Becoming International

What Becoming International does

Becoming International is a UK-based boutique consulting firm, founded in 2020 by Liz Walker and Dr Alison Maitland and operated through Sixteen0six Limited, specialising in women's leadership development and personal development. The company's distinctive methodology is grounded in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Vertical Leadership Development — a psychological approach that focuses on expanding how leaders think and make sense of the world, rather than teaching prescriptive skills. The flagship product, The Becoming Journey, is a four-month virtual programme combining eight modules, three peer 'circles', real-time interactive workshops, reflective practices and a buddy system. The Beyond Programme, launched in 2024, extends the same ACT-based approach to disabled leaders, and an extended product surface includes individual coaching, open workshops, bespoke gender equity and inclusion consultancy, allyship interventions, and the alumni-driven Becoming Community. The firm also co-published the book 'Drop the Struggle', applying ACT principles to performance and wellbeing.

The company operates a professional services revenue model spanning enterprise cohort programmes (bespoke pricing for organisations), individual coaching (90-minute sessions, ad-hoc or block purchase), open workshops (e.g. £280 per person for Handling Conflict, with public-sector and Women on Boards member discounts), and bespoke in-house workshops and gender equity consultancy. Distribution combines direct enterprise field sales targeting HR, L&D and DEI leaders, an open-enrolment website funnel for individuals, channel partnerships (notably Women on Boards UK as a core GTM partner, alongside Half the Sky, Women's Utilities Network, CAF Services and Speak Out Revolution), and community referrals from The Becoming Community alumni network.

Becoming International has served over 1,000 individuals across more than 80 organisations in 18 countries (UK, Europe, USA, Canada, Singapore, Australia). Named enterprise customers include a UK Government Defence Agency (12,000+ employees, 26 cohorts delivered with 8 more per year planned), the Building Societies Association, a global vehicle propulsion company, a global investment bank, a global technology company, a UK public body in construction, a UK police force, and Cumberland Building Society. The business remains founder-owned and bootstrapped, with 1-10 employees, no external funding, and a single legal entity (Sixteen0six Limited) registered in England. Industry recognition includes the 2026 Learning Excellence Awards (Award of Merit and Finalist) and the 2025 Corporate Vision Magazine Corporate Coaching and Recruitment Awards.

Name

Becoming International

Legal name

Sixteen0six Limited

Website

https://becoming.international

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Becoming International is a UK-based boutique consultancy founded in 2020 that delivers women's leadership development programmes grounded in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, serving enterprise clients and individuals across 18 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Leadership Development & Coaching Services

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Human Resources Consulting Services (541612)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Workplace Culture, Engagement & Wellbeing Training (EDABAIAG)

Keywords

• Women's leadership development
• Executive coaching services
• Diversity and inclusion programmes
• Acceptance commitment therapy
• Vertical leadership development

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. The Becoming Journey (Organisational): Cohort-based, four-month virtual leadership development programme for women delivered to organisations. Programmes can be bespoke and tailored to organisational needs. Sold on a cohort basis with pricing varying by organisation.
2. The Beyond Programme (Organisational): Bespoke leadership development programme for disabled people delivered to organisations, built on ACT principles. Pricing varies by organisation.
3. Coaching & Mentoring: Individual coaching sessions (90-minute calls) offered in blocks or on an ad-hoc basis. Includes access to Becoming Journey resources tailored to the individual's situation. Free chemistry call to match coach.
4. Open Workshops for Individuals: Open enrolment workshops for individual women on topics including Handling Conflict (£280 per person inc VAT, with public sector discounts). Workshop topics include handling conflict, taming perfectionism, speaking up, and crafting a career plan.
5. Bespoke In-House Workshops: Workshops delivered in-house within organisations, with topics and design bespoke to each organisation. Pricing varies; organisations are invited to contact to discuss needs.
6. Gender Equity & Inclusion Consultancy: Consultancy projects helping organisations address gender diversity and broader equity and inclusion challenges. Includes research-led investigation, collaborative solution design, and bespoke programme development and delivery.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Becoming International designs and delivers women's leadership development programmes, executive coaching, workshops, and gender equity consultancy grounded in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Vertical Leadership Development. The flagship is The Becoming Journey, a four-month virtual cohort programme combining eight modules, three peer circles, and experiential workshops; complementary offerings include one-to-one coaching, bespoke in-house workshops, allyship programmes, and The Beyond Programme tailored for disabled leaders. Services are sold both to enterprise clients (cohorts, consultancy) and to individual women (open enrolment workshops, coaching).

Product overview

Becoming International offers a portfolio of women's leadership development products and services built around a core psychological approach grounded in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). The flagship programme is The Becoming Journey, a four-month virtual leadership development journey for women. Complementary offerings include Coaching & Mentoring for personalised one-on-one support, Women's Networks consultancy, Workshops for Women (Handling Conflict, Taming Perfectionism, Speaking Up, Crafting a Career Plan), Bespoke Consultancy for organisational change, Allyship programmes, and Women on Boards development. The Beyond Programme extends the approach to disabled leaders. The Becoming Community provides ongoing alumni support. The company also published the book Drop the Struggle, applying ACT principles to performance and wellbeing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Becoming Journey: A women's leadership development programme helping women discover their authentic leadership style over four months through eight modules and three circles.
• The Beyond Programme

