origin Story
Kathy and Leonie teamed up over a decade ago after building the people team together at Onyx Pharmaceuticals, with a vision to provide great coaching and HR/People partnership to small enterprises and non-profits doing good in the world. We shared a set of values that drove us to partner deeply with our clients, provide open access to our tools, enjoy the heck out of our work, and have balance in our lives. Kathy now focuses on coaching, advisory, and facilitation services. Leonie moved on to new adventures. She remains a trusted advisor.
Kathy Stafford
Kathy spent 2+ decades as a financial executive before finding her calling on the people side of the business. She has led the People/HR function at Heath Ceramics. Solazyme, and Onyx Pharmaceuticals, and provided coaching and advisory services to a diverse array of people and enterprises. Earlier in her career, she served as CFO of several biotechnology companies, including CV Therapeutics (completed IPO), and treasurer of Amgen during the launch of their first two blockbuster products. In the middle of all of that, she took a break and taught elementary and middle school.
Her experience spans private venture-backed organizations including start-ups, emerging and fully commercial public enterprises, owner-operator manufacturing and retail businesses, eCommerce platforms, and nonprofits.
Kathy holds a BS from Santa Clara University, an MBA from Virginia Tech, a teaching credential from Mills College, a Coaching Certificate from the UC Berkeley Executive Coaching Institute, and she completed the Columbia University/Teachers College Executive Coaching Program. She is an Everything DiSC Authorized Partner, is certified to administer the MBTI® Step I and Step II type indicators, and the Korn Ferry Leadership Architect™ tools. She believes there is a better in each person and organization, and loves nothing more than seeing that better unleashed into the world.
Leonie McConville
Leonie has several decades of experience as an effective HR/People leader. She most recently served as head of Human Resources at Adamas Pharmaceuticals where she built the HR team and helped to grow the company for commercial launch.
Before that, she held positions as Senior Director Human Resources at Onyx Pharmaceuticals, and Director Human Resources at Chiron Corporation. Leonie has broad experience in all aspects of Human Resources/People Operations, a deep expertise in executive and broad-based compensation, and has participated in the integration of corporate transactions at Onyx and Chiron. She has extensive biopharmaceutical experience across the commercial spectrum, from early discovery and development to fully commercial diversified enterprises.
Leonie has provided consulting and advisory services to organizations within the biopharmaceutical, cleantech, and nonprofit sectors. She holds a BA in Management from Saint Mary’s College of California. She assumes best intentions, is a natural coach, earns trust wherever she goes, and gets stuff done. She makes anyplace she works better.
