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Meet the team

Impact is bursting with energetic, talented and passionate people who want to make a difference. Our people work from over 30 global locations.

Sam Rostas, Impact International
UK
Samantha andRostas
Global Lead

After 10 years leading the UK, I am now in a global role focused on two areas: one leading a people project, the other focused on marketing. I grew up through Impact as a marketer and love the buzz of building business through brand and storytelling. My other passion is the people and culture here, so this is the ideal combination for me. When I’m not working, I love spending time with my family, enjoying the outdoors and practicing yoga.

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Sabrina Bianchi Impact
Italy
Sabrina andBianchi
Head of marketing and Communication

I joined Impact in early 2022, and it was the best start to the year ever! My commitment is to develop and implement communication and marketing activities to give more and more visibility to the pathways and initiatives we create for our clients. In my spare time, I cheer for Inter and organize dinners and trips with friends and family.

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Yutaka Sugimoto, Impact
Japan
Yutaka andSugimoto(Yutaka)
Chief Glocal Officer

I was inspired by experiential learning on a leadership programme in 1992 and have worked for Impact ever since. Experiential learning and reflection alongside theory and skills input is a platform for real behaviour change for leaders. My passion is building an organisation worth working for and supporting our clients by developing people. I play football and enjoy discussing the match with friends. Drinking beer maybe more important than playing football.

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Phil Holdsworth, Impact
New Zealand
Phil andHoldsworth
Head of Asia

In the last 25+ years I’ve worked with many great organisations and love being able to bring a breadth and depth of experience to my programs. I currently regularly travel across Asia consulting for clients and looking after our great people. I'm described as an Energiser Bunny, I bring energy into everything I do, even if I'm stepping off a 12-hour flight! I recover by spending time with my family and exploring the wilderness in NZ with a fishing rod.

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Akira Matsumoto (Mikey), Impact International
Japan
Akira andMatsumoto(Mikey)
Assistant Manager, Facilitator

With nearly 18 years in the retail industry, I held roles such as sales, store manager, trainer, and area manager. These experiences taught me that when people grow, organizations grow. Supporting others made me reflect on my own growth and whether I still had something to offer. To challenge myself, I moved into a new industry. Now, I work to create training experiences that resonate emotionally and leave a lasting impression—while continuing to grow with my clients. 

Sara Baranzini, Impact Italia
Italy
Sara andBaranzini
Senior Consultant and Executive coach

I have experience as an HR Manager in multinational and Italian companies, managing L&D, recruitment, employees relations, coupled with across-the-board experience in consultancy projects on those subjects. Since 2013 I have been supporting organisations to change with a focus on learning and development with main focus on leadership, individual effectiveness, business coaching and change management.

 

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Abi Black Impact
UK
Abi andBlack
Project Manager

As a Project Manager I am responsible for the end-to-end implementation of our client solutions by managing and coordinating the client service teams. During my time at Impact I have worked with a broad mixture of clients and participants ranging from graduates to senior leaders. In my free time I enjoy spending time in the Lakes, planning my next holiday and spending time with friends and family.

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Romina Henle
Italy
Romina andHenle
Senior Consultant and Facilitator

Since 2018 I collaborate with Impact as an associate. I love facilitating its varied experiential learning programs, online & in person. I am mainly involved in the delivery for international groups and teams. It is enriching to collaborate with Impact’s colleagues, getting to know different industries, working cultures, professional profiles and much more. I enjoy being in nature, experimenting new things in life and experiencing the different customs and traditions of our world. 

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Yusuke Kobayashi (Baya), Impact International
Japan
Yusuke andKobayashi(Baya)
Assistant Manager, Client Partner

'Continuing to "enjoy" life'
My lifelong mission is to continue positively influencing both myself and those around me, while persistently seeking enjoyment.
Throughout my career, I've had various experiences, from utilizing cutting-edge technology in logistics to engaging in gritty tasks. Through these experiences, I've realized the importance of finding meaning and joy in everything I do. Although sustaining this mindset is not easy, I am committed to continuous learning to become a professional to bring a positive impact to people and organisations.

Martina Case, Impact
UK
Martina andCase
Business Support

I always enjoyed working for companies who share my values and whose work I can be passionate about. I love that Impact wants to make a difference and has the purpose to help build companies worth working for. I enjoy a good adventure and have a passion for travelling, my latest adventure being swapping London life for the great outdoors of the lovely Lake District!

Mario GianAndrea, Impact Italy
Italy
Mario andGianAndrea
President and Founder

I’ve been many in my working life: an HR Director, an entrepreneur, a leader, a coach, a salesman, a visionary, a confidant, a manager. And a friend. And I am still excited (and sometimes anxious) when I meet a new group of people. I genuinely enjoy it! This is the reason I'll probably work for another decade! The only difference compared to the past: today I can afford to only work on projects and with people that I really like and that gives me the feeling that it will be great fun!

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Nao Matsushita(Noa), Impact International
Japan
Nao andMatsushita(Noa)
Coordinator

'Helping People Shine on Their Own Stage' As a restaurant manager, I wanted to create more than just a place to eat. By drawing out each team member’s strengths and aspirations, I saw the power of a team that values individuality. This led me to study coaching. I later realized that growth also depends on the organization, so I now study organizational development. My goal is to help people and organizations grow together, enabling everyone to shine as themselves and fulfill their potential.

