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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.

Trees and roads
Connor Gildert, Sales, Americas
USA
Connor andGildert
Sales Operations Administrator

I work alongside our business development team to ensure we provide quality service to our global clients. I also work closely with our internal teams to help do our bit to help develop the local community. Impact gives me the space to be myself, which usually gets me into trouble...

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Hillary Lawless Impact
USA
Hillary andO'Dell
Project Manager

I am a program manager, and I love that every day is different, from working on different tasks involved to make a program run smoothly to talking and meeting clients. I come from a hospitality background, so I love the client-facing aspect of my role here at Impact, as well as making sure every piece of the program is on schedule. Outside of work, I am always doing something like teaching dance, travelling, and going to the beach!

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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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Trevor Johnson
USA
Trevor andJohnson
Senior Consultant

I am a passionate, strengths-based leadership coach and facilitator who focuses on taking what is right with people and creating more of it! I have a passion for driving sustainable DEI and well-being initiatives, specializing in LGBTQ+ and mental health topics.

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Sydney Johnson
USA
Sydney andJohnson
Program Manager

I am a Program Manager located in the heart of Texas. My favorite part of my role is interacting with so many different people daily while building and carrying out a variety of client-specific programs. Every day, I learn something new, and it excites me to continue growing in my position. When I am not working, you can find me dancing, rewatching Friday Night Lights, traveling, and spending time with my friends, family, and dogs! 

Wendy Lee, Impact
USA
Wendy andLee andBerger
Global Lead, Operations

I was lucky enough to join as the third member of the US team in 2006 and have done almost every role in the business including design, delivery, sales support, project management and even bookkeeping! That breadth of experience has helped me in my current leadership role, it allows me to understand the business from multiple perspectives and focus on operational excellence. My nickname is Wiki because I can usually help find the answer!

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Gianna Ruffo
USA
Gianna andRuffo
Program, Manager

As a Program Manager at Impact, I get to utilize the communication and organizational skills gained from my 6 years of customer service experience and owning my own business. My favorite aspect of the role, is seeing a program be designed and developed over time, come together in the end. In my free time, you will find me cooking, hiking, painting, or playing with my dogs! 

Shiwali Daryapurkar
USA
Shiwali andDaryapurkar
Program Manager

I enjoy using my strengths in operations management to bring organisations into the chaos and to connect people with resources. I look forward to supporting the team from behind the scenes to execute the programs successfully and meaningfully. In my personal time, you will find me traveling, cooking, event planning, reading, and involved in theatre and film productions.

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Erin DeVito, Impact International
USA
Erin andDeVito
General Manager

As a mom to 4 girls I am constantly reminded that I am human, it's inescapable. I am completely honored that over the last 12 years I spend my days working with fantastic teams and amazing clients to do work that enables us all to embrace our individual humanness and work to create environments where people can grow and learn everyday! My hope and goal is together, the work we do today brings a brighter future for us all.

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Gavin Shaw
USA
Gavin andShaw
VP of Finance

Leading the US finance department includes guiding my team, considering new ways for increased financial success, keeping the team financially informed and ensuring accurate reporting. I have a business/accounting degree and 15+ years experience as a CPA. I see myself as a finance skilled business partner rather than an accountant. I love spectator sports, food, wine, whisky, binge watching TV, travel, wood burning open fires and being outside in the fresh air.

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Sarah Osteen
USA
Sarah andOsteen
Senior Consultant

I have spent my career exploring, researching, teaching, coaching and practising leadership skills. I love working with individuals and groups to tackle hurdles and develop strategic initiatives. When I am not designing programs, I like to spend time with my son and my husband building forts out of driftwood or laughing with friends in the beautiful pacific northwest.

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Diana Fritz
USA
Diana andFritz
Account Director

As an Account Director with Impact, I’m able to leverage my ten years of Business Development and Account Management experience.  I thrive in environments where I am able to develop and uncover new opportunities with partners and businesses. Most of all, I am a people person and love building trusting relationships. In my spare time, you will find me spending time with my husband, two boys and our dog.

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Carrie Fritz Impact International
USA
Carrie andFritz
Head of Program Management

I'm passionate about helping those around me grow and develop. I encourage my team to bring themselves into everything they do.  Our diverse backgrounds, experiences and perspectives help us partner efficiently and effectively with colleagues and clients.  As a traveller at heart, I’ve visited 31 of the 50 US states, 14 countries and 8 Caribbean islands. I love experiencing new cultures, enjoying the great outdoors and trying local cuisine.

