Executive Coaching, Leadership Development & Root-Cause Transformation

Meet Dr. Sarai Koo

Founder of Coaching Specialty® and Creator of the Project SPICES™ Framework

Dr. Sarai Koo is an executive coach, educator, facilitator, speaker, and leadership development expert with more than 25 years of experience helping individuals, leaders, teams, and organizations create meaningful and sustainable growth.

Throughout my career, I worked with leaders, professionals, organizations, students, and communities facing very different challenges. Yet I noticed the same pattern. People were often given advice before the real issue was understood. The challenge presented on the surface was rarely the complete story.

Project SPICES™ was created to help people understand the interconnected factors that influence growth, leadership, relationships, communication, and life decisions. When people gain greater awareness, they can move forward with more clarity, confidence, and purpose.

Founder, Coach, Facilitator

ICF PCC-Trained Executive Coach

Creator of Project SPICES™

Clients seek Dr. Koo's guidance because she has an unusual ability to uncover what is happening beneath the surface. Rather than focusing only on symptoms, she helps individuals and organizations identify the deeper factors influencing behavior, decision-making, performance, relationships, and sustainable growth.

Drawing from executive coaching, leadership development, behavioral assessments, organizational consulting, and the Project SPICES™ Framework, Dr. Koo helps clients gain clarity, address root causes, and create meaningful, lasting transformation.

Why I Do This Work

Throughout my career, I noticed a consistent pattern. People were often given solutions before the real issue was fully understood.

Leaders struggled with communication challenges that were rooted in something deeper. Professionals felt stuck despite having the skills and experience to succeed. Organizations invested significant resources into change initiatives without addressing the underlying factors influencing behavior, culture, and decision-making.

This led me to create Project SPICES™.

My work is centered on helping people understand the interconnected factors that influence growth, leadership, relationships, communication, and life decisions. When we gain greater awareness of what is happening beneath the surface, we are able to move forward with greater clarity, confidence, and purpose.

Whether I'm working with an executive, a team, an organization, or an individual, my goal remains the same: to help people create meaningful and sustainable transformation.

Work With Dr. Sarai Koo If You Are:

✓ A leader navigating organizational change

✓ A professional seeking greater clarity and confidence

✓ An executive responsible for people and performance

✓ A team experiencing communication challenges

✓ An organization investing in leadership development

✓ Someone seeking sustainable growth rather than temporary solutions

This instantly helps visitors self-identify.

Who Dr. Koo Helps

Leaders

Navigate growth, influence, communication, and change.

Professionals

Gain clarity, confidence, and career direction.

Teams

Strengthen collaboration and performance.

Organizations

Strengthen collaboration and performance.

Why Dr. Koo’s Work Is Different

Most coaching focuses on goals, behavior, or accountability.

Dr. Koo’s work goes deeper.

Using the Project SPICES™ Framework, she helps clients identify underlying patterns, strengths, barriers, and whole-person factors that influence how they think, lead, communicate, relate, and respond to change.

Her approach is practical, personalized, and designed to create growth that lasts.

The Project SPICES™ Framework

Most coaching addresses visible challenges.

Project SPICES™ helps identify the interconnected factors influencing:

✓ Leadership

✓ Relationships

✓ Communication

✓ Decisions

✓ Growth

✓ Purpose

✓ Performance

The goal is not simply solving a problem.

The goal is creating sustainable transformation.

Why Clients Choose Dr. Koo

What Clients Commonly Experience

✓ Root-cause focused approach

✓ Whole-person perspective

✓ Executive coaching experience

✓ Leadership and organizational expertise

✓ Assessment and behavioral insights

✓ Practical, actionable guidance

✓ Experience across multiple sectors

✓ Sustainable growth methodology

✓ Greater clarity

✓ Increased confidence

✓ Improved leadership effectiveness

✓ Stronger communication

✓ Better decision-making

✓ Healthier workplace relationships

✓ Career advancement

✓ More aligned life and leadership choices

Why Clients Refer Others: Many clients come to Dr. Koo after trying other approaches, only to discover the real challenge was never fully understood. When people gain clarity around the factors beneath the surface, meaningful and sustainable transformation becomes possible.

Expertise

  • Ph.D. in Education, Specialization in Culture and Curricular Studies, Program Evaluation (Chapman University)

  • Executive MBA (UCLA, courses taken)

  • M.A. in Human Development, Specialization in Leadership in Education and Human Services (Pacific Oaks College)

  • B.A. in Human Development, Specialization in Science and Technology (UCSD)

  • Mediation Services

  • UCLA Venture Accelerator

  • Harvard Summer Institute on College Admission, Harvard University/College Board

  • Domestic violence/child maltreatment

  • Certified College Planner, National Institute of Certified College Planners, expired.

Professional Background

Executive Leadership

Helping leaders navigate complexity, communication, decision-making, and organizational change.

Human Capital & Workforce Development

Certified in strategic workforce planning, talent acquisition, succession planning, people analytics, and DEI.

Behavioral Assessment & Talent Development

Certified in leadership and behavioral assessment tools used to identify strengths, barriers, communication styles, and development opportunities.

Organizational Transformation

Supporting leaders, teams, and organizations through culture change, workforce development, and performance improvement.

