WHY US
We believe every student deserves an educator who can coach
Our mission is to empower educators to coach the next generation of leaders and thinkers.
Who We Are
Our Story
Graydin Co-Founders McKenzie and Quinn met in 2008 while attending a coaching course in London and instantly clicked. Sharing the dream to bring coaching skills to entire school communities and a deep desire to improve the lives of young people, they founded Graydin that same year.
Our VISION
We envision a world where coaching—a transformative tool that unlocks every person's natural ability—is synonymous with great teaching. A future where educators are as adept at coaching as they are at crafting lesson plans. A reality where every interaction is elevated by a coaching mindset.
Our Model
We developed our Start With Heart model to support the distinct needs of educators, students and parents. Unlike other coaching models, Start With Heart addresses the person rather than the problem and embeds a common coaching language throughout the whole school.
OUR COMMUNITY
Schools and educators are spearheading Graydin’s Start With Heart coaching model around the world, from the United Kingdom and Europe to North America and Asia. It's not only a community of like-minded people—it's a family.
Our COURSES
Graydin learning experiences are inspiring, informative and challenging, prioritising content that can be immediately applied across all areas of school life. Educators trust us to provide exceptional quality courses tailored to their needs.
OUR CERTIFICATION
The creation of a widespread coaching culture requires accessibility, sustainability and partnership. Our Certified Start With Heart Facilitator Licence empowers educators to deliver Graydin coaching courses to their peers, students, parents and partnering schools.
Our Founders & Lead Facilitators
Hi! I’m McKenzie. Inspired by the transformative power of coaching during my own formative years, I embarked on my first coaching training course in my late teens. The experience of my own schooling and the challenges I faced with eating disorders are a driving force behind my dedication to supporting young people through coaching.
As a Co-active Coach, NLP Coach Practitioner, ICF accredited PPC coach, and a Mytho Facilitator, I deliver coach training and coaching to teachers, students, parents, and managers.
Originally from California, I have made my home in the United Kingdom since 2007 and currently reside in Brighton. Most mornings start with a matcha and a walk to the beach—when it's not pouring rain!
Hi! I am Quinn, a certified Co-active Coach, NLP Coach Practitioner and ICF accredited PCC coach with 15 years of experience in coaching, teacher training, and course design for teachers, students and parents. At the age of 24, I co-founded Akosia, a small charity that used coaching as a facilitation technique in filmmaking projects for underprivileged children and women.
Driven by a deep passion to improve wellbeing in schools and the lives of young people, I founded the Gedi Foundation in 2023 to position Toronto as a global hub for ground-breaking education. I also wrote a young adult novel, KC Kane: Overcoming to showcase the power of resilience.
Living in Toronto with my family, I enjoy walking through High Park and sharing with my sons Theo and Bowie that coaching skills are for everyone at every age.
Our Team
AMY CUSACK
OPERATIONS MANAGER
Amy supports the Graydin team and our clients in various aspects of administration. She started her career working for the Canadian Department of National Defence and has since gone on to work in several sectors, providing business and administrative support. Throughout these various roles, Amy has maintained a passion for fostering positive relationships with clients and being a part of innovative teams. When she isn't working, Amy is spending time with her kids or indulging in some retail therapy.
Christine GORDON Mann
EDITORIAL
Christine brings her storytelling and wordsmithing skills to Graydin as part of the editorial team. A freelance editor, Christine excels at connecting the writer’s message to the reader's needs. With over fifteen years of experience, she has helped academics, researchers, educators, small businesses, and authors share their stories. Christine holds a Master of Arts in Women’s History, an honors bachelor’s in English Literature, and has completed numerous editing and communication courses. Also a published author, Christine guides writers from start to finish with empathy and heart.
Helen Thompson
Design
Helen brings her keen eye and creative vision to the Graydin team as a designer. Helen is a freelance graphic designer and enjoys helping her clients bring their ideas to life through clear and compelling visual design. Helen applies years of experience from agency and in-house work to her current clients across a range of industries. She is passionate about layout design, strategic color use and solving creative problems through effective visuals. When not designing, Helen loves to be outside, preferably with a good book in hand.
gerard gulde
project admin
Gerard supports the Graydin core team as the executive assistant. Before joining Graydin, Gerard spent five years working in the BPO sector as an operations supervisor and project coach, supporting large businesses in optimizing their processes. With a keen eye for sales and systems creation, Gerard is passionate about driving efficiency and helping teams succeed. After a long day of work, he enjoys going out for runs and gushing over Capybara videos.
Our Network of Certified Facilitators
Equipped with the knowledge and skills gained from completing Graydin’s Coaching Course Series, Certified Facilitators are licenced to share the Learning Stage of our curriculum with their communities and beyond. They’re the driving force behind our vision and this network is growing every month.
Start with Heart model
Heart
Values
Wants
Passions
Motivations
Head
Lenses
Options
Reality
Resources
Step
Action
Growth
Accountability
Commitment
The Start With Heart model is designed to be used by and with for all members of an educational community. The key distinguishing feature is the emphasis on the ‘Heart’ - the coachee's passions, dreams, values, motivations, emotions and feelings. After the Heart, the model moves to the ‘Head’, where coachees explore options, challenges, and thoughts to actualize their insights. Finally, the ‘Step’ stage involves taking action and committing to change. This stage encourages coachees to reflect on the significance of their steps and become accountable for their actions. What we love most is that you can use this in a five-minute chat or a 35-minute conversation, in a boardroom or a classroom. It was designed for all stakeholders to use and understand, creating a common language that, although simple, is profound.
Monthly Practice Drop-Ins
Join our founders, McKenzie and Quinn, for a monthly online coaching group where you can connect with them, ask questions and network with other educators who share your passion for coaching.