Our Coaches and Consultants - Core Coaching & Consulting

Al Torrijos

Al Torrijos is an executive consultant, trusted advisor with over 20 years of experience in legal, accounting, and consultative sales in the high-tech, and health-tech sectors. He specializes in guiding leaders and clients through complex organizational challenges, leveraging technology and innovation to drive scalability and sustainable growth. With a background that spans working in start-ups to Fortune 500 companies, Al brings insight to whatever role he has been in whether it is sales, sales finance, , accounting/auditing, finance or corporate/contract law. Alfonso has helped executives business owners transform operations, optimize strategic decision-making, and enhance cross-functional collaboration. He has worked with top firms, including Dell EMC, EY, Skadden Arps, et. Al., bringing expertise in sales and financial strategy, contract negotiation, and regulatory compliance. Passionate about relationship-building, organizational behavior, presentation strategy,, messaging, cross-functional problem-solving, Alfonso empowers leaders to navigate change, improve ROI, and foster high-performing teams. He holds a JD/MBA from the University of Michigan, an MSA from Bentley, and an economics degree from Harvard..

Peri Onipede

In 2022, Peri launched Partners in Philanthropy LLC, a philanthropic and governance
advisory firm that provides services to organizations in the climate, environment, and
sustainability ecosystems.

Peri’s initial career was in financial services where she worked at several major Boston
banks, managing a portfolio of significant risk assets in both domestic and foreign
markets. After two decades of banking, Peri pivoted into academic fundraising, securing
philanthropic resources for priority needs at four renowned Boston-area universities.
Both personally and professionally, Peri has always looked for ways to pay it forward.
Her careers in both financial services and academic philanthropy have relied on her ability to
build trusting relationships, and as a result, Peri has become an advisor to people from
all walks of life who appreciate her integrity, knowledge, and sound judgement.

Peri’s undergraduate degree is from Bentley University where she is a trustee emerita, and she has
her MBA degree from the International Institute for Management Development (IMD) in Switzerland.

Doug McKnight

Leadership and Personal Development Coach and Transformation Consultant

Doug has 25 years of experience as a leader in industry in many team and organisational leadership roles. He has a passion for helping people and, in particular, leaders in organisations to understand themselves better and how they can get the best out of their teams. He is trained in the Balanced Leadership model and leverages a wealth of years of coaching and mentoring experience. He lives in France but is mobile all over Europe and speaks French, Dutch and German. He also consults in helping organisations with culture and change transformations including safety, organisation, digital and operational excellence.

Dr. Darlene M. Urquhart

Dr. Darlene Urquhart is an executive/leadership coach, workshop and MasterMind facilitator and organizational consultant. With 37 years of leadership experience in the Department of Defense, Dr. Urquhart has led across a wide spectrum of challenges. She has led diverse, multi-functional, multi-Service teams in high stress, high operational tempo environments. With a proven track record of working with senior acquisition leaders in the Department of Defense, Dr. Urquhart excelled at helping leaders transform multi-million/billon dollar programs. Dr. Urquhart has demonstrated expertise in organizational change, team/relationship building, strategic and tactical planning, critical thinking, and executive coaching. Drawing on rigorous academic training, along with practical expertise in leading complex organizations through change, Dr. Urquhart is an expert in helping organizations create strategic change initiatives and cultural transformations that are both executable and sustainable.

Bonnie Koch

As a Coaching Partner at Core Coaching & Consulting, I inspire people to deal powerfully with business and personal challenges through both individual coaching and live group coaching programs. I have coached people from many walks of life, facilitating personal breakthroughs among entrepreneurs, business leaders, college students and inmates at MA correctional facilities. My background includes 15+ years in marketing research and strategic planning and 10 years in account management. I hold a BS in Mass Communication from Boston University.

Auke Van Keulen

Auke van Keulen is Manager of Core Coaching and Consulting in the Netherlands. He works with ‘The Balancing Act’ for Balancing Leaders, Balancing Teams, Balancing Businesses.

