped me build self-confidence and mature my leadership capabilities, allowing me to navigate challenging conversations with other leaders and direct reports with ease. Through his guidance, I was able to conduct effective strength and weakness evaluations, which have been instrumental in driving my and my team’s success. Basil’s support has truly elevated my leadership, and I’m grateful for the positive impact he’s had on my career.”

Amelia Tian
Solutions Consultant,
Crio

“Basil’s coaching has significantly elevated my leadership and team performance by helping me unlock my potential as a leader. Through his hands-on approach, I’ve learned effective methods and frameworks for prioritization, allowing me to focus on impactful goals and maximize productivity. His exercises have also empowered me to better understand my team members’ circumstances and adapt my leadership style accordingly, leading to more meaningful results and a more cohesive team dynamic.”

Megan Richards,
Director CSM
Crio

“Basil has been an excellent coach as I’ve navigated the early years of my management career. The strategies he shared with me have helped me navigate difficult conversations, prioritize and delegate tasks, and build a cohesive and reliable team. I look forward to continuing to develop my leadership skills by practicing the techniques I’ve learned from Basil and actively incorporating them into my daily life.”

Bettina Abbott,
Director Customer Experience,
Crio

“I am extremely appreciative to Basil for his coaching. Over the last year, with his guidance, my leadership skills have improved exponentially. Basil does an outstanding job at helping you to pinpoint your growth areas and then customizes your time with him to help you improve in those areas. Not only that, but he is willing to be a sounding board when you need it, if you need clarity to help make decisions, he will help with that or if you need to better understand leadership and business frameworks he will explain those. He truly cares about the success of each and every client. ”

S Oppelt,
Director Commercial Training 
Ferring Pharmaceuticals

“Working with Basil Denno and his company, Vertical Empowerment, was an incredibly valuable experience. From the very beginning, Basil took the time to deeply understand our business, our mission, and our vision. He didn’t just offer a one-size-fits-all solution—he tailored his approach based on a genuine comprehension of our goals and challenges, helping us clearly identify the need for his services.

The full-day workshop that Basil led with his partner Jennifer was a standout experience. It combined creative strategic thinking with practical application, and was both engaging and educational for our entire team. The session sparked fresh insights and aligned us around actionable strategies we could implement immediately.

What sets Basil apart is his leadership style—he brings clarity, calm, and focus to the room. His executive presence is unmistakable: confident yet approachable, insightful yet open to collaboration. He has a rare ability to guide conversations in a way that draws out the best thinking from everyone involved.

I highly recommend Basil and Vertical Empowerment to any organization looking to elevate their strategic thinking, align their leadership, and move forward with purpose.”

Bob Palermo,
Director, Coaching and Selling Excellence, Oncology,
Glaxo Smith Kline

“In a career spanning over three decades, I’ve had the opportunity to be influenced and led by many leaders.  No one understands people and organizations better than Basil and his team. The leadership model he has created embodies his spirit that inspires, motivates and transforms people and organizations to drive performance. His leadership influence has gone beyond my professional career an into my personal life as well as his guidance is practical and life changing.  Engaging Basil and his team well not only change your organization change but will transform your people to be the best across all aspects of their lives.”

Thomas Vigso,
Vice President,
Coloplast

“With Basil’s coaching and support, our business unit achieved record results, culminating in being recognized live at our global townhall as the top-performing unit across all business areas and geographies. His guidance was instrumental in helping us reach this milestone.”