From Hospitality to Leadership: The Journey of Th!nk

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In a recent conversation on Women in Motion, Sarah Kalicki Nakamura, the co-founder of Th!nk, shared her inspiring journey from the hospitality industry to establishing a thriving learning and development company. Here’s a closer look at her story and how Th!nk helps leaders and teams reach their full potential. 

The Genesis of Th!nk 

Sarah’s journey began in 1994 when she moved to Hawaii. Despite the excitement of a new beginning, she faced a challenging transition. Working in the hospitality industry with Hilton Hawaiian Village, she read a book about managing difficult transitions, which introduced her to the concept of the “neutral zone.” This led her to make a list of goals, one of which was to pursue a master’s degree. She encouraged a colleague to join her, and together they completed the program. Their final capstone project was a business plan focused on learning and development. 

When Sarah had her first son, she realized she needed a more flexible work arrangement. Revisiting the business plan, she proposed to her colleague Cindy that they start their own business. Cindy agreed, and Th!nk was born. They embarked on this new venture without the safety net of their previous jobs, driven by a desire to balance family life with their professional ambitions. 

Building Th!nk from the Ground Up 

Transitioning from their corporate roles to entrepreneurship, Sarah and Cindy faced the challenge of acquiring their first clients. Leveraging their human resources and leadership development backgrounds, they reached out to their network and secured their first project: a customer service program for a hospital. Their philosophy was simple: do great work each time, and the business will follow. This approach has sustained Th!nk for over 24 years. 

Expanding Horizons 

Initially, Th!nk’s client base was primarily in Hawaii. Over the years, they expanded to Las Vegas and have worked with mainland clients. Their entry point with companies often involves executive coaching, strategic planning, partnering meetings in construction and military environments, leadership development, and conflict resolution. 

The Evolution of Coaching 

Coaching in the business world has evolved significantly. Once reserved for senior executives, it is now embraced at all organizational levels. Th!nk offers long-term leadership training programs that include coaching for participants, from senior leaders to high-potential performers. 

Addressing Organizational Challenges 

Th!nk helps organizations address various challenges, from high turnover rates to team conflicts and difficulties in attracting top talent. They use assessments like Everything DiSC Workplace Profile and PXT Checkpoint 360 to gather data, helping organizations understand and address underlying issues. 

The Importance of Certification 

Sarah highlighted the importance of becoming part of WBEC-West. Despite being women-owned from the start, it wasn’t until they met Monica Coburn that they pursued the certification process. This designation has opened new opportunities, provided educational resources, and helped them secure more business. 

Success Stories 

Sarah shared a success story of working with a healthcare company on a leadership development program for early leaders. The program led to significant improvements in handling difficult conversations, managing budgets, and reducing turnover. The organization is now on its fifth cohort, with trust and innovative ideas flourishing among their management team. 

How You Can Help 

Th!nk is always looking to assist organizations in need of leadership development, team building, and executive coaching. They are industry agnostic and welcome any company that believes in personal development and growth. To learn more about Th!nk and how they can help your organization, visit their website at think-training.com. To listen to Sarah’s full journey. Use this link: https://businessradiox.com/podcast/women-in-motion/leadership-coaching/ 

About Women’s Business Enterprise Council-West (WBEC-West)  

WBEC-West is a regional partner of the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), a coalition of corporations, WBEs, and regionally focused women’s business organizations. As an affiliate organization, WBEC-West implements the certification standards of WBENC throughout Arizona, Colorado, Southern California, Utah, Wyoming, Nevada, Hawaii, and Guam. WBENC is the largest certifier of women’s business enterprises in the U.S. and a leading advocate for women business owners, leaders, and entrepreneurs. WBENC certification is nationally recognized and accepted by more than 10,000 major corporations. We also support corporations in their efforts to include WBENC Certified WBEs in their supply chain.