Our core team is global and eclectic — drawn from many backgrounds and cultures. We are united as passionate humanists.
Leadership
Board
Team
Advisors
Leadership
-
Jayma is Co-CEO of Leaders’ Quest, based in London. She works with multinational clients and has a particular interest in culture change and the alignment of executive teams. Jayma leads the people function internally. Her big adventure was building the India office from scratch in 2010-2012. She’s a strong believer in the power of business as a force for good and passionate about broadening the scope of its impact. Jayma holds a BA Hons from the University of Nottingham. She is a Non-Executive Director of The Conduit, a members’ club focused on accelerating social change.
-
Melanie is Co-CEO of Leaders’ Quest, based in London. Melanie leads LQ’s work on climate change to enable radical collaboration across industry, communities, and government. She focuses her expertise on building bridges and aligning different perspectives to enable bold action for a just, regenerative future. In her work with companies, she supports leadership teams to navigate purpose and profit, and build thriving cultures that serve as a force for good. A professional singer-songwriter, Melanie spent her earlier years empowering at-risk youths in marginalized communities through music, where she first learned about harnessing the power of voice (for individuals) and harmony (for groups) to drive sustainable change.
-
Carolina is a Leaders’ Quest Partner and public speaker based in Switzerland. She works with global clients on wise leadership, radical collaboration, and systems change. Carolina’s experience includes leading WWF International’s training programme for businesses, directing projects with IMD Business School, and co-founding the One Planet MBA. She spent her early career in marketing at Procter & Gamble and learned about sustainable innovation, behavior change, and brand-building. Carolina was a member of P&G’s External Advisory Board, and has supported the company with talks, leadership development, and coaching over the past decade.
-
Darya is a Leaders’ Quest Partner, based in New York. She has helped build Leaders’ Quest’s partnerships spanning civil society, NGOs, entrepreneurs, and corporations, and regularly leads client programmes. Darya believes that people and communities can create change, and has spent much of her life involved in Middle East reconciliation efforts. She has written for the Huffington Post, the Guardian and the Washington Post, having earned a BA in Political Science and Middle Eastern Studies from McGill University and an MA in Conflict & Security from New York’s New School for Public Engagement.
-
Giles is a Partner at Leaders’ Quest, based in San Francisco, California. He works with financial services, manufacturing, and technology clients. Giles also heads Leaders’ Quest work on regenerative business, focusing on how companies can align purpose with planet-positive outcomes and commercial success. As a published writer of both fiction and non-fiction, he sees the power of storytelling and humor. He began his business career as a strategy consultant with Monitor Group. He holds an MBA from Stanford and read Economics at Queens’ Cambridge, UK.
-
Lindsay is a Partner based in New York. She is an experienced program designer and facilitator focusing on embedding purpose and sustainability into businesses at every stage of growth and providing actionable insights to leaders as they navigate periods of change. She most recently led a team of 30 focused on inclusive innovation investments for the NYC government, and before that, led the New York office of the advisory firm, SustainAbility, working with clients including Barclays, BMW, GE, Nestle, Nike, and UBS.
Her research and writing on business for social good has been published in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Fast Company, GOOD Magazine and the Guardian Sustainable Business. Previously, she taught a graduate course at the New School in New York on sustainable business models. Lindsay practices yoga and surfs, when she’s not herding her three kids.
-
Mihika is a Partner based in New York City and has been with Leaders’ Quest since 2014. She designs and facilitates learning journeys for leaders within organizations as well as across sectors. Over the years she’s worked on building experiential programs in multiple geographies, from Hong Kong to Costa Rica, and loves working with LQ community partners regionally. Mihika also plays a key role in people development at LQ.
Prior to joining LQ, she spent several years in India’s non-profit sector, including working for an international NGO, a philanthropic foundation, and the UNDP. She has a degree in History and Political Science from McGill University in Canada and an MA in Political Economy & Development from Erasmus University in the Netherlands.
-
Sabeena is Chief Financial Officer at Leaders’ Quest, based in London. She gained extensive finance and leadership experience in the private and non-profit sectors, including in banking and telecoms and then in senior finance roles at Amnesty International, The Design Museum, and the international design and architecture studio, Heatherwick studio. She has a passion for aligning profit with purpose, especially for environmental causes, and enjoys balancing creative, cultural, and commercial desires to achieve the best outcomes for people and the planet.
Board
-
Lindsay began her career at Bain and Company in London and went on to become an entrepreneur, known for creating people-focused cultures and for business turnarounds. She founded Leaders’ Quest in 2001, where her work took her to Asia, Africa, North and South America, and the Middle East where she built partnerships with people from all backgrounds. In 2004 she created the LQ Foundation to provide leadership training for thousands of people in marginalized communities. In 2020 she co-founded TED Countdown with TED — a global initiative to amplify and accelerate solutions to the climate crisis. Lindsay’s latest start-up, the Blue Dot Collective, is focused on how we develop connection and compassion to address some of humanity’s big problems. She lives in New York City with her husband David.
-
Carolyn has expertise in private equity and impact investing. Until 2020, she served as Partner and COO at Next Wave Partners, a UK-based private equity firm investing growth capital in the business and consumer services sectors.
Prior to this, Carolyn was an executive director of Bridges Ventures, now Bridges Fund Management – a pioneering and specialist fund manager dedicated to sustainable, and impact investing. While there from its inception in 2002, she helped grow the firm and led investments in the consumer, business services, education and training and environmental sectors. She was also a Trustee of the Bridges Charitable Trust.
She started her career as a strategy consultant with the LEK Partnership and then moved to 3i Group and later became a Director of Causeway Capital and ABN Amro Private Equity (UK).
Carolyn has a longstanding relationship with Leaders’ Quest and has been an Associate co-leading programmes for large corporates in India, China, the US and the UK. She is passionate about the ability of business to have a positive impact in society and about using capital to build more inclusive and sustainable economies.
