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About us

Meet the team

Impact is bursting with energetic, talented and passionate people who want to make a difference. Our people work from over 30 global locations.

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Sam Williams, Impact
UK
Sam andWilliams
Business Development

At 21 I had my first day of work at Impact in the stores... I am still making up for everything that happened that week. My passion is in sports coaching and development. My journey with Impact has taken me traveling around the world where I continue to meet and work with many amazing people. I am a big family man, and love surrounding myself with the best of company. If I am not herding terrifying highland cattle, I’ll be playing rugby or baking sponge cakes. 

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Phil Poole, Impact International
UK
Phil andPoole
Global Safety Advisor

I’ve been working at Impact for over 30 years and now advise on Safety. It’s a demanding job, but Impact also allows me time to have my own adventures. I am a qualified International mountain guide and run yearly expeditions to East Greenland. These experiences give me a healthy dose of “on the edge” experiences, helping me to sharpen my skills and foster a common sense approach to safety matters. There's always something different to give advice on.

Emaya Rajasegran
Singapore
Emaya andRajasegran
Programme Manager

I enjoy seeing others achieve in their own unique ways; therefore,  consider myself privileged to be a member of Impact's vibrant team. Being a member of an organisation that puts people first and provides worthwhile programs to enable people to take charge of their own development is satisfying. Being out in nature allows me to be in my zen space. I love all kinds of bridges, black-and-white photos, and trains.

David Williams, Impact International
UK
David andWilliams
The Boss!

I co-founded Impact in 1980 to explore adventure and experiential learning in people development. It worked! We now inspire and develop people worldwide. Shared values, a common purpose and a spirit of adventure bind us together. With over 200 colleagues working in the UK, Europe, America and Asia Pacific, we have a solid reputation for enabling clients to build leadership capacity and navigate complex change. To stay grounded, I rear rare breed cattle and sheep.

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Michelle Dong
China and Hong Kong
Michelle andDong
Senior Consultant

In all my work, I am driven by a profound interest in what moves and motivates people. I believe that everybody can make significant improvements through continuous self-exploration. I deliver individual coaching, workshops and training programs with the focus of increasing the potential of Senior Managers and High Potentials and developing their team leadership skills as well as helping them with behavioural change initiatives which naturally bring along performance improvements. 

Phil Holdsworth, Impact
New Zealand
Phil andHoldsworth
Head of Asia

In the last 25+ years I’ve worked with many great organisations and love being able to bring a breadth and depth of experience to my programs. I currently regularly travel across Asia consulting for clients and looking after our great people. I'm described as an Energiser Bunny, I bring energy into everything I do, even if I'm stepping off a 12-hour flight! I recover by spending time with my family and exploring the wilderness in NZ with a fishing rod.

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Rowan Cleed
UK
Rowan andCleet
Project Manager

As a Project Manager at Impact, I'm responsible for the implementation of client solutions by coordinating client service teams. I am based out of the Kelsick Office (UK). Outside of work, I enjoy spending time in the Lakes climbing, hiking, kayaking and mountain biking

Molly Shrimpton, Impact
UK
Molly andShrimpton
Content Editor
Having joined the business in 2019, I work as part of the marketing team, creating and editing written content for the Impact blog. I currently work part-time whilst I study for a PhD in the environmental humanities. Outside of work, I love fell walking, outdoor swimming, learning about conservation, and going on adventures with my crazy dog!
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Stuart Kelly, PhD Researcher
UK
Stuart andKelly
Associate

I have a passion for helping people in organisations perform to their potential. I have spent the past 10 years co-creating solutions to develop high-performance cultures. I work in elite sports and use the transferability of the skills people need in those environments in a competitive business one. I completed my PhD researching Leadership & Well-being in blue-chip organisations and apply this to my practice.

 

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Senior Director - Client Services, Americas
USA
Martin andSmith
Senior Director - Client Services

I lead the overall relationship with our clients, working closely with them and our brilliant Impact team to build powerful solutions to their most pressing challenges. I’m a bit of an oddity - an Aerospace Engineer by training and experience who, for the last 20 years, has found my passion in helping others thrive at work.  I‘m based in Chicago with my wife, and when not running on the lakefront, I’m probably wrestling with an ornery cat.

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Damiao Lo
China and Hong Kong
Damiao andLo and
Senior Consultant

Working with Impact allows me to cross-germinate ideas and learnings between clients globally. In an ever-changing, dynamic business environment, I promote everyone to be designers of possibilities.

Fabio Gabbiani
Italy
Fabio andGabbiani and
Senior Consultant and Key Account Leader

With over 26 years as L&D and Internal Communication manager in large multinational companies, I’ve developed deep knowledge in consulting roles, building trusting relationships with all levels of an organization, implementing complex projects. I love my job, the countryside, animals and sports.

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Clive Barrow
New Zealand
Clive andBarrow
Consultant

I’ve had a passion for enriching lives through deeply practical experiential learning, and immersion in adventure around the world for most of my career. As a British Army officer, expedition leader, leadership consultant and executive coach I’ve had the enormous privilege to facilitate learning experiences for others in over 40 different countries. My greatest gift - apart from my wife and kids - doing the work I love!

Yuki Okamoto, Impact International
Japan
Yuki andOkamoto(Yuki)
Master Coordinator

Since 2006 I have coordinated programme delivery. This involves meeting facilitators and consultants to design great modules, using creativity to ensure participants have profound learning experiences that add value to their organisation. I manage project set up and use technical skills such as abseil belaying. I have a teaching licence to teach PE. Now I enjoy working using my body, so I love to do exercise and jogging, swimming, gymnastics, and most outdoor things!

