Executive and leadership coaching · Dr. Sarai Koo
It Keeps Coming Back Because the Root Hasn't Been Found.
Dr. Sarai Koo sees what others miss. Through Project SPICES™, she looks at the twelve strands of your life to find what is really driving the problem, then helps you break through.
Sponsoring a CEO or senior leader? Coaching for your leaders →
- Since 1996
- Teaching and developing people
- Since 2006
- Coaching with Project SPICES™
- Ph.D.
- Education, Chapman University
“She has a keen ability to pinpoint the root issue.”
Experience Across Sectors
Leaders From These Organizations Have Worked With Dr. Koo.
Public agencies, higher education, enterprise and mission-driven organizations.
Logos represent prior engagements or professional experience where use is permitted. They do not imply endorsement.
What makes Dr. Koo different
She Sees What Others Miss. And She's Kind About It.
Most coaching works on the goal you bring in. Dr. Koo listens for what sits underneath it. Clients often describe the same experience: feeling truly seen, quickly, without ever feeling judged.
- 01
She listens past the story
You explain what is happening. She hears the pattern behind it, across all twelve strands of your life.
- 02
She names the root, gently
Direct enough to be useful, kind enough that you can actually hear it. No lectures and no jargon.
- 03
You leave with a real next step
Not a 40-page plan. One clear move you can make in your real life this week.
“What she did in a matter of eight hours was remarkable.”
“I so enjoyed your ability to get to the root of the problem and communicate in a way where everyone could understand.”
Ways to work with Dr. Koo
Start Where You Are.
Every path begins with the problem you bring and works down to the root. Not sure which fits? Compare the options →
01 · For executivesExecutive Coaching
For CEOs, founders and senior leaders carrying more than the role was built for.
Explore →
02 · For a new chapterTransition Coaching
For the decision you keep circling and the next chapter you are stepping into.
Explore →
03 · For high achieversPerformance Coaching
For people winning on paper but paying for it in energy, health or relationships.
Explore →
04 · For organizationsCoaching for Your Leaders
Companies sponsor confidential one-to-one coaching for a CEO or senior leader.
Explore →
Want to understand yourself first? Explore assessments → · Need help for a whole team? Winning Pathway® →
The Project SPICES™ Transformational Model
Twelve Strands. One Whole Life.
Like DNA, your life is made of strands woven together. Project SPICES™, created by Dr. Koo in 2006, names six areas of life, each with two strands: twelve in all.
When the strands are in balance, life works as a whole. When one frays, it pulls on all the others. That is why the problem you can see is rarely the whole story, and why lasting change starts with finding which strand is pulling.
- S
Spiritual
Self-realization+Self-awareness
Who you are, what you value and what gives your life meaning, including faith, if it matters to you.
- P
Physical
Physiological+Physical
Energy, rest and the toll stress takes on your body.
- I
Interpersonal
Intrapersonal+Interpersonal
Your relationship with yourself, and with the people who keep showing up in the problem.
- C
Cognitive
Cognitive+Creative
How you think, and how freely you can imagine a different way forward.
- E
Emotional
Emotional+Economical
What you feel underneath the surface, and the financial pressures that shape your choices.
- S
Social
Social+Service-oriented
Your roles and community, and the difference you are here to make.
For clients who want it, coaching can include prayer and Spirit-led discernment. It is never assumed or required.
Proof
What Clients Say.
“You are a miracle worker.”
reduction in recorded verbal hesitation markers for a founder and CEO after a focused working session.
See the case study →“I left, not just feeling seen, heard, and better, but knowing what I needed to do to move forward.”
“As an entrepreneur and business leader I have attended multiple life coaching programs that pale in comparison to that of Sarai's program.”
Testimonials describe individual experiences. Details are generalized to protect confidentiality. Results vary and are not guaranteed.
Meet your coach
Warm, Direct and Very Hard to Fool.
