Personal Development and Self-Management

James Aspden is an experienced leadership consultant and Co-Founder of KOAP. With a career spanning customer service, engineering, sales, technical training, and senior leadership roles, James brings a uniquely grounded and people-first perspective to leadership development.

Throughout his career, the consistent thread has been a passion for human connection — understanding what drives people, how they grow, and how they collaborate. This passion led to the founding of KOAP, where James has spent the past decade co-creating bespoke development programmes that align organisational needs with individual capability and purpose.

James’s strength lies in his ability to engage individuals across all levels of an organisation — from emerging talent to executive teams — with authenticity, clarity, and insight. He brings a strong commercial and operational mindset, combined with a deep understanding of behavioural development, making him highly effective in designing programmes that resonate in both the boardroom and the field.

He is especially known for his work in:

• Leadership development and behavioural transformation
• Sales excellence and performance coaching
• Team alignment and collaboration across silos
• Facilitating change through trust and emotional intelligence

James is a certified practitioner in Brain-Based Coaching through the NeuroLeadership Institute and integrates neuroscience-informed approaches into his facilitation, coaching, and programme design. This ensures that every interaction with KOAP is not only insightful but also rooted in how people actually learn, grow, and perform in real life.

At the core of James’s philosophy is the belief that great leadership is built on empathy, curiosity, and the courage to grow. Whether he’s coaching one-to-one or guiding a team through a transformational journey, James helps people discover their potential — and turn it into impact.

Stephen Gore is a globally respected leadership consultant and Co-Founder of KOAP. With over 40 years of experience in leadership, sales, and organisational development, Stephen brings a rare combination of commercial insight, behavioural science, and human-centred design to every Program he leads.

Stephen specialises in transforming leadership from theory into practice. He is known for designing learning experiences that are deeply grounded in real-world challenges — enabling leaders at all levels to develop the confidence, clarity, and emotional intelligence needed to lead with purpose and impact.

His work is defined by a commitment to practical outcomes. Whether supporting senior executives or emerging leaders, Stephen ensures that development goes beyond insight and translates into sustained behavioural change. His programmes consistently focus on equipping individuals to navigate complexity, build trust, foster collaboration, and influence effectively — regardless of their role or authority.

A certified practitioner in emotional profiling and micro-expression analysis through Paul Ekman International, Stephen brings advanced capability in helping leaders decode behaviour, manage difficult conversations, and strengthen their interpersonal presence. His approach weaves together neuroscience, positive psychology, and performance coaching to support the whole person — not just their role.

Stephen has designed and delivered global programmes across diverse industries, geographies, and cultures. He is particularly skilled at creating inclusive, psychologically safe environments where individuals feel seen, supported, and challenged to grow.

At the heart of Stephen’s leadership philosophy is a belief that sustainable leadership is rooted in emotional intelligence, cultural awareness, and practical application. He is passionate about helping leaders become more self-aware, more intentional, and more human — so they can lead others more effectively and create meaningful, long-term impact.

Helen Pay is KOAP’s Program Coordinator and the operational backbone of our team. With a background in HR and a deep understanding of client relationships, Helen plays a pivotal role in managing the complexity and pace of our delivery — ensuring that every engagement runs smoothly and professionally from start to finish.

An experienced Program coordinator, Helen oversees the scheduling of resources across all KOAP programmes, managing diaries, timelines, logistics, and delivery requirements with calm precision. She is the trusted link between clients, facilitators, and internal teams — ensuring alignment, responsiveness, and a consistently high standard of service.

Helen’s HR background gives her a unique perspective on the human side of coordination. She understands the intricacies of our client relationships, the pressures that stakeholders face, and the importance of delivering not just a programme, but a seamless experience. Her intuitive approach and attention to detail allow her to anticipate needs, resolve issues before they arise, and create the kind of behind-the-scenes structure that lets the rest of the team focus on what they do best.

Her responsibilities include:

• Coordinating the full life cycle of KOAP’s programme delivery
• Scheduling and allocating resources across multiple global Programs
• Managing facilitator and client calendars with precision and flexibility
• Supporting client communications, logistics, and real-time updates
• Tracking progress and ensuring alignment between delivery, data, and outcomes

Known for her reliability, discretion, and steady hand, Helen is the foundation that keeps KOAP on track. She brings clarity to complexity and structure to every moving part — making her not only a safe pair of hands, but an essential part of how we deliver with excellence, every time.

David Levine is a highly respected leadership consultant and executive coach at KOAP, bringing over 30 years of global business and senior leadership experience to his work. He is known for his calm, self-assured presence and his ability to engage, challenge, and support leaders across all levels of an organisation — from emerging managers to seasoned executives.

With a career spanning senior roles in mid-sized and large organisations, David brings real-world credibility to his facilitation and coaching. His commercial insight, combined with a warm and inclusive style, allows him to build immediate rapport with participants, encouraging honest reflection and meaningful change.

David is a skilled facilitator in areas such as emotional intelligence, adaptive leadership, high-performance team development, and communication. He specialises in helping leaders refine their interpersonal impact, strengthen their resilience, and lead through complexity and transformation with clarity and confidence.

His work is underpinned by a practical, coaching-led approach that combines structured frameworks with deep listening and rich storytelling — drawing from decades of leadership experience across industries including healthcare, biotech, energy, industrials, and retail.

