Success In Media

What Success In Media does

Success In Media (legal entity: Results First Training) is a New York City-based, founder-led sole proprietorship that provides executive media training and presentation coaching. Founded by Jess Todtfeld, a former NBC, ABC, and FOX television producer with 13 years of broadcast experience, the firm serves Fortune 500 corporations and senior executives across 12+ industries and has trained 500+ professionals over 20+ years. The founder holds the Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) designation — placing him in the top 1% of professional speakers — and holds a Guinness World Record for completing 112 media interviews in 24 hours. The company is bootstrapped, privately held, and operates from 295 Madison Avenue in Manhattan with no disclosed employees beyond the founder.

The core offering is high-touch executive coaching delivered one-on-one ($3,000-$10,000 per day) or in small groups ($5,000-$15,000 per day), with multi-day retainers available. Underlying the engagements is the proprietary "High-Stakes Presenter" (HSP) methodology, which has been extended into online courses (Media Ready in 30 Days, Podcast Guest/Host Advantage), an upcoming book of the same name, AI-powered digital tools (MediaMessageMachine.com and the High-Stakes Presentation Builder), and a certificate program distributed across 15 countries. A 365-day complimentary post-engagement support program functions as a retention and differentiation mechanism.

Revenue mechanics are anchored in customized consulting engagements rather than scaled digital distribution, with named clients including Google, JPMorgan, American Express, LinkedIn, and IBM. The business has added a freemium AI tool layer for lead generation alongside premium day-rate engagements, signalling an intent to build a funnel from free AI usage to paid human coaching. The founder-delivery model is both the primary asset and the principal scalability constraint of the business.

Name

Success In Media

Legal name

Results First Training

Website

https://successinmedia.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Success In Media (Results First Training) is a New York City executive media training firm providing one-on-one coaching, group workshops, online courses, and AI-powered presentation tools for Fortune 500 executives across 12+ industries globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Executive Media Training and Presentation Coaching Services

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (61143)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Communication & Presentation Skills (EDABAMAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Corporate/Professional Public Speaking Training (Presentation Skills) (EDAMAOAJ), Thought Leadership & Executive Visibility (BPAFADAG), Corporate Learning & Training Content Development (EDAGAKAC)

Keywords

• Executive media training
• Presentation coaching
• Crisis communication training
• Spokesperson training
• On-camera coaching

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Executive Media Training: One-on-one or small group coaching for senior executives, government officials, and organizational leaders. Customized programs covering TV, radio, print, podcast interview preparation, message development, bridging techniques, and on-camera practice with video playback. Delivered in-person at client location, at the NYC studio, or virtually.
2. Team and Group Workshops: Multi-participant training programs for communications departments, corporate affairs teams, and entire organizations. Capped group sizes to ensure individual camera time and coaching for each participant.
3. Crisis Communication Training: High-stakes crisis media preparation including holding statements, rapid-response instincts, hostile press conference practice, and coordination with legal and PR teams.
4. Presentation Coaching: High-stakes presentation coaching for board meetings, earnings calls, keynote speeches, and investor pitches. Includes recorded practice with playback and delivery coaching.
5. Online Courses (Media Ready in 30 Days or Less): Self-paced online media training course. A 40% discount is offered to website visitors who inquire. Companion courses include Podcast Guest Advantage and Podcast Host Advantage.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Success In Media provides customized executive media training and presentation coaching, delivered personally by founder Jess Todtfeld. Programs cover TV, radio, print, and podcast interview preparation, message development, bridging techniques, hostile question handling, crisis communication, and on-camera presence for senior executives, government officials, communications teams, and organizational leaders. Training is delivered in-person at the company's NYC Madison Avenue studio, on-site at client locations, or live virtually via Zoom, with self-paced online courses offered as a complement.

