TRIBUTES

Not only is Aldo one of the best global coaches I have worked with, he is an outstanding human being, a parter and a close friend. Aldo's greatest gift is the combination of his intellect, insight and incredible heart that enables him to help his excutive clients solve challenges and help them become the best they can be.

John Mattone

#1 Executive Coach in the World, Founder and President of John Mattone Global

Aldo is one of the most innovative thought-leaders in the field of leadership development and conflict resolution I have met. I have benefited from Aldo's advice and capacity for strategic synergies. We met regularly in my office for conversations in which Aldo's unique vision did not fail to impress me. Aldo's unique perspective and set of experiences immediately caught my attention: in Italy he had played a crucial role in finding innovative ways to fight against the Mafia, including strengthening civil engagement and deepening democracy. 

After President Barack Obama appointed me as a Special Envoy to the Middle East, Aldo set up an informal study group to approach the challenges from an academic perspective. In a very skillful way, and relying on his vast and impressive international network of contacts, Aldo assembled a team with highly qualified individuals to provide me with insight and advice. Let me conclude by underlying Aldo's innovative leadership skills: he possesses all the characteristics of a confident leader; he surrounds himself with the best people; he listens carefully to everyone's opinion and demands the active participation of everyone in the construction and the implementation of a vision. When Aldo was appointed as the director of the Center for International Conflict Resolution at Columbia University, it was evident that he had a clear vision of the direction the Center had to take to consolidate and to expand . 

Sen. George Mitchell

Former Chair of Walt Disney, International Mediator, U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East

Just over a year ago (2023), I had the privilege of meeting Aldo Civico. At that time, we were engaged in the negotiation process of a Collective Bargaining Agreement that had gone through many stages over more than two years, eventually leading to a complete breakdown in communication and, consequently, the hope for a beneficial resolution for all parties involved. Aldo offered his collaboration to help our company reestablish the negotiation process. During his involvement in this critical endeavor, Aldo demonstrated exceptional commitment, empathy, professionalism, and outstanding negotiation and communication skills.

From the very beginning of the process, Aldo positioned himself as an effective strategic partner and an advocate for the interests of both the employees and the company. His ability to understand and respect the needs and concerns of all parties was crucial in creating an environment of trust and cooperation. Aldo successfully fostered dialogue, and thanks to his expertise and knowledge, facilitated the creation of agreements that benefited everyone involved.

One of his key strengths was his ability to build trust and promote understanding between the parties. He also introduced us to innovative negotiation methods that allowed us to view the process from a fresh perspective, open new communication channels, and focus on understanding and dialogue rather than our differences in opinion. Above all, he helped keep the process centered on its primary objectives.

Thanks to Aldo’s intervention, the negotiation process resulted in a collective bargaining agreement that not only strengthened employees’ rights but also reinforced the company’s commitment to the well-being and development of our people. I am convinced that his contribution will have a positive long-term impact on our company, as well as on all of us who had the tremendous privilege of working with him and participating in his masterful workshops.

Without hesitation, I recommend Aldo Civico for any similar project. His professional ethics, negotiation skills, and dedication to the values of empathy, fairness, and respect are qualities that will add value to any team he joins.

Maribel Montes,
CEO, Cervecera de PR, Inc.

Aldo truly changed my entire being on a molecular level. He taught me about creating life on my own and how my speech patterns leaned into negativity. Thoughts become things. Words become things. If I looked at something from the negative, then it was negative. I literally THINK differently because of him. The mentality he helped me achieve pushed me to get through the years of crap jobs and monotony. He got me off my couch and pushed me to go after what I wanted. I can't thank him enough.

Anthony Lee Medina

Actor, Hamilton Musical (Broadway) and Netflix

Aldo is a phenomenal "leaders' leader"! I've had the great pleasure to work with him for several months and, in that time, made considerable progress in several areas. With his guidance, I identified, examined, and remedied major professional and personal roadblocks. It is through Aldo’s meaningful questioning and careful listening, that I quickly got to the heart of issues revealing problematic narratives and limiting beliefs. With laser focus and genuine kindness, he expertly moved me through exercises and techniques which immediately aided in addressing concerns. Because of Aldo’s unique way of working, I made important progress even within a single session, leaving me with a renewed sense of purpose, confidence, and a renewed desire to continue the work. Aldo pairs his significant expertise with a deep respect for individual concerns and personal strengths. Working within that framework, he artfully guided and encouraged me to question and stretch, building personalized tools which are infinitely useful to me moving forward. As a seasoned leader myself, I’ve had the great pleasure to work with celebrated coaches. And also, working with Aldo has been the most meaningful. I believe Aldo has a remarkable gift in working with other leaders, particularly those in the field of human service, change management, and conflict resolution as he is uniquely positioned and experienced in those areas. I am a more innovative and dynamic social architect and servant leader because of my highly effective and meaningful sessions with Aldo. I am absolutely looking forward to continuing the work and am utterly grateful for his guidance.

Amy E. Warman

Educational Wellness Expert, Talent Developer, and Clinical Educator

I have had the opportunity to enjoy Aldo’s coaching for a couple of years, and for me, there have been significant achievements. I have identified aspects of myself that I need to enhance and others that I need to start from scratch—all as part of a personal challenge to reach my goals in both my personal and professional life. It has allowed me to know myself on a deeper level, question what I truly desire, and understand how to create the path to get there.

