Coaching and advice for entrepreneurs and senior academics doing ambitious, consequential work.

Working together

Working together

My work takes two main forms: strategy and coaching. It is most useful when the next step is not yet clear, or what is required of the leader is shifting.

Sometimes the challenge is primarily organisational: where to focus, what to build, what to stop, or how to navigate a critical transition.

Sometimes it is more personal: how to lead, make difficult decisions, or work out what comes next.

Often the two are connected.

Way of working

I work directly with the people making the decisions. My role is to create the space to think properly, while bringing challenge, structure and an outside perspective.

The work is rigorous but non-formulaic. I draw on experience across strategy, entrepreneurship and leadership, alongside ongoing study and research, rather than applying a fixed methodology.

The shape of the work depends on the problem. It may be a focused strategy engagement, a coaching relationship over several months, or ongoing advice at important points.

Autumn Coaching

This autumn I am working individually with a small number of entrepreneurs and senior academics through a focused coaching engagement.

We start with a longer session in person, where possible, followed by regular conversations over several months. The work is shaped around the questions that matter most to you: your leadership, decisions, direction and the work you are trying to build.

The engagement creates sustained space to think, with challenge, perspective and continuity across both the personal and strategic dimensions of the work. If this sounds relevant, get in touch.

Kathryn Maunders

I founded Kestrel in 2014 as an independent home for my strategy, advisory and coaching work.

Alongside Kestrel, I am a Business Fellow at the Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment, University of Oxford, where I work with academics and entrepreneurs across the climate innovation ecosystem.

My background spans strategy consulting, entrepreneurship and coaching. I was a consultant with McKinsey & Company in Johannesburg and Geneva, and have founded and co-founded organisations and ventures in the UK, the Netherlands and South Africa. I have worked with founders, leadership teams, academics, investors and philanthropists across Europe and internationally.

I hold a BA in Economics & Management and an MSc in Evidence-Based Social Intervention, both from the University of Oxford. I am British and based in the Netherlands, my adopted home.

Testimonials

  • “Kathryn brings that rare combination of strategic insight and practical support with a great communication style. She brought value not only in the strategy development, but also added unique views and approaches as well as oversight during the implementation phase.”

    Jan-Willem Bode
    President, Puro.Earth

  • “Kathryn combines a powerful brain with great empathy. She kept me straight by reminding of the ‘why’ behind our decisions when I felt lost.”

    Anouk Kooijmans
    CEO Nomad (pre-sale)

  • “Kathryn is strategic, able to navigate and build momentum in complex institutions whilst focusing on a clear shared goal. She drives progress with pragmatism”

    Prof. Cameron Hepburn
    Oxford University


  • “Kestrel gets inside the minds of their clients, declutters their thinking, and gives them a framework and action plan so there is confidence and hope to move forward.”

    Ted Jeory
    Co-Director, Finance Uncovered

  • "Kestrel are a deep thinking, intelligent, determined, passionate and very personable team with high EQ. They are exactly who you need when dealing with sensitive or complex relationships."

    William de Laszio
    CEO Agathos

  • "Kathryn is driven by impact from the heart with a solid business sense and realism at the core."

    Annerieke Douma
    Director, Cities and Regions, Circle Economy

  • "Kathryn gets how to combine theory with practice and social impact with entrepreneurship."

    Menno van Dijk
    Founder, ScaleUpNation

  • "The coaching sessions with Kathryn are truly one of a kind. She guides you in exploring triggers beyond the obvious and has a talent for taking away any sense of pressure. With her, you can genuinely work on yourself and grow."

    Louis Meisen
    Founder, WeDesignFood

  • "Kathryn has helped me achieve significant clarity and well-being in a very short timeframe. She has supported me brilliantly with both personal and professional challenges, helping me feel noticeably calmer, more grounded, and connected to my body. Her deep love, respect and appreciation for nature is so evident and inspiring, making every session incredibly special."

    Viktorija Stojcheva
    Founder, Trail Keepers

Example engagements

  • University of Oxford - Entrepreneurial Ecosystem

    Helping Professors Cameron Hepburn and Paul Shearing to strengthen the climate entrepreneurship ecosystem at Oxford.

  • Family Philanthropy - Climate Strategy

    Supported a leading European entrepreneurial family to align and evolve its philanthropic efforts, including a major climate initiative and the repositioning of a core foundation for greater impact.

  • Puro - Strategy and Implementation

    Helped the leading carbon removal registry through a post-financing strategic review and leadership transition - helping shape an agile growth strategy while strengthening leadership alignment and resilience.

  • Agathos - Impact and operational turn-around

    Supported a private equity fund with a portfolio company turnaround, operational due diligence, and an independent evaluation of social impact.

  • Circle Economy - Partnership strategy

    Enabled the design and rapid piloting of a scalable partnership model, allowing a global circular economy organisation to grow collaborations while maintaining technical rigour and values alignment.

  • Finance Uncovered - Scaling strategy

    Created space for a high-impact investigative media charity to step back from day-to-day pressures and develop a clear, focused strategy - strengthening positioning and enabling confident, organic growth.

  • Nomad - Company strategic sale

    Supported the founder’s family through a sensitive leadership transition, exploring strategic options and delivering a values-aligned sale to long-term investors.

  • ScaleUpNation - Build Scaling Lab

    Shepherded the evolution of a research initiative into a fully funded lab focused on understanding and improving scale-up success for impact-driven ventures.

  • Utrecht University Academic Founder - Pre-incorporation venture build

    Worked alongside the inventor as an intended co-founder, combining technical and commercial due diligence, go-to-market strategy, tech development, development partner and customer discussions (pre-incorporation).