About The Corporate Refinery

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Learn more about our firm and founder to see how we could create a meaningful partnership.

The Corporate Refinery

The Corporate Refinery was named with intention. As a little girl, Colleen Hauk watched her dad come home from the oil refineries in Long Beach, covered in grit, smelling of oil, and working tirelessly at a place she proudly told her friends about. Years later, the word “refinery” resurfaced with new meaning: a place where something already valuable becomes even more powerful.

That’s the heart of The Corporate Refinery. We partner with leaders, teams, and organizations that are already strong performers and help refine how they communicate, align, and execute. Because when communication evolves from well-intentioned to strategically influential, teams move faster, decisions get clearer, and performance improves across the business.

Our work focuses on modernizing outdated communication and presentation habits, strengthening executive presence, and equipping leaders with the tactical tools and high-impact methods that elevate performance and sustain excellence. We bridge growth strategy with real-world leadership demands – creating lasting capability, stronger pipelines, and measurable results.

We look forward to creating a partnership to transform your intentions into successful outcomes!

Colleen Hauk, Executive Presence & Communications Expert

Colleen Hauk is a keynote speaker, executive coach, and communication expert who helps leaders show up with presence, clarity, and influence. As a speaker, she is known for blending inspiration with practical application – delivering energizing, content-rich experiences that equip high performers and organizations to achieve meaningful, measurable results.

As a trainer and coach, Colleen is recognized for her unique combination of straight-talk and sincere support. She challenges leaders with candor, guides them with compassion, and equips them with the tactical tools and strategic shifts that strengthen alignment, improve execution, and drive high-performance cultures.

With more than 25 years of leadership experience – including 15 years as a corporate executive – Colleen witnessed firsthand how powerful communication can accelerate performance or create costly breakdowns. This insight fuels her mission to refine how leaders communicate and lead, ensuring their messages are clear, their presence is felt, and their influence is measurable.

A bestselling author, creator of LinkedIn Learning’s popular Improving Your Leadership Communications course, and multi-time Forbes contributor, Colleen partners with global organizations such as Dell, Pfizer, Merck, and Panasonic to elevate leadership performance. Her approach combines research-backed insights with practical tools that empower leaders to influence outcomes, elevate execution, and produce measurable results across the business. Whether on stage or in the boardroom, Colleen is known for energizing audiences and empowering leaders to connect, command attention, and catalyze change.

Years Of Experience

Companies

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Speaking Events

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Leadership Videos

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Media Appearances

15 Ways Leaders Can Be More Mindful Of Their Communication Styles

Balancing Criticism And Praise: 13 Tips For Company Leaders

11 Signs Of Professional Burnout And Ways To Overcome It

11 Crucial Tips For Workaholics

Toxic Company Culture: 11 Signs To Watch Out For

Personal Development: 10 Activities You Actually Have Time To Do

7 Ways to Stay Productive and Relevant in a Hybrid Work Environment

Colleen Hauk, Speaker, Trainer & Bestselling Author

I Can’t Believe You Didn’t Leave Me: How a Working Mom Learned to Show Up

Guest Interview: Colleen Hauk, Speaker, Trainer & Bestselling Author

Guest Interview: Colleen Hauk: How To Live The “And” Life

NOW IS THE TIME FOR TRANSFORMATION

Schedule a meeting to discover how to deliver maximum impact for you and your organization.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

From our initial conversation Colleen immediately understood our goal of what we wanted to accomplish in setting up a comprehensive development program for our direct reports. With minimal guidance, Colleen was able to propose pre and post workshop survey questions to gauge the self-awareness of each of the team members as well as to provide the framework for each of the three-monthly workshops we held. Colleen’s naturally high energy, and the flow of the workshop sessions, kept the team engaged and looking forward to the subsequent components of the training.

Some of the improvements noticed included the team having an improved growth mindset, performing better research before approaching their line managers for assistance, admitting where they should take responsibility for an issue, and referring back to specifics in Colleen’s workshops when discussing developmental struggles. Overall, 1:1 discussions improved as everyone was now working from the same playbook and understood their own responsibility in their personal and career development instead of looking to their manager and wondering why they weren’t getting ahead. I highly recommend reaching out to Colleen to discuss training needs or concerns as she is extremely flexible and resourceful when it comes to tailoring development programs at any level. New hires found the material as engaging and insightful as did our seasoned, director level veterans.

