About Us
We are combining our backgrounds to develop personalized programs in leadership, cross-cultural understanding, and communication skills, all with a focus on harnessing the power of empathy. At the heart of our partnership lies a dedication to helping others thrive.
Christel van der Boom
Christel is committed to empathic leadership and trust-building across divides. She has held leadership positions at Edelman and at Flipboard, empowering people to become more informed and engaged. She has fostered high-performing teams, guiding members to reach their full potential through coaching and mentoring. With over 25 years of experience, she has navigated complex dynamics, guiding executives through critical challenges and opportunities while ensuring actions and messaging align with organizational values.
Motivated to drive positive change, she has developed educational programs, facilitated dialogue, and served as a thought partner for leaders. She is dedicated to developing strategies that foster mutual understanding, trust and strong relationships.
As a member of the Wilf Jarvis Institute she co-facilitated Four Quadrant Leadership workshops with founder and award-winning leader Minh Le. Certified as a mediator based on Nonviolent Communication (NVC) by Mediate Your Life, Christel has a broad skillset, grounded in nonviolent communication, mindfulness and empathy. She has been working with youth as a mentor for over a decade, including at Larkin Street, Eastside College and Pacific Links.
She holds a master's degree in Communications from the University of Amsterdam, including a year in Tübingen, Germany on an Erasmus scholarship. She received a propaedeutic diploma in Japanese Language and Culture from the University of Leiden.
Kyoung Mi Choi
Kyoung Mi Choi is a professor in the Department of Counselor Education at San Jose State University. She has been recognized as an International Fellow in the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC) and as a recipient of the NASFA Diversity Impact Program. She’s also been a Public Voices Fellow and regularly contributes to Psychology Today.
Her memoir, The Child Behind The Bushes, illustrates her own family’s story, offering herself and her mother a gentle path out of intergenerational trauma. Through her “Breaking the Silence” workshops, she creates a safe space for Asian and Asian American youth and women to connect with their inner truth and express their authentic voices by sharing untold stories. She serves as a program specialist for the AANHPI ‘Ohana Center of Excellence.
Her advocacy work received the Community Advocacy Award for AD 27 Pride Celebration. She has served on the board of directors for Families in Global Transitions and as a member of editorial boards for various journals, including the Journal of Counseling and Development and the Journal of College Student Development.