Leadership is personal—and so are we.
Our Team
At Kapital Leadership Development, we believe leadership growth is most powerful when it’s build on trust, partnership, and genuine connection. Our team is passionate about unlocking potential—in individuals, in teams, and in entire organizations.
We bring together decades of experience in leadership development, organizational strategy, curriculum design, and real-world problem solving. But, more importantly, we bring a people-first approach to everything we do.
FOUNDER, CHIEF EDUCATION OFFICER, KAPITAL EDUCATOR
DR. KRISTEN DUGAN
Doctor of Executive Leadership | Certified EQ-i 2.0 & EQ 360 Practitioner | Lean Six Sigma Black Belt | Dean, School of Leadership | Leadership & Organizational Development Specialist
A long-time Mahoning Valley resident, Kristen founded Kapital Leadership Development with a simple but powerful belief, leadership growth starts with people—their stories, their challenges, and their potential.
With more than 15 years of experience designing leadership programs and developing leaders across industries, Kristen blends research-based practices with real-world insight to create development experiences that are both meaningful and measurable.
She holds a Doctor of Executive Leadership, bringing a research-driven and strategic lens to every engagement. As a certified EQ-i 2.0/360 practitioner, Kristen helps leaders deepen self-awareness, resilience, and emotional intelligence to build stronger teams and authentic connections. She is also a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, applying data-driven process improvement strategies to help organizations align leadership growth and operational excellence.
Her professional background spans healthcare leadership, organizational strategy, and higher education, giving her a unique perspective on how people lead in complex, fast-changing environments. During her time in academia, she taught and mentored emerging leaders, developed leadership curricula, and guided countless professionals through their own growth journeys.
Today, she brings that same blend of practical experience and academic rigor to her work with clients—translating complex leadership into actionable tools leaders can use immediately, whether in a one-on-one coaching session, a workshop, or a company-wide initiative.
“I believe leadership isn’t about titles—it’s about impact. My purpose is to help people see their capacity to lead and give them the tools to do it with confidence and integrity.”
CO-FOUNDER, CHIEF PARTNERSHIP OFFICER, KAPITAL EDUCATOR
DR. SARAH HESS
Doctor of Executive Leadership | Certified EQ-i 2.0 & EQ 360 Practitioner | Workforce Leadership Program Director & Curriculum Designer | Strategic Partnerships & Leadership Development Consultant | Organizational Development Practitioner
A North Carolina native, Sarah is a leadership educator, workforce development professional, partnership strategist, and organizational development practitioner with more than two decades of experience helping individuals, organizations, and communities build leadership capacity and achieve meaningful results.
Throughout her career, Sarah has developed and led leadership initiatives across healthcare, higher education, and industry, working with organizations ranging from local employers to large, complex, and global manufacturing environments. Her experience designing and facilitating leadership development programs for leaders at multiple organizational levels has given her a deep understanding of the challenges organizations face as they seek to develop talent, strengthen culture, prepare future leaders, and navigate change.
Sarah is particularly skilled at building relationships and creating strategic partnerships that connect people, organizations, and opportunities. Her work has included collaborating with healthcare systems, military organizations, educational institutions, community partners, workforce organizations, and industry leaders to develop programs that strengthen leadership capability and support organizational growth. She believes meaningful partnerships are often the catalyst for sustainable change and long-term success.
Her professional journey began in healthcare as a neurodiagnostic and sleep science specialist and consultant, where she developed a firsthand appreciation for leadership in high-pressure, high-impact environments. Those experiences continue to shape her approach to leadership development today.
In higher education, Sarah serves as a program director, professor, and Director of Military and Academic Partnerships. She is the program director of a workforce leadership degree designed to prepare current and future leaders for the evolving demands of today's workforce.
Through this work, Sarah collaborates with employers, workforce professionals, industry partners, and adult learners to better understand the leadership capabilities organizations need most. Her experience designing workforce-focused curriculum provides valuable insight into leadership pipeline development, frontline supervisor effectiveness, workforce readiness, employee engagement, and the challenges organizations face in attracting, developing, and retaining talent.
