Success Stories

We succeed when you do, one leader at a time.

Elastic Networks

How Improving Self-awareness and Other-awareness Powers Company Growth

Elastic Networks entrusted Kadabra to help them embrace differences among one another at all levels. The goal was to identify complementary skills and personalities and through that, enhance their working relationships. Kadabra’s customized approach helped shift employee behaviors and communication at Elastic–opening space for more connection and understanding and ultimately, leading to higher levels of creativity and productivity from the team.

San Jose Water

Navigating Culture Change and Leadership Development Following a Merger

San Jose Water needed leaders to engage in the latest best practices for leadership by first gaining a deeper understanding of themselves. Through strategic assessments, planning, and coaching, leaders built the necessary tool sets required to continue improving their leadership on their own. This has helped leaders with honoring the organization’s values of Integrity, Transparency, Service, Compassion, Teamwork, Respect and Trust while navigating the organization’s evolving culture.

Notre Dame

Linking Human Resources with Operational Strategies for Sustainable Success

When mission-aligned and forward thinking human resource and operational strategies are introduced to board members, school leaders and educators within a learning environment like Notre Dame San Jose (NDSJ), what emerges is an award-winning educational institution characterized by innovative thinking and sustainable education

Testimonials

Wendy Ryan is by her very nature a problem solver.  She uses deep intelligence and knowledge of human principles, coupled with compassionate listening, to make her clients feel perfectly understood.  Her approach and guidance is creative and practical at the same time, all while being scaled appropriately to the problem.  I’ve partnered with Wendy numerous times and each time her advice is cogent and spot-on.  She offers realistic implementation approaches that are perfectly suited to the desired outcome and take into account the cultural norms of the company.  Her work is extremely high quality, and no ask is too small when she’s taken on a project.  I can’t wait to work with Wendy again!
Stacey Porter

Former Head of Talent Development, Intuitive Surgical

I have had the distinct pleasure of working with Sherri Horan over the last 8 months in the refinement of my leadership skills.  I have been in leadership positions for over 30 years beginning as an officer in the U.S. Navy followed by many engineering management positions.  Even so, I have learned a tremendous amount from this program on the latest best practices for leadership skills along with a deeper understanding of myself and what leadership qualities I have that are good and what qualities I have that are opportunities for improvement…I now have the toolset to continue improving myself as a leader, and I owe it to my employees and leadership team to be the best I can. 
Bill Tuttle

VP of Engineering , SJ Water Company

Heather is a visionary who is leading the way to a new kind of business communication and thinking. Over several years of working with her on a number of strategically-focused projects, all of our team saw the value and the client impact that her graphic facilitation provided to complex and challenging initiatives. Her ability to visualize an abstract concept provides a way to not only understand, but to actually see new connections and new ideas.
Bruce Spining

Manager, Business Development Communications at Korn/Ferry International

If you’re looking for someone who can help you dramatically improve the effectiveness of your organization, I highly recommend Johanna. Johanna is a skilled executive coach with a great ability to pinpoint the areas that are holding people back and she has the excellent coaching skills necessary to coach them to greater effectiveness. Johanna is also a skilled facilitator and teambuilder with all the tools needed to help build high performing engaged teams. Johanna always sees the best in her clients and is a strong champion for them to gain the skills they need to live into that greatness. She’s a strong, grounded, straight shooter with the ability to clearly tell the hard truths in an encouraging way. Whether she’s working one-on-one or with teams, working with Johanna will be engaging, enjoyable and highly impactful.
Bill Silverman

Business Owner

Wendy’s approach to leadership development was transformative for me.  As we worked through multiple leadership and behavior models, Wendy was able to move from theory to real time practice very quickly.  As a result, I developed personalized tools to help navigate the challenges of operating a large creative and complex institution. The time I spent with Wendy was invaluable and I highly recommend her for any executive needing to dive deeper into maximizing their unique talents within an organization.
Julie Nunn

Sr. Director of Marketing, The Exploratorium

I feel empowered with the true concern and insightful listening you provide.  The engagement has shifted my perspective on many things in meaningful ways. I hope you know how much I appreciate you, your energy and the support afforded to me.
Edward Lambing

Assistant Chief Engineer – CIP Design, SJ Water Company

I started a leadership coaching program with Johanna as I stepped into a new executive role. She helped me shape my values and vision statement, provided me with a toolkit for managing real-world challenges, and introduced me to DiSC assessment which has been incredibly helpful in managing relationships across our organization. I was especially grateful for her insight and expertise in managing gender equity and inclusion in the workplace. I value the skills I gained and recommend Johanna as a coach for anyone seeking to broaden their horizons both personally and as a leader.
April Crittendon

Chief Certification Officer, CCOF

Heather is one of the most creative professionals I’ve had the pleasure to work with. She is a rare talent that combines high business acumen with innovative, creative thinking and artistic skills to produce relevant, high impact visual communication. I had the luxury of having Heather graphically record one of my workshops, highlighting the key points and frameworks in a visually appealing summary of the entire workshop. Participants’ learning increased and key concepts were more readily implemented as a result. I still have the amazing graphic summary piece today. I would highly recommend Heather for any graphic or strategic visualization project you may have where key messages need to be visually communicated to your audience. And most importantly, she is an engaging, collaborative professional to work with!
Martin Moller

Business Impact Coach | Consultant | Leadership Development | Facilitator | Speaker | Career Development

Johanna is an extraordinary leader and coach. Her understanding of the relationship between human development, consciousness and organizational development create breakthrough strategies for personal development and change management. She is truly awesome.
Frank Connolly

CEO, Temple Spaces

Wendy Ryan has been a godsend to our school! She has provided coaching and training in the areas of leadership, change management, strategic planning and sustainability research. From working with teachers to board members, Wendy is able to tailor the scope of consultation to meet the immediate needs and to promote future growth, whether the scope is broad – positioning for growth through culture change – or narrow – leadership development for individuals.
Mary Beth Riley

Principal, Notre Dame High School, San Jose

This year was an incredibly challenging year for anyone in a leadership position. Having Gail as an executive coach was like having a ray of light or a little angel on my shoulder who I turned to as a resource for support in a chaotic time. Over the course of the year, Gail taught me how to ask the right questions, and how to trust and follow my leadership instincts. Her most precious gift however was not the time that she spent coaching me, or the resources that she helped me acquire, it was that she facilitated my process of finding my inner coach. 
Jessy Beckett Parr

Foundation Director, CCOF Foundation

I’m so glad we found Johanna and (Kadabra). Earlier this year, Johanna helped guide our team through a values-defining culture exercise that was very successful. Leading up to and during the event, I really appreciated her warm, authentic and engaging style, and the clarity she brought to the process. Afterwards, she impressed me with her follow-up and recommendations for putting into place practical, actionable steps that would help us better inculcate our values. More recently, Johanna has been very supportive during the current crisis, and the classes she’s taught on Emotional Intelligence and Mindfulness have been very helpful for our team as we learn to navigate our new reality. If you have the chance to work with Johanna, I recommend that you do it!
Sharon Kittredje

VP People, Agora

Heather has a way of facilitating a dialogue that leaves you feeling as though you have just changed your way of seeing all things for the better, not just the way you perceive the topics on the table. She artfully guides you through exercises that help you realize interesting facts about human dynamics (with respect to organizations and business) that validate your intuitions and give strength to your ideas. Every time I work through these processes with Heather, I feel the urge to yell from the tree tops, because she has helped facilitate big realizations that border on epiphanies. I always feel as though these forward steps are due to Heather’s insight, intuition, skills and amazing practice.
Brenda Macon

Executive Director, Durango Arts Center

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