about Galánta

Galánta, from the Irish word for elegance, reflects the art of holding complexity in a way that feels clear, simple, and graceful, revealing what is essential without diminishing the depth beneath it.

We start by meeting you as you are: already creative, resourceful, and whole. Together, we create spaces that are both supportive and challenging, where transformation happens. And when the work has taken root, we step back, trusting your capacity to carry it forward.

Our coaches embody this philosophy through both lived experience and their approach.

Our Values

  • Depth with care

    Bringing commitment to curiosity: listening deeply and caring enough to risk comfort & challenging you to advance your purpose with clarity and courage. We believe developing the entire person leads to more sustainable results; we focus on the overall business goals and consistently tie our coaching back to them.

  • Purposeful Excellence

    A partnership with a deep orientation to purpose. Continually asking the questions that unlock growth and accelerate necessary development. End goal: to develop leaders who are self-generative, confident, adaptive, and equipped to navigate complexity with ownership and resilience.

  • the archetype of 'guide'

    We hold that coaching is 'walking with' the client, with grace, power and humility in their journey towards meeting self. Coaching is never about the coach; it is about the client deepening an awareness of themselves and the necessitated realignment work. This drives deep self-authorship, purposeful leadership and regenerative performance.

MEET THE TEAM

NOEL BULGER

MANAGING PARTNER

  • Noel is the founder of Galánta and an executive coach known for helping leaders intuitively navigate self-development and expand their cognitive versatility to elevate performance. He began his leadership career as a U.S. Marine Corps officer, leading teams in combat and crisis, then transitioned into diplomatic roles in Southeast Asia, honing influence, discretion, and relationship-driven leadership. Later serving as a liaison and instructor to U.S. and foreign Special Forces, he discovered his calling to scale impact through coaching. Noel has since partnered with leaders across healthcare, law, consulting, banking, private equity, tech startups, FAANG companies, and senior Department of Defense and global political leaders.

MYRIAM SBEITI

CHIEF OF STAFF

  • Myriam is a chemical engineer turned strategist and entrepreneur, supporting executive coaching and organizational growth at Galánta. As an ex-McKinsey consultant and ex-founder & CEO of Sunthetics, Myriam has consistently worked in the field of innovation, new product development, business building, and M&A. At Galánta, she leverages her vast knowledge of growth and innovation to support in scaling the impact of executive coaching.

JUSTIN JACKSON

DIRECTOR OF CLIENT ENGAGEMENT

  • Justin is dedicated to helping leaders align their passions and pursuits to create meaningful, lasting impact. A former Marine Corps helicopter pilot who served in combat, he brings a grounded, mission-driven approach to leadership development. Serving clients in professional services, private equity, healthcare, and technology, Justin coaches driven leaders ready to move beyond traditional frameworks and embrace a more authentic way of leading. He believes leadership thrives when logic, instinct, and heart are in balance. Justin helps clients clarify who they are at their core, cultivating a centered, intentional, and authentic presence.

NORTH AND LATIN AMERICA

Vandana Ram Allman

VANDANA RAM ALLMAN

  • Vandana is an executive coach and advisor with over 20 years of global experience supporting leaders and teams across the United States, Europe, and Asia. Her mission is to help leaders make better decisions grounded in clarity, purpose, and impact. A former Global Practice Group Leader and Senior Strategic Consultant at Gallup, she advanced psychometric tools and guided complex organizations through leadership and talent development. Vandana has partnered with leaders in government, healthcare, intelligence, legal, and defense-related industries, helping teams align mission, values, and performance. Her work is both stabilizing and transformative, elevating leadership capabilities and accelerating organizational growth.

Betina Koski

BETINA KOSKI

  • Betina is an executive coach with more than 20 years of experience advising senior leaders across all facets of leadership development. Most recently, she served as Associate Dean of Partner Learning and Senior Learning Expert at McKinsey & Company, where she designed and led leadership programs for the Firm’s Partner Group. Betina has also coached CEOs and nonprofit leaders through transformational change grounded in the principles of Good to Great and Built to Last, developing programs and workshops that strengthen communication, trust-building, and team effectiveness. A dual citizen of Brazil and the U.S., she now lives in Boulder, Colorado, where she enjoys running, hiking, and skiing.

FRIDERIKE BUTLER

  • Friderike is a transformational leader, organizational strategist, and executive coach dedicated to unlocking potential in people, ideas, and organizations. With over two decades of experience in leadership development, business strategy, and human-centered innovation, she helps individuals and teams navigate complexity and achieve measurable results. Friderike partners with mission-driven organizations and senior leaders to scale sustainable leadership initiatives, drive organizational success, and foster resilience. Combining strategic insight with a deeply human-centered approach, she guides leaders and teams through transition, transformational change, and vision-driven strategy, helping them innovate, learn continuously, and realize their highest potential.

