WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT US

Les Mills, Barfoot and Thompson, Holdfast, Livingstones, Eves Real Estate, Coffee Culture

It’s been mind-blowing to work with exceptional people in amazing companies who are making a big difference in their communities. Purpose led, values driven companies that are achieving outstanding results have welcomed us to work and walk alongside them for a project or a season and we’d love to help you too.

Activate people

With their positive, authentic approach, sense of humour, set of life experiences to draw upon and skilful facilitation, the group re-energised, connected and was transformed into a united team

Svitlana GirichLearning & Development Specialist, Mazars Sydney, Australia

We have been lucky enough to have Sacha and Tonia as facilitators for our 2-day Senior Program. The five modules that they delivered across two days were exactly what we were hoping for and received excellent comments from attendees. We have been amazed at Sacha’s and Tonia’s ability to engage with the audience, tie a multitude of complexities together and enable great outcomes. They both have a wonderful way of interacting with people and a highly developed understanding of leadership and interpersonal relationships. With their positive, authentic approach, sense of humour, set of life experiences to draw upon and skilful facilitation, the group re-energised, connected and was transformed into a united team. The course had a great balance of theory, activities, and self-reflection. We look forward to continuing working with Sacha and Tonia in the future to bring the best learning and development solutions for our people.

Know your purpose, leave a meaningful mark and 3,2,1 - GO!

Deb McKinnie GM, Residential Property Management at Harcourts Cooper & Co

Two days of being broken down and then put back together in a truly inspiring, thought provoking, raw, confronting and emotional fashion thanks to Tonia Cawood and Sacha Coburn from The Company You Keep and their amazing leadership immersion workshop. Know your purpose, leave a meaningful mark and 3,2,1 – GO!

Tonia and I commenced with 1:1 Coaching soon after and pretty quickly we made significant, measurable improvements in my professional and personal life.

Danny RolstonDirector of Sales – New Zealand Bloodstock

My first experience with TCYK was through attending the Inside Out Leadership Programme in 2019. I was aware at the time that the skills and lessons I was gaining would be helpful, but it was a good 18 months before I realised just how much of an impact they were having on my performance, leadership and management style. Tonia and I commenced with 1:1 Coaching soon after and pretty quickly we made significant, measurable improvements in my professional and personal life. It still feels as though we have only just scratched the surface and I’m excited about how bright the future is looking.

Real, enthusiastic and motivational without a cliché in sight!

SarahBranch Manager

Spending time learning from Tonia and Sacha was amazing and I’d do it again in a heartbeat. Leadership, management, personal development and laughter combined to create an experience that entirely exceeded my expectations. Real, enthusiastic and motivational without a cliché in sight! Normal people doing extraordinary things to make normal people extraordinary. Anyone in business thinking of refreshing and updating their existing skill set should without a doubt take the plunge, or if you’re just starting out what a great place to begin.

My time with Tonia and Sacha was transformative. My approach has changed, and I have implemented some of the techniques both within my team and with my own leadership.

StephanieMarketing and Communications Manager

My time with Tonia and Sacha was transformative. My approach has changed, and I have implemented some of the techniques both within my team and with my own leadership. I have been told by my CEO that he has seen a change in me as a result, that is a ringing endorsement of the work you do I think. My level of self-reflection has grown, and my thinking has deepened. I regularly call bullshit on myself, and now others as well (in a nice way of course!). Something that stuck with me was “bringing my whole self to work” and allowing myself to be appropriately vulnerable –  I have noticed a difference in my interactions with others as a result and what they in turn share with me. It is exceptionally rewarding. I am more conscious of who I am now, and the person I want to be. I am on the pathway to get there, I just need to keep pushing along. I keep thinking of a quote my husband always uses from Gandhi “Be the change you want to see in the world” – this to me represents the pathway I am on and where I want to get to.

