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THE TEAM

ABOUT US

CAIA was founded in 2018 by two Leadership Consultants frustrated by the lack of high-quality Leadership & Psychological support for entrepreneurial leaders. We founded CAIA to provide innovative, deep & impactful leadership & talent solutions for entrepreneurial leaders.

We work with leaders in businesses of all sizes & stages: from Early-Stage Start-ups, to Scale-ups to Multinational Corporations who value innovation. We are a diverse team of certified executive coaches with multiple language skills and diverse cultural backgrounds.

Inclusivity is important to us, which why our team consists of psychologists, consultants and executive coaches from Germany, Australia, Romania, North America, the UK, Barbados, Malaysia, China, India, the Maldives, Singapore and Italy.

  • Lara Menke is the CEO and Co-Founder of CAIA - a Global Leadership Consultancy for innovative companies.

    She is a Leadership Consultant, Business Psychologist and Executive Coach with over a decade of experience developing leaders in the US, Europe and Asia. She is passionate about helping people become the best leaders they can be through leadership coaching, talent strategy, team building facilitation, and tailored leadership development programmes.

    As a leadership consultant, she combines the art and science of psychology with practical and innovative solutions to address the unique challenges and opportunities of modern leaders.

    Prior to CAIA, Lara worked for three of the world’s top leadership consultancies, where she assessed and developed senior leaders in FTSE100 companies, globally. Her areas of expertise include Leadership Profiling, Leadership Development, Top Team Effectiveness and Talent Strategy Implementation. Lara has experience across a variety of industries and has consulted through all levels of the organisation, from individual contributor through to the C-Suite.

    As an executive coach, Lara’s style balances compassion and challenge to guide coachees below the surface’ to trigger mindset shifts and sustainable behaviour change. She empowers her clients to explore their emotions and unconscious limiting beliefs to gain new perspectives and new options for accelerated leadership growth. ​

    Lara has a MSc in Industrial/Organisational and Business Psychology from University College London and a BSc in Psychology from Maastricht University, the Netherlands. She speaks fluent English, German as well as conversational Italian, French, Dutch and Spanish.

  • Simona Haivas is a tenacious, purpose-led talent and leadership development expert with a get stuck in mentality and a track record of delivering impactful solutions in a variety of contexts. She has been coaching leaders and high potential individuals for more than seven years, specialising in helping leaders who are experiencing transitions and growth in fast-paced roles and environments.

    Simona has worked as a leadership consultant and executive coach for 7+ years. She brings experience in: executing end-to-end Talent Strategy (talent acquisition and onboarding, talent development, performance management, succession planning), consulting with business leaders to align their people and culture agenda to business goals, leadership development & coaching: defining and implementing leadership capability frameworks and potential frameworks; defining and executing leadership development programmes.

    She is a certified leadership assessor and coach (ICF accredited) and is certified in the Hogan Leadership Suite. In addition, Simona is certified in a wide variety of psychological schools: Neuro-Linguistic Programming Practitioner, Systemic coaching, Gestalt practitioner, Conversational Wisdom. Simona has a PhD in Organisational Psychology with focus on employee motivation and speaks fluent English, Romanian and German.

  • Kirra is an experienced business psychologist, coach and leadership consultant who is constantly seeking new ways to bring innovative solutions to the challenges faced by leaders and organisations. She has a keen focus on understanding the psychology behind human behaviour in order to unlock meaningful change. Kirra’s coaching style blends empathetic guidance with thought-provoking challenges. Her focus lies in empowering clients to navigate their emotions and confront ingrained limitations.

    Since joining CAIA in 2019, Kirra has made a significant contribution by co-founding the COA Values Assessment, a psychometric used to help leaders and their organisations define and redefine what matters most to them. Kirra’s approach to leadership development combines cutting-edge research with practical, real-world experience. In her work, Kirra leverages her deep understanding of the interplay between psychology, leadership, and organisational performance to provide insightful and actionable recommendations that help her clients navigate complex challenges and achieve their potential.

    She has a proven track record of success in working with a diverse range of organisations, from startups to Fortune 500 companies. Her recent clients include multinational corporations such as Rio Tinto, BHP, Woolworths Group, Diageo, and The Body Shop, as well as government agencies and not-for-profits.

    Kirra holds a Master of Business Psychology, and a Bachelor of Psychological Science from the University of Queensland in Australia. She has also completed an Intensive Program in Forensic Psychology at Maastricht University in The Netherlands.

  • Constanze Pauline Harding is a Business Psychologist, passionate about helping organisations and leaders transform, adapt and thrive, from the inside out. She delivers assessments, coaching, training and culture change consulting services to organisations and their people across a range of industries. Prior to becoming a leadership consultant, Constanze was an established management consultant for 8 years, where she supported businesses on re-structures and large-scale transformation journeys. The learnings she gained from this period are very much still integrated into her work, so when helping clients today, she leverages both her solid business mindset and combines this with a deep understanding of human personality and the science of what makes leaders effective. Constanze has a MSc in Organisational Psychology from UCL, a MSc in European Business from ESCP Europe and a BSc in Philosophy & Economics from the University of Bayreuth. Born by a German mother and a Chilean father, she has worked, lived and studied in the UK, France, Germany, Chile and South Africa which helped her gain a broad, global perspective. She is a transformational coach, certified by the International Coaching Federation (ICF), and also accredited in several well-known leadership diagnostics, including HOGAN. To expand her insight into the human mind, she gained relevant qualifications in Psychotherapy and NLP.