Products and services

• The Becoming Journey A four-month women's leadership development programme delivered as a high-quality, flexible virtual learning journey combining rich interactive media with experiential virtual workshops, helping women discover their authentic leadership identity and develop psychological flexibility. Sold as open enrolment cohorts to individuals and bespoke cohorts to enterprise organisations.
• The Beyond Programme A leadership development programme for disabled people, designed for skilled individuals who want to develop their leadership style and impact. Uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to build psychological flexibility and is sold as a bespoke programme to organisations and as cohorts to individuals.
• Coaching & Mentoring Personalised one-on-one coaching sessions (90-minute calls) offered in blocks or on an ad-hoc basis for individuals facing leadership and career challenges, drawing on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy principles. A free 30-minute chemistry call matches coach and client.
• Workshops for Women Open workshops for individual women (£280 inc VAT per person with public sector and Women on Boards discounts) on topics including Handling Conflict, Taming Perfectionism, Speaking Up and Crafting a Career Plan. Bespoke in-house versions are also delivered within organisations on tailored topics.
• Gender Equity & Inclusion Consultancy Organisational consultancy helping companies shift behaviours and create change around gender and broader equity and inclusion challenges. Engagements include research-led investigation, collaborative solution design, and bespoke programme development and delivery.
• Allyship Interventions to help leaders develop effective allyship behaviours, using four key levers drawn from an archetypal framework: developing personal story, living collaborative organisational story, connecting to universal purpose, and building coalitions (My Story / Our Story / The Story).
• Women's Networks Consultancy and support for women's networks both inside and outside organisations, including the design and delivery of workshops based on the principles of The Becoming Journey.
• Women on Boards Personal development services for women taking board roles, including The Becoming Journey and the Handling Conflict Workshop, tailored for board-level leadership and offered to Women on Boards UK members and non-members.
• Drop the Struggle (Book) A book co-authored by Dr Alison Maitland and Jenna Ashford applying Acceptance and Commitment Therapy processes and tools to improve performance and wellbeing in sport and leadership. Available via Waterstones, Amazon, Hive, WHSmith.

Quantifiable outcome

• 96% of participants at a UK government defence agency reported increased confidence and were prepared to ask for promotion after the Becoming Journey programme.
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Half the SkycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLed by Dr Zoe Young, academic sociologist of work, Half the Sky supports global brands and large organisations to develop and deliver research and learning on flexible, fair and inclusive future of work. Their ground-breaking 5-year study of managerial and professional women's work-life experiences is published as 'Women's Work: how mothers manage flexible working in careers and family life'. Becoming and Half the Sky share research and learning approaches for developing women leaders.
• Women's Utilities Network (WUN)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerWUN was founded by women who have built successful careers in energy and water sectors. It seeks to help other women build networks, get training, and take control of their careers. Becoming is listed as an associate on the WUN website.
• Women on Boards UKcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerWomen on Boards UK exists to support women into the boardroom, working with individuals and boards to enhance diversity and inclusion in executive leadership. They offer the Becoming Journey to members and non-members. A key distribution partner for Becoming's board-focused programmes.
• CAF Services (Cynthia Fortlage)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCynthia Fortlage is an international award-winning LGBT+ executive, entrepreneur, and board leader. She provides Gender Identity coaching for women and 2SLGBTQIA+ persons. CAF Services supports individuals and organisations addressing gender diversity issues. Becoming collaborates on shared DEI goals.
• Speak Out RevolutionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpeak Out Revolution is on a mission to cancel the culture of silence around workplace bullying and harassment. They invite individuals to join their Speak Out Allies Community and provide organisations with talks, workshops and training driven by global insights. Becoming collaborated on a joint webinar: 'Not just a victim' providing tools for targets of workplace bullying.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Talking Talent: Talking Talent specialises in women's leadership, coaching, and return-to-work programmes for enterprise clients — closely mirroring Becoming's enterprise field sales motion and women-focused leadership development offering.
• Female Foundry: Female Foundry runs women's leadership programmes and community for emerging and senior leaders, with a similar focus on identity-level development and cohort-based learning journeys.
• Catalyst: Catalyst is a global nonprofit focused on advancing women in leadership through research, consulting, and cohort programmes — a comparable mission-driven women-in-leadership provider with both research and enterprise delivery.
• WeQual: WeQual runs executive development programmes and a community for senior women leaders — a closely comparable cohort-plus-community model targeting the same senior women persona.
• Athena Alliance: Athena Alliance provides women's board and senior leadership development through cohort-based programmes and a community network — overlapping Becoming's Women on Boards and leadership cohort offerings.
• Ellevate Network: Ellevate Network operates a women's professional community plus cohort-based leadership and career development programmes — comparable community-plus-programme model with overlap on the individual women segment.

Broad incumbents

• Korn Ferry: Korn Ferry is a global organisational consulting firm with a significant leadership development and executive coaching practice — a broad incumbent operating in the same enterprise leadership development category with vastly greater scale.
• FranklinCovey: FranklinCovey provides enterprise leadership and organisational development programmes, including women-focused leadership content — a broad incumbent with extensive distribution and brand recognition in the same corporate training category.
• Center for Creative Leadership (CCL): CCL is a globally established leadership development provider offering research-backed cohort programmes and individual assessments — a broad incumbent that competes for the same enterprise leadership development budgets with a wider catalogue.
• DDI (Development Dimensions International): DDI is a global leadership development firm offering cohort programmes and individual assessments used by large enterprises — a broad incumbent with overlapping enterprise leadership development methodology and target buyer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/becoming-international

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Becoming International