Who We Are
Surface Deep is led by Claudie Plen-McCormack and Mia Serra, old school friends, who share a passion for building more connected organisations, cultures and communities. Both of us are experienced international strategists and consultants. Mia with a background in tech start-ups, blue-chip corporations and mission-led brands. Claudie, in big tech, media, communications, and the creative industries. We have brought together a multi-disciplinary team with deep expertise in leadership, performance, work culture, and systems change. The foundation of our work is to build psychological safety and resilience into teams and senior leadership, and a shared commitment to help organisations grow without breaking their people.​
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When a project calls for it, we draw on our trusted network of specialists in areas such as DEI, neurodivergence, burnout, and mental health, media, storytelling, presenting and influencing. We create tailored solutions, sometimes using cutting-edge learning technology, including AI-driven virtual simulations, and gamification, at other times, just our grounded presence and knowledge of movement and somatic approaches. This means we can adapt to the specific needs and challenges of the people we work with — with care, rigour, and agility.
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At Surface Deep, no two projects look the same, as no client is the same. The common thread is our shared approach: human-first, strategically grounded, and deeply respectful of the systems we’re working in — and the people within them.​​
About Claudie
Claudie Plen-McCormack is a business psychologist, coach, strategist, and culture builder.
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Her background is in senior leadership, leading teams in creative and management consultancy environments, and many years spent creating inspirational client experiences which address complex challenges for some of the world's biggest brands, from Dell Technologies and Google, to HSBC, Axa, Lush and Rolls Royce.
She believes passionately in the power of purpose and meaningful work and brings this commitment to all of her clients, from micro businesses to global corporations.
After years working at the intersection of people, performance, and purpose, Claudie created Surface Deep to help leaders build the conditions for real change, connection and growth. She doesn’t do fluff, she creates powerful transformation from the board to the frontlines for all her clients.
Claudie is driven by the fierce belief that leadership should always lift people up, not wear them down.
Claudie’s lesser-known talents include dancing, painting and her very dark sense of humour.
About Mia
​Mia Serra is an award-winning marketing and communications strategist with over two decades of experience shaping brands and communications at global corporations and tech scale-ups. From Goldman Sachs and IBM to innovative brands such as YuLife and Mindspace, she has helped businesses clarify complex ideas and build brands that resonate with their audiences.
Alongside her brand work, Mia brings 20 years' experience in movement and somatic practice to her approach. A former professional dancer, she is the founder of move & reclaim, a body-based methodology that integrates music and movement to foster a flow state, reduce stress, and build resilience.
At Surface Deep, Mia brings together business strategy and embodied insight to support teams in moving beyond surface-level fixes and reconnecting with the deeper values that drive sustainable, human-centred leadership.​
She is known for her ability to help clients reconnect to their inner compass, unlock creativity and innovation, and lead from a place of authenticity and inspiration.
Meet the Team
Whatever the nuances of your challenge, within our core team of associate coaches we have the depth, range, and lived experience to meet you where you are, and help you move forward
