About / Onur Kurum
A human life cannot be reduced to a diagram.
Engineer. Researcher. Mentor. Accredited coach. Father. Human. I use structure because structure helps us see. I use dialogue because a human life cannot be reduced to a diagram.
I’m Onur.
My background is in engineering, research, consulting, and mentorship. I learned to work with complex systems — and to notice when an apparently technical question was also a human one.
The Human Witness brings those ways of seeing into a private 1:1 practice. Structure helps us name the conditions. Dialogue helps us hear what a diagram leaves out.
A colleague’s perspective
“Onur brings unique insights into the coaching arena from his engineering, consultancy, mentorship, business, and international background. I appreciate how he both challenges and supports his clients and colleagues.”
A life across contexts
I was born in Turkey, where I completed my bachelor’s and master’s degrees in coastal and civil engineering. I moved to the United States for my Ph.D.; research also took me to Denmark and France. I later settled in Oakville, Ontario, Canada.
From 2014 to 2025, I worked as a senior research scientist, R&D lead, and project manager within an international engineering consultancy. Mentoring junior engineers was part of that work: helping people develop judgment and take ownership, rather than simply giving them answers.
Alongside this practice, my engineering work includes Applied MetOcean. I am also a father. The professional background matters, but it is not the whole human.
Education & professional background
- Ph.D., with a foundation in coastal and civil engineering.
- Professional Engineer (P.Eng.), Ontario.
- Level 2 (PCC-level) education in Executive, Leadership, and Team Coaching through an ICF-accredited Coach Academy.
- EMCC Accredited Practitioner.
Coaching education at PCC level is distinct from holding an ICF PCC credential. These backgrounds inform the work; this practice does not provide engineering or clinical services.
From thought to action
“Onur’s unique mix of coaching, mentoring and divergent thinking challenged my assumptions, opened up new possibilities, and helped me turn ideas into practical next steps.”
Presence includes challenge.
I am here to listen carefully, notice connections, and question assumptions. Agreement is not the measure of a useful conversation. We keep returning to your actual experience and the facts behind the story.
Introduce yourself