Sharing your own experiences so vulnerably also set the tone for an environment of using growth as a positive

ClaireBusiness Owner and Ag Sector Board Director

The structure of the course was brilliant. Building up from Day One, where we learned the concepts and you both encouraged us to answer questions more deeply built a lot of trust for the immersion, the evening activities and then the more practical elements on Day Two – this meant we had more deep conversations (as they were normalised from the beginning) and a richer experience.  Sharing your own experiences so vulnerably also set the tone for an environment of using growth as a positive and I found it so interesting to see what came as a group of “staunch” leaders being encouraged into a vulnerable space shows we really can do it with our people and in our Teams!

You were so genuine, vulnerable (the right kind!) and fun which made such a safe and encouraging environment for us to get real.

CharlotteOperations Manager

I just wanted to express my gratitude for a fantastic two days. The passion and drive you both have absolutely made the experience. You were so genuine, vulnerable (the right kind!) and fun which made such a safe and encouraging environment for us to get real.  I’ve found it’s given me a great wakeup call as to my ‘why’ and ignited that fire in the belly again. 

Sacha and Tonia walk the talk; and the workshop they present – with humour and authenticity – is world-class. I’m not just a better leader because of it, but a better person.

SandraFreelance Writer & Media Specialist

‘How relevant could this be to a self-employed sole-operator?’ I wondered. Answer? Very. Leadership happens often. I’m a leader every time a social-media project explodes into more than I can handle on my own, even if only temporarily.  I’m a leader when teaching just one other person to communicate better.  I’m a leader at home… and in my community. As highly successful leaders in their own spheres, Sacha and Tonia walk the talk; and the workshop they present – with humour and authenticity – is world-class.  I’m not just a better leader because of it, but a better person.

Hands down the best leadership space I’ve been in and I really appreciate the both of you for your effort, experience and the energy you brought.

ClaireBusiness Owner and Ag Sector Board Director

I got so much clearer on my purpose as a leader in my business – with our company growing so quickly I realised we are still grappling with some structure challenges but that getting our new people on board and in a space where they know we care and want to help them grow is fantastic. I have already set up a new structure of checking in, with some robust goal setting and a true coaching approach rather than focusing on the operational side of what my people do, which can be a bit less inspiring. Hands down the best leadership space I’ve been in and I really appreciate the both of you for your effort, experience and the energy you brought.

I couldn’t recommend this immersion workshop highly enough for current and future leaders.

Andrew CastlesCEO

I am somewhat of a sceptic when it comes to things like this but this course is like no other I have been on and by the very nature of its size the individual attention is extraordinary. I couldn’t recommend this immersion workshop highly enough for current and future leaders.

I can’t believe I hesitated over whether or not the course was right for me as it was spot on.

Eliza JohnsEventing Sport Manager, Equestrian Sports NZ

I can’t believe I hesitated over whether or not the course was right for me as it was spot on. Tonia and Sascha make the perfect team, their leadership approach uses proven strategies that are fun and relatable. They pushed me well outside of my comfort zone and I left feeling excited, energised and most importantly reminded of what I am capable of. Such a worthwhile experience that I would encourage anyone to jump on. I’m still buzzing!

All this rich content was delivered in a fun and creative way. It was a privilege to attend this course.

Anna Casey-CoxCommunity Manager, Go Eco

There were many valuable lessons that I am now taking into my everyday practice. Remembering to take time to stand back, observe, reflect and breathe. Plus tips for public speaking and how to have difficult conversations. All this rich content was delivered in a fun and creative way. It was a privilege to attend this course.

As someone who considers myself an accidental leader, I found the two days with Sacha and Tonia invaluable for putting some intentionality into my practice.

Kelli PikeCommunications Lead, Go Eco

I came home from the two day experience absolutely rearing to go!  As someone who considers myself an accidental leader, I found the two days with Sacha and Tonia invaluable for putting some intentionality into my practice.  I appreciated the focus on self-reflection and self-care to improve our leadership performance and know that the models we’ve been given for things like difficult conversations and speakership will be well used.  I wholeheartedly recommend anyone in a business, sport or community leadership role to take the plunge!

Investing in myself was one of the best things I have ever done as a leader and I will be encouraging many others in my network to do the same.