Simon Wagstaff
UK
Simon andWagstaff
Senior Consultant, UK

I joined in 1982 when the company was two years and totalled four people. I have had the great privilege of what seems like two parallel careers - helping to build and develop our business and working with clients to help them do the same with theirs. I love the variety of my role, that at Impact personal talent is more important than hierarchy, and that we have never waivered from our vision to make a positive difference in the world, through leadership development.

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Jaya Machet
Singapore
Jaya andMachet
Senior Consultant

My coaching & facilitation expertise builds on a strong foundation of 20+ years in senior management positions including global and regional roles. I guide leaders to their peak potential and help enhance their professional and personal impact. I grew up in India and then studied and worked in Switzerland for 23 years before moving to Singapore. This has helped me successfully bridge Eastern and Western thinking, with an in-depth understanding of both cultures. I am an avid reader and love to spend time in nature and travel. 

Magdalena Kwiatek, Senior Consultant
Poland
Magdalena andKwiatek
Senior Consultant

For over 22 years, as a consultant, coach and partner, I support leaders, teams and organizations in the process of change. I am an "educational gadget-head.", sharing what I learn with others, because of my passion for people development. Privately my husband and I run “No Kill” fishing-field, building a community of exceptional people.

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Trudy Bridger, Impact
Australia
Trudy andBridger
Consultant

My role is to build strong, trusted partnerships with clients and help bring our shared purpose to life: liberating human potential and creating organisations that are truly worth working for. I’ve worked across a wide range of roles at Impact, giving me broad experience and a unique perspective on the business. Outside of work, you’ll usually find me out in nature, reading, cooking, or—more likely—chasing after my energetic toddler.

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Lou McDonald, Impact
UK
Lou andMcDonald
Head of Brand

Sum myself up in a paragraph? There’s a challenge! And maybe a good starting point. I like challenge. I like the challenge of grabbing attention with interesting, useful and relevant marketing. From a new website or re-brand to a sell-out festival, for me it’s all about customer first. I like a physical challenge too, and the challenge of how long I can last without listening to music!

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Arianna Bianchi
Italy
Arianna andBianchi
Consultant and Facilitator

As a consultant, I hope to be a catalyst for change, helping others to discover what their real needs are. Empathy, curiosity, creativity, organisation and strong sense of duty are the things that most characterise me. I love the adventure and the discovery of travelling, organising outdoor trips with friends in close contact with nature… But also sharing a gin lemon or a barbecue at home is not so bad!

Clive Barrow
New Zealand
Clive andBarrow
Consultant

I’ve had a passion for enriching lives through deeply practical experiential learning, and immersion in adventure around the world for most of my career. As a British Army officer, expedition leader, leadership consultant and executive coach I’ve had the enormous privilege to facilitate learning experiences for others in over 40 different countries. My greatest gift - apart from my wife and kids - doing the work I love!

Caroline Airey
UK
Caroline andAirey
Board Member

I joined Impact back in 1998 as a Management Accountant, and I am passionate about using financial information to inform and drive both short-term decision making and longer-term business strategy. I love living in the Lake District and exploring the surrounding lakes and mountains!

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Damiao Lo
China and Hong Kong
Damiao andLo and
Senior Consultant

Working with Impact allows me to cross-germinate ideas and learnings between clients globally. In an ever-changing, dynamic business environment, I promote everyone to be designers of possibilities.

Roger Nielsen, Impact
Australia
Roger andNielsen
Senior Consultant

Over the past 16 years at Impact I've worked around the world with some truly wonderful people. I've been the lead facilitator on many large-scale initiatives focused on developing leadership capability, high performing teams and coaching. I love the outdoors, and spend many hours at the beach with my wife and daughter.

 

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Holly Higham Impact International
UK
Holly andHigham
Global Lead, Marketing

My job is to share amazing client stories with the world through integrated marketing campaigns. I love live events and building Impact's community, as well as research and content creation. I live for adventure...and cake!

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Haruka Maruyama (Maruko)
Japan
Haruka andMaruyama(Maruko)
Assistant Manager, Planner

Working as a planner at Creative and Marketing Department since 2019. Before Impact, my career was mainly on the position of sales and marketing at the bank and advertising agency. My focus is on the capacity building for both individual and team. Virtual team building is one of the fatal themes because I am working as a full remote member. I love traveling around the world with my backpack and enjoying beautiful local delicacies!

Our awards

Year after year, we continue to be acknowledged for the quality and effectiveness of our partnerships with clients and for our own work on building Impact as an organisation worth working for.

2026 Training Industry Top 20 Leadership Training Company
2026 Training Industry Top 20 Leadership Training Company

Impact is a 2026 Top 20 Leadership Training Company. Training Industry independently assess the training marketplace for top providers. Their Top Leadership Training List, based on capabilities and expertise, includes Impact for the 16th consecutive year. 

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Chief Learning Officer gold award 2025
Gold Excellence in Partnership Award from Chief Learning Officer 2025

Impact won the gold award at the Chief Learning Officer 2025 Learning in Practice Awards for Excellence in Partnership. This recognises our support of Bristol Myers Squibb in implementing a learning and development programme.

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