Jakob Blank

JAKOB BLANK

  • Jakob is an executive coach and leadership advisor with a deep passion for developing authentic, values-driven leaders. His approach is shaped by seven years at McKinsey, where he served clients up to the Junior Partner level, followed by work at a technology unicorn before founding his own coaching practice. Jakob partners with executives and global institutions seeking direct, honest guidance grounded in real business insight. He specializes in authentic leadership, trust-building, team dynamics, facilitation, and learning design, and frequently designs and delivers leadership programs for senior leaders. Originally from the Netherlands, he now lives in Wisconsin with his wife, Elizabeth, and their son.

  • Christine is an executive coach and communications expert who helps leaders step into their most authentic, aligned, and impactful selves. A former Executive Communication Advisor in the U.S. Air Force, she spent more than a decade guiding senior national and international leaders on high-stakes communication, culture, and strategy. A Bronze Star recipient, she brings a rare blend of intuition, candor, and deep perspective to her coaching, enabling clients to clarify values, elevate self-awareness, and transform organizational culture. As founder of Authentic Ascent, she partners with leaders seeking purpose-driven growth. A Virginia native with Jamaican roots, Christine is a devoted wife, mother of three, and lover of travel, food, and dance.

CHRISTINE GUTHRIE

Sue Callaghan

SUE CALLAGHAN

  • Sue Callaghan is an executive coach dedicated to nurturing powerful, fulfilled leaders who create meaningful impact through authenticity, self-awareness, and trust. Known for her warmth, energy, and insightful questioning, she helps clients access their innate wisdom and embrace small but transformative shifts that elevate their leadership. Sue spent 16 years with the Notre Dame Mendoza College of Business Executive Education team, designing and delivering holistic leadership development experiences for individuals and teams. With earlier career experience in consulting and financial analysis, she brings both analytical skill and human-centered insight to her work. Sue lives in South Bend, Indiana, with her husband and enjoys life with their four adult children.

BAKTASH AHADI

  • Baktash is an executive coach and Emmy Award–winning documentary filmmaker whose work centers on elevating human stories and fostering deeper understanding. His diverse career includes service in the federal government, work with top global consulting firms, leadership in his own tech startup, and earlier roles as a Peace Corps volunteer and Marine Corps combat interpreter. A former refugee, Baktash brings a profound appreciation for cultural nuance and resilience to his coaching. He partners with leaders seeking to navigate complexity with empathy, creativity, and clarity. Through coaching, storytelling, and teaching, he helps individuals and organizations drive meaningful, lasting change.

JUSTIN JACKSON

  • Justin is dedicated to helping leaders align their passions and pursuits to create meaningful, lasting impact. A former Marine Corps helicopter pilot who served in combat, he brings a grounded, mission-driven approach to leadership development. Serving clients in professional services, private equity, healthcare, and technology, Justin coaches driven leaders ready to move beyond traditional frameworks and embrace a more authentic way of leading. He believes leadership thrives when logic, instinct, and heart are in balance. Justin helps clients clarify who they are at their core, cultivating a centered, intentional, and authentic presence.

ABI DORHOSTI

  • Abion “Abi” Dorhosti is a retired U.S. Air Force officer who served for 25 years in leadership and diplomatic roles. She now dedicates her work to supporting veterans and purpose-driven individuals healing from trauma through integrative retreats, therapeutic coaching, and transpersonal practices. Abi developed The SOULignment Method, a path of compassionate restoration, and founded the Amistar Foundation. Currently pursuing a PhD in Transpersonal Psychology at Sofia University, she researches psychedelic-assisted healing for moral injury. Abi blends trauma-informed coaching, somatic awareness, and transpersonal tools to help clients remember their wholeness, integrate past experiences, and realign with their deeper calling.

KULJIT TAYLOR

  • With nearly 20 years of experience working in commercial, non-profit, and government organizations, Kuljit brings a unique mix of strategic, operational, and leadership insights as a trusted advisor, confidant, and coach to executive leaders around the world. She incorporates diverse disciplines into her work, such as psychology and contemplative practices, to help senior leaders navigate a deeply personal journey to rediscover and reintegrate their true essence. The result is an embodied leader with greater capacity for effectiveness and fulfillment.