Professional Background

  • CIA Officer

  • Professor | Educator(taught from preschool to graduate university students)

  • Leader at a $2.1 trillion dollar agency

  • SVP of DEI and Culture

  • Actress (appeared on Director Steven Soderbergh's movie, Kimi)

  • Entrepreneur

  • Coach, speaker, consultant, facilitator, Emcee, host, interviewer, and more

  • Worked in education, finance, health/fitness, and other industries

Areas of Expertise

  • Executive coaching

  • Leadership development

  • Root-cause discovery

  • Whole-person growth

  • Emotional intelligence

  • Communication and relationships

  • Organizational change

  • Workforce development

  • Assessments and talent development

  • Training, facilitation, and speaking

Assessment Certifications & Expertise

Dr. Koo is certified and trained in a variety of assessment tools used for leadership development, team effectiveness, talent management, and organizational growth.

Specialized Authorization

Certified to administer and evaluate psychological, educational, public safety, and leadership assessments, including Level C assessment designation.

Human Capital Certifications

Certified through the Human Capital Institute in:

  • Strategic Workforce Planning

  • Strategic Talent Acquisition

  • Business Strategy for Human Resources Professionals

  • Succession Planning & Talent Development

  • People Analytics for Human Resources certifications

  • Strategic Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Talent and leadership Certifications

  • 360 Leadership Assessments (C-Suite to Managers)

  • Change Navigator

  • Change Style Indicator

  • Emotional Intelligence Quotient (EQ-i) and EQ-360

  • FIRO and FIRO-B Assessments

  • Influence Style Indicator

  • Lean Six Sigma Green Belt

  • Leadership Network Diagnostic

  • Hogan Assessment

  • DiSC Profile

  • Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) Administrator

  • Kuder Assessments

  • Strong Interest Inventory

  • Pearman Personality Integrator

  • Risk Type Indicator Assessments

  • and other talent and leadership assessment



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Business Certifications

Strategic Management, Initiating and Planning Projects, Managing Projects Risks and Changes

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Trusted by Leaders in Complex Environments

Dr. Koo has worked with:

✓ Federal agencies

✓ Government leaders

✓ Nonprofit executives

✓ Educational institutions

✓ Corporate organizations

✓ Community impact organizations

Her experience includes supporting leaders responsible for high-stakes decisions, workforce development, culture transformation, and organizational effectiveness.

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"Most people focus on the visible challenge. My work helps people understand the factors influencing what lies beneath the surface so growth can become meaningful and sustainable."

— Dr. Sarai Koo

Available for Speaking & Facilitation

Popular Topics include:

✓ Re+Calibration Leadership

Why Smart People Stay Stuck

✓ The Hidden Factors Driving Team Performance

✓ Leadership Beyond Personality Styles

✓ Workforce Development in Complex Organizations

✓ Emotional Intelligence for Leaders

✓ The Project SPICES™ Framework

✓ Creating Sustainable Organizational Change

✓ Root-Cause Leadership

Ready to Move Beyond Surface Solutions?

Whether you're navigating leadership challenges, career transitions, relationship dynamics, organizational change, or personal growth, Coaching Specialty® can help you move forward with greater awareness and purpose.

Work with Dr. Koo and Coaching Specialty® to uncover what is really driving the challenge and create a path forward with clarity, confidence, and purpose.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions answered.

What is Project SPICES?

We are a human-focused company that focuses on improving people's lives personally and professionally. We ensure our clients become the best versions of themselves wherever they go and do.

How do we hire you as a speaker?

Securing a member of Project SPICES as your speaker is a straightforward process. Start by obtaining a copy of Dr. Sarai Koo's speaker kit, then simply complete the Speaker Form. Whether you prefer an in-person or virtual presentation, we'll work closely with you to determine the best fit for your company's needs.

What coaching options do you provide?

We offer a range of coaching options tailored to your needs. Our offerings include personalized 1:1 coaching programs for leaders and managers. Additionally, we provide team/group coaching sessions aimed at fostering inclusivity and belonging. The number of coaching sessions can be customized to suit your specific requirements, so feel free to inquire about the options available to you.

Do you offer one-time services or ongoing

content management packages?

The coaching program includes one free hour for a 'get to know you' session and 10 sessions. Additionally, we offer a FREE BONUS: you are invited to participate in 12 monthly training/Q&A sessions (open forum or pre-recorded trainings). Please note that you are free to opt out of the FREE bonus. The fee structure will not change. We encourage you to connect and delve deep into various topics.

What assessments do you offer?

We provide a wide range of assessments tailored to meet your needs, including DiSC, Emotional Intelligence (EQ- 2.0 and 360), 360 assessments, Change Style Indicator, Change Navigator, Influence Style Indicator, Hogan, MBTI, FIRO-B, and many others.

What signature programs do you offer?

Explore our signature programs designed to drive impactful change, including IDEAS (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Sustainability), the Full Human Development Program, Emotional Intelligence, and the Wo+Man Up Academy.

What programs and services do you offer larger groups - companies?

We specialize in a range of services to support your growth and development, including team/group coaching, leadership coaching, leadership development programs, culture change seminars, speaking engagements, and facilitated discussions on various people and business topics.

Coaching Specialty®

Coaching Specialty® is a coaching and development program of Project SPICES LLC.

Call 888-305-8884

www.coachingspecialty.com

www.projectspices.com

www.winningpathway.com

© 2025 Coaching Specialty™ | Re+Calibration™ Coaching | Project SPICES™

All Rights Reserved. Do not duplicate or reproduce without written permission.