Hannah MellsopCEO, Real Rad Foods

As a small business owner, I often find myself bogged down in the day to day and committing to something like this was a really bold move for me – A move that I can now confidently say was well worth it! I walked away feeling empowered as a leader, inspired to grow and nurture a high performing team and supported by two incredible women with a wealth of knowledge and experience in their own fields. Investing in myself was one of the best things I have ever done as a leader and I will be encouraging many others in my network to do the same.

I learnt some valuable tools and techniques and walked away with resources to support me in my working and personal life.

Maddy FistonichMarketing and Projects Executive, Business Mentors New Zealand

I spent two days at the Inside-out Leadership course with a fantastic group of leaders. I learnt some valuable tools and techniques and walked away with resources to support me in my working and personal life. I’ve already used the S.B.I.R and salt shaker methods with great success. A huge thanks go to Tonia and Sacha!

It was a powerful, moving and eye opening two days, where self-awareness and emotional intelligence were truly expanded.

Sonya WalkerManager

Wow, this course held the mirror up and allowed me to deep dive, quite literally too!

Thank you for a wonderful course with amazing facilitators sharing your experiences, knowledge and motivations to allow us to really understand inside-out leadership. This course changed so many of my working relationships for the better and made me appreciate the space I needed to be courageous. It was a powerful, moving and eye opening two days, where self-awareness and emotional intelligence were truly expanded.

Since the workshop I have changed the way I operate when dealing with my staff whether that be personal or business.

BevanProject Manager Team Lead

Since the workshop I have changed the way I operate when dealing with my staff whether that be personal or business.

I’m getting more involved with my staff and putting succession plans in place for those high performers and those that show promise. I’m also delegating more. I have also learnt to leave my work at work and when home it’s about the family ….and I’m still starting off with cold showers too!

Thank you both for the learnings, I highly recommend you”

Then COVID arrived and we had to pivot and be versatile like everyone… my email was to let you know that during the toughest business challenge we have faced during my career, I’ve seen some unbelievable performances from every single member of my team.

DannySales Manager

Out of my time with TCYK I learned that to be performing at our best I really needed to empower all of my team to be Leaders Achievers in their own space. It resonated but like a lot of things, slipped from the front of my mind and I actually forgot to concentrate on it… my team and wider company had been steaming along ok but not without the usual pressures. Then COVID arrived and we had to pivot and be versatile like everyone… my email was to let you know that during the toughest business challenge we have faced during my career, I’ve seen some unbelievable performances from every single member of my team. I have no doubt in my mind that this has come from exactly what we were trying to achieve and it was happening all along right under my nose only emerging during adversity. I guess that was unconscious competence?!

Thank you for bringing this style of course to the world, it's a little bit of all of the best bits of the wonderful teachers in the world - you've absolutely nailed it.

Miranda KnaptonBusiness Manager, Blue Summit Construction

The way you own the good, bad and ugly of yourselves, show it and give permission and support to me to do the same was simply epic.

Taking time to remind myself of who I am, the bits that could do with some attention and the pieces I’ve over inflated through time was invaluable.

The biggest value piece I walked away from the course with was permission: to be me, to do it in my style, to own all parts of me.

Also a shit ton of new tools in my belt to not only help my role as a leader within all my life roles but also to be able to support others in their leadership discovery.

Thank you for bringing this style of course to the world, it’s a little bit of all of the best bits of the wonderful teachers in the world – you’ve absolutely nailed it.

Both of you are not only brilliant but thoughtful, hugely experienced and just down to earth good humans.

Head of Operations - Rachel AdamsSoda inc.

Wow thank you so much Tonia & Sacha. I’ve been on a lot of development and leadership courses but this 2 day adventure BLEW all the others out of the water. Both of you are not only brilliant but thoughtful, hugely experienced and just down to earth good humans. The content, structure and practical learnings are immense. I’ve already recommended loads of people to get a spot on your next course. Āku mihi maioha ki a koe.

Tonia and Sacha have structured a significant leadership course with their own lessons firmly reinforcing the messages around leadership.