ANGIE MCARTHUR

  • Angie is the CEO and lead coach at Core Thinking Partners, as well as co-author of the Random House books Collaborative Intelligence and Reconcilable Differences. A member of the Penguin Random House Speakers’ Bureau, she is a sought-after keynote speaker with 26 years of experience in leadership development, facilitation, and executive and team coaching. Angie holds a BA in Communication Theory from McGill University and is a Board-Certified Coach with advanced training in Team Coaching through Corentus. She has partnered with CEOs, executives, entrepreneurs, and nonprofits across industries, helping leaders strengthen communication, collaboration, executive presence, and alignment through thoughtful, strategic thinking partnerships.

SEAN BERG

  • Sean is a multi-decade Army Special Forces combat leader dedicated to bringing a sense of adventure to responsibility and helping others believe in themselves, their purpose, and their potential. Most at home when navigating complexity, he specializes in building cohesive teams, creating order amid chaos, and elevating human-to-human leadership far beyond traditional talent management. STEM educated at UC Davis, Sean pursued graduate studies in military and national security and is completing a master’s in Pastoral Theology from Chaminade University. He partners with purpose-driven, disciplined, and high-performing leaders to cultivate resilient, people-first approaches that strengthen culture and drive long-term mission success.

DANIEL PINEDO

  • Daniel is passionate about developing leaders who are ready to live out their life mission and lead with purpose. A former USMC combat officer and McKinsey consultant, his leadership experience spans the military, investment banking, space technology entrepreneurship, CFO roles, and college basketball coaching - giving him rare insight into high-performance leadership across diverse arenas. Daniel works with ambitious, mission-driven professionals seeking greater impact, self-awareness, and alignment. His coaching goes beyond tactics, guiding clients through the mindset and identity shifts needed to lead under pressure and create meaningful, lasting influence.

MICHAEL ZHENG

  • Michael is an executive coach and facilitator with over a decade of experience helping senior leaders elevate performance, strengthen top-team dynamics, and shape organizational design. A former McKinsey consultant, he has advised organizations across private equity, healthcare, technology, and global philanthropy, and played a key role in redesigning the firm’s flagship leadership programs. Earlier in his career, he led outdoor expeditions as a head instructor. Today, Michael partners with executives to tackle complex challenges, harness their cognitive, emotional, and intuitive strengths, and translate strategy into actionable plans that drive lasting impact. His approach emphasizes amplifying signature strengths and crafting compelling visions.

KEVIN STEVENSON

  • Kevin is an executive coach with a deep foundation in leadership, team dynamics, and high performance built over a 20-year career in professional sports. A former captain of the #1 nationally ranked Duke University soccer team, he understands what it takes to lead under pressure, cultivate resilience, and align performance with purpose. Kevin partners with senior leaders, executives, and high performers across industries who are committed to showing up with authenticity and intention. Grounded in the belief that sustainable leadership comes from core-value alignment, he takes a whole-person approach, helping clients unlock their potential, deepen self-awareness, and create lasting, meaningful impact.

JENNIFER GREENBERG

  • Jennifer is an executive coach and facilitator dedicated to fostering individual and team growth that drives meaningful collaboration and business results. She has led initiatives across pharmaceutical drug development, academic medical centers, international PhD training programs, and multiple industries including professional services, healthcare, government, and consumer goods. Jennifer designs and delivers impactful programs supporting strategy development and workforce skill building, leveraging her expertise in systems thinking, team dynamics, and human learning. A trained visual facilitator, she uses Design Thinking approaches to help leaders innovate, solve complex problems, and take on new challenges with clarity and confidence. Her work is rooted in bridging the gap between human-centered drivers and business performance.

KIMBERLY KEARNEY

  • Kimberly is an executive coach driven by a deep curiosity about people and their challenges. As a former covert CIA Case Officer and diplomat with expertise in intelligence, counterproliferation, and counterterrorism, she served 15 years in the U.S. Federal Government, working across South Asia, East Asia, and Europe on critical strategic and foreign policy issues. Kimberly partners with goal-oriented professionals seeking transformative growth to thrive and lead in high-pressure environments. Her adaptive, client-centered approach, combined with emotional intelligence and keen observational skills, creates a safe space for exploration, helping leaders navigate ambiguity, conflict, culture change, and executive communication with composure, insight, and effectiveness.

EMILY BRENES

  • Emily is dedicated to growing effective leaders and building high-performing teams. At Bain & Company, she led a firm-wide redesign of people development and performance evaluation and contributed to DEI transformation initiatives, while previously advising clients across healthcare, consumer, private equity, and infrastructure. Emily began her career at the NYC nonprofit Blue Engine, managing development, communications, and impact evaluation. She works with ambitious leaders who embrace growth outside their comfort zones, taking a whole-person approach that connects who they are with how they lead, fostering authenticity, confidence, strategic insight, and lasting impact.

