About Ember & Oak Leadership

The Fire to Grow. The Strength to Lead.

At Ember & Oak Leadership, we believe that great leadership isn’t born, it’s forged. Like an ember that sparks growth and an oak that anchors strength, leadership thrives when it’s rooted in purpose and stoked by continuous feedback.

Founded by Clayton Thompson, a Colonel in the Air Force with a Ph.D. in organizational leadership, Ember & Oak Leadership was built to equip leaders with the tools, mindset, and systems to lead with clarity, courage, and intention, especially in times of rapid change.

Our flagship RA-RA Feedback Model (Ready, Align, Reflect, Adjust) is more than a framework. It’s a culture-building system that turns everyday conversations into powerful opportunities for trust, growth, and performance. Whether you’re leading a team, a department, or an entire organization, Ember & Oak provides the insight and structure to make feedback your competitive advantage.

Our Mission

To ignite purposeful leadership by transforming feedback into a cultural advantage.

Our Vision

A world where every leader is equipped to grow themselves, grow others, and grow their organization, starting with one conversation at a time.

What We Stand For:

  • Feedback That Fuels Growth
    We believe feedback isn’t a side task, it’s the heartbeat of leadership development.

  • Leadership That Lasts
    Temporary motivation fades. We’re here to help you build enduring influence grounded in systems, self-awareness, and service.

  • Human-Centered. AI-Aware. Future-Focused.
    We help leaders navigate today’s most complex environments, from hybrid teams to AI-integrated workplaces, with the wisdom to lead people and the discernment to guide technology.