Product overview

Success in Media offers a portfolio of professional media training and presentation coaching services centered on its proprietary HSP: High Stakes Presenter Methodology. The core offering consists of in-person and virtual training programs including Executive Media Training, On-Camera Training, Crisis Communication Prep, High-Stakes Presentation Training, Spokesperson Training, and On-Site Media Training, all delivered personally by Jess Todtfeld. The company also provides online courses (Media Ready in 30 Days or Less, Podcast Guest Advantage, Podcast Host Advantage), complementary to the live training. A signature differentiator is the complimentary 365-Day Support Program included with every engagement. Supporting products include the international bestseller book 'Media Secrets,' the upcoming 'High Stakes Presenter' book, and free AI-powered tools including MediaMessageMachine.com for message development and the High-Stakes Presentation Builder at highstakespresenter.com. Training is delivered at the Madison Avenue NYC studio, on-site at client locations, or virtually via broadcast-quality video setup.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Executive Media Training Comprehensive TV, radio, print, and podcast interview preparation including message development, bridging techniques, and hostile question handling for senior executives and organizational leaders.
• On-Camera Training Training for earnings calls, virtual board presentations, and major network appearances focusing on subtle on-camera signals that command authority.
• Crisis Communication Training Prepares teams with frameworks, message discipline, and rapid-response instincts to control the narrative when issues break, with hours not days to respond.
• High-Stakes Presentation Training Board presentations, earnings calls, keynote speeches, and investor pitches training using the HSP: High Stakes Presenter Methodology to command a room.
• Spokesperson Training Team-based programs for communications departments and corporate affairs teams to build internal bench strength so every spokesperson is ready.
• On-Site Media Training
• Media Training Course Structured executive media training programs built around recorded practice with real interview questions on camera, instant playback, and specific correction. Available in-person at the Madison Avenue studio, virtual cohorts, or on-site delivery.
• Media Ready in 30 Days or Less Online media training course for busy professionals covering interview preparation, message development, and on-camera practice. 40% discount available for website referrals.
• Podcast Guest Advantage Online course specifically designed to prepare podcast guests for modern video-first podcasting, included as backup resource for training clients.
• Podcast Host Advantage Online course for podcast hosts covering interview techniques and audience engagement, included as backup resource for training clients.
• Media Secrets (book) International bestseller book covering a media training crash course authored by Jess Todtfeld.
• High Stakes Presenter (upcoming book) Upcoming book by Jess Todtfeld for leaders preparing for presentations that change everything.
• MediaMessageMachine.com Free messaging tool with AI-powered guidance for message system development and sound bite creation.
• High-Stakes Presentation Builder Free online tool that walks users through presentation structure with opening, core messages with stories/examples, call to action, and close. Includes built-in AI coach trained on Jess's methodology.
• 7 Media Interview Secrets

Quantifiable outcome

• 500+ executives and organizations trained across 12+ industries
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers25 records

Segments9 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

AI capability2 records

Feature5 records

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Edelman: Edelman is a global PR firm that bundles executive media training and spokesperson preparation into its communications advisory work. It is a broad incumbent whose training offerings overlap with Success In Media's crisis communication and executive media training, though delivered through PR retainer relationships rather than as a standalone product.
• Hill & Knowlton: Hill & Knowlton is a global PR firm offering executive media training and crisis communications preparation as part of its broader public relations services. Comparable to Success In Media on the crisis comms and spokesperson training side, but bundled inside a large PR retainer.
• Duarte Design: Duarte Design provides presentation design, storytelling training, and keynote/speaker coaching. It is a broader incumbent that overlaps with Success In Media's high-stakes presentation training, particularly for executives preparing investor pitches and keynote speeches.
• Harvard Business Publishing Corporate Learning: Harvard Business Publishing Corporate Learning provides curated executive education content including leadership, communication, and presentation programs to enterprises. It is a broad incumbent that overlaps with Success In Media on professional development for senior leaders and competes for the same L&D budget.
• Dale Carnegie Training: Dale Carnegie Training is a global, broad-based soft skills training franchise offering courses in presentation, communication, leadership, and executive presence. It is a broad incumbent that overlaps with Success In Media on presentation and communication skills but competes across a much wider curriculum.
• Mind Gym: Mind Gym is a corporate soft skills and behavior change provider delivering programs on communication, leadership, and influence. It is a broader incumbent that competes for corporate L&D training budgets that Success In Media also targets, though it does not specialize in on-camera media training.

Others

• Toastmasters International: Toastmasters International is a global nonprofit organization that helps members develop communication and leadership skills through peer-led clubs. It is adjacent to Success In Media because it cultivates the addressable market of professionals seeking to improve public speaking and presentation skills, though it is community-driven and not a paid training provider.
• LinkedIn Learning: LinkedIn Learning offers self-paced online courses on communication, presentation, and leadership, often included in enterprise L&D packages. It is an adjacent platform that competes for the same end-user demand for self-served presentation and media skills development that Success In Media's online courses target.

Direct peers

• Skillman Video Group: Skillman Video Group produces corporate video content and provides on-camera presentation and media coaching. It is comparable to Success In Media because it combines video production expertise with executive presentation and spokesperson coaching, serving a similar corporate communications buyer.
• TJ Walker / Media Training Worldwide: TJ Walker is a long-established executive media trainer offering one-on-one media training, presentation coaching, and online courses. He is the closest direct competitor to Success In Media, operating in the same executive media training niche with a similar founder-led, premium-priced business model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@jesstodtfeld
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/success-in-media-inc-media-training

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Success In Media