Caroline Airey
UK
Caroline andAirey
Board Member

I joined Impact back in 1998 as a Management Accountant, and I am passionate about using financial information to inform and drive both short-term decision making and longer-term business strategy. I love living in the Lake District and exploring the surrounding lakes and mountains!

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Holly Higham Impact International
UK
Holly andHigham
Global Lead, Marketing

My job is to share amazing client stories with the world through integrated marketing campaigns. I love live events and building Impact's community, as well as research and content creation. I live for adventure...and cake!

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Courtney Henderson
UK
Courtney andHenderson
Software Developer

I’m Impact’s resident back-end developer; working to build robust, efficient, and reliable systems to underpin our experiential learning platforms. I take pride in collaborating with like-minded individuals who share common interests and values, collectively unlocking each other's full potential. As a Lake District native, I feel a strong connection to the area in which Impact is headquartered and have seen first-hand the local and global effect that Impact achieves.

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Delfino Corti
Italy
Delfino andCorti
Senior Consultant and Executive coach

I see life as a gift and a journey. I bring in my backpack some of the experiences I had the luck to have: nuclear engineering and 25 years as a manager in various industries in various parts of the globe. And then Impact. I feel excited when I see the very essence of situations emerge: in individuals, groups, communities, and organisations. I am fond of endurance sports and am a passionate soul explorer. 

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Yoshinori (Kite) Kaino, International
Japan
Yoshinori andKaino(Kite) and
Chief Executive Officer

I am responsible for “Re-Born Strategy” in Impact Japan, I am passionate about developing people and our organisation by executing all Re-Born strategic agendas. As a facilitator, I love creating and sharing the precious moments together with executives and managers who are reflectively asking themselves what leadership they would like to realise in their life/work. What I love most is drinking after working hard to make effort in realising my vision.

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Sabrina Bianchi Impact
Italy
Sabrina andBianchi
Head of marketing and Communication

I joined Impact in early 2022, and it was the best start to the year ever! My commitment is to develop and implement communication and marketing activities to give more and more visibility to the pathways and initiatives we create for our clients. In my spare time, I cheer for Inter and organize dinners and trips with friends and family.

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Sarah Golding, Impact International
UK
Sarah andGolding
Head of Account Management

Here at Impact I have the pleasure of managing a portfolio of impressive global programmes and a number of our key clients. I like to simplify the complex, gain clarity where there is ambiguity and drive efficiency and quality through my project teams. I love meeting different people and understanding what makes them tick! I'm full of energy, constantly smiling and always ready for the next adventure.

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Joanna Rada, Senior Consultant
Poland
Joanna andRada
Senior Consultant

After many years in business environment, leading sales and operating teams, I decided to share my knowledge and practice as a coach and facilitator. Becoming Impact consultant enabled me to support leaders and talents in developing their leadership with a solid dose of the "fun factor" that Impact programs provide.

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Sam Rostas, Impact International
UK
Samantha andRostas
Global Lead

After 10 years leading the UK, I am now in a global role focused on two areas: one leading a people project, the other focused on marketing. I grew up through Impact as a marketer and love the buzz of building business through brand and storytelling. My other passion is the people and culture here, so this is the ideal combination for me. When I’m not working, I love spending time with my family, enjoying the outdoors and practicing yoga.

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Lou McDonald, Impact
UK
Lou andMcDonald
Head of Brand

Sum myself up in a paragraph? There’s a challenge! And maybe a good starting point. I like challenge. I like the challenge of grabbing attention with interesting, useful and relevant marketing. From a new website or re-brand to a sell-out festival, for me it’s all about customer first. I like a physical challenge too, and the challenge of how long I can last without listening to music!

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Leadership

The leadership playbook: executive summary

Get hands on with our interactive leadership playbook, shaped by 45+ years' experience working with some of the world's biggest organisations.

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Leadership
News

2025 Training Industry Top Training Companies Lists: Leadership Training 

Training Industry, known for its independent and rigorous assessment of the training marketplace, has recognized Impact as a Top 20 Leadership Training Company for the 15th consecutive year.

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Change
Innovation & Creativity
Leadership

C-level leaders on navigating complexity

Discover what it means to lead in today's global business environment through our insightful eBook.

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Emerging Talent
Transformational Leadership

Frontline leadership program for Orica

A 12-week blended program designed to help frontline leaders develop foundational and practical skills to be more effective in current

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Change
Digital & Technology
Leadership

Podcast: Is BANI the new VUCA? with Jamais Cascio

Jamais Cascio created the BANI framework in 2018 and six years later, Impact is the first UK/US based organisation to invite him to speak about it. In this podcast we explore what BANI is and how...

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Change Management
Transformational Leadership

Empowering transformational change through leadership with Charter Manufacturing

Charter Manufacturing’s multi-award-winning programs have produced leaders who are enabled to be agile and lead transformational change.

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Our awards

Year after year, we continue to be acknowledged for the quality and effectiveness of our partnerships with clients and for our own work on building Impact as an organisation worth working for.

2025 Training Industry Top 20 Leadership Training Company
Top 20 Leadership Training Company 2025

Impact is a 2025 Top 20 Leadership Training Company. Training Industry independently assess the training marketplace for top providers. Their Top Leadership Training List, based on capabilities and expertise, includes Impact for the 15th consecutive year. 

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AITD 2025 award finalist
AITD Excellence Awards 2025

Orica's Frontline Leadership programme has been shortlisted in the Best Leadership Development category of the AITD Excellence Awards 2025 (Australian Institute of Training and Development).

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