About Us
Transforming Organizations by Empowering People
Mission
We empower organizations to achieve their goals by unlocking and maximizing the full potential of their workforce through innovative leadership development and engagement strategies.
Vision
To transform workplace cultures into thriving ecosystems where every manager and employee evolves into a confident, capable leader driving sustained excellence and innovation.
Mandate
We collaborate with organizations to design tailored strategies that empower leaders at every level to unlock their full potential. By enhancing leadership capabilities and employee engagement, we cultivate committed workforces that drive organizational success.
Values
Our values form the foundational principles that guide the way we work together as a team and with our clients.
We have the courage to be innovative and challenge the process.
We develop trusting relationships with everyone we work with.
We provide a consistent approach in how we work to ensure a high level of excellence in everything we do.
The Story Behind Sinogap
A Mindset Shift
Where does the name Sinogap come from? The answer lies in the founder's name—spelled backwards. But beyond the clever wordplay, it symbolizes the company’s mission: empowering organizations to unlock the full potential of their workforce. Just as rearranging familiar letters creates something new, Sinogap helps businesses shift their perspectives, break free from fixed mindsets, and uncover hidden potential within their teams to achieve extraordinary results.
Dr. Johanna Pagonis
Chief Executive Officer
Dr. Johanna Pagonis is the founder and CEO of Sinogap Solutions, with over 20 years of experience in organizational training, leadership development, and qualitative research. She has worked extensively across the public, private, and non-profit sectors, including with the Government of Alberta, Oilers Entertainment Group (OEG), and Women Building Futures. In addition to her consulting work, Johanna teaches graduate students at the University of Alberta in the area of Evaluating Research Methods, where she helps emerging professionals build the skills to critically assess and apply research in real-world settings.
Her doctoral research at the University of Alberta explored how leaders learn to lead, which inspired her book Choose to Be a Leader Others Would Want to Follow—a practical guide for developing authentic, high-impact leaders.
Katie Allan, M.Ed
Chief Operating Officer
Katie Allan brings over 10 years of strategic management experience in higher education, with a strong background in training design, program evaluation, and cultural change. She leads all client projects related to organizational consulting at Sinogap Solutions, helping organizations assess, refine, and strengthen their operations. This includes overseeing organizational and functional reviews, culture and psychological safety assessments, strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, and change management. With a Master’s focused on mentorship in academia, Katie designs leadership programs that build skills in psychological safety, performance management, and team collaboration.
Jerry Nash B.Ed
Principal
Jerry has over 30 years of experience in law enforcement and education, including leadership roles in complex, high-pressure environments. He has developed training programs for police services and led organizational change initiatives. Jerry is proficient in adult learning methodology, leadership training, and change management. His experience includes managing high-stakes operations, facilitating leadership workshops, and delivering training on tactical, ethical, and cultural sensitivity issues.
Erika Nelson PhD Candidate
Learning Architect & Lead Researcher
Erika is a PhD Candidate at the University of Alberta with a background in teaching and school administration. Her academic focus is in Educational Policy Studies and Leadership, and she brings years of experience supporting student learning and staff development. Erika has also worked with the Government of Alberta as the Professional Assurance Manager for the Alberta Teaching Profession Commission. Her work is grounded in creating inclusive, equity-focused learning environments and advancing leadership practices that foster collaboration, reflection, and systemic change.