David’s key areas of expertise include:

• Emotional intelligence and self-leadership
• High-impact communication and public speaking
• Leading high-performing, inclusive teams
• Resilience building and navigating adversity
• Change leadership and transformation
• Coaching as a leadership style
• Influence and storytelling

He is a Neuro-leadership Institute-certified facilitator in brain-based coaching and conversation skills, a DDI-certified trainer, and accredited in the Franklin Covey 7 Habits of Highly Effective People methodology.

At KOAP, David brings a thoughtful, pragmatic voice to leadership development — one that empowers individuals to explore who they are, how they lead, and the legacy they want to create. Whether he’s guiding a global leadership programme or coaching one-on-one, David supports leaders to grow with purpose, awareness, and impact.

Ania Jakielaszek is a seasoned leadership consultant and inclusion strategist at KOAP, bringing over a decade of experience in human resources, people development, and cross-cultural communication to her work with clients. With a strong foundation in sociology and a deep curiosity about human behaviour, Ania blends analytical thinking with heartfelt facilitation to create learning experiences that are inclusive, practical, and transformative.

Ania’s expertise spans leadership development, psychological safety, interpersonal communication, and culture change. Her early career in HR roles across technology, manufacturing, and medical devices provided first-hand insight into how organisations grow — and how inclusive leadership drives performance. She has worked in both standalone and business partner roles, supporting technical and commercial teams, and leading people strategy in fast-paced, agile environments.

A passionate advocate for inclusion, Ania brings fresh thinking and grounded methods to everything she designs. Her programmes are informed by social research, data analysis, and observation techniques — ensuring that interventions are targeted, evidence-based, and measurable. Whether she’s coaching a senior leader or guiding a workshop for emerging managers, her approach builds trust, awareness, and behaviour change.

Ania holds a Master’s degree in Sociology from the University of Wrocław and is CIPD certified at both Level 3 and Level 5. She is also an ILM-accredited Business Coach. Her facilitation is underpinned by her strong academic foundation and a deep understanding of workplace dynamics and human psychology.

She is a sought-after speaker at HR and D&I events, particularly in the technology sector, and has contributed to thought leadership at forums such as DisruptHR Manchester, Tech Returners, and Reframe – Women in Tech.

At KOAP, Ania designs and delivers programmes that bring inclusion to life, strengthen leadership capability, and create environments where all people feel seen, supported, and empowered to contribute.

Trevor Dias is a highly experienced consultant and certified coach, bringing over two decades of commercial leadership, team development, and high-performance coaching to his role at KOAP. His diverse background spans the SaaS, technology, and communications sectors, where he has led cross-functional and global teams, managed multimillion-dollar budgets, and driven growth for some of the world’s most recognisable organisations.

With a career that includes leadership roles at BT, Vodafone, Salesforce, and Okta, Trevor understands the pressures and complexities of large-scale commercial environments. His deep operational experience is matched by his ability to develop people — helping individuals and teams unlock potential, enhance resilience, and deliver sustained performance.

Trevor is a certified coach and a member of the Association for Coaching. He has coached a wide range of clients including leaders in FTSE 100 and S&P 500 companies, professional athletes, and media personalities. His coaching approach is practical, human, and results-driven — grounded in emotional intelligence, mental wellbeing, and behavioural psychology.

He holds qualifications in business, nutrition, NLP, and mental health awareness, and is also a qualified Master Personal Trainer. This diverse expertise allows him to take a holistic approach to leadership and performance — one that supports not only what people do, but how they live and show up each day.

Trevor is also a best-selling author and successful entrepreneur, adding further depth to his understanding of motivation, mindset, and personal growth. His work at KOAP focuses on sales performance, leadership development, wellbeing, and resilience — empowering individuals and teams to lead with purpose and thrive under pressure.

At the heart of Trevor’s philosophy is a passion for people, performance, and positive energy. He brings insight, empathy, and commercial acumen to every engagement, helping clients turn potential into meaningful, lasting results.

Mandy Schuster is a multilingual facilitator and development coach at KOAP, known for her dynamic approach to communication, collaboration, and personal growth. With a rich background in corporate communications, Program management, and talent development, Mandy brings both strategic insight and human connection to every engagement.

With over 12 years of experience in the automotive sector, Mandy has held leadership roles in marketing, business development, and internal communications, collaborating with cross-functional teams across Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Her global perspective and fluency in German, English, and Spanish allow her to navigate diverse business environments with ease, empathy, and cultural sensitivity.

Since 2017, Mandy has focused her career on helping individuals and teams grow — facilitating leadership workshops, development programmes, and one-on-one coaching conversations. Her style is thoughtful, practical, and deeply grounded in her belief that meaningful growth happens when people feel seen, heard, and supported.

Mandy is especially passionate about supporting leaders and teams to:

• Strengthen cross-cultural communication and collaboration
• Navigate interpersonal dynamics and team development
• Build trust and clarity through effective dialogue
• Develop personal presence and emotional intelligence
• Align Program outcomes with human engagement and purpose

She holds a Master’s degree in Business Psychology from Euro-FH Hamburg and is a certified systemic coach through Coaching Akademie Stuttgart. In addition to her work at KOAP, Mandy runs her own coaching practice, supporting private clients in both personal and professional transformation.

At KOAP, Mandy plays a key role in delivering communication training, leadership development experiences, and international facilitation that supports inclusive growth, resilience, and sustainable team success.