Since 2020, Carolyn has been advising FSD Africa Investments on various projects, including climate related investments in Africa. She joined the board of a venture builder, Africa Climate Ventures, in September 2023.
Carolyn is an Adviser to Love Ventures, a venture capital firm in the UK. She also chairs Count Us In, which is building a global community to tackle climate change.
Carolyn is a graduate of Cambridge University with an MA in History. She lives in London with her partner, Alan and their son, William.
-
Julie is an experienced international corporate Board member, philanthropist, and social activist.
Formerly the President and CEO of the US division of a large UK-listed company, Julie went on to found her own firm in land development and construction, as well as business consultancies. She has spent the last 25 years serving on a number of public and private corporate Boards of Directors. Currently these include Fortune 25 company Anthem, and the Lord Abbett Family of Mutual Funds. She has also served on the Boards of Directors of the global development group Lend Lease Corporation, listed in Sydney, Australia, the US professional services firm Resources Connection, and the US subsidiary of Swiss-based building materials group Holcim.
Julie is active in several not-for-profit and philanthropic endeavours, including the domestic violence agency Human Options, the Harvard Women’s Leadership Board, and she is Chair of the Board of Trustees of the University of California, Irvine. She has won numerous awards, including Director of the Year from the Forum for Corporate Directors and the Elizabeth Dole Glass Ceiling Award from the American Red Cross. Julie has been an advocate for women’s equality, for diversity in the workplace, and for equal opportunity in higher education. Believing passionately that businesses can, and must, do better, she has strived to represent the greater good in her years of corporate work. Julie holds a BA in English from UCLA and an MA in Management from the University of Georgia.
-
Ninan Chacko is the Chief Executive Officer at Monotype, the largest provider of typography, technology, and expertise to creative professionals. In this role, he oversees a global organization of more than 500 employees, partnering with iconic brands and transforming the adoption and use of digital fonts industry-wide.
Prior to his tenure with Monotype, Chacko served as Senior Advisor to McKinsey, and was the Chief Executive Officer for Travel Leaders Group, one of the largest retail, corporate and entertainment travel companies in North America and the UK, with sales of over $20 billion and more than 4,000 employees.
Before this, Chacko provided highly-respected, visionary leadership as Chief Executive Officer of PR Newswire. During his tenure, PR Newswire enjoyed significant organic growth from product innovation and international expansion.
Chacko has also held the position of Chief Commercial Officer for Worldspan, the global travel information, e-commerce and technology service provider. In this role, he was responsible for sales, marketing, operations, service and support activities for customers and partners in over 60 countries. He was a founding member of the buyout consortium management team that acquired Worldspan from Delta Air Lines, Northwest Airlines and American Airlines, and served as Chief Commercial Officer until its sale to Travelport.
Ninan holds an MSc in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Kansas. He has also completed Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program and the London Business School’s Spencer Stuart Directors’ Forum. He earned his Certified Travel Counsellor (CTC) from The Travel Institute.
-
Kené is a Campaigns Director at Tesco, where he leads the company’s public and stakeholder engagement on societal issues including climate, food waste, plastics, plant-based proteins, and health. Prior to this, he was Tesco’s Head of Environment for six years, and led Tesco to switch to 100% renewable electricity, roll out UK’s largest retail network of electric vehicles charging points, launch sustainability innovations, and Tesco’s roadmaps to fully electric delivery vans, zero deforestation soy and sustainable tuna.
Kené’s 22-year career in sustainability spans not-for-profit, consulting and corporations. He worked in Brazil, Estonia, Nigeria, and The Netherlands, for youth leadership organisation, AIESEC. Then joined UK consumer goods company Cadbury in 2003, working in a variety of sustainability roles. Kené later worked as a sustainability consultant at the Carbon Trust and Carnstone Consulting, before joining Tesco as Head of Environment in 2013.
Kené is a trustee of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation – a social change charity working to solve poverty in the UK. He also serves on the environment advisory panel of the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation. He volunteers as a mentor for young talent from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Kené holds a BSc in geology from the University of Nigeria and an MSc in corporate responsibility from the University of Bath, UK.
-
Phyllis P. Harris is the General Counsel, Chief Ethics, Compliance and Government Affairs Officer for the American Red Cross. Phyllis leads a team of attorneys, legal, and government affairs professionals who support the business units of the American Red Cross in providing disaster relief; emergency assistance and preparedness; services to the military; and a safe blood supply. Phyllis reports directly to the CEO, is a congressionally designated Corporate Officer and provides counsel on all aspects of the Board of Governors for the American Red Cross.
Prior to joining the American Red Cross in March 2019, Phyllis spent thirteen years at Walmart Inc., where over the course of her tenure, she served as Senior Vice President and General Counsel for Legal Operations, Senior Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer for Walmart US and Vice President for Environmental Compliance. Notably, Phyllis built Walmart’s Environmental, Health and Safety program recognized as the best in retail. Phyllis also served on CEO Doug McMillon’s Diversity and Inclusion Council.
Prior to Walmart, Ms. Harris served at the United States Environmental Protection Agency for almost 20 years including an appointment as the Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator for Enforcement and Compliance Assurance where she was responsible for enforcing national environmental laws and building national compliance programs for all 50 states. Ms. Harris also served as the Regional Counsel and Director of the Environmental Accountability Division in Atlanta, GA. In 2001, Phyllis was awarded the Meritorious Rank Award by President George W. Bush for sustained superior service.
Phyllis was listed as a 2018 Most Influential African American Corporate Counsel by Savoy Magazine and in 2016 was a recipient of the “Women Worth Watching Award by the Diversity Journal. Phyllis serves as the Chairwoman of the Converse College Board of Trustees and on the Board of Directors for the Council on Legal Education and Opportunity. Phyllis has also served on the boards of the Environmental Law Institute and the Thurgood Marshall College Fund.
