Introducing the
Blue Gnu Team

Elaine is a highly gifted and experienced facilitator. A high proportion of her work is with CEO and Executive Teams in a diverse range of sectors - she has experience in Health Care, FMCG, Elite Sports and Pharmaceuticals. Her background is in Learning and Development focusing on Leadership and Management.

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Elaine’s objectives at each client remain consistent – to develop leadership teams, people and cultures to improve overall company performance, develop high performing teams and enhance personal relationships.

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Nicola is an experienced and passionate Learning & Development professional, specialising in Management Development. She has worked in the L&D field for almost twenty years with a variety of organisations and was an operational manager before that, enabling her to truly understand what it takes to be a great manager – and how tough it can be!

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Her focus is helping managers to prepare for, transition into and excel in their management roles. Enabling them to understand themselves, their roles and their impact on others.

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Stephen Fortune offers coach facilitation for many of the world’s leading organisations. With a focus on leadership capability, mindset and culture change, his approach is challenging, pragmatic and personal, providing clarity and enabling executives and their teams to exceed their personal and business goals.

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Stephen also has a passion for cycling and long distance triathlons which has led him to compete in 5 Ironman events and also cycling across the Alps and the Pyrenees for charity.

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Steve is an experienced and passionate Learning and Development professional. Key to his success is building trusting relationships which enables him to provide tailored support that moves organisations, teams and individuals from challenge to solution. Steve’s main areas of work are in leadership and management development, personal effectiveness, team dynamics and workplace relationships.

Away from his work Steve enjoys the great outdoors, in particular cycling, paddle boarding and more recently learning to surf and ties these passions in with adventures with his family in their camper van.​

Clare has a contagious passion for learning and helping others reach their full potential. She is ever curious about what motivates and 'makes people tick'.  Clare loves to apply this strength by working with teams, leaders as well as coaching 1-2-1. Having worked both locally and globally in the pharmaceutical industry for over 20 years; Clare has gathered a wealth of tools and experiences which she utilises in her sessions.

Clare’s wide experience, combined with her engaging and pragmatic style will enable you to be clear about your outcomes and how you are going to reach them.

Away from L&D, Clare also enjoys practising yoga, ceroc dancing and walking in the Chiltern Hills with her Westie Luna.

Toby supports Elaine with business strategy and also keeps an eagle eye on the finances. In addition to his role in the core team, Toby has trained as a coach with the renowned Michael Neill and is accredited as a practitioner in both Insights Discovery and Motivational Maps. Toby also uses his 28 years’ experience as a health economist to provide mentoring and support specifically to other economists and market access specialists in pharmaceutical companies and consultancies.

In his own time, Toby likes to watch and play sport, read, play with his sons, and walk Rosie the dog. He is an avid movie watcher and loves war films - his favourite is Zulu, which he has watched at least 1,000 times!

Claire supports Elaine and the wider team from her home on the West Sussex coast. In her role as Marketing and Operations manager, Claire spends the majority of her time focusing on our business development, event management, workshop logistics and the 'lights on' marketing,  Claire is also a licenced Insights Discovery Practitioner, so you may see her in the training room delivering workshops from time to time too.

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When Claire isn't hiding behind her laptop or facilitating a workshop, you will find her sailing her Cornish Crabber with husband James, playing piano or walking Laki, her Labrador, along the beach. ​

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Alison brings her ‘Cool Blue' planning and organisational skills to the role of Operations Manager, working behind the scenes to support Elaine with the smooth running of the business. Alison leads clients through the booking process and assists the facilitator team with a variety of logistical and admin tasks.

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Away from work, Alison enjoys HIIT workouts in the park with fellow mums and walking with the furry family member, Poppy the cockapoo.​​​​

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Briony typically focuses on coaching for human centred leaders, who are seeking space to think, create work-life harmony and are keen to align to their values / what matters where they are. She incorporates Insights Discovery profiling to support self-discovery, relationship building and strategies for resilience and work-life harmony.

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Away from work, Briony  is referred to as a 'salt of the earth woman' who loves nothing more than being outside and long distance hiking - including ultra walking challenges.