NIKOLA ILIC

  • Nikola Ilic is a leadership professor and founder of ChangeLab, specializing in change management and leadership development. Drawing on two decades of experience leading large-scale change initiatives and advising organizations and movements across Europe and beyond, he helps leaders mobilize people, build alignment, and deliver results in complex environments. He developed the Democratic Leadership Framework, which he teaches at Georgetown University and applies in his work with clients such as UNICEF, the Obama Foundation, and the U.S. Government.

EUROPE & MIDDLE EAST

GORDON EMMANUEL

  • Gordon is a transformational executive coach who works at the deeper layers of leadership identity, presence, and the patterns that shape behavior under pressure. A 20-year Marine Corps officer and strategic advisor, he now partners with executives navigating change, rapid scale, and high-stakes decisions. His work blends coaching psychology, somatic awareness, and identity development to help leaders move beyond persona and lead from their truest, most powerful center. Currently earning his Executive MBA at UCLA Anderson, Gordon supports clients in expanding their capacity, influence, clarity, and impact in an era defined by uncertainty and accelerated change.

FEDERICA VINCI

  • Federica is a dynamic leader and coach with extensive experience in politics, civic engagement, and youth empowerment. As Deputy Mayor of Isernia, she led initiatives in EU funds, youth policies, urban projects, and participatory democracy, founding the Youth Forum and launching signature events like the Career Festival and Street Art Festival. She served as Campaign Manager and Candidate, driving Volt’s electoral success, and as President of Volt Italy, growing the organization from 100 to 800 activists. Recognized as an Obama Leader Europe and Policy Leader Fellow, Federica mentors emerging leaders and has engaged in global conversations on leadership, including with President Barack Obama.

ASIA PACIFIC

RUSS WATTS

  • Russ Watts is an executive coach, facilitator, and instructor dedicated to helping senior leaders, teams, and organizations align leadership capacity with strategy and mission. He has worked with leaders across government, non-profits, and Fortune 50 companies in over a dozen countries, including the U.S., U.K., Germany, India, and Brazil. Using mindfulness, compassion, humor, and authentic support, Russ helps clients uncover their strengths, patterns, and potential to improve themselves, their teams, and institutions. An avid mountaineer, kayaker, and climber, he has summited Denali and Kilimanjaro and climbed Half Dome, blending adventure with his passion for leadership and personal growth.

CAMILLE NEYHOUSER

  • Dr. Camille Neyhouser is a leadership coach and organizational development expert with 14 years of experience across UN agencies and major international NGOs. Having lived, worked, and traveled in more than 45 countries, she brings a truly global perspective to her coaching. For over a decade, Camille has partnered with leaders in global consulting firms, international development institutions, and financial organizations. Her work centers on helping leaders uncover and transform unconscious beliefs that limit their growth. Integrating mindfulness and embodiment techniques, she supports clients in creating lasting, whole-person transformation. Her doctoral research explored how heart-centered, authentic leadership can reshape organizations.

CHRIS LUTH

  • Chris is an executive coach and facilitator driven by a deep passion for how people think, create, and reflect. He supports leaders and organizations through visioning, strategy, and organizational development, partnering with local communities, top universities, and Fortune 500 companies. With academic roots in business, architecture, philosophy, and leadership coaching, Chris began his career as an architect before expanding into global convening and facilitation across four continents. He teaches at architecture schools in the Benelux and co-founded ChangeLab Global, a community of leadership practitioners. A former European Parliament candidate, Chris also coaches and trains political leaders across Europe.

MARY ANNE RIBEIRO

  • Mary Anne is a seasoned executive coach and former CEO of MSC Brazil, recognized by Ashoka in 2014 as a changemaker for her work as a social entrepreneur. She currently serves as a part-time executive coach and co-founder, investor, and executive at Fractal Security. Mary Anne partners with leaders to enhance their influence, reclaim joy and strength, and cultivate purpose-driven leadership. Her coaching creates a safe space for self-exploration, reflection, and envisioning a future of empowerment. By guiding leaders to turn aspirations into reality, she fosters connected, transformative leadership focused on lasting impact and legacy.