Team
-
Alexa is an Associate based in the U.S. Pacific Northwest. She is a strategist, investor and facilitator on the climate crisis based on deep ecology principles. She is the founder of Ground Effect, an animist investment vehicle that targets early-stage, nature-based solutions and environmental regeneration. As an author, poet, photographer, and wilderness guide, Alexa designs learning journeys that bring stakeholders into direct contact with the living world. Alexa is a founding board member of Terra Habitus, a Mexican environmental fund that operates conservation and environmental management projects, a founding board member of the Mare Nostrum Ocean Plastics Initiative, and a Board Member of ecological accounting firm Global Footprint Network.
-
LinkedIn
Anisha is a Director with Leaders’ Quest based in Mumbai. She leads the team in India and works with the global team to design and deliver leadership development programs for clients. She’s been instrumental in setting up our collaborative work with Count Us In to make climate action accessible globally, and now bridges sustainability and corporate leadership. Prior to LQ, she worked in Marketing & Strategy with the Adidas Group and Faber-Castell. It was through her work in corporates that she realized her passion for aligning profit with purpose and now aspires to have a positive impact in areas of leadership, mental health, and the climate crisis.
-
Antonia Schroeder is a Program Manager based in London. Prior to her role at LQ, she was part of the pre-launch team at the London Interdisciplinary School where she founded the student experience offering and helped develop the first round of professional courses focused on leadership. Antonia holds a BSc in Economics and Psychology from Minerva University and a MSc in Behavioral Science from the London School of Economics. In her free time, she likes to make the most of what the London performance arts scene has to offer.
-
Antwan is an Associate based in the West Bank, Palestine. Born in Jerusalem to a Christian family from the city of Bethlehem, he has spent his adult life working towards the dream of peace and justice in the Holy Land. He was Director of Programs of Bethlehem’s Holy Land Trust, where he experienced community-healing approaches that strengthened his interest in non-violent compassionate activism. Antwan believes that healing the pain of the past is a prerequisite for healthy relations between nations and, ultimately, peace. Antwan graduated from the Arab American University of Jenin (AAUJ) with a BA in Public Law.
-
Beth is an Associate based in Los Angeles. She focuses on helping businesses align strategy and purpose, and has worked extensively with financial and professional services clients. Beth was formerly based in Seoul, where she worked as an internal strategy consultant at Samsung on projects spanning product design, supply chain improvement, and talent development. She has an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and a BA in History from the University of Virginia.
-
Bill is a Partner at Leaders’ Quest, based in the UK. He is an expert in futures and systems thinking and a pioneer of the Three Horizons approach. Bill developed his innovation practice as a research lab director at Hewlett Packard where he pioneered new technologies in AI and pervasive computing, and subsequently consulting for international clients in the public and commercial sectors. He is currently Visiting Professor at the Digital Cultures Research Centre at the University of the West of England, where he researches ways to understand value and cultural innovation.
-
Bhushan is an Information Systems Manager based in Surat, India. He is connected to everyone at Leaders’ Quest through Salesforce. Prior to joining LQ, he worked with Datamatics, which provides database solutions to several global companies. He is experienced in handling big data and providing customized ops team solutions.
In his free time, he enjoys cooking, singing, video games, reading about the environment, politics, history, and writing short poems. Bhushan graduated from University of Mumbai in Information Technology.
-
Chris is an Associate based in Stockholm, Sweden. He is experienced in programme delivery for NGOs and global companies, including BMW and KPMG. Previously, he worked on a civil leadership programme alongside U.S. Senators and President George W. Bush, and for Bechtel on Capitol Hill and London. Chris loves working with leaders from diverse perspectives, backgrounds and geographies, leading with compassion, and mentoring graduates as they navigate leadership roles. In his free time, he loves getting lost in the Alps, biking with his family, and swimming from the docks of their home in central Stockholm.
-
Dana is based in New York. She helps individuals and teams develop resilience and flourish amid rising demand and complexity by integrating the body, heart, mind, and soul. Dana serves organisations including amfAR, Bristol-Myers Squibb, DuPont, The Ford Foundation, Google, The Obama Foundation, McKinsey & Company, Microsoft, and PwC, and is on the coaching faculty at Columbia Business School Executive Education. She was Managing Director at Mobius Executive Leadership and The Energy Project, and a Practice Manager at McKinsey & Company. She has contributed thought leadership to Fast Company and serves on the Board of Directors at the American Poetry Review/World Poetry. Dana earned a PhD in the Humanities from Northwestern University.
-
Eleanor is a Contracts Manager based in the UK. Prior to joining Leaders’ Quest, she worked in the litigation department of a UK law firm specialising in contractual disputes before moving to work with in-house legal teams to focus on uncontentious side of contracts. In her spare time, she loves running, baking sweet treats, getting lost in a good book and watching Disney films with her young children. She has a LLB Law degree from the University of Reading and a CILEX graduate diploma in Law.
-
Emily Bramhall is a Program Manager at Leaders’ Quest, based in Brooklyn, NY. She builds learnings journeys across the globe and drives audience curation for TED Countdown events focused on accelerating solutions to climate change. She is motivated by her interest in how we can expand our understanding of what is possible and create a future that works better for everyone. Prior to Leaders’ Quest, she was a policy analyst at the Urban Institute where her work focused on equitable policy decision-making and implementation in cities. Emily finds joy in creating collaborative spaces, small-batch ice cream, and Little Free Libraries. She holds a degree in policy analysis and management from Cornell University.