Sarah's work at the intersection of workforce development, leadership education, and organizational effectiveness gives her a unique perspective on how organizations can strengthen leadership capacity while preparing employees for growth, advancement, and long-term success. She brings this understanding to every engagement, helping organizations connect leadership development efforts to workforce needs and organizational outcomes.
Sarah holds a Doctor of Executive Leadership and is a certified EQ-i 2.0 and EQ-i 360 practitioner. She combines evidence-based leadership practices with practical experience to help leaders strengthen emotional intelligence, navigate complexity, improve decision-making, and build stronger relationships.
Whether facilitating a leadership program, building a strategic partnership, supporting workforce initiatives, or helping organizations prepare future leaders, Sarah's work is grounded in a belief that leadership is ultimately about people and the relationships that help them thrive.
"Leadership is about people—their stories, their challenges, and their capacity for growth. My purpose is to help leaders discover what they are capable of and equip them with the tools to create lasting impact."
KAPITAL EDUCATOR
ANGELA THORNTON, M.Ed
Master of Adult Learning & Development | Doctor of Executive Leadership Candidate | Leadership, Talent & Workforce Development Consultant | Manufacturing Leadership Development Specialist | Organizational Development Practitioner
Born and raised in Northeast Ohio, Angela is a leadership and talent development professional with more than 15 years of experience helping organizations build capability, strengthen culture, and develop leaders who create meaningful results.
Throughout her career, Angela has partnered with organizations across financial services, healthcare, retail, and manufacturing to design and deliver leadership development initiatives that support both organizational performance and employee growth. Her experience spans frontline employees, emerging leaders, supervisors, managers, and executive teams, providing her with a broad understanding of the leadership challenges organizations face at every level.
A significant portion of Angela’s work has focused on manufacturing and operational environments, where leadership effectiveness directly influences workforce engagement, retention, safety, productivity, and organizational performance. She has supported leaders navigating workforce challenges, organizational change, succession planning, leadership transitions, and the development of high-potential talent. Her ability to connect leadership development with business outcomes allows her to help organizations strengthen both people and performance.
Angela’s work is grounded in the belief that leadership is not only about driving results but also about shaping the experience of work for others. Throughout her career, she has collaborated with leaders to create learning experiences, leadership programs, and talent development strategies that align organizational goals with human growth and long-term success.
She holds a Master of Science in Adult Learning and Development and is currently pursuing her Doctor of Executive Leadership. As a practitioner-scholar, Angela is particularly interested in the intersection of ethics, organizational culture, leadership practice, and workforce development. She is passionate about translating research into practical tools and strategies leaders can immediately apply within their organizations.
Angela views leadership not as a destination, but as an ongoing commitment to learning, accountability, and intentional action. Her approach encourages leaders to consider not only the outcomes they achieve, but also the impact they have on the people they lead.
"The true work of leadership is taking responsibility for how people experience their work and inspiring them to grow beyond what they thought possible."
Our Extended Kapital Educator Network
Kapital Leadership Development is supported by an extended network of experienced educators, facilitators, executive coaches, workforce development professionals, and industry practitioners who bring specialized expertise across leadership, organizational effectiveness, talent development, workforce leadership, and professional growth.
This collaborative model allows us to assemble the right expertise for each engagement—whether supporting an individual leader, facilitating team development, designing workforce initiatives, or delivering organization-wide leadership programs. By combining diverse perspectives and real-world experience, we help clients address complex challenges while maintaining a personalized, high-quality experience.
Our network enables Kapital to provide both the personalized attention of a boutique firm and the breadth of expertise often associated with larger consulting organizations.
Let's Build What's Next
Strong organizations don't happen by accident. They are built through intentional leadership, effective teams, and a commitment to continuous growth.
Whether you're developing leaders, strengthening your organization, building a leadership pipeline, navigating growth, or preparing for what's next, Kapital is here to help.
Every partnership starts with a conversation—and we'd love to learn more about yours.