Founder of The Engine Room | Sales and Leadership Consultant | Business Growth Strategist | Speaker | Author |.
Kate Lalak is the founder of The Engine Room and one of Australia’s leading sales and leadership consultants. With 24 years of experience across senior corporate roles and business ownership, she brings deep commercial acumen, proven strategy, and real-world insight to every room she enters.
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3 customer reviews
All Aussie Fire
We engaged Kate to work with our leadership team to develop their skills, increase their confidence, and improve efficiencies and processes across the business.
She works 1-1 with each of the team, and after just their first sessions we could see an immediate impact on the team.
We've been working with her for over 3 months now and are so impressed with what she's been able to achieve with the team. Our managers are now more confident, proactive and energised, which is having a huge positive financial impact on the business. She is very easy to communicate with, keeps us regularly updated on her program, ensuring it aligns with our business goals, and is very happy to adapt her plans as needed. It's one of the best investments we've made in our business as she is worth her weight in gold.
I highly recommend Kate as a business coach and consultant.
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Tarryn
Motivational Speaking
We recently engaged Kate to deliver sales training for our team across Sydney and our Northern Rivers Venues, and the experience was outstanding.
Kate was able to work within the tight budget I had and still create bespoke training for the team. She brought a high level of expertise, energy, and adaptability to every session. Her flexible approach meant the training was tailored to our specific needs, and she connected effortlessly with our team members.
The feedback from the team has been overwhelmingly positive—they found the sessions engaging, practical, and immediately applicable to their roles. We’ve already seen a boost in confidence and performance.
Highly recommend her to any organisation looking to elevate their sales capability!
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Danka Bakic
I had the pleasure of hiring Kate to train my team at Castle Hill in gym sales, and I cannot recommend her enough! Kate is not only a true professional in sales but consistently goes above and beyond in every training session.
What really stands out is her dedication—she always takes the time to debrief with me after each session, helping us create a tailored plan moving forward.
Kate has been exceptional in coaching team members of all experience levels, from those with minimal sales knowledge to seasoned professionals who had lost their sales flair. Thanks to her expertise and commitment, we’ve seen noticeable improvements across the board. If you’re looking for someone who delivers real results and provides personalised support, Kate is the one!
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What do you love most about your job?
After 17 years in the corporate world, I have loved every minute of the past 7+ years as a business owner. My journey has been far from predictable and easy, but I adore the freedom I have, the work-life balance, and the joy I see from my client's growing and achieving their goals. I genuinely absolutely love what I do, and love being able to share my knowledge, experiences and stories with my clients.
What inspired you to start your own business?
I have always had an entrepreneurial spirit, even as a child, so it was only a matter of time until I branched out on my own. 17 years in the corporate world taught me the skills and gave me the network to create successful businesses, and for that I am grateful. But it was always my dream to be my own boss one day, and I now get to enjoy that every single day.
Why should our clients choose you?
Clients choose to work with me because I deliver a rare combination of real-world business expertise, structured strategy, commercial focus, and authentic leadership development.
With over 24 years’ experience across corporate leadership, consulting, and entrepreneurship, I understand what it takes to drive real growth — not just in revenue, but in people, culture, and performance. I’ve sat in the boardrooms, managed large teams, driven $100 million+ in revenue, navigated organisational change, and now advise businesses on how to achieve the same.
I bring energy, structure, passion, and a sharp commercial lens to every engagement. My approach is practical, results-focused, and tailored — not a one-size-fits-all methodology, but solutions aligned to each client’s unique goals and challenges.
Whether I’m consulting, coaching, or speaking, my mission is to help organisations achieve greater clarity, build stronger leadership capability, and drive sustainable business growth — with immediate and lasting impact.
When you work with me, you’re not just getting a consultant — you’re gaining a committed partner who will champion your success every step of the way.
Can you provide your services online or remotely? If so, please add details.
Yes I work with clients in person (1-1 training, corporate workshops) and online (individual or group coaching) and offer my services nationally. My programs are tailored for each client to ensure my presentation or program directly aligns with their goals and objectives, and achieves their desired results.
What changes have you made to keep your customers safe from Covid-19?
I primarily work online now to assist, but offer in person training following all Covid protocols to ensure maximum safety for my clients and myself.
Sales and business development training
With over 24 years of business experience, I offer a unique view of sales through my training programs. I take the fear out of sales, and replacing it with a fool-proof strategy to connect with potential customers, craft a winning solution, and close the sale.
The key is articulating the unique value of your products and services, and approaching the opportunity to problem solve for your client/customer, with a tailored solution.
I teach some crucial skills including negotiation, reading body language, pre-empting objections, creating a connection, thinking laterally, problem solving and more. Together with some key strategies, these techniques will build your confidence in sales ensuring you increase revenue whilst maintaining profit and margins.
I offer my programs as 1-1 coaching, group workshops, and event presentations (conferences, staff meetings, keynotes etc).
My programs are deliered through
Female leadership training and development
As founder of the award-winning Step Up program, I am incredibly proud and supportive of women in business. Step Up was created to help more women become successful leaders in business, by giving them the skills and confidence to lead any team, in any industry.
Working with thousands of women, over my 24 year career, I deliver my program through 1-1 coaching, group workshops and event presentations (staff conference, events, networking functions, staff days etc), nationally and internationally, online and in person.
Key topics I cover (but not limited to) include:
- Having difficult conversations in the workplace
- Time management - how to prioritise, delegate and say no, with out feeling guilty
- Finding your voice in a male-dominated environment
- Managing conflict in business
- Managing stress and building resilience in challenging environments
- Creating a positive culture based on gender equity
- Using intuition as a super power in negotiation
I am incredibly passionate about supporting women in business, and giving them the skills and confidence to put themselves forward for any role, when opportunities arise.
Motivational speaker
Using my own story, I share my own journey to help inspire others to set ambitious goals and to be fearless in their pursuit of happiness.
Over my 23 year career, there have been so many highs and lows - stories which I share in my talks, which helped me build the resilience, focus and determination which allow me to enjoy the success I have today as an entrepreneur and business owner.
No road is smooth or straight, but it's the experiences along the way and how we use the lessons that determine our future and success.
Key pillars I cover in my presentations include:
- The power of creating habits and structure
- Finding your voice in the workplace
- How to define your own value proposition
- The secrets to creating a thriving successful team
- How to become an inspirational leaders