-
Eric is a Partner at Leaders’ Quest, based in London, where he co-leads Count Us In, a radicalcollaboration of business, faith, sport, and civil society to inspire a billion people to act on climate change. He has worked with clients in finance, professional services, construction, education, and technology. He is one of the founders of Yoti, an early-stage biometric ID business, and holds Board seats at USA Rx (healthcare), Educate Girls (an Indian NGO), the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Foundation and Empower (emerging markets philanthropy). Eric previously served as CEO of the Stars Foundation, and Restless Development – a youth-led development agency delivering weekly programmes to half a million young people across more than 40 countries.
-
Gareece is a Finance Assistant based in Mumbai. Prior to joining Leaders’ Quest, she worked with Mumbai-based firms in various finance and accounting roles. In her free time, she loves cooking, exploring, and socializing with friends and family. She has a Master’s in finance from Prin. L. N. Welingkar Institute of Management Development & Research in Mumbai.
-
Hendrik-Jan is a Leaders’ Quest Partner based in Lisbon. He has spent the past decade in leadership development, after earlier roles as principal advisor to the executive director of UNICEF in New York, and at ABN AMRO Bank, where worked in Tokyo, Frankfurt, London, Zurich, and Amsterdam. Hendrik-Jan is the founder of niche consultancy firm Lead the Change, is a Partner at Sum People in Zurich, and holds various director positions, including Adessium Foundation (Rotterdam). A keen sailor, he enjoys spending time with his family on their 1933-built wooden ship. Hendrik-Jan holds an MBA from INSEAD.
-
Ilanna is a Program Manager, based in San Antonio, Texas. In her role, she supports the delivery of Quests and virtual programs globally. Ilanna has spent the last few years serving the community she grew up in by creating avenues for participation for families with limited access to education. She is particularly drawn to issues surrounding borderlands and creating bridges, driven largely by her experience as the daughter of first generation Mexican-American parents and her time spent in Israel-Palestine. Ilanna holds a BS in Foreign Service from the Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University. In her free time, she enjoys tending her vegetable garden and listening to cumbia.
-
Imani is a Program Manager based in New York City. She graduated in 2015 with a degree in Communication Studies and a minor in International Business. Upon graduating, she lived outside of the U.S. for four years working in customer service and education in Melbourne, Madrid, and Seoul. She loves culture, food, learning, storytelling, travel, and taking empathy with her wherever she goes. After earning her M. Ed, she moved to NYC where she enjoys trying new restaurants, theater, and comedy.
-
Jennifer is LQ’s Legal and Risk Director, based in London. She combines experience in the commercial sector with a strong commitment to the environment. Previously, she co-founded an ecological design practice, an environmental lifestyle organization, and a local barter-based trading system in North Devon before moving to the London research consultancy CIC, where she became General Manager. When not rehearsing top-notch classical music as a singer in the London Concert Choir, Jennifer can be found dancing around the kitchen to classic rock, or indulging her love of soap operas. She read Classics and Modern Languages at the University of Oxford.
-
Jessica is a Program Coordinator based in London. In her role, she supports the delivery of Quests and virtual programs globally. Jessica is passionate about sustainable and equitable growth and believes that challenges are best tackled through collaboration and mutual aid. Jessica holds a BA in Sociology from California State University Northridge, an MA in Non-profit and Association Management from University of Maryland University College, and an MSc in International Social and Public Policy from the London School of Economics, where she focused her research on sustainability policy.
-
Jimmie is an Associate based in New York. A documentary storyteller, writer, and advocate for racial and gender equity, he is a Skoll Foundation Principal, member of the New York City Mayor’s Gender Equity Commission, and an adjunct professor in social change journalism at New York’s International Center of Photography. He is the founder and executive director emeritus of Man Up Campaign which activates youth to stop violence against women and girls. A National Magazine Award finalist, his book “Innocents Lost: When Child Soldiers Go To War,” investigated war-affected children around the world and his next book is an oral history of Ferguson, Missouri following Michael Brown’s death in 2014.
-
Jo is a Leaders’ Quest Partner based in New York. An executive coach, facilitator, journalist, and sustainability expert, Jo has partnered with the UN Development Programme on a consciousness and systems change initiative, and sits on the Boards of various climate organizations. Jo held senior editorial positions at the HuffPost in New York and the Guardian in London, where he oversaw its sustainable business website. A mindfulness advocate, Jo has worked closely with Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh and his monastic community in France. Jo gained his MSc in Responsibility and Business Practice at the University of Bath.
-
Jonny is an Associate based in London. An active social entrepreneur – and fourth-generation owner of building firm Wates – Jonny has worked in brand management and corporate strategy, and founded a renewable energy services business. Since 2008, he has served as a director on the Wates Group board, is chair of the Board Sustainability Committee, and champions social and environmental regeneration. He’s committed to mitigating the impact of climate change and biodiversity loss on humanity and planet earth, and loves restoring degraded land to social, environmental, and economic productivity. Jonny has an MA in Sustainability Leadership from the University of Cambridge.
-
Juhi is a Finance Controller based in Mumbai. As part of her role, she is responsible for company-wide financial reporting in the form of management accounts. Prior to joining LQ, she gained experience in the areas of domestic taxation (India), audit ,and administration. In her spare time, Juhi enjoys running, writing, and experimenting with new recipes. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce from Jai Hind College (Mumbai University) and is a Certified Management Accountant.
-
Justin is a Partner at Leaders’ Quest, based in London, where he co-leads Count Us In, a radical collaboration of business, faith, sport, and civil society to inspire a billion people to take climate action. A communications and strategy expert, Justin has worked for two UK Prime Ministers, as an Assistant Secretary General of the UN, Deputy Head of UNICEF, and with Save the Children and Oxfam. Learning from his failures and successes, Justin has pioneered communications and advocacy strategies to build coalitions for change, including Make Poverty History and World Children’s Day
-
Kathryn is an Associate based in the UK. She runs her own leadership development and coaching consultancy for clients in public, private, and third-sector industries. Kathryn began her career in Retail and went on to hold senior consultancy roles in management and organizational development. Typically, Kathryn works with people who are curious to explore new insights, broaden their thinking, and realize their full potential. She has strong community and local charity links and, when not working, offers support and guidance as a mentor, fundraiser, and HR advisor. She holds post-graduate qualifications in coaching and related disciplines.
