Amalu:
something valuable, pure
Present across different cultures, ‘Amalu’ is more than a word. It embodies a commitment to those we serve and those that seek transformational change.
‘Amalu’ is a tribute to our founder’s grandmothers. A combination of both of their first names, Amalu honors their memories, their service, and their legacy.
Our Building Blocks
At Amalu, we strive for every coaching partner to be valued, seen, and heard. Our customized approach fosters resilience, self-esteem, and healthy relationships.
We envision creating a world where everyone can heal, grow, and thrive.
Our Core Values
Service
Compassion
Commitment to Excellence
Integrity
Community
Truth & Love
Meet Our Team
Amalu is a woman-owned, minority-founded coaching organization. Based in Los Angeles, we are on a mission to empower companies to enhance leadership development, employee wellness, and cultivate inclusive and high-performing teams.
Kathy Tan, M.A.
Founder & CEO, leadership coach
Kathy Tan is a Leadership Coach and Founder/CEO of Amalu Coaching, bringing a trauma-informed, identity-conscious approach to leadership development. She earned her Master of Arts in Social Entrepreneurship and Change from Pepperdine University, where she focused her research on gender-based violence against women and girls, and holds a Bachelor’s in Psychology from the University of Michigan. Kathy has completed 40 hours of training as a domestic violence peer counselor, the Healthy Families Series training, and the Conscious Leadership for Equity program as an inaugural recipient of the Community Healing BEE FREE Grant.
With nearly a decade of cross-sector experience, Kathy has had the privilege of coaching executives, senior leaders, and mission-driven teams across nonprofit, education, mental health, and business sectors—including an elected City Council member. Throughout her career, she has contributed to change initiatives and task forces, supporting organizational development in both collaborative and leadership roles. She continues to draw on her experience in program and project management and partnerships through her work at Amalu Coaching. Before founding Amalu, Kathy was honored to be elected by peers as a founding member of her previous organization’s Equity Council, helping to address systemic practices.
In early 2022, Kathy interned in Asunción and Cerrito, Paraguay, working alongside a global organization on anti-violence prevention initiatives. She facilitated violence-focused groups with local students and offered recommendations to support community efforts. In 2023, she was invited to serve as a Lead Table Discussant at the Business Fights Poverty Global Summit, leading a global dialogue on advancing female entrepreneurship.
Rooted in her lived experience as a first-generation Chinese and Filipina American, daughter of immigrants, Christian, dancer, traveler, and lifelong learner, Kathy brings cultural insight and a results-focused coaching style. She partners with leaders and teams to nurture purposeful leadership, well-being, and inclusive, high-impact cultures.
Cherry Johal
Amalu career coach, communications consultant
Career coaching found Cherry! Her mission is to help individuals come ALIVE through her holistic approach because life and career are intertwined. For over 20 years, Cherry has held executive leadership roles in marketing, public relations, branding, and corporate communications working with global entertainment brands like Discovery Channel, National Geographic, FX Networks, and Disney. She has a wealth of experience in the US and internationally in building and marketing brands, be it an organization or an individual.
She has worked with scientists, anthropologists, CEOs, actors, non-profits, visionaries and many more. She understands people and has the unique ability to find their stories and help them share it with the world. The most rewarding part of her career has been coaching and mentoring individuals and building high performance teams. And this is how career coaching found her. She left the corporate world to start coaching and fulfill her purpose, which is to use her gifts and talent to elevate and improve the lives of others. Everyone has a story to tell, and Cherry’s superpower is to seek that narrative and amplify their story!