K&R EDGE Leadership Solutions

Leadership: The needs are universal, the solutions are not.

We understand that great leaders drive great business results,
and we know what great leadership looks like.

Your business has aggressive goals, and you need a strong leadership team to achieve those goals fast. Leadership development is a strategic investment that not only positively impacts engagement and retention, but it also creates a future-ready work force that is well positioned to drive business success. That’s where K&R EDGE comes in.

K&R Edge logo. Green and yellow triangle overlayed with the text "K&R EDGE Leadership Solutions for Food & Ag"

Should you consider a leadership development solution?

Could your business benefit from deeper insights into the leadership capabilities of your team? Has the day-to-day consumed your focus, not allowing you to focus on your executive talent challenges? While daily operations are undoubtedly important, neglecting leadership development can leave organizations ill-prepared for future challenges and opportunities. A structured approach to enhancing leadership capabilities can provide deeper insights into your team’s potential and help address executive talent challenges more effectively.

What makes K&R EDGE Leadership Solutions unique?

Our commitment to excellence extends beyond executive search to include the development of leadership solutions that your business needs for sustained success. K&R Edge leverages the firm’s extensive industry experience and network of consultants and executive coaches to deliver practical solutions tailored to each organization’s needs. Our ultimate goal is to help clients identify top talent, enhance leadership capabilities, and ensure long-term business success through effective leadership continuity.

Meet some of our Executive Coaches

Our Executive Coaches work to help the uniquely talented leaders of food and ag realize their full potential. 

Sally Day

Managing Director

Cleveland, Ohio

A certified executive coach and search professional, Sally brings more than 25 years of industry experience as a senior leader working for well-known consumer food companies, including The J. M. Smucker Company, Unilever, Keebler, and Nestle. Sally’s tenure in organizational strategy and leadership provides an unmatched experience when coaching executives or working with clients to identify and assess future talent.

Sally knows firsthand the kinds of challenges leaders encounter. She has a career’s worth of experience placing leadership, building teams, coaching, and mentoring. A Board-Certified Coach (BCC) through the Center for Credentialing and Education and an Associate Certified Coach with the International Coaching Federation. Sally also holds an Executive MBA from Kent State University and completed her B.S. in Business Management and International Business, with a minor in Polish Language from Alliance College. She holds certificates in executive coaching and leadership assessment from the following accredited organizations.  

Michael Whitney

Managing Partner

Malton Yorkshire, United Kingdom

As an executive coach, Michael works with senior leaders to identify opportunities to maximize their performance and build on their strengths to support them grow in their role and extend to the next level, while also finding their work / life harmony. He puts his client’s needs first and they value his ability to distil and understand the complexities of any situation. He provides the space and time for self-reflection, and uses some provocative and probing questions to help clients become more self-aware, so they are even better equipped to shape their future path and take ownership of their evolving thinking, decisions, and actions. 

Michael graduated from The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and served as an infantry officer in the British Army for more than 10 years before moving into industry.  He holds a Professional Certificate in Executive Coaching from Henley Business School in the UK and is studying to become an accredited coach (ACC) with the International Coaching Federation (ICF).

Joe Marquez

Executive Coach

Palm Beach, Florida

Joe Marques is an executive coach and leadership development expert with more than 25 years of experience across the consumer food and healthcare sectors. He has held senior leadership roles at organizations including The J.M. Smucker Company and New York Presbyterian Hospital, where he led organizational development and transformative leadership initiatives.

Joe is known for an authenticity-centered coaching approach that helps senior leaders and teams achieve sustainable performance and measurable growth. His industry experience spans healthcare, banking, and consumer goods, allowing him to tailor coaching to complex organizational challenges. Joe holds a JD from Villanova University’s Charles Widger School of Law and is certified in Executive Coaching, Hogan Assessments, MBTI, and ESCI.

Liesbeth Van Loock

Executive Coach

Vevey, Switzerland

Based out of Vevey, Switzerland, Liesbeth Van Loock is a senior executive coach and leadership development expert with more than 15 years of experience partnering with leaders globally to accelerate careers and strengthen organizational performance. Her areas of expertise include executive coaching, leadership coaching, career transition, and HR talent development.

With professional experience at BASF and executive search firms, as well as global market exposure through INSEAD, Liesbeth brings a pragmatic and culturally informed approach to her work. She also facilitates workshops focused on resilience, supporting leaders navigating change in complex environments. Liesbeth holds a BA in Journalism and certifications in Executive Coaching, Hogan Assessment, and Positive Intelligence from institutions including Stanford University and International Mozaik Paris. She is known for guiding professionals through complex career and organizational transitions with clarity, confidence, and purpose.