-
Kim Coupounas is a Associate based in Denver, Colorado. A passionate business leader, strategist, and entrepreneur, Kim has worked for over two decades to harness the power of business to advance an equitable and regenerative future for humanity and our planet. Previously, Kim served as a senior global executive in the B Corp movement where she co-led the largest mobilization of companies in history committed to net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. Prior to B Lab, Kim co-founded and served as CEO of GoLite, a mission-driven outdoor products brand and one of the earliest Certified B Corps. She also formerly served as Chairperson of the Board of the Outdoor Industry Association; Principal at The Parthenon Group (now Parthenon EY) strategy firm; and as an investment banker at Goldman, Sachs & Co. Kim holds MBA and MPA degrees from Harvard, an AB Cum Laude from Princeton, and attended Oxford University as a Rotary Foundation Graduate Scholar.
Kim spends her free time with family in nature and enjoys martial arts, yoga, singing, and climbing big mountains. Kim and her husband have climbed four of the world’s Seven Summits, many Colorado “14ers,” and the highest mountain or molehill in all 50 United States.
-
Kirstin is a Partner based in the UK. For almost 30 years, Kirstin has run her own consulting businesses, working mainly with European and North American corporations. A qualified occupational psychologist, her current work focuses on conscious leadership, supporting individuals and teams to create transformative change. She’s a founding Director of Leading Through Storms CIC, and a Trustee of Fermynwoods Contemporary Art. Her passions include growing vegetables and, when the weather allows, swimming in the sea. Kirstin has a BSc (Hons) in Psychology from the University of St Andrews, and an MSc in Occupational Psychology from the University of Nottingham.
-
Kit is an Associate based in Beijing. In 2008, after graduating in Chinese and history from the University of Leeds, he headed out to China to absorb the culture and customs, and learn more about business relationships on the mainland. He’s currently the founder of TechTrek, an education startup with a mission to help young learners build the skills they need to thrive in the 21st century. Kit previously ran a successful franchise of five English training schools, which enrolled more than 1,300 students across third and fourth tier cities in China’s Shandong province.
-
Lorena is Chief of Staff to the Leaders’ Quest co-CEOs. Based in London but originally from Mexico City, Lorena has lived in multiple countries and spent several years providing geopolitical risk advice to global clients. Prior to joining Leaders’ Quest, Lorena worked at PwC UK’s Crisis and Resilience team, helping FTSE 100 and international executive teams develop crisis management strategies. Lorena is passionate about self-development and believes in organisational culture as an enabler of positive transformation — not only for business, but also for society and the planet. Lorena gained her MA in International Peace and Security from King’s College London.
-
Marian Goodman is an LQ Associate, based in Cape Town, who works globally. She is a leadership consultant and coach to corporate, government and NGOs, with a keen interest in the practices and processes required for profound systems change – building authentic leadership and a healthy society. She is director of global capacity-building at the Presencing Institute (MIT, USA), delivering courses worldwide based on Theory U with co-founder Otto Scharmer. She leads Innovation Leadership Labs such as the ‘Global Wellbeing Lab – Transforming Society & the Economy, Beyond GDP’. These bring together change-makers from business, academia, government and civil society (from Brazil, Bhutan, Costa Rica, USA, Europe, South Africa and Vietnam) to prototype initiatives that shift society towards an economy geared to the wellbeing of all. Other projects include a Lab on Consumption: Food & Nutrition (Brazil), Finance Innovation (South Africa), and MIT ‘ULab – transforming business, society & self’ (a massive, open, online-offline course on the edX platform). In addition, she facilitates future-oriented leadership programmes for Graduate Schools of Business and a range of private and public sector clients. She is a qualified executive coach in the Thinking Environment™ methodology, with a post-graduate degree from University of Cape Town. She speaks numerous languages, travels extensively, but definitely loves coming home to the richly diverse vibrancy of Africa.
-
Natasha is an Associate based in India and has been part of the Leaders’ Quest team since 2013. Natasha designs and facilitates leadership programs globally and has deep experience of our work in Asia. She has led programs in China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Brazil, Cuba, Israel and Palestine among other regions – and has worked with clients across different sectors including technology, finance, education, consultancy and automotives.
Natasha is also a certified professional coach. Outside of LQ, she partners with executives and entrepreneurs to help them deepen self-awareness, navigate transitions and cultivate leadership skills, mindsets and behaviors that enable them to grow personally and professionally.
After stints in Dubai, the UK and Singapore – Natasha feels lucky to now call Goa her home where she and her husband are restoring a 100-year old Portuguese house and putting down their roots. She enjoys an active lifestyle, being in nature and spending time with friends and family.
-
LinkedIn
Owen is an Associate based in London. A transformation specialist, he has worked across civil society, commercial and public sectors and as a co-founder of Arc, a consultancy practice focused on helping organizations to adapt to a world that is increasingly digital by default. More recently, he was Chief of Staff to the Secretary General of ActionAid International. Owen was recognized by the Financial Times in their inaugural list of the 100 most influential BAME leaders in technology. He is a business growth coach, a mentor for a social enterprise accelerator, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and a Non-Executive Director of the Charities Aid Foundation.
