Executive & Leadership
- Executive coaching
- Leadership development
- Communication
- Decision-making
- Emotional intelligence
Founder of Coaching Specialty®
Dr. Sarai Koo
Executive Coach • Educator • Facilitator • Speaker
Helping professionals and leaders understand complex situations, make clearer decisions and move forward with practical next steps.
For more than 25 years, Dr. Sarai Koo has worked with professionals, leaders, teams and organizations across government, education, nonprofit, corporate and community settings.
She is also the creator of Project SPICES™, a structured framework for considering different areas that may be influencing the same situation.
Why I Do This Work
I Kept Seeing People Given Solutions Before the Situation Was Fully Understood.
Throughout my career, I worked with people facing very different challenges. Yet one pattern kept appearing: advice often came before enough time had been spent understanding what was actually happening.
A leadership problem might also involve confidence, pressure, relationships or exhaustion. A communication problem might be influenced by expectations, trust or experiences outside the conversation itself.
That observation eventually led me to create Project SPICES™—a practical framework for looking at more than one part of the picture before deciding what deserves attention.
My role as a coach is not to hand people my answers. It is to help them see their own circumstances more clearly so they can make thoughtful decisions about what comes next.
Creator of Project SPICES™
Explore Project SPICES™ →
A Framework for Seeing More of the Picture.
Project SPICES™ grew from Dr. Koo's belief that a visible problem may be influenced by several parts of a person's life, work, relationships or well-being.
The framework does not assume what the answer is. It helps organize questions so people can better understand what may deserve attention.
Notice
what may be affecting the situation.
Understand
which influences may be connected.
Decide
what is worth addressing next.
Experience & Expertise
Experience Across Leadership, Education and Organizational Development.
Teams & Organizations
- Organizational development
- Workforce development
- Team effectiveness
- Facilitation
- Change initiatives
Assessment & Development
- Leadership assessments
- Behavioral assessment tools
- Talent development
- Mediation and conflict resolution
- Training and speaking
Credentials
Education, Training & Professional Development
Education
- Ph.D. in Education — Chapman University
- M.A. in Human Development — Pacific Oaks College
- B.A. in Human Development — University of California, San Diego
Leadership & Behavioral Assessments
Training and certifications include leadership, emotional intelligence, personality, influence, change, workforce and talent-development tools.
Examples include EQ assessments, 360 leadership assessments, Hogan, DiSC, MBTI, FIRO-B, change assessments and other professional tools.
Human Capital & Workforce Development
Professional training includes strategic workforce planning, talent acquisition, succession planning, talent development, people analytics and related human-capital disciplines.
Mediation, Facilitation & Conflict
Training includes mediation processes, cultural issues in mediation and approaches for working with high-emotion conflict.
Publications & Media
“Most people focus on what they can see first. My work helps people understand what may be shaping the situation so they can make clearer decisions about what to do next.”— Dr. Sarai Koo
Hear Dr. Koo Explain the Work in Her Own Words.
Client Experiences
What Clients Say About Working With Dr. Koo.
“I left not just feeling seen and heard, but knowing what I needed to do to move forward.” Government Leader
“Sarai leads with distinction, passion and, most importantly, her heart.” Executive Director
“Sarai's insights will get you far. Trust me.” Leader
Speaking & Facilitation
Bring the Conversation to Your Organization.
Dr. Koo is available for keynotes, facilitated conversations, leadership development and professional learning experiences.
Leadership Under Pressure
Why Smart, Capable People
Still Get Stuck
Communication, Emotional Intelligence
& Leadership
The Project SPICES™ Framework
Workforce Development
in Complex Organizations
Understanding What May Be
Driving Team Performance
Frequently Asked Questions
Common Questions About Working With Dr. Koo
Does Dr. Koo work only with executives?
No. She works with professionals, leaders, teams and organizations. The appropriate service depends on the situation and goals.
What can coaching focus on?
Coaching may address leadership, communication, career decisions, confidence, transitions, relationships, difficult conversations and other professional or personal development goals.
What is Project SPICES™?
Project SPICES™ is a framework created by Dr. Koo to help organize different areas that may be influencing a situation. It can be used as part of coaching and development when appropriate.
Does Dr. Koo offer organizational services?
Yes. Services may include leadership development, executive coaching, facilitation, team development, speaking and organizational support.
How do I know where to begin?
You do not need to choose the exact service before contacting Coaching Specialty. Start with the situation you are facing, and the team can help identify the most appropriate next step.
Ready to Begin?
Start With the Situation You’re Facing Now.
You do not need to know exactly which coaching or development option you need. Tell us what you are navigating and we will help you identify the most useful place to begin.