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Manny Larenas
USA
Manuel and(Manny) andLarenas
Senior Consultant

I am devoted to applying theory, practical application and innovation to people development. As a lead designer and facilitator with 10+ years of experience, I deliver custom client solutions globally. My insatiable curiosity stays satisfied by reading, researching and exploring the world. I love the culinary arts, and although I enjoy cooking, my passion is simply being the consumer of freshly made, delectable dishes. 

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Kate Wolf
USA
Kate andWolf
Sr Director, Client Services

I’ve spent my career partnering with clients to solve problems and drive their organizations forward. As Teddy Roosevelt (and then Leslie Knope) shared: “The greatest gift that life can give is to work hard at work worth doing.” I’m honored and thrilled to do meaningful work with my colleagues at Impact, leveraging powerful experiential learning experiences for our clients to create the ‘leaders they wish they had’. Outside of work I love to explore the beauty of Oregon by foot, bike or boat.

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Stan March
USA
Stan andMarch
Account Director

I rely on both my unbridled curiosity and appetite for knowledge and exploration in my pursuit for continuous improvement. As an ambassador of the Impact brand, I harness this mindset to work effectively with my colleagues to increase our brand awareness and build mindshare in the marketplace. In my spare time, you can find me in the mountains skiing, hiking, and fly fishing with my wife and hound dog.

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Ava Gayowski
USA
Ava andGayowski
Business development & marketing coordinator

I came to Impact as an Intern in 2023 and here I am again in 2025! That’s because Impact is a great place to learn and the people are even better. Impact’s mission to help people learn and grow is something that resonates with me deeply. My educational background is in mass communications with specialties in PR and advertising. I’m the liaison between our marketing and business development team and my job is to enhance our digital marketing and BD function. In my free time you can find me surfing out on the waves (usually wiping out), horseback riding, or behind a guitar and a microphone. 

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David Cooper, Impact
USA
David andCooper
Senior Consultant

I have been working in L&D since 1992 and joined Impact in 2004, providing design, management, and delivery expertise to clients around the globe. Current initiatives have me consulting with clients from multiple business sectors to coach and facilitate the development of key leadership talent. I am also a past adventure consultant and professional rock climbing guide with numerous alpine and big wall ascents around the world.

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Steven Nishida
USA
Steven andNishida
Senior Consultant

A lifelong passion for learning and leadership brought me to Impact, and I couldn't be happier with my decision. As a designer, facilitator, and thought partner, I embrace a scholar-practitioner mindset, running to the issues and engaging others with clarity, empathy, and authenticity. My favorite activity of each day is laughing, playing, and making up bedtime stories with my kids. They're hilarious!

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Cassie Cuppek
USA
Cassie andCuppek
Senior Consultant

When asked, "What do you do for work?" it is not uncommon for me to respond, "Light Bulb Moment Technician". I have been fortunate to be filled with such energy through my talent, leadership, and organisational development work. When I am not working, I take my role as Aunt Cassie with my husband, Josh, very seriously! It is the greatest thrill to teach them to ride motorcycles, do yoga, and explore the world.

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Ryan McCabe, Impact
USA
Ryan andMcCabe
Senior Consultant

I’m passionate about learning and helping people get the best out of themselves. I spent over 10 years in Learning & Development with a Fortune 15 company helping develop and deliver programs to Executives, Middle Management, and Aspiring Leaders from all different parts of the business. I believe that understanding and leveraging diversity is one of the biggest strengths of any organization and I really enjoy helping groups work towards that reality. When I’m not working, I enjoy spending time with my wife and 2 daughters as well as rooting for any and all Philly sports teams. I also have a pretty sweet record collection.

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Lisa Priore Impact
USA
Lisa andFelloni
Finance Administrator

I am a highly experienced Accounting and Financial Management professional with expertise in problem solving, business communications, project management and customer relationships. I’m an enthusiastic leader, successful in liaising across all levels, handling confidential information and managing multiple priorities. I enjoy attending live events; cheering on my favourite sporting teams, watching my friend’s rock band, and supporting my daughter’s dance team.

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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 combining facilitated experiential learning with practical self-led activities, designed to help frontline leaders develop foundational and

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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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