-
Rachel is an Associate based in New York. She is at home in both Brooklyn, New York and Cologne, Germany. She is passionate about helping leaders and teams develop their capacities to create an environment in which every individual can thrive professionally and personally. Previously a Vice President at S&P Global and Managing Director at JPMorgan Chase, Rachel is committed to using her skills, knowledge, and experience to help people enact positive change in the world. A published author, Rachel holds an MBA from Duke University and a Doctor of Education in Adult Learning and Leadership from Columbia University where she is an Adjunct Assistant Professor. She also teaches coaching at the Université Paris II Panthéon-Assas. Her current research explores the relationships between collective leadership, complexity, and sustainability.
-
Rachel is a Partner, based in San Francisco. A certified professional coach, she has worked with senior executives from technology, financial services, pharmaceutical, non-profit, and global start-ups, as well as graduate students at the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley. Rachel is passionate about pioneering new ways of helping people reconnect with their values and increase their impact. She serves on the Leadership and Professional Development Committee of Neythri, an association for South Asian Professional Women, and the Advisory Board of the Sequoia Union School District Academy Mentor Program, which enables professionals to mentor underserved youth.
-
Roni is an Associate based in London and Tel Aviv. As a Venture Partner at Shavit Capital, she focuses on investing in late-stage technology-based companies. Previously at Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan, she also co-founded Visit Palestine, which helps Israelis go on day trips to Palestinian cities. Roni is passionate about building an equitable world – and the role of business and leaders in doing so. In her free time, Roni enjoys travelling, sailing and going to music events. Roni holds a BSc in Finance from New York University’s Stern School of Business.
-
Rowan is a Partner in Leaders’ Quest, having started as an associate in 2011. He specialises in executive development with a particular focus on building high-performing, remarkable businesses. He splits his time between London and Cape Town, working largely with CEOs and their executive teams. Rowan is a progressive business thinker and enjoys forming and sharing pioneering new approaches to leadership. He is the Founder of Lockstep, an 18-year-old leadership consultancy that serves cross-sector global clients.
-
Sahil Mulla is LQ’s Administration Coordinator, based in Mumbai. With a keen eye for detail and a proactive approach, Sahil ensures smooth operations within the India team. Beyond work, he enjoys exploring the world of cooking and indulging his wanderlust through travel. Sahil’s passion for excellence and diverse interests make him a valued member of the organization.
-
Sarah is a Director based in London. She leads on tech and information systems and oversees many of our virtual programmes. Previously, she completed a fellowship with Year Here, a postgraduate programme focused on social enterprise and innovation, where she set up an award-winning charity to help young ex-homeless people move into their first homes. Sarah likes being active, loves travel, enjoys living in London, and is fascinated by meeting new people and engaging with new cultures. She holds a BA in Modern History and Politics from the University of Southampton.
-
Simon is an Associate based in London. He is Founder/CEO of Sarsen Ltd, exploring consciousness, energy, and technology. He works with global companies, institutions, and individuals to help combine profit with purpose, people, and the planet. Now a father of two little girls and husband to Ella, Simon is playing with what it means to stay present in a hectic life. Simon’s early career was as an entrepreneur, building companies in Europe, the U.S., and Canada in fields like financial services, leisure, consultancy, and technology. He has also run various international NGOs including Right to Sight, developing sustainable eye care projects across Africa and India.
-
Sofia is an Associate based in New York. Previously, she worked at JP Morgan Private Bank, where she was a Vice President and oversaw investment advisory services for Mexican families. Prior to this, she worked at the Central Bank of Mexico, as a Portfolio Manager on the team responsible for managing the country’s international reserves. In her free time, she enjoys reading about spirituality, practising yoga and meditation, and helping people reach their full potential through coaching. Sofia received an MBA from NYU Stern School of Business and a BA in Economics from Instituto Tecnologico Autonomo de Mexico (ITAM).
-
Sophie is an Associate based in Ojochal, Costa Rica. Her professional life has been spent working with communities, NGOs, government, and businesses in the UK, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, India, and Nepal to co-create approaches for achieving transformative and sustainable change on a range of issues including Female Genital Mutilation, land reform, conflict resolution, HIV and Cholera, and environmental stewardship. Her passion and art lie in finding ways through conflict to create new forms of social institutions that create the space for change. She currently works with the Institute of Global Prosperity (UCL), taking their pioneering research on prosperity to facilitate whole system regenerative change at a regional level. When she is not doing this her greatest joys come from the daily, unexpected adventures in the abundant jungle she now calls home and watching her children flourishing in their deepening connection with ocean and land.
-
Stuart is an Associate based in the UK. He spent 25 years with Unilever, Kraft and Foster’s and, while CFO at Foster’s, implemented an approach to personal coaching which transformed the company’s performance culture and doubled its bottom line profit. Stuart runs his own coaching business and works with LSP Leadership (Leading Sustainable Performance) which focuses on sustainable impact. He coaches leaders at companies including Astra Zeneca, Sanofi, Centrica and Lend Lease as well as a number of law firms, education institutions, and local governments. Stuart has a Cambridge Law Degree and NLP accreditation.
-
Swathi is a part of the Finance team based in Mumbai, India. Prior to joining Leaders’ Quest, she worked in the financial services, entertainment, and media industries. She completed her masters in Corporate Finance from UCC, Ireland. She is passionate about travelling and enjoys cooking and reading in her free time and is looking forward to gaining new experiences at LQ.
-
Tim is an Associate based in Washington, DC. A perpetual traveler, he’s curious and passionate about connecting with people.
Tim is a behavioral ecologist by training and formerly a Deloitte management consultant and Director of the Conservation Audit Program at The Nature Conservancy. He’s happiest outside, especially birding, cycling, trail-running, hiking and motorcycle-camping. Fitness, mind-body and mindfulness study are priorities for him. An avid reader and lifelong learner, Tim has a BA in the History, Philosophy, and Social Science of Science Program from the University of Chicago, and a joint MBA/MS from University of Michigan’s Corporate Environmental Management Program.
