Meet the Team
The New Zealand Team
Simonne Liley - Founder
Simonne Liley is the Founder of CORE Leadership Institute, an international award winning speaker, and a leadership strategist who builds leaders from the inside out. She helps leaders lead with calm authority, clear standards, and cultures that perform without burnout or self-abandonment.
Simonne blends neuroscience, behavioural psychology, and practical frameworks that hold up in real life. The work is simple, not easy: regulation, responsibility, communication, and accountability.
Her experience spans decades in business alongside frontline work supporting people through crisis and major change.
That depth is matched by extensive professional training across positive psychology, mental fitness, behavioural profiling, facilitation, and neuro linguistic programming. Simonne is a Certified Master Coach, Master NLP Practitioner, and trained in advanced change work modalities that identify and remove the patterns that keep leaders stuck.
That is why Simonne does not coach around the edges. She meets leaders in reality, holds dignity, and moves them forward without collusion.
Warm, not soft. Kind, not nice. Simonne believes success is an inside job, and leadership starts there.
When you work with Simonne, you can expect:
- Calm authority under pressure
- Standards and boundaries that stick
- Cleaner communication and fewer fires
- Teams who take ownership
- More time, energy, and headspace
- Better health, better relationships, better life rhythm
If you like the official stuff, you can view Simonne’s credentials HERE.
Simonne Liley - Founder
In Simonne’s 25 years in industry, she has seen her fair share of industry legends “bleed out” with excessive empathy and burn out with excessive hours.
Simonne is passionate about working with her industry to change that. One of the many learnings she had from recent years is how important resilience and self-leadership is, so we can lead with calm, deliberate confidence; without sacrificing self or profit.
A love of people and behavioural processes, Simonne recognised that increasing revenue is not the only part of the wealth equation.
Extensive studies in Positive Psychology, Mental Fitness, Facilitation, Behavioural Profiling, a Certified Master Coach Ultimate, Master NLP Practitioner, and Time Line Therapist, Simonne is passionate in identifying, understanding and removing disempowering patterns that get in the way of our full potential.
“Fulfilment and success are an inside job.”
Whilst an introvert, Simonne has spoken at multiple industry, women and coaching events, in NZ and offshore. Passionately addressing our need to address our internal environment.
In 2023 Simonne was immensely humbled to be a winner in The Ignition Top 50 Women in Accounting award, one of only two New Zealanders.
Why choose Simonne as your business guide? Being in business can be a lonely and challenging space. Simonne understands that to get accelerated results in business we need to address the whole. The business and how you show up in it. What makes you do what you do, think how you think, what makes you, you!
She doesn’t just get you the bog standard results of increase in your bottom line or more time for you in your working week. She works with you to unpack the deeper desires that you want to achieve AND strategies on how to make it happen.
Crack the Code!
Johno Yarrow - Client Success Coordinator
Johno is our dedicated Client Success Coordinator at the CORE Leadership Institute, where he leverages his extensive leadership experience in the trade industry to foster growth and success for our clients. As well as business ownership, he has helped lead companies to achieve prestigious gold and silver trade awards, demonstrating his commitment to excellence.
Johno has a degree in Psychology, is Certified as an NLP Practitioner, Pro Coach and of CORE Leadership.
He is passionate about men’s mental health and the importance of building resilience. Johno thrives on helping others develop strong mental fortitude, guiding our clients toward personal and professional success.
He is here to be your accountability and support person throughout your journey with CORE Leadership Institute.
Johno enjoys getting out in nature, anything from bush walks to mountain biking, beach days with the family and surfing our lovely beaches which we are surrounded by!
Bruce Tomlinson - Event Support
Although not formally employed by CORE Leadership Institute, Bruce has long been an integral part of our journey. A retired farmer with a heart for people and transformation, Bruce has stood alongside Simonne from the very beginning, and in fact was an integral part of the founding. But that’s another story – IYKYK! He was often providing the only on-the-ground support at conferences and events before our wider team grew.
Today, Bruce continues to be a warm and steady presence at our gatherings. He brings genuine curiosity and encouragement to the work we do, taking joy in witnessing the powerful transformations our clients experience. His grounded perspective, shaped by a lifetime on the land, adds richness to the CORE community, and his support behind the scenes helps ensure our clients feel both seen and supported.
Our Online Team
Stephanie Siosan - Executive Assistant
Steph joined the team in 2019. Steph has been a VA with varying responsibilities for more than 11 years and has grown significantly with her role here at CORE Leadership Institute. Steph loves doing what she does and it shows, committed to our mission.
In 2021, Steph was promoted to Executive Assistant. Performing various EA and admin support to Simonne. Steph keeps the wheels of our business machine moving and Simonne in line! She supports our clients success, organises our events, and is a critical point of contact for all external partners.
Steph has a Bachelor’s degree in Information and Technology and is our go-to for IT support. Tech-savvy, she has a particular interest in computers and softwares – even enjoys getting challenged looking for fixes and/or workarounds. Steph ensures the smooth running of our IT systems, maintain websites and other databases.
Steph lives by the company’s CORE Values, is diligent and well-organised. She loves music, spending time with family and friends, and loves to pamper herself with anything sweet.
Kendra Yarrow - Social Media Manager
Kendra has recently joined the team in 2025 and aims to bring a thoughtful and fresh approach to our marketing and social media engagement.
Kendra is CORE Leadership Certified and understands the immense value of unpacking what drives you, what is holding you back and how to overcome your worst enemy (you).
Alongside this, Kendra has a Bachelor’s degree in Cultural Anthropology, Development Studies and Religion. Kendra works part-time for CORE Leadership Institute whilst exploring the natural beauty of Canada and loves all things outdoors and delicious.
