Who we are

20 years’ experience and endless enthusiasm.

We’re Mike Quate and Sat Mann and we met while working together to help scale a tech business.

We agreed that business consultancy could take a fresh approach. So we set up byDiffusion to offer a different way of doing things that puts purpose and people at its heart. And helps businesses to collaborate, diffuse new ideas and create a better future.

Mike’s spent 20 years working in a wide range of industries and roles – from financial services to manufacturing and from head of change delivery to executive board director.

He’s proven himself time and again, spearheading change programmes that develop high-performing, collaborative teams to generate sustainable business value.

What advice would you give your 18-year-old self?

Be kind, present and patient with yourself – lean into curiosity and stay open minded, trust the journey and make time for having fun.

Sat’s an experienced business owner, having founded and run three businesses in Leeds over the last two decades.

He believes people are what make a business successful, regardless of the product or service. Sat puts a high value on long-term relationships and has built a significant bank of contacts to call on across a variety of professions and sectors.

What advice would you give your 18-year-old self?

Spend a bit less time working and more time with the people you love.

A network of bright minds and fresh thinking

We don’t always have the answers, but we usually know someone who does through our partner network. It’s a collective of respected leaders that we’re continually developing. People we trust, with the depth and breadth of experience in senior roles to help us transform your business.

Tom Rushworth

Tom specialises in creating great customer experiences to improve brand loyalty and strategic outcomes, always staying creative and keeping customers at the centre of change. Excellent product management, UX and UI design underpin Tom’s work. And his experience stretches from small businesses to huge household brands.

Helen Mann

Helen is a senior leader who’s experienced in the energy, insurance and public sectors and has overseen significant programmes of change. A qualified coach, Helen’s passion is rooted in energising and developing people to enable them to achieve great results. She helps those she works with gain fresh, new insights and a much clearer sense of direction.

Lee Jeffreys

Lee is a product leader who loves complex challenges. Lee’s career spans leadership roles across digital, product, business analysis and software engineering. He’s proven himself repeatedly in delivering technology change programs and people-focused outcomes. And has led the strategy on projects ranging from small, agile initiatives to multi-million-pound investments.

Catherine Boddington

Catherine is a coach and consultant who helps people solve problems, choose their future and be at their best. She’s been doing this for over 25 years and has helped a multitude of people and businesses to thrive. Including some of the Sunday Times Top 100, across the legal, finance and tech sectors.

Paul Yeomans

Paul has more than 20 years’ experience managing change in a wide range of industries, including insurance, retail and media. Paul believes strongly in the power of coaching to develop high-performing teams. And, outside of consultancy, is a trustee for York Mind and a volunteer Mental Health Act Manager for Leeds & York Partnership NHS Foundation.

We’re in business to be a force for good

We want to foster a more inclusive, regenerative economy that redistributes wealth. And by doing business responsibly, with people and planet in mind, help create a brighter future. Maybe even inspire other businesses to do the same.

That’s why we’re making great consultancy accessible for small businesses as well as big ones – SMEs are vital for a healthy, balanced market. And it’s why we are founding the creation of 1% for the City. A donation and member platform that helps support local people with every project that’s undertaken. So, just by working with us, you contribute too. Want to give even more? We’d love you to be part of it.

Join us in giving 1% for the City

1% for the City lets you commit 1% of your revenue or profit to charities in Leeds. It’s inspired by 1% for the Planet, but is focused on the city we live and work in. And it helps address the growing gap between the business economy and the people suffering hardship in Leeds because of their socio-economic circumstances.

As a founding member, we’ve committed 1% of our revenue to 1% for the City since its inception. We hope you and other businesses will join us. And help generate an ongoing stream of funding for charities supporting the people in Leeds who need it most.

Give 1% for the City