-
LinkedIn
Wiebke is an Associate based in Cape Town. Wiebke’s work focuses on experiential methodology and the use of wilderness as a tool for growth and self-recognition. As International Programme Manager of Educo Africa and Nireka Adventures, she runs wilderness and community-based social justice and conscious citizenship courses in South Africa and Nepal. Wiebke is a Time to Think coach, facilitator, and trainer. She was General Manager of Educo Africa and Managing Director of Erlebnistage Schweriner See, an outdoor leadership school in Germany. She also previously taught in Berlin. Wiebke loves climbing mountains and exploring the most remote corners of the Himalayas. She has an MA in Education, English Language and Literature, and Fine Arts.
-
Zara is a Program Manager based in London. She recently graduated with an MA in History and Politics from the University of Edinburgh. She is passionate about driving change and having disruptive conversations that pave the way for a more sustainable and equitable future. She has worked as an intern in different organizations in the social sector and has a drive to give back and assist in community building.
-
LinkedIn
Yasu is a Partner, based in the UK. She leads on our futures work with clients and partners across Leaders’ Quest and Future Stewards. Yasu co-founded the consultancy Liquid School, working with Unilever to integrate sustainability into its business. She co-created several initiatives including Find Space – exploring being human in a digital age – and Activate, engaging young adults in social action.
Formerly, she served as co-Director of the systems change start-up, Intelligent Life. When she’s not walking the line between business and activism, she’s thru-hiking and practicing Kung Fu. Yasu holds a degree in International Politics from Aberystwyth University in Wales.
Advisors
-
Ms. Figueres is an internationally recognized leader on global climate change. She was Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) 2010-2016. Assuming responsibility for the international climate change negotiations after the failed Copenhagen conference of 2009, she was determined to lead the process to a universally agreed regulatory framework. Building toward that goal, she directed the successful Conferences of the Parties in Cancun 2010, Durban 2011, Doha 2012, Warsaw 2013, and Lima 2014, and culminated her efforts in the historical Paris Agreement of 2015. Throughout her tenure Ms. Figueres brought together national and sub national governments, corporations and activists, financial institutions and communities of faith, think tanks and technology providers, NGOs and parliamentarians, to jointly deliver the unprecedented climate change agreement. For this achievement Ms. Figueres has been credited with forging a new brand of collaborative diplomacy.
Since then Ms. Figueres has continued to accelerate the global response to climate change. Today she is the co-founder of Global Optimism, co-host of the podcast “Outrage & Optimism” and is the co-author of the recently published book, “The Future We Choose: Surviving the Climate Crisis”. She is a member of the B Team and a non executive Board member of ACCIONA and ACCIONA Energía. She is the Chair of The Earthshot Prize Foundation.
-
LinkedIn
Anne is a Senior Advisor at Leaders’ Quest, based in the U.S. and London. An experienced asset manager, NED, and pioneer in impact investing, she works primarily with senior teams from financial institutions. Anne led on LQ’s BankingFutures initiative, working with some of the UK’s top banks, investors, and social experts to help create a healthier banking system. She spent nearly two decades as director and Senior VP at The Capital Group. She is currently Chairman of Man Group and a NED at Summit Materials. She held previous NED roles at John Laing Plc, Holcim, Big Society Capital, and The Heron Foundation. Anne holds a BA from Harvard University and an MSc from the London School of Economics.
-
LinkedIn
Fields is a Senior Advisor based in the UK and Rome. Throughout her career, she has been active in the arts, higher education, public policy, business and finance and has lived and worked around the world. Fields joined Leaders’ Quest as a partner in its earliest days in 2002 and dedicated most of the next 10 years to building it. She is currently Chair of British Equestrian (the national governing body for equestrianism in the UK), Deputy Chair of the Royal College of Art, Senior Independent Director of Aquis Exchange and a non-executive director of Scor (reinsurance) in Paris and Monzo (digital bank) in the UK. Fields has degrees from the University of Virginia, l’Institut d’Etudes Politiques (Paris) and the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. She is an OBE and a Fellow of King’s College London and spends her spare time riding.
-
LinkedIn
Gene is a Senior Advisor based in Virginia. He helped organize the first Quest in 2001 and has since led programmes for our global clients. He is passionate about catalyzing individual, organizational, and systems transformation. Earlier in his career, Gene co-founded a Silicon Valley life sciences company, Genomic Health, co-founded Europe’s first Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) training institute in London, and helped develop similar institutes in six European countries. He holds a PhD in leadership and organizational development, and is a published author. His latest work is “3 Keys to Transforming Your Potential: An Accelerator’s Guide to the CEO Within.”
-
Gopal Jain is a well-known Indian entrepreneur and a pioneering private equity investor who is widely recognized for his contributions to the Indian business and private equity landscape. He is a founding partner of Gaja Capital, one of India’s leading private equity firms, and has been instrumental in shaping the firm’s investment philosophy and strategy. With over 25 years of experience in the Indian private equity industry, Gopal has played a key role in several successful investments in mid-market companies across various sectors. He is known for his strong leadership skills, deep industry knowledge, and ability to identify and nurture high-potential businesses. An alumnus of IIT Delhi, Gopal is also actively involved in various industry bodies and has served on several boards of leading Indian companies.
-
Kim is a Leaders’ Quest advisor and serves as Assistant Dean for Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity for Kaiser Permanente. She previously served as Associate Dean and Chief Diversity Officer for the USC Dana and David Dornsife College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences; prior to that, she was the UCLA Anderson School of Management Assistant Dean for Diversity Initiatives and Community Relations.
