Cole DemasLeadership & Mentoring Consultant
LEADERSHIP. MENTORING. STRONGER TEAMS.
Leadership and mentoring for professionals, managers, and teams. Build confidence in your decisions, strengthen working relationships, or bring a leadership conversation to your next company event.
10 minutes by phone or 20 minutes in person. Tell me what you need, and we'll discuss whether working together makes sense. Free, with no obligation.
Washington & the West Coast · In person, by phone, or by video
Lead with respect.
Help others grow.
WAYS I CAN HELP
Start with what you need. Work with me one-to-one, strengthen your team, or bring a leadership conversation to your company event.
01 / MY CORE FOCUS
One-to-one mentoring to help you trust your judgment, set boundaries, and take ownership of your next step. We'll work through real challenges and build a plan that fits your goals and everyday life.
02 / FOR MANAGERS & TEAM LEADS
Support for managers giving feedback, setting expectations, and handling difficult team conversations. Build an approachable leadership style that helps people learn and take ownership.
Discuss leadership support03 / BUILD A STRONGER TEAM
Work through friction, clarify responsibilities, and build trust. Help people understand their role and take ownership of how the team works together.
Discuss your team's needs04 / STRENGTHEN CLIENT TRUST
Set realistic expectations, address concerns, and follow through with confidence. Build client relationships grounded in clear communication and trust.
Discuss client consultingLEADERSHIP TALKS, RETREATS & WORKSHOPS
Planning a leadership event or team workshop? Bring your managers together to practice useful feedback, build trust, and choose one change to take back to work. Talks, workshops, and retreat discussions are shaped around your people.
See session formats, topics, planning details, and free resources on the leadership events page.
MEET COLE
I know how much it can mean to have someone take your future seriously. I bring honest feedback, patient listening, and respect for where you're starting. You don't need to have everything figured out to begin.
My path wasn't a straight line. I grew up in West Virginia and built my career without a college degree, starting at the bottom in several industries. Mentors who became father figures helped me find direction and see what I was capable of. Having people believe in me made a lasting difference.
More than a decade in construction and quality assurance has given me experience to draw on, but the reason I mentor is personal. I want to pass that support on. Whatever your background, I want you to leave our conversations feeling heard, more confident in your judgment, and ready to take your next step.
Cole DemasLeadership & Mentoring Consultant
You deserve to be heard and taken seriously. We'll start with your experience, priorities, and goals so the guidance fits you and the life you're building.
You'll have the opportunity to ask questions and get my honest perspective on your hurdles, what may be behind them, and the options ahead. I'll explain my reasoning so you can make informed decisions with greater confidence.
Once we've identified what's working, what isn't, and what's getting in your way, we'll build a plan that feels realistic for your everyday life. Clear, achievable steps help you move toward your goals while respecting your responsibilities and work-life balance.
WHY I DO THIS
I've experienced firsthand how much leadership can shape someone's growth and career. I've worked with incredible managers who made room for people to learn and succeed. I've also seen how ego, dismissiveness, and a lack of support can hold people back.
Those experiences are why I do this. I want to pass on the skills and management approach I work to practice every day—and help build the next generation of confident leaders and mentors.
Whether you're a CEO or an entry-level employee, you deserve the same courtesy, respect, and willingness to listen. Being approachable means making time for questions and taking concerns seriously.
A successful team depends on people throughout the organization. Dismissing someone's contribution because of their title can weaken the whole team. I help leaders recognize that value and make it clear to the people doing the work.
Clear expectations, honest feedback, and opportunities to take ownership help people trust their abilities. My goal is to make those habits part of daily management, so more people have the support to succeed and guide others in turn.
MY MOTTO
“If you want to be better, be better.”
Show up, keep your word, and make room to learn. Progress can start with one manageable step.
STORIES OF GROWTH
A few experiences from my years of mentoring—and why helping people grow matters to me.
INDIVIDUAL GROWTH → LEADERSHIP
5 yearsof mentoring along the way
I mentored her for five years as she grew from an engineer-in-training into a geotechnical engineer. Today, she's starting her own geotechnical team.
Her progress reflects years of effort, learning, and commitment. I'm proud to have offered guidance along the way as her responsibilities grew. That's what makes mentoring meaningful to me: supporting someone as they discover what they're capable of.
A CAREER CHANGE AFTER 15 YEARS
After 15 years with one employer, a professional I supported was preparing for a change. He had valuable experience, but the uncertainty made it hard to recognize everything he brought to a new role.
I helped him talk through overwhelming moments, recognize his experience, and consider the balance and boundaries he wanted in his working life.
A change can feel more manageable when you understand your value and have someone to talk through the next step with.
CONFIDENCE & OWNERSHIP
I've mentored younger professionals and friends as they built confidence in their roles and took greater ownership of their work. Seeing them grow into capable professionals is one of the most rewarding parts of what I do.
My approach makes room for the questions people sometimes hesitate to ask. We explore the why behind a decision, talk honestly about obstacles, and identify a next step they can take ownership of.
The aim is confidence they can carry into their own decisions, conversations, and responsibilities.
WHERE IT STARTS FOR ME
At home, I encourage my 11-year-old daughter's interest in engineering. She's excelling in her STEM and robotics clubs, and watching her explore what she can do reminds me why encouragement matters. Long before a first job, having someone take your interests seriously can help you imagine where they might lead.
