Our Corporate Coaches
We work internationally in-person and online
Aileen Gonsalves
London, UK
Principal and creator of the Gonsalves Method
Aileen has a unique leadership communication approach, the Gonsalves Method. It is rooted in her acting and director career, including her long association with the Royal Shakespeare Company. Aileen’s method creates an authentic connection between the speaker and the audience. She enables leaders and their team members to “hold any audience in the palm of their hand.”
Clients work with Aileen to reconnect to their unique point of view, strengthening their belief in themselves, their story, and their objectives. They improve their ability to respond accurately, flexibly, and authentically, as well as their emotional intelligence and ability to read the room.
Aileen works with actors and other artists, top business executives, leaders and professionals, and leading political leaders including Parliamentarians both face-to-face and virtually.
She coaches Zack Polanski, the new leader of the Green Party of England and Wales for his media interviews, videos and speeches. She trains many of the party’s MPs, leaders and councillors in authentic communication bringing truth and connection to political discourse.
She is writing her second book for Bloomsbury, Introduction to the Gonsalves Method, following the success of her first book, Shakespeare and Meisner, for Bloomsbury and Arden both co written with Dr Tracy Irish. Aileen was also invited to write the forward for recently published Methuen’s Actors and Performers Yearbook 2026
During her time with the RSC, Aileen directed leading actors, including Dame Judi Dench and Sir Simon Russell Beale. She has worked alongside Vanessa Redgrave and RSC directors Michael Boyd and Greg Doran. Aileen also has coached individual stage and screen performers, including musical theatre star Alfie Boe, RSC leading actress Pippa Nixon, and Witcher and Lord of the Rings star Zates Atour.
Aileen has served as the Head of Acting at various drama schools and as a regular tutor at RADA. Aileen’s The Gonsalves Method is becoming a gold standard for actor training, including at the University of Northampton in the UK as well as at a number of UK universities. She has over 25 accredited teachers and directors working with the method across Europe.
Aileen also founded Butterfly Theatre Company. For the past 14 years, the ensemble has performed immersive, accessible productions of Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, and other Shakespeare classics up close in locations of extraordinary beauty–cave labyrinths, ancient woodlands, and historic castles.
Aileen was also Kali Theatre Company's associate director for many years, specialising in new writing from women of South Asian descent.
Get in touch to discover what Aileen and the Gonsalves Method can do for you.
Accredited Trainers
Sophie Rickman
Surrey, UK
Sophie is an actor and teacher with over 20 years of experience. One of the original members of Butterfly Theatre Company, she has a strong background in teaching and sharing the Gonsalves Method.
Matt Sparkes
Oxford, UK
Matt is a communication coach and experiential learning specialist. He works with professionals and leaders to communicate with clarity, confidence, and impact. With over a decade of experience in improvisation, actor training, and communication coaching, alongside senior leadership experience in international education, he integrates the Gonsalves Method into corporate training, developing presence, adaptability, and audience awareness, and preparing participants to handle high-stakes conversations with confidence.
Ruth Worth
Yorkshire, UK
Ruth is a professionally trained actress and director with experience across theatre, television, and film. She completed an Acting Masters with Aileen Gonsalves and now works as an actor, coach, and facilitator in both corporate and educational settings. Her passion is helping others grow in confidence and connection.
Sophie Kay
Surrey, UK
Sophie trained as a director at the Orange Tree Theatre in Richmond and now runs her own theatre company, Key Players. She also has extensive experience in TV directing.
Wictor Koch
Stockholm, Sweden
Wictor is a director, actor, musical theatre performer and voice actor. Originally from Sweden, he uses the Gonsalves Method to coach actors and directors, and recently directed a multilingual A Midsummer Night's Dream in ten languages.
