"Our greatest challenge as leaders is not understanding the practice of leadership; it is practising our understanding."
- Marshall Goldsmith
"The key to successful leadership is influence, not authority." - Kenneth Blanchard
"Management works in the system; leadership works on the system." - Stephen R. Covey
"Leaders aren't born, they are made. They are made by hard effort, which is the price which all of us must pay to achieve any goal that is worthwhile." - Vince Lombardi
"Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other." - John F. Kennedy
"Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality." - Warren G. Bennis
Who we are
Starr was set up by Baz Hartnell in 2003. He was joined by Kate Hesk in 2004.
Baz Hartnell
Baz describes himself as a "consultant coach" who as an experienced director himself, is able to give senior leaders both the hard skills to understand the context in which they lead and the soft skills to increase their impact and influence to be more successful in their roles.
Professional & Academic Qualifications
- MSc in Coaching & Development awarded with Merit; accredited by the University of Portsmouth. His dissertation considered how transformational coaching shifts managers into leaders.
- MBA awarded with Distinction; from the University of Aston. Awarded 'Top of Class'. Baz specialised in Strategic and International Marketing and Finance.
- B.Sc. (Hons.) 2/1 in Electrical & Electronic Engineering
Professional Memberships
- Affiliate, Centre for Leadership Studies, University of Exeter
- Fellow, Institute of Sales & Marketing Management
- Member, European Mentoring & Coaching Council
- Affiliate, British Psychological Society Special Interest Group in Coaching Psychology
- Associate Member, Institute of Training and Occupational Learning.
Kate Hesk
Kate has coached many and varied clients and teams including directors, Managing Directors and leaders at all levels in small and large organisations. She utilises hard, sophisticated business skills and a personable and approachable style to coach and develop individuals. Kate specialises in coaching and mentoring individuals and teams through change including major business change.
In addition to her first degree, Kate holds an MBA from Henley Management College, is accredited as a Master Coaching Practitioner (holding a Masters in Coaching and Development), is a member of the Association of Coaching and the European Mentoring and Coaching Council and belongs to the coaching register for the Institute of Healthcare Management.
She combines her academic background with business and leadership skills gained over twenty years in predominantly blue chip organisations and the softer skills of coaching. Her most recent corporate role was as a General Manager where she was responsible for the business and support functions and services and where she introduced numerous self and leadership programmes to inspire and develop individuals within her teams to achieve their personal and business goals.