Auke is a highly experienced Coach/Consultant with a demonstrated history of working in many different industries on management and executive levels. He also has 20 years of operational experience as a director in the food business and in the management consulting industry. Skilled in Executive Development, Outplacement, Performance Improvement, Career Development, and Operational Management.

Sharon Seivert

Sharon Seivert is the CEO and Founder of Core Coaching & Consulting (CCC). She is also Author of the Superpower of Balance book series and the Head Trainer of CCC Coaches and Consultants. Prior to launching CCC, Seivert served as the CEO of a Group Health Plan that established an industry record for earliest-ever break-even. Seivert authored The Balancing Act, the foundational book that first outlined the 6-point system CCC uses for all its business interventions. Her latest books are The Superpower of Balanced Leadership in Unbalanced Times and Balanced Leadership, Healthy Organizations & You: Powering Cultural Transformation.

Systemic Leadership

See the whole of systems and the connections within them – Leverage opportunities – Improve “luck” by optimizing the environment -Enjoy Ease while leading.

Managerial Leadership

Develop new skills and more effective habits – Improve follow-through – Manage & grow finances and other resources – Deliver better outcomes overall.

Relational Leadership

Master emotions to evolve professionally and uplift others at work & home – Improve communications, relationships, & loyalty (employees & customers).

Motivational Leadership

Decide a new strategic direction – Clarify priorities – Set a strong intention – Gain energy & motivation – Determine an agile action plan that gets fast results.

Inspirational Leadership

Master a new mindset & science-based worldview – Clarify vision – Control thoughts & emotions –Increase learning, inspiration & creativity.

Authentic Leadership

Increase your confidence – Strengthen purpose -Improve internal stability – Tap into intuition – Easily hold a calm center – Reduce burn-out & overwhelm.

The Ways We Are Unique

Consultant Expertise: Depth and breadth of expertise. Our leadership coaches and organizational consultants are trusted advisors who ensure clients quickly address challenges and successfully implement sustainable solutions.
Transformational Methodology: Our transformational methodology guides clients to achieve rapid results in business and life. The Balanced Leadership (TM) program integrates changes for leaders & teams within 2 to 3 months.
Holistic Change Strategy: Our proprietary holistic change process has deep intellectual roots that provide leaders with powerful self-navigation tools to master a new mindset and determine optimal actions when challenges arise.
Measurement of Results: Our pre and post-on-line assessments provide measurements that show leaders where they can leverage their own and their system’s strengths–and where they need to course
correct.
Alignment & Optimization of Efforts: We help leaders experience greater ease and impact by aligning and leveraging all their change efforts–whether in their personal lives, leadership development, or
organizational initiatives.

Mercedes Bellavista (Lead Translator)

Mercedes lives in Barcelona with her husband and three children. She defines herself as a “book eater” who is fascinated by the richness of language, and finding the exact meaning of each word and its equivalent in other languages. Mercedes has been in the field of translation and interpreting since the 1990s when she lived in the United States and worked for an NGO. Since then, she has been an English-Spanish interpreter for countless courses, workshops, conferences, and seminars, in the United States, India and Spain. She also has been the English-Spanish translator of different works, including the book “Prospering” by Sharon Seivert.

Rafael Medina (Manager, Latin America)

Rafael Medina has been involved in The Balancing Act work, even before the official launch of Core Coaching and Consulting. Rafael and Sharon met while she and other colleagues were delivering the first Opportunity Knocking program for ex-prisoners at a half-way home where Rafael managed the computer systems and other technology. A long-time entrepreneur, Rafael immediately saw the possibilities of TBA to help all sorts of people, ranging from at-risk youth and adults in transition. A native Argentinian, now resident of Cambridge, MA, Rafael is eager to bring TBA via his organizing, educational and media skills to all parts of Central and South America.