Vikki MacleanKerridge & Partners
I thoroughly enjoyed the course as it endorsed what I already knew and made me aware of what I didn’t. I felt the mirror was held up to me around honest conversations, expanding self awareness and emotional intelligence. The course materials were of a high standard and Sacha a very enthusiastic, real and passionate facilitator. Both Tonia and Sacha have structured a significant leadership course with their own lessons firmly reinforcing the messages around leadership. I would recommend this course and indeed have done so. Great value for money and good networking with learning opportunities for everyone at different levels.

The trouble with Sacha and Tonia being such keen bullshit detectors is that you end up having to be brutally honest with yourself, revealing your own vulnerability.

Director - Kylie HarcourtHGB

The trouble with Sacha and Tonia being such keen bullshit detectors is that you end up having to be brutally honest with yourself, revealing your own vulnerability. That’s what happened to me in two days, but the outcome meant that I have never had a sweating palm or a nervous moment leading my boards or my business since. I’ve reflected back and tried to ascertain the moment that it all came together for me, but I can’t define just one. It’s the collective learning and understanding that the strong personalities in the room also felt like me at some point. It’s understanding that it’s actually okay to feel vulnerable, face it and say fuck it, you’re in charge. I haven’t had another professional development experience that has been comparable to the learnings I got in those two days.

This course was very powerful for exploring all that inside-out leadership means.

Kim MacfieThe Limbic System

This course was very powerful for exploring all that inside-out leadership means. I am a consultant in the communications arena, and have attended a lot of courses and training in leadership but have never had it presented the way it is presented by The Company You Keep. The times where Tonia and Sacha had us interacting with one another and with the course material were powerful, memorable and instantly translatable. Sacha is an outstanding speaker and facilitator, and Tonia ensures participants experience and know how to truly deep dive to the core of their own leadership style and attributes. A dynamic duo who powerfully present courageousness.

She has worked with hundreds of our team in workshops and training days. Every single time she nails it.

Anna LyneHead of People and Culture - Les Mills

Sacha has made a significant contribution to our leadership teams over the past 10 years. Leading our leadership development programme, she has worked with us to create a 2.5 day experience that is truly transformational and has enabled our leaders to grow and given them the tools they need to step up. She has worked with hundreds of our team in workshops and training days. Every single time she nails it. The very best presenter/facilitator I’ve ever worked with Sacha keeps up to date with current thinking and builds from  a solid foundation of experience and life lessons. I don’t think you’ll find a better leadership development trainer anywhere.

Inspirational and entertaining, just what was needed.

Fonterra Brands Conference

Simply amazing. The best speaker I have listened to for a long time. A realist, humorous, motivational and rewarding presentation. Awesome.

Fonterra Brands Conference

I am so grateful for your realness and energy and generosity. Bringing the fun as well as the good old fashioned advice and guidance.

Women’s Leadership in Sport Academy

You inspire me to be amazing. An incredible sounding board.

Women’s Leadership in Sport Academy

The whole experience was entertaining and educational – I didn’t expect to laugh and learn as much as I did.

Leadership Programme Feedback

It’s never easy taking a good hard look at yourself but it’s so worth it. I have new understandings about how I operate and a clear action plan for taking my team from where they are now to the next level of performance. The course had just the right amount of challenge and I appreciate the practical tools that I can apply as soon as I get back to work. The whole experience was entertaining and educational – I didn’t expect to laugh and learn as much as I did. Thanks.

I’ve had to think about my rough edges and how some of the ways I behave at work don’t really help me or my team get to where we need to be. This programme has been excellent.

Leadership Programme Feedback

Ouch. I feel like I’ve just had a really hard massage. Or been polished with a bit of sandpaper. Really good though. I’ve had to think about my rough edges and how some of the ways I behave at work don’t really help me or my team get to where we need to be. This programme has been excellent. I wasn’t sure about going at first because I’ve done a course already but this one was amazing – very grounded in real life business experiences – theory put into action which I thought was a great way to learn.