Introducing the
Blue Gnu Team of Associates
We are a team of professional facilitators; drawn together by the same vision – to make a positive difference in the organisations we serve and to help their leaders achieve more! We’re all Insights Discovery qualified (our combined years with Insights is currently at 90!) and have a passion for developing people! We’ve served a wide range of industries in our time, from Elite Sport to Pharmaceuticals and almost everything in between. Each of us have unique ‘sweet-spots’ and industries that are special to us.
Founder & CEO
Elaine Gosden
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.
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.
Partner
Nicola Blackmore
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!
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.
Partner
Stephen Fortune
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.
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.
Partner
Steve Brunt
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.
Director of Learning
Clare Bryant
Clare has a contagious passion for learning and helping others to reach their full potential and is ever curious about what 'makes people tick'. She loves to apply this strength by working with teams, leaders as well as coaching 1-2-1. Having worked in a variety of training roles in the pharmaceutical industry for over 20 years, Clare has gathered a wealth of training tools and experiences which she pulls on 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 the world of learning Clare also enjoys teaching yoga, practising reiki and walking in the Chilterns with her Westie Luna.
Director & Coach
Toby Gosden
Toby has supported Elaine in day to day strategic decisions for a number of years but is now formally helping with finances and operational issues. Having spent 27 years working as an economist he has developed skills in data analysis and strategic thinking, as well as spent seven years in other consultancies, which has given him an insight into how to run a business. With lots of Cool Blue and Earth Green energy, Toby is well equipped to give the finances some love!
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!
Head of Marketing & Insights Discovery Associate
Claire Trotman
Claire supports Elaine and the wider team from her home on the West Sussex coast through her business, Claire Marie Consulting. Her mission is to "help lighten the load" and assists with Blue Gnu's admin, marketing, business development and design tasks. Elaine says that "Claire makes us look good on paper"! Claire is also a licenced Insights Discovery Practitioner, so you may see her in the training room delivering workshops too!
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.
Operations Manager
Alison Barnett
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.
Away from work, Alison enjoys HIIT workouts in the park with fellow mums and walking with the furry family member, Poppy the cockapoo.
Coach
Lorraine Kay
Lorraine’s background is in leadership and organisational development where she has worked with leaders and their teams across a wide range of sectors and diverse cultures. She’s an experienced individual and team coach who loves bringing the high energy and engagement of an Insights Discovery event to teams who are looking to raise individual self-awareness and explore what this means for personal success, engaged team working and high performance.
Lorraine believes passionately in the power of continuing growth as a key to personal and professional success.