Valerie BartlettAssociate Director, Eisai Inc.

I must sincerely thank you for delivering excellent and tailored professional learning and career development training for my department. The training you provided expanded the team members’ professional skillset to adapt to ever-changing environments. You took the time to listen and understand our concerns and skillsets necessary for the Team to perform their roles and responsibilities.

The Team improved its leadership, communication, and collaboration skillsets.

The Team is more engaged, productive, and highly motivated with greater personal satisfaction and helped retain our valuable employees.

The training helped me design a career development strategy in collaboration with our team members tailored to their individual talent needs and stages of their careers.

The training has provided my department to build a sustainable and adaptable approach to building a talent management strategy with an engaged workforce.

Olga AlfieriSenior Director, Eisai Inc

I recently had the opportunity to work with Colleen on my company’s flagship event. Due to COVID-19 we were forced to pivot the conference to a completely virtual setting which presented challenges not just for my team but also for our presenters. Colleen was organized, patient and ultimately a team player as we worked together to try to make sure that her interactive workshop was equally as engaging and impactful on screen as it would have been in person. With her help and guidance, we were able to provide our attendees with an incredible experience where she lead the group in a full day leadership workshop that still allowed them to network and work together – attendees were engaged, enthusiastic, and participated all day long. Her high energy and enthusiasm were amazing and we were thrilled with the positive reactions from our attendees.

Hilary SroleProducer, Dynamic Global Events

Colleen Hauk has been my executive coach for over a year now. She has helped me tremendously grow from a regional leader to a national leader in my company. My relationships with my direct reports, their team members, and my colleagues have improved as a direct result of her insights. No matter the topic I bring to her, she has valuable insight and helps me navigate the issues presented. The growth in my leadership capabilities has been exponential and I would not be where I am today without her. I highly recommend Colleen if you seek your growth and development as well as those you influence.

Laura StraznickyVice President, Engle Martin

After hearing Colleen speak at an event, I knew I needed to make a change. I joined The 5-Star Society where Colleen has brought together a group of diverse women to share our life experiences and provide each other with support. It is amazing to see how we all have grown by being part of this team. Colleen provides support, feedback, and great coaching. Even when I miss a meeting, she keeps us connected through recordings and different messaging platforms. Colleen’s experience and guidance has been extremely instrumental to me and this group.

Amy Sinor-AndersonSenior Director, GRAIL

I am rejuvenated and have already implemented many of the suggested practices. I feel my best when I am balanced and this program will get me where I need to be. I highly recommend this to anyone and everyone.

Jenny JenikeBusiness Development Manager, US Foods

Colleen was one of our event’s top-rated speakers.  Her ideas and thinking resonated with the entire audience.  If you’re looking to inspire your audience and provide innovative tips, bring Colleen as a speaker to your event.

Tricia WashingtonProducer, Dynamic Global Events

Colleen made me look like a rock star!  Her presentation was the most talked about element of the day.  She is funny, engaging, inspiring and perfectly adapts her topic to the audience.  I’m not sure how I will top her for my next event!

Chris PetersonArea Director, Zonta

Colleen was relatable, funny, and gave everyone practical advice that could be implemented TODAY. Her passion for helping women be their best selves is real and so inspiring. Colleen made our event unforgettable!

Lindsay ShermanHead of HR, Newmark Knight Frank

Colleen is enthusiastic, personable, and authentic. She delivered an on-point message that spoke to women at all career and leadership levels. Full of practical insights and applicable concepts, her presentation reminded us how we can have it all and keep our careers

Kelly WalshMarketing Manager, Moss Adams

No matter what stage of life you’re in, Colleen teaches things that will apply to you. I always wanted to help others, but it wasn’t until attending these retreats that I knew exactly what that looked like. I am now the proud business owner of Hero Bands and feel like I am making a difference in people’s lives every day. I’m so appreciative of her course and her helping me be a better wife, mom, friend, and business owner!

Elizabeth FraizerCreator, Hero Bands

Colleen is such a dynamic and engaging speaker.  We all felt lucky to have her speak at our Panasonic Lean In Circle meeting.  Her message of the need to develop balance between all aspects of our lives resonated with everyone in the room.  We’d have her back anytime so more of our employees could get the opportunity to experience her presentation.

Alexandra SchriftConsumer Marketing Manager, Panasonic