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Founder | Coach | Strategy | Culture

AJ Thomas

AJ Thomas is the Founder and Chief Troublemaker at The Troublemaker Lab, a pioneering coaching and venture studio that accelerates visionary leaders and creative founders at the intersection of culture, technology, and impact.
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Areas of Expertise

  • Cross-Cultural Services:
    Helping organisations bridge cultural gaps for stronger collaboration, leadership, and productivity.
  • Enhancing Cross-Cultural Collaboration & Communication:
    Embracing cross-cultural communication to foster high-performance teams and navigate working with Japanese professionals through leadership training and relationship-building strategies.
  • Improving Employee Engagement & Productivity in Japan:
    Conducting cultural audits and employee interviews to identify root causes of disengagement, and delivering actionable strategies to improve productivity and workplace satisfaction.
  • Aligning HR Strategies with Global Operations:
    Transforming traditionally administrative Japanese HR functions by aligning them with global best practices through coaching and strategic development.
  • HR Transformation Services:
    Supporting organisations in optimising workplace culture, employee satisfaction, and operational efficiency.
  • Uncovering Employee Concerns & Improving Workplace Satisfaction:
    Using direct engagement and cultural insight to identify root causes of dissatisfaction and implement tailored morale-boosting strategies.
  • Navigating Restructuring in the UK While Preserving Morale:
    Helping organisations manage change effectively through strategic communication, manager training, and employee support focused on career guidance and well-being.
  • Executive Coaching & Cross-Cultural Leadership Development:
    Empowering leaders to strengthen communication, influence, and collaboration across cultures.
  • Executive Coaching for Leadership Teams & Boardroom Dynamics:
    Enhancing leadership influence and fostering collaboration to improve decision-making and boardroom effectiveness.
  • Cross-Cultural Coaching for Japanese-Linked Companies:
    Building effective communication and leadership strategies to support global integration and corporate culture development.

$475 /HR

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More About the Expert:

If we work together, what can you expect? My work is about building connections and lasting bridges in talent, culture, and teams to help individuals, teams, and movements create a more inclusive and impactful future.

AJ Thomas is a visionary leader, investor, and futurist at the intersection of technology, creativity, and impact. She is the CEO of The Troublemaker Lab, a pioneering accelerator that equips extraordinary founders with coaching, strategic advisory, and transformative experiences to build enduring companies. She is also the Founder & General Partner at Good Trouble Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm investing in the technology that powers the Future of Entertainment, Creativity, and Digital Transformation.

With a career spanning enterprise and deep tech, venture capital, and executive leadership, AJ brings deep expertise in human-centered innovation, AI-driven workforce transformation, and scaling high-impact teams. As a CXO-in-Residence at A.Team, she helps companies leverage AI and the power of atomic teams to accelerate growth. A sought-after keynote speaker, executive coach, and strategist, AJ has advised global startups, Fortune 100 companies, and VC-backed founders on navigating disruption and fostering inclusive innovation.

AJ is a Forbes Contributor, writing on the evolving work landscape, leadership, and the impact of AI on creativity and collaboration. She also serves as faculty at the Berkeley Executive Coaching Institute and Management Leaders for Tomorrow, guiding Black and Brown senior leaders toward transformative growth. This work grounds her commitment to driving the next wave of technological and societal breakthroughs.

Beyond her work in venture and leadership, AJ is a musician, author, and advocate for creative entrepreneurship. She co-wrote A Kids Book About Teams and Courage Takes Flight with her daughter, inspiring the next generation to embrace collaboration and bold thinking. She is also a champion for women and underrepresented founders in entertainment, media, and emerging technology.

AJ currently serves actively on the JFF Labs’ Futurist Council, contributing her expertise in AI, workforce transformation, and the future of human potential, shaping strategies that drive equitable innovation and long-term impact.

“Working at the intersection of Talent, Culture, and Teams.”
AJ Thomas
Founder | Coach | Strategy | Culture
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