The Story Behind Kōkua Hub
In 2022, as the world shifted to remote work, something quietly but profoundly changed. The small, human moments—quick check-ins, spontaneous chats, subtle mood reads—vanished. The hallway conversations and “got a sec?” moments that once helped teams feel seen and supported were suddenly gone.
"People were enjoying fewer face-to-face interactions, they were less able to stay connected, sense the mood of others, or spot issues before they grew." - Cellene Hoogenkamp, CEO & Founder
We saw talented people becoming disconnected. Managers overwhelmed. Teams misaligned.
According to the latest Gallup data, only 27% of managers are engaged at work—a clear sign that the disconnection wasn’t just emotional, it was structural.
We asked ourselves:
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How do we help people stay connected in a disconnected world?
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How do we support not just performance, but resilience and wellbeing?
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And how do we do it at scale—without sacrificing quality or humanity?
These questions became the foundation of Kōkua Hub.
Before 2022
Support was spontaneous, connection came naturally.
Today
Connection looks different—but it matters more than ever.
That’s where Kōkua Hub
began.
“Kōkua”—the Hawaiian word for helping with intention—became our guiding principle.
Our founders came together with a shared belief: that coaching should be accessible, human, and empowering. And that by giving employees space to pause, reflect, and reset—with the right coach at the right moment—we could help people thrive, not just survive, at work.
Kōkua Hub is a global platform delivering real-time, personalized coaching to employees at every level. With 70+ accredited coaches, 12+ languages, and flexible, confidential sessions, we help organizations care for their people before issues escalate.
We believe coaching is more than development—it’s a lifeline to self-efficacy, trust, and sustainable growth. Because when people feel supported, they show up stronger—for themselves, their teams, and the business.
Meet the Founders
Cellene Hoogenkamp
Founder & CEO
Cellene Hoogenkamp is an advisor to CEOs On World-Class Team Performance. For 25 years, the Dutch-born executive has been in the trenches of business with senior executives and entrepreneurs, both crafting successes and learning what it takes to succeed at the highest levels. An Executive Coach focused on global leadership development.
Kathleen Halligan
Kathleen Halligan is a Chartered Work & Organisational Psychologist and HR strategist with over 30 years’ experience advising senior leaders across sectors. As co-founder of Kōkua Hub, she helped shape its mission to bring accessible, high-impact coaching to organisations.
You care about your people. So do we.
Let’s talk about how coaching can help them grow with confidence.