IN THEIR WORDS
YOUR FIRST MENTORING SESSION
Bring a career decision, a difficult conversation, or a leadership challenge. We'll work through it together and identify a realistic next step.
Talk through what's happening and choose one priority to focus on.
Ask questions, hear my honest perspective, and understand the reasoning behind your choices.
Agree on achievable steps that fit your responsibilities and everyday life.
Your workload keeps growing, and you're unsure how to speak up without sounding unwilling. Here's how we could approach it.
An illustrative scenario, not a client testimonial. Your sessions will reflect your own situation and goals.
A CLEAR NEXT STEP
Start with one session, choose ongoing support, or plan something for your team. Your introduction is free; we'll agree on the right fit and total cost before you commit.
Choose a session length that fits your event. Q&A is included in the total time.
Both options include: one planning call, preparation tailored to your audience and goals, and a one-page participant takeaway.
Prices shown are base speaking fees for one session. Travel, lodging, additional sessions, and extensive customization are quoted separately. Any required licensing or permit costs will be itemized in your written quote and included in the agreed total, along with applicable sales tax, before booking. Dates are confirmed once availability and any required approvals are in place.
Inquire about a speaking sessionLeadership development, team building, client relationship consulting, interactive workshops, and retreat facilitation are custom quoted.
We'll discuss your goals, who should take part, and the scope of support. Preparation, what's included, any travel, and the total fee are agreed before you commit. For workshops and retreats, any required licensing or permit costs are itemized in your written quote and included in the agreed total, along with applicable sales tax. Dates are confirmed once availability and any required approvals are in place.
Discuss your needsAll rates are in USD. Send an inquiry, and I'll personally follow up to discuss the right fit and arrange a time.
BEFORE WE GET STARTED
I'll reply personally to arrange your free introduction: 10 minutes by phone or 20 minutes in person. Tell me what you're working through. We'll discuss what you need and whether working together makes sense, with no obligation to book a paid session.
A few sentences are enough for your inquiry. If helpful, I'll send a short questionnaire tailored to your needs before we meet.
I work with adults 18 and older across industries, from early-career professionals to experienced leaders and teams. We can work one-to-one or with a group.
Our work focuses on professional growth, leadership, and working relationships. Mentoring and consulting do not replace mental health treatment or other licensed professional services.
I'm based in Bothell, Washington, and serve the West Coast. I prefer meeting in person when location and travel allow; phone and video are available too.
Share a few times that suit you, with your time zone. We'll confirm the time, format, location, and any travel together. Sending an inquiry does not reserve an appointment or event date.
Your introduction is free. Explore personal leadership sessions and speaking rates. Leadership development, team support, client consulting, workshops, and retreat facilitation are custom quoted.
We'll agree on the scope, what's included, and the total fee before you commit. I'll then send your service agreement privately, followed by an invoice and meeting confirmation steps. Any additional support or travel is agreed separately.
Yes. For ongoing mentoring or business support, we can agree on a retainer that fits your needs. We'll define the sessions, support between meetings, response times, and fee together. Retainer clients can have a private scheduling arrangement as part of that agreement.
Please contact me as soon as your plans change. We'll confirm the cancellation, rescheduling, and refund terms in your agreement before paid work begins. Your introductory conversation is free.
I use your inquiry to respond and discuss the support you need. Completed questionnaires, agreements, and client notes are kept out of the public website. Please leave out sensitive personal information and confidential details about your employer or clients. Read how inquiries are handled.
START WITH A FREE INTRODUCTION
Tell me what you're working through, or what you'd like your team to take away. I'll reply personally to arrange a free conversation about what you need and whether we're a good fit.
10 minutes by phone20 minutes in personFree. No obligation.
A few sentences are enough. Review your inquiry, then open your email app to send it to me.
For events, include your company name, audience size, event date, and location or virtual format.
Let me know whether you'd prefer a phone call or an in-person introduction, along with your location and any times that usually work for you.
Opens your email app so you can write and send your message.
coledemas@coledemasconsulting.com
Already working together? Use the scheduling arrangement in your retainer agreement, or email me to plan your next session.
FOR YOURSELF. FOR THE PEOPLE YOU LEAD.
Favorite quotes and guiding principles for building your own confidence—and becoming the kind of leader others can grow with.
“Be the One, Not the Many”
For me, being the black sheep means choosing a path that fits your values and helping others grow along the way. You can be yourself, ask questions, and build confidence at your own pace.
“Be your biggest fan.”
“You are what you do, not what you say you'll do.”
“How come you're up so early? If you were headed where I'm headed, you'd be up early, too.”
“Stop valuing other people's opinions.”
“All you need is one person in your life who says, ‘You've got this. I believe in you.’ More importantly, that person needs to be there for you when things go wrong, too.”
“A big part of who I am now is who I'm not anymore.”
“It was never about what they think. It's about whether you listen to yourself.”
“Stop walking paths paved by other people.”
“Be the person people look at and say, ‘Damn, this guy just never quits.’”
“I. DO. IT. ANYWAY.”
“If you have to ask for it, it loses its value.”
“Outwork, out-improve, outstrategize, and outlast.”
“Calm down. Close your ears.”
“Lead with respect. Make room for growth.”
“Every role matters. Respect shouldn't depend on a title.”
“Set clear expectations. Explain the why. Make ownership possible.”
“Be approachable before there's a problem.”
“Hold people accountable. Give them the support to succeed.”
“Earn trust through the commitments you keep.”