  • Nadine Scantlebury is a Business Psychologist and Coach with over 15 years of experience helping clients thrive across a diverse range of industries, including Technology, FMCG, Retail, Healthcare, Automotive, Entertainment and Banking. With expertise in talent and leadership development, psychometric assessment, coaching and workshop facilitation, Nadine offers a comprehensive suite of services designed to drive organisational success and individual growth.


    Passionate about leadership development, Nadine empowers leaders to overcome challenges, enhance self-awareness, address barriers and challenge limiting beliefs. She has a keen interest in female leadership, delivering solutions to enhance gender equality and support both women and men in overcoming obstacles to create balanced, high-performing organisations. Through her research into the gender leadership gap, Nadine identified critical barriers to leadership advancement and works to eliminate them, enabling both individuals and organisations to unlock their full potential. Nadine’s coaching style is bespoke, authentic and intuitive, encouraging self-discovery to foster lasting transformation. With a strong background in psychology, coaching models and NLP, she has coached numerous professionals and executives to reach their goals, navigate transitions, and achieve sustainable success. Nadine has designed and facilitated professional development programmes attended by over 1,000 emerging leaders, building self-awareness, resilience, and confidence, and equipping participants with the practical tools necessary to drive personal and organisational success.

    Nadine started her career within boutique and established international recruitment consultancies, honing her skills in talent management, working directly with CEOs, founders, and senior leaders of renowned global organisations and start-ups. She developed an in-depth understanding of the challenges leaders face, and the most effective solutions to drive growth and foster positive organisational cultures. 


    Nadine holds an MSc in Business Psychology from Coventry University and a BSc (Hons) in Psychology from City University, London. She is certified in occupational ability, personality, and competency assessments by Podium and HUCAMA Factors. She speaks beginner-level French, Spanish, and Portuguese.

  • Lauren Griffin is a Chartered Occupational Psychologist (BPS and HCPC Registered), Leadership Coach and Facilitator with over 14 years of experience in consulting and product development across a diverse range of sectors and organisations. As a trusted advisor, Lauren specialises in designing and delivering recruitment and selection solutions, conducting data analysis and validation, and creating tailored development programmes for leaders at all levels, from Executives to Graduates.


    Lauren has worked extensively across the UK, UAE, Europe and Australia, helping organisations drive business growth and innovation. Her expertise spans psychometrics, training design and delivery and the development of cutting-edge online platforms. Lauren has collaborated with IT and R&D teams to create engaging user experiences (UX/UI) and has developed a wide range of content, including ability tests (VR, NR, LR), situational judgement tests (SJTs), personality questionnaires (PQs), and values-based assessments.

    Before joining CAIA, Lauren worked with several leading consultancies, where she honed her skills in leadership assessment, development, and the integration of technology into talent solutions. She is passionate about combining the science of psychology with practical, innovative approaches to help organisations stay ahead of the curve. Lauren’s work is driven by a commitment to leveraging technology to deliver impactful and user-friendly solutions for both clients and candidates. Lauren is deeply committed to leadership development, working closely with leaders to identify their strengths, potential derailers and areas for growth. She is equally passionate about supporting early-career professionals and graduates, empowering them to become the future leaders of tomorrow.

    In her pursuit of continuous learning, Lauren completed a course in Structural Equation Modelling and R at the University of Cambridge. Outside of her work as an Occupational Psychologist, she holds a PGCE from Bath Spa University and is currently pursuing an Undergraduate Degree in British Archaeology at the University of Oxford. Lauren holds a Chartership (Stage 2) in Occupational Psychology from the British Psychological Society (BPS), an MSc in Occupational Psychology from the University of Gloucestershire, and a BSc in Applied Psychology from Cardiff University.

  • Anna is a Chartered Psychologist, Psychometrician, and Existential Counsellor with over two decades of experience developing assessments, guiding individuals through career transitions, and consulting organisations across sectors and geographies. She partners with businesses to design robust, fair, and human-centred assessment solutions and with individuals – to foster insight, growth, and meaningful career direction.

    Anna combines scientific rigour with a deep respect for the complexity of human experience. She is passionate about bridging the gap between what we can measure and what truly matters — meaning, purpose, values, and potential. Her approach balances clarity and compassion, helping clients understand themselves more fully and make decisions that are not only effective but authentic and impactful. Anna has consulted with start-ups and global organisations in more than 15 countries, including the UK, USA, Japan, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and Sweden. She advises on the development, validation, and ethical use of psychometric tools, helping clients refine their in-house assessments, align strategies with business goals, and promote fairness and inclusivity in recruitment and development.