CONSTANTINE PAPPAS

  • Constantine held senior leadership roles in corporate organizations, including President of Global Leadership & Talent at FIS Systems, where he launched high-potential programs in partnership with Cornell University. Previously, he led talent and people strategy in Asia for Thomson Reuters, based in Hong Kong, and spent ten years at Procter & Gamble advancing through senior sales, supply chain, and organizational development roles across the Asia Pacific region. Passionate about social impact, Constantine partners with the New South Wales Police to provide grants, mentoring, and employment programs for underprivileged youth in Sydney, leveraging his network and resources to create lasting change.

AFRICA

ISABEL RIJK

  • Isabel is an executive coach with extensive experience in Learning and Development within the consulting industry. She has lived in 6 countries across 3 continents and has designed and delivered large-scale, multi-day leadership programs and led global teams while managing budgets exceeding $10M. Passionate about leadership development, Isabel helps leaders and emerging leaders discover their authentic selves and navigate major transitions. By blending coaching with deep business expertise, she guides clients in overcoming leadership and team challenges, fostering heart-centered and courageous leadership. Isabel’s approach, rooted in curiosity, care, and commitment, supports transformative growth in leadership, high-performing teams, change management, conflict resolution, and cross-cultural communication.

PAM COFFEY

  • Pam is an executive coach dedicated to helping leaders and teams feel acknowledged, valued, and empowered. She works with driven professionals who seek to build trusting relationships, foster belonging, and achieve meaningful results. Pam serves on the faculty of Georgetown University’s Leadership Coaching Program, guiding students through the transformative journey of becoming professional coaches. A Brené Brown-certified Dare to Lead facilitator, she leads workshops that cultivate courageous, values-driven leadership. Pam blends compassionate honesty with deep expertise in coaching, change management, and relationship development, helping clients deepen self-awareness, embrace vulnerability, and align leadership with character and core values.

MARIA GUSAKOVA

  • Maria is a certified executive coach and former McKinsey Partner with 20 years of experience in management consulting, empowering leaders to drive meaningful change in their organizations and communities. Having lived and worked across five continents, she brings deep cross-cultural insight and a nuanced understanding of both the business and personal challenges of executive leadership. Maria partners with accomplished professionals seeking a more fulfilling, purpose-driven life, guiding them to unlock leadership potential, grow adaptive skills, and create positive organizational impact. Her thoughtful, caring approach helps clients cultivate self-awareness, ownership, and sustainable growth in both life and leadership.

RAMYA MAHALINGAM

  • Ramya is an executive coach and facilitator specializing in helping leaders and teams unlock their authentic voice and create lasting impact. A former Associate Partner at McKinsey & Company, she guided Fortune 500 companies through complex transformations at the intersection of design and sustainability. Ramya works with founders and leaders seeking to amplify presence, strengthen executive communication, and align leadership with core values. Her approach blends storytelling, somatic awareness, and empathy to transform self-doubt into self-awareness, foster psychological safety, and build high-performing, inclusive teams, enabling leaders to communicate naturally, confidently, and authentically.

RENÉE MOTLEY

  • Renée is an executive coach who partners with leaders navigating high-growth environments and the decisions that shape their careers. A Harvard graduate who went on to earn her MBA from Stanford GSB, she spent her early career in investing and startup operations at firms including J.P. Morgan and Robinhood. She's known for her work with ambitious operators and investors who want clarity on what matters most: where they're headed, how they show up, and what gets in their way. Renée's coaching is energetic and thoughtful, helping clients move from uncertainty to action with confidence and purpose.

SHALINI BENSON

  • Shalini believes deeply in people’s ability to create their own possibilities and in a leader’s power to shape organizational culture. A former federal senior executive, she understands the realities of leading complex enterprises and brings a holistic, whole-person perspective to her coaching. Shalini is the principal of Wobble, LLC, a coaching, training, and consulting firm, and also serves as a coach and instructor with the Partnership for Public Service and other organizations. She supports leaders of all types, specializing in those navigating significant challenges or transitions. Through perspective, space, and compassionate support, Shalini helps leaders rediscover joy, purpose, and authentic alignment.

JOHN MUIR

  • John has spent 25 years in the socio-economic development field, helping individuals and organizations unlock their potential and collective energy. He has worked across the SADC, West, and East Africa regions with for-profit companies, nonprofits, parastatals, and government departments. A graduate of the University of Pretoria and AFSA’s Advanced Dispute Resolution Program, John also serves on the AFSA panel. His clients include TotalEnergies, Commerce Edge, NACOSA, Red Cross Hospital, LifeLine, YMCA, and the Central Bank. John supports professionals seeking deeper self-awareness and purpose, helping them identify limiting patterns while cultivating adaptive leadership, communication intelligence, and high-performance mindsets.

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