Aldo’s work has been to guide me, presenting me with alternatives so that, from my own perspective, I could reach my own conclusions and discover the step-by-step approach to implementing what I’ve realized and achieving my goals. I have improved my relationship with my family, made my communication more conscious, and overcome some obstacles that were preventing me from flowing more smoothly both at home and in my professional life.

I have integrated myself more fully into my being and my activities, putting more heart into the projects I value. I have felt that my leadership skills have strengthened, fully aware that I continue to build them autonomously and consistently—it’s an ongoing process that we have significantly propelled forward, benefiting everything around me.

The sessions felt like seemingly informal conversations, yet they included individual activities that I analyzed on my own, then shared with him. From his knowledge and perspective, he helped me engage in deep analysis, allowing me to find my own solutions through self-questioning and incorporate them into my daily life.

This process has been a starting point for discovering my essence, enriching my strengths, and working diligently on my weaknesses. My personal growth has been significantly enhanced by Aldo—an expert who has helped elevate me to a higher level than where I started. I have so much to be grateful for!

Dr. Juan Esteban Sierra, M.D., Plastic Surgeon

I cannot express deeply enough my respect and admiration for Aldo. He is committed to changing the paradigm of leadership and to the way we all think about power, and I think he can make great changes in this world.  He leads not by force so much as by kindness - by whispering if you will. This is why I consider him to be the leader's whisperer. I am so grateful for his wisdom and his constancy. I recommend him with the highest esteem.

Abigail Disney

Philantropist and President of Fork Films

One of the greatest privileges in my life is the presence of Aldo. He doesn’t need to speak or do anything to influence me; just his presence is enough to bring vital clarity, open doors, and reveal long-sought answers that help me understand, free myself, and breathe in the freedom we all deserve. The wise one, the generous one, the “enjoyer” of life, the inspiring guide, the nomad, the man who has attained his supreme freedom. Within him resides pure ancestral wisdom, the power to manifest impossible dreams, and the countless inner and outer journeys that fill him with experience. Aldo has impacted my life in such a profound way that I have started becoming the person I dreamed of being as a child. Thank you for seeing me—beyond what I represent or possess—and for seeing in thousands of people our limitless essential nature.

Angela Zapata, President of AZ Marcas

I didn’t believe in coaching. During my experience as an executive in several companies where I worked, I interacted with different coaches tasked with making us the best leaders possible. I saw many colleagues enter this world and take courses to train in this field. There were so many coaches that they had to adopt surnames: systemic, cognitive, ontological, and more. I couldn’t quite understand the differences. I started feeling that coaching stopped being a means, a tool, and became an end in itself. Despite the variety of approaches, it was delivered in a very homogeneous way to different types of leadership and ended up being presented almost like a religion. There was little room to question the methodologies or the conclusions being drawn. As a result, it became of little use to me.

This is why my experience at Comfama with Aldo Civico marked a shift in perception. There are three elements I find highly valuable in Aldo’s work.

First, he is not dogmatic. He understands that his role is to guide, and to do this, he is open to questions and challenges, sometimes even revising his own perspectives. This allows him to create a unique path with each leader he coaches. I saw this firsthand when discussing with my colleagues their individual processes with Aldo. Each of us had a different journey, yet this made it easier for us, as executives, to work together in aligning our teams and coordinating efforts—a dynamic I had not experienced in previous coaching engagements.

The second aspect I want to highlight is Aldo’s ability to weave conversations into the challenges and workplace tensions we face daily. He doesn’t rely on clichés but instead offers practical advice that greatly facilitated my growth as a manager.

Finally, his commitment to the process stands out. I never felt alone. Even outside of scheduled hours, he was willing to make time to address pressing issues I needed to resolve.

It’s no coincidence that Aldo has received international recognition and that his work is sought after worldwide. In this vast field of coaching, Aldo sets himself apart and demonstrates the importance and relevance this work can have for competitive companies that need increasingly human and inspiring leaders.

Edward Jaramillo González
Journalist, Communicator, and Social Entrepreneur

I could not imagine navigating the daily pressures and complications of my business without the guidance and the support of Aldo. Aldo has the rare ability to simplify the most complicated situations, allowing me to clearly see solutions to highly charged situations that I would not be able to discover on my own. Beyond his 1-on-1 coaching, Aldo has designed a leadership development program to train my managers and their teams. They all benefit from working with Aldo; both in their personal and professional lives, as much as I do.

Charles Rose

CEO New Ark Farms and Cider Works

Aldo's a guy you always want on your side, because he's always on the right side - even when he's not taking sides! I met Aldo through an adviser to Bill Clinton, and I could see immediately why President Clinton and his team were working with Aldo. Smart, worldly and dedicated.

Sean Carol

President and CEO, Anera

This is not a routine recommendation: I have worked with Aldo over a dozen years on international events around the ideas of constructive interdependence and global cooperation. Aldo combines a knack for getting things done and detail with deep commitments and ideals-- a perfect partner
for achieving broad goals through specific projects.

Benjamin Barber

Author of the best-seller, Jihad vs. McWorld

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