Kate Trotter
I am an actress to the very depths of my soul. I am also a teacher, a director and a corporate coach. It is a blending of careers that works extremely well both for myself and for the people I work with. There is an element of performance in so much of what we do. It is part of my style as a coach to help people connect to their inner ‘star’. After all, as a speaker one needs to stand above the competition and leave a lasting impression. One way of doing that is to use the skills that actors use every time they step in front of a camera or on to a stage.
I love my career as a coach: a coach of corporate executives (male and female), members of the legal profession, leaders of all kinds seeking to improve their management, presentation and speaking skills and young performers,
I also love my career as an actress. I have worked in spectacular locations (Prague, Luxembourg, Ireland, Los Angeles and Washington) but I have happily, deliberately and proudly made my home here in Canada. In my early years I learned my craft on the stage working in all the major theatres this wonderful country has to offer. It was exhilarating and humbling. I stood on the stage with Canadian icons: Martha Henry, Bill Hutt, Roly Hewgill and Brent Carver. I was directed by wonderful people with astonishing minds: Robin Phillips. Richard Monette, Richard Rose, Martha Henry, Henry Tarvainen, Brian Bedford, Michael Shamata, Christopher Newton and Duncan McIntosh to name but a few.
And it was all so surprising because I began my life in a tiny town called Fennell’s Corners. I grew up on a farm. I collected eggs and picked strawberries with my mother. I rode the horse through the orchard and learned to drive on a tractor. I dug post holes and helped my dad put shingles on the roof of our family home. It was a solid beginning for a career full of new experiences, hard work and moments of challenge.
When my beautiful daughter Kathleen was born traveling for theatre for months at a time became problematic. I needed to be close to home. So I concentrated my attention and my career on the world of television and film. Again I was lucky. I worked opposite huge stars with enormous talent and even larger hearts. I have shared the screen with Sophia Loren, Alison Pill, Angelina Jolie, Gary Sinise, Jon Voight, James Woods, Whoopi Goldberg, Mariska Hargitay, Claire Bloom and all three of the Carradine Brothers.
And I have been privileged in my career. I have played Marie Curie on film. I have directed for the stage, the screen and made corporate videos. I have prepared young performers for big auditions and watched them get the job. I have smiled with pride as corporate executives walked up to the podium with style and confidence after only a few sessions of training.
I am a very lucky and happy actress. I am a very lucky and very happy mother. I am a very lucky and happy dog and cat owner. I am excited, challenged and motivated by my work as a teacher.
I hope to concentrate more time on my work as a coach in the future, because my skills and experiences as an actress are skills that provide a trampoline for speakers and students alike to jump higher, risk more and experience the exhilaration of success.
Kate Trotter is able to work with an anxious presenter, offer highly effective ways to reduce that anxiety, and in the process free the speaker up to be the best they can be at the podium. I have worked with Kate in all kinds of groups, ranging from non-profit managers, to crown attorneys, to CEOs and their boards. All of them came away feeling as if they have a new lease on this important part of their life.
Bob Ramsay
Kate Trotter helped me move from the uncomfortable to the comfortable in making public addresses. She is a true professional in providing the highest public speaking training. I continue to be her pupil and best supporter. I cannot speak too highly of the professional skills and approach Kate brings to helping executives overcome the traditional concerns about public speaking. Working with Kate is engaging and fun.
John E. Caldwell
We called Kate for help after we started work on a video. Kate re-thought the project, re-wrote the script, re-planned the shots and re-directed the video. The results were what we hoped for – a motivational video. It told our corporate story in a way that made us proud. Kate was fun to work with, collaborative, incredibly professional and passionate about what mattered to us. I would absolutely hire her again. But this time I would hire her first!
Ruth Brothers
The coaching and speaking tips gained from Kate have helped me with all aspects of my public speaking. I still use her tips on voice inflection, importance of stage presence, image suggestions to this day. After working with Kate over several private sessions I was able to take my personal strengths and build on them. I now know the art of how to “Tell a Story” on stage – thanks to Kate!
Esther Bast
My experience with Kate proved to be extremely positive and beneficial. I found her to be very dynamic, insightful and inspirational. Her coaching was extremely effective and it exceeded my expectations. Along with enhancing my public speaking skills, I now approach my numerous responsibilities with a great deal more confidence and ease.
Maria V
Kate took two wonderful students-at-law from my office during the year they were articling and taught them how to speak effectively as lawyers: they were brilliant, but without Kate's transformation they would not have been half the lawyers they are now.
Clayton Ruby
Kate Trotter has been a wonderful friend, actress, coach and mentor to me over my entire acting career. She demands truth, honesty, strength and passion from the work of her students. Kate is a brilliant actress and brings her wealth of knowledge of the business and expertise of the craft to every session.
Kate Todd
Kate's wealth of acting and directorial experience, as well as her substantial knowledge of the text, allows her to guide and shape your current work, but also, gives space for you to leave with more ideas. I wouldn't dream of going into an audition without her kind guidance and her keen eye pointing me along the path and ensuring that the work stays intelligent, centered, and very truthful. I owe her a huge debt of gratitude as her approach got me my dream job!
ASH
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