Heather Pomerantz

Executive Coach

New York City, New York

Heather is an executive coach with more than 25 years of experience as a senior finance leader, including service as CFO of both privately-held and public companies. Her background spans corporate finance and management consulting, where she led complex transformations, built high-performing teams, and advised executive leadership through periods of change.

Heather partners with senior leaders to build sustainable performance by strengthening mindset, decision-making, and strategic focus. Her coaching is grounded in trust, clarity, and challenge, creating the conditions for leaders to align performance with purpose and drive meaningful impact. Heather is an Associate Certified Coach (ACC) with the International Coaching Federation and a Hudson Certified Coach. She brings a disciplined, performance-oriented approach to supporting leaders across career and organizational transitions.

Cynthia Iglesias Guven

Executive Coach

Washington, D.C.

Cynthia Iglesias Guven is an executive and leadership coach with extensive global experience leading teams across six continents in both government and private-sector organizations. She partners with leaders at all levels—from emerging managers to CEOs—to strengthen executive presence, enhance decision-making, and navigate organizational change and career transitions.

Known for her strategic and adaptable coaching style, Cynthia supports leaders in complex, multicultural environments and high-stakes settings. Her coaching helps clients improve leadership effectiveness, collaboration, and communication across geographies. Cynthia holds an MA in Political Science from The Ohio State University and a BA in International Relations and French from the University of Alabama. She is an Associate Certified Coach (ACC) with the International Coaching Federation and certified in EQ-i 2.0 and EQ 360 assessments.

Leadership Development by the Numbers

77%

of organizations report their leadership is lacking

50-75%

of executives fail within 18 months of taking on a new role

55%

of CEOs report developing leaders is a top challenge

*Apollo Technical; Corporate Executive Board

The K&R EDGE Advantage:

Preserving Your Business for the Future

The K&R Edge leadership consultants leverage a suite of solutions with their expertise and executive experience to build strategies that develop strong leadership and move business forward.

Each engagement includes:

  • K&R Edge consultants bring leadership development expertise and food and agriculture industry experience
  • K&R Edge serves as your strategic executive talent partner, elevating the leadership capabilities within your organization
  • K&R Edge delivers custom and practical solutions based on decades of industry insights and deep talent expertise

Executive Onboarding:

Ensuring seamless transitions and integrations for maximum impact on day one.
The K&R Edge Executive Onboarding service ensures your new leader transitions smoothly and effectively into their role. We provide tailored support and resources, helping them quickly understand your organization’s culture, strategic goals, and key stakeholders. Our comprehensive approach includes personalized coaching, detailed onboarding plans, and regular check-ins to
address challenges.

Leadership Assessment:

Delivering business results by
aligning leadership capabilities with organizational goals.
The K&R EDGE Leadership Assessment service is a comprehensive solution designed to professionally evaluate the leadership skills and capabilities of your leader. The result is a detailed and objective assessment that provides valuable insights and actionable feedback, empowering your leaders to develop their strengths, address areas for growth, and align their performance with your organization’s strategic goals.

Executive Coaching:

Maximizing potential & accelerating transitions through the empowerment
of executives.
Executive coaching is a professional development process where a skilled K&R Edge coach works one-on-one with your executive to enhance leadership capabilities and performance. It involves setting clear goals and implementing strategies to overcome challenges. Through tailored feedback, executive coaches help your leader drive personal growth and success for your organization.
Learn more about our Executive Coaching practice here.

Succession Planning:

Securing the future of your organization by minimizing disruptions and facilitating a seamless transition.
Succession planning is a strategic process to identify and develop future leaders within your organization to ensure a smooth transition when a key position becomes vacant. The process involves assessing current talent, creating a plan to develop individuals with the necessary skills and experiences for advancement into critical roles when needed.

Executive Performance:

Driving organizational effectiveness by fostering accountability to results and enhancing individual performance.
K&R Edge Executive Performance is a facilitated and collaborate process for setting objectives, evaluating performance, and providing clear and transparent feedback to your senior executive. Our focus is on aligning executive goals with your company’s strategic vision, fostering accountability, and confirming your leader is equipped to drive results.

“The single biggest way to impact an organization is to focus on leadership development. There is almost no limit to the potential of an organization that recruits good people, raises them up as leaders and continually develops them.”

– John C. Maxwell

Interested in Connecting?

Our firm is committed to providing not only top-tier executive search services, but also exceptional leadership advisory solutions that help our clients identify the best leaders, develop their leadership capabilities, and nurture their human capital strategies for sustained success.

Connect with us to discuss how our tailored services can give your
leadership team the EDGE it needs to succeed.