Randall Reade (Advisor for TBA Entrepreneurs)

Randall Reade co-founded The Washington DC ArchAngels (WDCA), a leading angel investment group in the US. Beginning in 2011, WDCA has reviewed thousands of early stage companies and has presented over 800 to its investors. Mr. Reade has developed a course load of angel investment entrepreneur workshops. He has developed a network of top investors from all of the US and the many countries, most recently Poland and China. Mr. Reade is a founder &/or director of a dozen non profit arts organizations, and has managed many of these from startup to maturity. For several years he was the Chair of the International Committee for the Northern Virginia Technology Council, the largest tech council in the US. He graduated from Case Western Reserve University School of Law in 1987.

Bonnie Koch (Marketing & Communications Manager)

Bonnie Koch is a Certified CORE Coach, founding member of the CORE Team, and graduate of the Leading Your Life and Work program. She leads our marketing and communications initiatives globally. Bonnie also teaches Advertising Management at Boston University, where she incorporates The Balancing Act leadership concepts. Bonnie comes to the CORE Team with extensive expertise in brand strategy, account management and leadership development. She also has many years of leadership experience with Landmark (a global personal and professional development company) and the End Violence Project (a US prison leadership program).

Auke van Keulen (Manager, Holland)

Auke is an experienced businessman with 20 years of management experience in international organizations. He has been working with the developer of The Balancing Act, Sharon Seivert, since 2004. As a precondition for working on leadership in organizations, Auke starts from the principle that everything that happens around the leader says something about the leader–and that the desired changes in the organization therefore always find their foundation in the leader’s personal change. Auke combines business with the human aspect in his consulting, and his approach is direct, open, honest and of a powerful simplicity. Auke works as an executive coach, change process facilitator, and a consultant on leadership development, team building, career transitions, cultural issues, strategic business planning, mergers and starting new companies. He is (co) author of the booklet “Happy at Work” and gives interactive, in-depth workshops on Leadership and Organizations in Balance.

Frederick Reed (Inventor & Manager, CORE Profiles System)

Fred lives in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, where he enjoys hiking, orienteering and running trails in the surrounding Blue Ridge and Allegheny Mountains. Fred is co-inventor of The Balancing Act’s online profile and report system. He is CORE team’s resident philosopher who also assists wherever needed with technology, management, and product design. Fred’s experience with The Balancing Act goes back 25 years to when he and Sharon co-authored two chapters in “Managing in Organizations that Learn” that explored the integration of The Balancing Act and Pragmatic philosophy.

Xavier Nova (Manager, CORE Europe)

Xavi is an entrepreneur and trainer, with over 25 years of experience working with individuals, corporations and foundations around the world (Qatar, India, USA, United Kingdom, Spain and Europe). His extensive knowledge of the business aspects and customs of each place has allowed him to develop a deep respect for different cultures, languages and religions. Xavier has a natural ability to see the overall picture, focus on the greater goal and make bold decisions, while considering all aspects of any given situation. His humanitarian interests have led him to be actively involved in Fundación PRASAD España, where he acts as Chairman of the Board of Trustees.

Sharon Seivert (CEO & Founder)

Sharon Seivert is the leader of Core Coaching & Consulting (CCC). Prior to launching CCC, Seivert served as the CEO of a Group Health Plan that established an industry record for earliest-ever break-even. Seivert authored “The Balancing Act”, the foundational book that first outlined the 6-point system CCC uses for all its work. As both a US and EU citizen, Sharon loves few things more than spending time with her international family, friends, colleagues, and clients. She is pictured here in her front yard on the North Shore of Boston where she enjoys spending her time while not coaching leaders, working with global colleagues, or writing new books. Her latest ebooks are “Prospering: 6 Steps to Great Wealth” and “6 Steps to Leading Your Life and Work (from the Inside Out)”.

Our Coaches
& Consultants

Sharon Seivert

Randall Reade, Esq.

Doug McKnight

Al Torrijos

Auke van Keulen

Bonnie Koch

Peri Onipede

Schedule a time for a free Clarity & Strategy session

Our Coaches & Consultants

Sharon Seivert

Randall Reade, Esq.

Doug McKnight

Al Torrijos

Auke van Keulen

Bonnie Koch

Peri Onipede

Schedule a time for a free Clarity & Strategy session

Our Coaches
& Consultants