About Conflict EQ

We help teams turn moments of tension into opportunities for clarity, understanding, and connection.

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Meet our Founders

Dr. Irvine Nugent,  PCC, CSP

Irvine is a leadership and conflict-management expert who helps leaders turn tension into connection. Drawing on lived experience from Northern Ireland, deep expertise in emotional intelligence, and senior leadership roles, he empowers individuals and teams to navigate conflict constructively and lead with clarity, resilience, and impact.

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Trista Schoonmaker, M.Ed., PCC

Trista is a leadership coach and facilitator who helps leaders address tension with clarity and courage. A certified coach and mediator, she brings high-energy facilitation and lived experience to help individuals and teams build confidence, shift mindsets, and navigate conflict with greater resilience and impact.

Meet Our Team

  • Monica Thakrar, PCC

    Monica Thakrar, PCC

    Monica is a leadership and change expert who helps leaders guide organizations through transformation with clarity and confidence. With 18+ years of experience in strategy, change management, and executive coaching, she brings an intuitive yet practical approach that strengthens relationships, builds high-performing teams, and delivers sustainable change.

  • Carol Robert, MCC

    Carol Robert, MCC

    Carol is a leadership coach and organizational culture strategist who helps leaders build self-awareness, navigate change, and turn insight into action. With 25+ years of executive experience, she brings a practical, grounded approach that strengthens collaboration, resilience, and sustainable performance.

  • Tilghman Payne

    Tilghman Payne, ACC

    Tilghman is a retired U.S. Navy Rear Admiral and executive coach who develops the next generation of leaders. With 30+ years commanding complex organizations, he brings real-world leadership experience to mentoring, strategic thinking, and leading change with confidence and integrity.



  • Susan Seber, PCC

    Susan Seber, PCC

    Susan is an executive coach, facilitator, and leadership strategist who helps leaders lead with purpose and impact. With deep global experience and a practical, human-centered approach, she supports individuals and teams in building resilience, clarity, and high performance through meaningful change.



Build a culture where collaboration thrives 

Equipping your teams with effective conflict resolution tools leads to clearer communication, restored trust, and a renewed sense of purpose. 

In fact, when teams address tension proactively, they experience less stress and achieve more on their mission. 

Research shows that organizations investing in conflict training see results like this:

  • 95% of employees successfully navigate current conflicts

  • 60% actively pursue win-win solutions

  • 85% handle conflicts without taking them personally

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