About Us
An Aussie and an American, mates from the get go, with a combined passion to help leaders and businesses know who they are and what they need to do next.
The Story So Far
Two Guys Get To Floating…
Sun, sand and salt air, the perfect recipe for ideating great businesses. Coach William Walker and International Business Coach Jonathan (Jono) Brake whilst attending a summit in Pawleys Is SC got to hanging out, chatting and floating in the warm Atlantic Ocean, and the seeds of The Forged Leader were planted.
The two became mates right off the bat. So much potential. Combining skillsets to bring everything a business leaders and owners need to build a passionate and engaged business. One a Marine, Executive Chef and coach, the other an entrepreneur, musician, strategic leadership coach and marketer.
Developing The Trail Markers
Jono and William picked up on the Trail Marker theme because of their love of the outdoors. Regularly found on the trails hiking, running or mountain biking, they wanted to bring some of that experience to leaders and their businesses. Just like on a trail, life has markers we need to consistently observe to stay focused on the trail, not get lost and reach an ultimate destination.
The Trail Markers
The Trail Markers are our proprietary framework to help leaders and their businesses know who they are and what they need to do next.
| PURPOSE | Knowing why you’re here and what guides you. |
| STRATEGY | Distilling your purpose into those important next steps. |
| PEOPLE | Knowing and inviting the right people onto the trail with you. |
| COMMUNICATION | The right conversations at the right time so your people can run with purpose with you. |
| REPEATABLE PROCESSES | Building frameworks that make it simple for others to follow and repeat. |
Helping you and your business discover the five markers, helps you stay on the trail, getting you to the destination you want and need to get to.
How We Do It
Our Values
Intentional Connections
Forge meaningful connections with the essence of reciprocity, where every exchange enriches both giver and receiver.
Passion That Wont Be Silent
We are here for you but wont sit idly by if we see something holding you or your business back.
A Set Apart Experience
The whole package adds up to what we call a “set apart” experience for your family, your team and your customers.
Protecting The Family
More than family first, we protect our families, we fight for them, we wont compromise for our families.
What You Can Expect
Meaningful Insights
We are a chef / business coach combination. We understand your business inside and out and bring decades of experience to your game.
Challenging Authenticity
We get real fast! We are famous for it. We bring our authentic selves to the game so you will be comfortable to do likewise.
Great Conversations
Ultimately this is about you and your team. Relationships matter, what’s really going on in your world matters. We are here to listen.
Meet The Team
Meet William and Jonathan (Jono)
Executive Chef and Coach William Walker and International Business Coach Jonathan Brake combine their coaching and business talents to bring a great experience to owners and leaders.
William Walker
Chef / Leadership Coach
William is an experienced operator and chef with over thirty years of experience.
Driven by a clear vision and mission he takes pride in providing the best service, food, and experience possible. William is a former Marine and has over 30 years of leadership experience in the hospitality industry.
He has served in roles that have given him the skills needed for a variety of hospitality operations, from strategic planning, project management and day to day operations. In addition, William has been a key stakeholder in the design and building of several multi-million-dollar food halls and national brands. He has been recognized for his extraordinary commitment to excellence and his desire to continue to grow and stay on the cutting edge within the hospitality community.
He has led, coached, and built teams that had to work together in high-stress environments, giving him a unique understanding of what it takes to bring together individuals to focus on one common cause and mission as well as challenge them to identify what areas they want to grow in.
William and Stacey have three sons, live in Auburn, Alabama.
William is an avid adventurer, from running spartan races, surfing, backpacking in the Rockies and everything in between.
Jonathan Brake (Jono)
Entrepreneur / Leadership Coach
Jonathan Brake is an experienced coach, strategist and business leader with over two decades experience in business covering six continents.
Jonathan understands business and relationships like no other, from marketing to team communication to business leadership to customer experience. He has a keen interest in how businesses and people function and interact. Jono has seen it all from solo start ups to multi $bn companies and everything in between.
He is also well versed in DISC, a Certified Predictive Index Practitioner, and many other people focused tools.
Jono holds a Master of Advertising and PR, a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Political Science as well as formal coaching credits recognized by the International Coaching Federation.
Jonathan is an Australian living in Western North Carolina with his wife, son (High School Junion) and a daughter in college.
His passions outside of busieness center around the mountains hiking and mountain bike riding as well as rugby and travelling the world.