    As a Test Reviewer for the British Psychological Society, Anna evaluates assessments produced by other test publishers and actively promotes the development and use of high-quality, evidence-based tools. She is also particularly interested in innovations in diagnostics, including gamified assessments, as well as the use of LLMs and AI in both test development and psychometric data analysis.

    As a career coach, she has delivered over 800 one-to-one sessions with young people, helping them understand their strengths, interests, and potential futures. She currently coaches leaders within organisations, supporting them in navigating career transitions, enhancing self-awareness, and aligning their professional paths with personal values. Clients value Anna’s calm, thoughtful presence, her nuanced insights, and her ability to translate complex psychological ideas into practical and meaningful tools for development. 

    Originally trained in Moscow and now based in London, Anna works internationally and is fluent in English and Russian, with intermediate proficiency in German and basic knowledge of French and Spanish.

  • Tiffany is a certified Executive Coach (CPCC), Business Psychologist, and Leadership Advisor to senior leaders and teams of FTSE100, Fortune 500 and high-growth startups and scale-ups. Throughout her consulting career, Tiffany has designed and facilitated impactful group-based development experiences as well as executive coaching for leaders ranging from C-Suite, ExCo to middle management and everything in between.

    Tiffany has held senior consulting roles at Korn Ferry, a global, top tier management consulting firm, as well as a boutique London-based consultancy focused on top-team development. She’s worked across industries including Technology, Consumer Retail, Financial Services including Banking, Private Equity and Asset Management, Professional Services and Healthcare.

    As a Leadership Coach, Tiffany is best known for skillfully working at depth with a pragmatic edge. She takes a whole person-centered approach to her coaching, offering a unique blend of analytical thought grounded in acute emotional intelligence. She brings a flexible and adaptable style while firmly holding onto the client’s aspirations, rather than a fixed, rigid approach to goal attainment.

    She enables clients to move from a state of complexity or stuckness to clarity and informed action by helping them access and optimise the full extent of their resources.

    Tiffany’s approach blends incisive curiousity, perspective-taking and constructive challenge to help clients quickly get to the core of their challenges. She is skilled in blending human insight from her strong knowledge of psychology with a pragmatic, grounded approach to personal and professional development. She is particularly adept at spotting and navigating the complex human challenges inherent in business and leadership problems.

    Prior to leadership development, Tiffany held roles in higher education and healthcare, researching and applying the principles of Optimal Human Performance to clinical and research settings. Tiffany holds a BSc Honours in Psychology and Physiology from the University of Toronto, Canada, and a MSc Psychology from the University of East London, United Kingdom. She is a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach (CPCC), trained with the Co-Active Training Institute and accredited by the International Coach Federation.

  • Theresa is a Business Psychologist and Design Expert at CAIA. As part of her role, she supports the team with the design and implementation of recruitment, on-boarding and talent managament solutions tailored to startups’ company values. Her responsibilities include:

    • Designing and publishing marketing material in order to expand CAIA’s clientele.
    • Researching key insights to support work on Inclusion, Culture, Leadership and Startup Growth.
    • Analysing personality and values psychometric data to produce insightful reports.
    • Managing the administration and development of COA: our own Personality Assessment for start-ups designed to help founders accelerate as leaders.
    • Supporting the design and project management of client workshops.

    Theresa holds a BSc in Clinical Psychology from Radboud University in The Netherlands and is currently completing her MSc in Psychology at Berlin University.

ADVISORY BOARD

  • Gurnek Bains is the CEO and Founder of Global Future Partnership. In 1990 he co-founded YSC, a global leadership consultancy, that he led for 25 years as CEO and Chairman to a position where it now has 20 international offices and a client base comprising over half of the FTSE100.

    Gurnek is a trusted adviser to some of the most prominent business leaders in the world, the author of two books – Cultural DNA and Meaning Inc – as well as chairman of the internationally-acclaimed contemporary dance company, Akram Khan.

    He lives in London with his Australian-born wife, Kylie, and his two Arsenal-supporting children.

  • Gorkan Ahmetoglu is an Assistant Professor of Business Psychology at University College London (UCL) and the co-founder of Meta Profiling Ltd. He has previously held the positions of Director of Management and Entrepreneurship, Director of Digital Entrepreneurship, and Director of Consumer Behaviour at Goldsmiths, University of London.

    Dr Ahmetoglu is the author of Personality 101 and the editor of the Wiley Handbook of Entrepreneurship. He has published numerous articles and reviews in leading academic journals including Harvard Business Review and Management Today.

    He is a leading expert in psychological profiling and a business adviser / speaker in the areas of talent, entrepreneurship, innovation, and consumer decision-making. He is an associate to the Entrepreneurial Finance Lab at Harvard University.

  • Stephan is a practicing organizational scientist and the Director of Product Development and Innovation at RHR International. His research specializes in creativity, entrepreneurship, and social identification in the workplace. In his role, he leverages the latest in behavioral and data science as well as technology to create products that drive workplace performance.

    He has worked with world-leading consultancies, FTSE 500 firms, and international banks to introduce rigor to their talent management and assessment strategies. He has experience coaching C-suite stakeholders through the power of evidence-based practice for effective people decisions.

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