She began her career with the Southern California Gas Company, holding a variety of positions in engineering, environment and safety, sales and marketing, regulatory relations, and community relations. She is an American Marshall Memorial Fellow and remains active as member of a broad transatlantic network of leaders. She is also a member of the Pacific Council on International Relations. She earned her first of four degrees in Industrial Engineering and Operations Research from UC Berkeley and holds a Master of Public Policy from USC. She also earned an MBA and a doctorate in educational leadership from UCLA.
-
Max is a Senior Advisor, newly based in Canada after decades of working abroad in a variety of countries. Prior to spending 10 years as an LQ Partner, Max held corporate roles, including with IKEA in South Asia, where he worked with complex supply chain issues, as well as leadership development on a global level. Max built a track record of combining purpose and profit in daily business. Helping others to develop self-awareness, cultivate their EQ and leadership skills, and develop a broader world view has always been a central part of Max’s approach to work and life. From his home in Canada, he is enjoying reading and writing, and of course watching hockey.
-
LinkedIn
Melanie was a Leaders’ Quest partner for 20 years, facilitating programs on five continents with a special focus on deepening Chinese and Brazilian relationships. Based in New York City, she continues to mentor and deliver on LQ initiatives. A clinician, academic, and entrepreneur, Melanie has worked at the intersection of individual, enterprise, and system change for over three decades.As the head of Katzman Consulting, she provides C-Suite guidance to companies, educational organizations, governmental agencies, and non-profits worldwide. The author of six books, her latest, Connect First: 52 Simple Ways to Ignite Success, Meaning, and Joy at Work, is a Wall Street Journal #1 bestseller. Melanie has a Ph.D. in psychology and is licensed in the U.S. and chartered in the U.K. Shehas held faculty positions at the Weill Cornell Medical School and the Wharton Business School, as well as academic institutions in Asia, Europe, the UK, and Brazil. She is the founder and past co-host of the nationally broadcast radio show, “Women@Work.” In addition to consulting, writing, and national speaking engagements, she has a clinical psychology practice counselling individuals on ways to advance their leadership — and lives.
-
Nigel Topping, CMG was appointed by the UK Prime Minister as UN Climate Change High Level Champion for COP26. In this role, Nigel mobilised the global private sector and local government to take bold action on climate change, launching the Race To Zero and Race To Resilience campaigns and, with Mark Carney, the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero. Nigel is now a global advisor to governments, financial institutions, and private companies on climate and industrial strategy. He is a non-executive director of the UK Infrastructure Bank, an Honorary Professor of Economics at Exeter University, and was awarded the honor of CMG in Queen Elizabeth’s final honors list in 2022. Nigel read Mathematics at St. John’s and won two rugby blues before entering a career in the manufacturing industry.
-
Pradeep Kar founded Microland in 1989 and has not only set the foundation of excellence but has been a constant, guiding force for enabling enterprises adopt next-gen technologies to achieve the highest possible levels of reliability, stability, and predictability. In the rapidly changing business and technology landscape, he ensures that Microland is ‘Making digital happen’ for clients and partners across the globe.
A serial entrepreneur, Pradeep has founded and sold three technology companies, namely, Indya.com (sold to Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation), Planetasia.com (India’s first Internet Professional Services Company) and Net Brahma Technologies.
In 1999, the prestigious World Economic Forum recognized Pradeep as a ‘Global Leader for Tomorrow’ as an acknowledgment of his leadership in the Indian IT industry.
From 2006 through 2016, Pradeep served as a Non-Executive Director on the board of UBM plc – a leading business-to-business events organizer listed on the London Stock Exchange. Pradeep was on the Board of Telstra Telecommunications, India, from 2011 to 2021.
Pradeep holds a postgraduate degree in Management and a graduate degree in Mechanical Engineering. His drive and talent were recognized and appreciated quite early in his career. He is a proud recipient of the ‘Young Business Achiever Award’ from The Indian Express. He also featured in the esteemed Newsweek and Business India as one of the ‘Stars of Asia’.
-
Suzanne is a Board Member of Minerva Foods, the former CEO of the private office of a Middle East Sovereign and Board Member of private family companies.
Her experience includes working with Sovereign Wealth defining strategy and guiding investment projects in renewable energy, aerospace and economic diversification. As an independent advisor and management consultant, she has supported Government Ministers, Boards and the C-suite of global organisations to develop strategy, navigate geopolitics, crisis and risk. As a business executive she has built and led inter-disciplinary teams to deliver complex, multi-million dollar, long horizon science projects.
Suzanne influences and encourages practical solutions to global issues through a number of non-executive roles: as part of an international Advisory Group for the Prince of Wales (King Charles III) Youth Business International developing a new generation of young entrepreneurs; a Trustee of The Great Generation, a social enterprise that works to inspire systems change to tackle 21st century challenges; as an International Advisory Council Member of Fundação Dom Cabral contributing to the future role of business education, and as a member of the Science and Technology in Society Forum Japan bridging the gap between future potential and ethical application today.
Suzanne has been connected to Leaders’ Quest since 2006 and as an Advisor supports our activity improving the quality and impact of leaders around the world.
-
LinkedIn
Tom Rivett-Carnac is a political strategist, author and podcaster. He has spent more than 20 years working to address the climate and ecological crises.
Tom co-founded Global Optimism with Christiana Figueres after they left the UN in 2016. The organisation inspires individuals and builds transformative partnerships that tackle the climate crisis with the conviction, scale and speed that science demands.
Tom’s responsibilities at Global Optimism include strategic roles across the philanthropic, non-profit and private sectors. Tom leads Global Optimism’s work as co-founder of The Climate Pledge, a partnership with Amazon that brings together more than 200 influential companies with the shared objective of reaching net zero by 2040. He is Strategy Adviser to the Earthshot Prize, a Fellow at the Bezos Earth Fund, a Senior Advisor to Macquarie Group, and a Fellow at Stanford Law School. Global Optimism is a founding partner, of TED Countdown, alongside TED and Leaders’ Quest.
