GROWING THE GLOBAL CAPACITY OF PEOPLE
Impact on Interactions
We specialize in guiding you through challenging conversations within your team, with co-workers, clients and stakeholders.
We focus on the Human Side of Business and People.
Our goal is to help your organization work better together in today's rapidly changing work environment.
Let us help you and your team thrive!
In the high-stakes environment of workplace communications, emotions can escalate, turning conversations into confrontations and opinions into conflicts. Our services equip you with the skills to navigate conflict with ease and confidence, leading to better results and supporting you to be a dynamic leader.
Discussions by Design Superpower
Brenda Hooper and her team of experts at Discussions by Design bring over 90 years of combined experience to help teams work better together.
We have a ton of tools in our communication and conflict management toolbox to provide individuals and organizations with customized and flexible training and coaching programs.
Our approach to leadership communication and conflict management has enabled companies to save millions of dollars in employee turnover, formal complaints, investigations, and litigation.
Corporations of all sizes across various industries benefit
Our Team
We are a team of communication and dispute resolution professionals with a combination of 50+ years experience in training, coaching and mediation. Our diverse backgrounds allow for a variety of perspectives and insights to serve all of our clients in many different industries.
Brenda Hooper
Laraine Ashpole
Georg Stratemeyer
Kathy Elm
Meet The Team
Brenda Hooper
Founder/Owner of Discussions by Design Training and Coaching Service
After receiving her Certification in Conflict Resolution from the Justice Institute of B.C. in 1998, Brenda focused her career as a mediator, trainer and coach to support individuals and organizations to develop their ability to manage conflict productively.
Brenda is a Chartered Mediator through the ADR Institute of Canada (ADRIC) and co-chairs the National Mediation Committee for ADRIC.
Brenda completed her Graduate Certificate in Executive Coaching from Royal Roads University and currently holds her Professional Coaching Certification (PCC) through the International Coaching Federation.
Training and Facilitation is in her blood from the early days of teaching the CAIB level 2 course for Insurance professionals to delivering mediation and dispute resolution training and coaching programs in Dubai and Singapore.
When she’s not heading out for a nature walk or traveling with her husband, she loves curling up with a great book.
Laraine Ashpole
Laraine has an undergraduate degree in Psychology from Wilfrid Laurier University and a Master of Arts in Leadership & Training from Royal Roads University. She completed certificates in Negotiation and Mediation from the Justice Institute of BC.
As an Employers’ Adviser with the Ministry of Labour she supports diverse workplaces to navigate challenging matters related to injury claims, occupational health & safety education, and prohibited action complaints, and adjudication processes.
Laraine has a passion for developing conflict competent cultures.
Laraine enjoys camping, exploring parks and community festivals with her family and dogs.
Georg Stratemeyer
Georg has worked as a mediator, coach and instructor for more almost 30 years. He currently works for the RCMP in various roles, including as an Informal Conflict Management Practitioner. In this role he responds to work place conflict by providing coaching and mediation services as well as workplace assessments and group interventions. Georg developed courses for the Mount Royal University, Calgary, AB, Conflict Resolution Program. He has a Master’s Degree in Conflict Analysis and Management from Royal Roads University.
Kathy Elm
Kathy brings with her over 25 years experience in Conflict Management. Her span of work covers mediations, facilitated discussions, conflict coaching, group needs assessments, group facilitations, delivery of conflict management training and workshops, coaching, and mentorship.
Her main areas of work were with the Department of National Defence, Health Canada, RCMP, and other government departments with a specific focus on workplace conflict.
Along with Kathy’s work with Federal Government Departments she mediated in the Civil Court Mediation Program for Alberta Justice for over 15 years.
Kathy is a Chartered Mediator with a degree in Human Resources and Labour Relations.
Kathy resides with her husband in Qualicum Beach, BC.
TESTIMONIALS
Sara Padidar
Co-Founder and Principal,
Talk Shop Media
“Talk Shop Media has consistently worked with Brenda during which time we have seen a dramatic improvement in our internal dynamic, decision making and general communications within our business. We thoroughly enjoy and value our work with Brenda and would highly recommend her to any other business.”
B. Martin
Area Director for the Federal Government of Canada
“Brenda was supportive while also challenging and coaching the group to develop goals and outcomes that were both within their control, but also those that they could commit to. The result of these sessions was an overall improvement in interpersonal relationships, communication and problem-solving for the teams involved.”
Warren Lindsay
General Manager
– Genco Industries
“We required the services of a mediator to resolve a longstanding relationship issue between two of our employees. The situation had disintegrated to the point where the issues were severely impacting the two employees and outside agencies were involved. Brenda did an excellent job for us. I highly recommend using Brenda for any mediation or conflict resolution that your organization requires.”