I have a Ph.D., but I promise not to talk like one. Coaching with me feels less like a boardroom and more like a conversation with someone who is fully on your side and will still tell you the truth.
A few things to know before we talk
- Bring the messy version. The polished one is rarely where the breakthrough is.
- I ask insightful questions. The kind that help you see what you could not see on your own.
- We may laugh, cry or both. Real change can feel like that, if you are ready for it.
- No jargon. If I ever say “synergy,” you are allowed to leave.
- Fair warning: I wrote a memoir called Seoul Food, so a food metaphor may sneak in.
- Ph.D.Chapman University
- Since 1996Developing people
- Since 2002Leading organizations
- CreatorProject SPICES™
Is this right for you?
Coaching With Dr. Koo Is Not for Everyone. It Might Be for You.
A strong fit if you
- Are capable and committed, and the same problem still keeps coming back
- Are ready to look honestly at what is underneath it
- Want the truth, told with kindness
- Want your whole life considered, not just your job, including faith if it matters to you
- Want one clear next step, not a binder of theory
Probably not the right fit if you
- Want quick tips or a cheerleader who agrees with everything
- Want someone else to make the decision for you
- Need therapy, medical care or crisis support. Please reach out to a licensed professional
- Need help for a whole team. Winning Pathway® leads that work
Sound like you? The first step is a simple conversation.
Let's Talk →Questions
What People Ask Before They Start.
Still unsure? Tell us what you are facing and we will help you find the right place to begin.
What does an executive coach do?
An executive coach helps leaders think clearly about hard decisions, pressure, relationships and growth, then turn that clarity into action. Dr. Koo also looks at what sits underneath the problem, such as identity, purpose and power, so the change lasts.
Is coaching the same as therapy?
No. Coaching is not psychotherapy or medical treatment. It focuses on present situations, decisions, development and action. If clinical care would help, you will be encouraged to see a licensed professional.
Do I need to know exactly what I want to work on?
No. Many people begin with a situation that feels confusing. Part of the process is clarifying what deserves attention.
What is Project SPICES™?
Project SPICES™ is the method Dr. Sarai Koo created. It looks at six connected areas of life (spiritual, physical, interpersonal, cognitive, emotional and social) to find the root of a problem before deciding what to change.
Can my company sponsor coaching for one of our leaders?
Yes. Companies can sponsor one-to-one executive coaching for a CEO or senior leader. Goals, confidentiality and how progress is shared are agreed before coaching begins. Team and organization-wide work is led by Dr. Koo's consulting firm, Winning Pathway®.
How much does coaching cost?
It depends on the kind of coaching, its length and who is sponsoring it. After a first conversation about your situation, you receive a clear scope and investment before any coaching begins.
Can faith be part of my coaching?
Yes, if you ask for it. Faith-integrated coaching, including prayer and Spirit-led discernment, is offered only when a client chooses it. It is never assumed or required.
Sound familiar?
Same Problem. Different Room.
You changed the job, the team, the strategy or the conversation. The problem came with you.
When a problem keeps coming back, it usually is not the real problem. It is connected to who you are, what you are here for and how you use your power. That is where coaching starts.
What you can leave with
- IdentityKnow who you are.
Apart from the title, the expectations and the old stories.
- PurposeKnow what matters.
Clear on what you are here for and where your time should go.
- PowerLead with confidence.
Decide, speak up and act without doubting yourself.
- BreakthroughGet past the wall.
Move through the obstacle that kept stopping you.
- FreedomLet go of old hurt.
Put down what has been weighing you down.
Every person's path is different. Coaching supports your growth and decisions; it does not promise a specific result.
Part of Dr. Koo's work
The Right Place for Every Need.
One method, four places to grow. Choose the one that fits what you are facing.
The method behind the work
Consulting for teams and organizations
Break the Fight Cycle™ for couplesReady to begin?
Ready to Break Through?
Tell us what keeps coming back. You do not need to know which kind of coaching you need. We will help you find the root and the right place to begin.
Prefer email? [email protected]