Meet Dr. Sarai Koo. The heart behind Project SPICES™.
Dr. Koo has spent her career helping people grow, from tutoring students in 1996 to presenting her work to senior leaders from 40+ federal agencies. She created Project SPICES™ and Re+Calibration™ so people, couples, and organizations can find the real cause of what keeps holding them back, and move forward with clarity.
Dr. Sarai KooFounder, Project SPICES LLC · CEO, Winning Pathway®
Since 1996Teaching and developing people
Since 2002Leading teams and organizations
Since 2007Founder of Project SPICES LLC
200+Senior leaders · invited expert at an ODNI forum
Trusted by leaders across public agencies, enterprise, education & mission-critical organizations
Her story
How Project SPICES™ came to life.
Dr. Koo has been an educator for decades. Project SPICES™ grew out of that work, and since 2006 she has taught it in schools, institutions, and government agencies.
Companies
Schools
Institutions
Government agencies
Dr. Koo teaching the Project SPICES™ framework.
1990s · An educator first
Dr. Koo began her work in human development in the 1990s, teaching and developing people. She has been an educator ever since.
2002 · Her first leadership role
She earned her degree in human development and stepped into her first leadership role as an Assistant Director. Since then, she has led numerous leadership roles.
2006 · Project SPICES™ is complete
After years of work in human development, she fully developed the Project SPICES™ Transformational Model: one framework that looks at the whole person instead of one piece at a time.
Since 2006 · Teaching Project SPICES™
She has taught the Project SPICES™ Transformational Model in schools, institutions, and government agencies, helping people see the whole picture and take clear next steps.
2006 · MAPS 4 College
She founded MAPS 4 College, which latert became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization to help students succeed in school, college, and life.
2007 · Project SPICES LLC
She founded Project SPICES LLC to bring the framework to people, families, and organizations.
2008 · Board service
She began serving on boards, sharing her leadership and human-development experience. She has held board positions ever since.
2009 · A nonprofit for families
She launched a nonprofit organization and began relationship education, supported by sub-awards from federal grants held by partner agencies.
Federal service
She served as the founding director of a workforce innovation team, a new division she built inside a federal agency.
2019 · Invited to the ODNI forum
She was invited to present the Project SPICES™ model at the ODNI Insider Threat Task Force Forum to 200+ senior leaders from 40+ federal agencies. She was later nominated for a National Intelligence Community award.
2024 · Winning Pathway®
She launched Winning Pathway® to bring Re+Calibration™, the applied method of Project SPICES™, to companies, cities, and agencies.
2025 · Giving back
She joined the advisory board of the USF School of Management Women in Leadership program and became Co-Lead Strategic Insights Advisor for NHRA–Los Angeles.
Why she built it
People aren’t made of separate pieces.
Most help comes one piece at a time. A work problem gets a work fix. A relationship problem gets a relationship fix. But stress at work shows up at home, and trouble at home shows up at work.
Dr. Koo built Project SPICES™ to connect those pieces. It looks at the whole person and the whole system, so people can fix the cause instead of chasing the symptoms. Re+Calibration™ is how that work gets done.
One framework. Many parts of life. One clear next step.
Dr. Sarai Koo is the creator of Project SPICES™ and Re+Calibration™, the founder of Project SPICES LLC, and the founder and CEO of Winning Pathway®. She has been teaching and developing people since 1996 and leading teams and organizations since 2002.
What is she known for?
She is known for helping people, couples, and organizations find the real cause of problems that keep coming back. Her Project SPICES™ framework looks at the whole person and the whole system instead of one piece at a time.
Has she worked with government?
Yes. She served as the founding director of a workforce innovation team inside a federal agency. In 2019, she was invited to present the Project SPICES™ model to 200+ senior leaders from 40+ federal agencies at an ODNI forum.
Does Dr. Koo speak at events?
Yes. She gives keynotes, workshops, and trainings for organizations, schools, and community groups. You can learn more and send a speaking request at DrSaraiKoo.com.
How can I work with her?
Pick the path that fits you. Coaching Specialty® is for personal and executive coaching. Relationship & Love Tips™ is for couples. Winning Pathway® is for leaders and organizations. Not sure? Start a conversation and we will help you choose.
Is Dr. Koo a therapist?
No. Her work is coaching, education, training, and consulting. It is not therapy or medical care. If you need mental health care, please reach out to a licensed professional.
What books has she written?
Her books include Organizational Misalignment, part of the Re+Calibration™ Series; Seoul Food, a memoir; and the Marketing Without Money Workbook. Her research is listed at publications.projectspices.com.
Your next step
Let’s find what’s holding you back.
Whether it’s you, your relationship, or your organization, the first step is a simple conversation. Tell us what’s going on, and we’ll help you find the best place to start.
Creator of Project SPICES™
