I don’t want to bore you with endless bios, profiles, CVs and such like, but you can get an idea of what makes me tick on this page. Then if you really do want more, you can go to my LinkedIn page or download a PDF profile.
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Here’s an idea though, we could go retro and have an actual conversation. If this old-fangled method of communication is still in your toolkit, then please schedule a call with me here or send a contact request and I’ll get right back to you.
My philosophy
I’m a bit of an unorthodox thinker and an arch enemy of the “that’s how we do things here” mentality. I see my mission as helping enlightened, forward-thinking organisations and teams to succeed in the big bad VUCA world by discovering great new ways to engage staff and be more entrepreneurial in the workplace. In short, to help good people do good things, better – and not just adapt to change, but to embrace it and lead it.
Background and Methodology
I graduated in Industrial Economics from Cardiff University and after a gap year travelling around South America, was asked to assist a racial equality community group in Cardiff who were helping minority groups with job-seeking. I soon realised that I loved helping others through learning, and was recruited as a trainer for a IT training company in Birmingham. This was when PCs were novel and the most lucrative product was a 1-day PC Awareness course.
I discovered quickly though that I was pretty good at this training thing, but crucially I figured out something that many of my colleagues seem to miss. Application expertise isn’t an end in itself. People don’t generally go on IT training courses to become IT experts, but rather to become more effective at work. So, rather than showing off my expertise in every single feature of the software, I made it my business to understand people, and the jobs they need to get done. This Jobs-to-be-Done (JTBD) approach has proven to be invaluable throughout my career, and even more so now.
A Career Well-Travelled
Over the course of a long and varied career since, I’ve gained valuable experience working in training, professional services and consultancy, at all levels and in a wide range of organisations, in the UK and internationally. From SMEs to international software companies. Huge UN Agencies to tiny, isolated, island diving resorts . These amazing, diverse experiences enable me to bring valuable context to any learning or change project, and yet still deliver with the energy and enthusiasm of a beginner’s mindset.
Fresh Thinking on Work and Learning
In 2012 I read a book, and subsequently attended an associated workshop in Berlin, which would change my entire outlook on Business training and facilitation. It was run by Alex Osterwalder and introduced me to visual business tools like Business Model Canvas / Value Proposition Canvas to describe and innovate in the workplace. I worked to become a Certified Facilitator of these tools, variants like the Personal Work Canvas and Business Models for Teams, as well as Mind Mapping and Sped REading. In the process, I was privileged to study and work personally with some of the originators/authors, notably, Tim Clark, Bruce Hazen and Tony Buzan.
I now create and deliver highly interactive, engaging and effective workshops based on these visual methodologies, incorporating Design / Systems Thinking. My purpose is to help everyone adopt a more entrepreneurial mindset in the workplace, whoever they are and whatever they do. I believe this helps to increase engagement, satisfaction and effectiveness, builds teams that are more than the sum of their parts and enables innovative thinking and truly effective communication of ideas up, down and across organisations.
TAP Diploma in Learning Design
Highfield Level 3 Award in Education and Training (RQF) CompTIA Certified Technical Trainer CTT+ ​
Previous Certifications now lapsed
Microsoft Certified Instructor
Certified Novell Instructor
SCUBA – PADI IDC Staff Instructor / SSI Platinum instructor
Credentials and Certifications
Humility
However much I know, there is always so much more to know. Every day is a school day.
Growth Mindset
Curiosity and have a burning commitment to ongoing personal and professional growth. Question everything. Accept nothing at face value.
Creativity
Value creativity in everyone and make great use of it to help generate innovative ideas to solve complex problems
Empathy
Strive relentlessly to understand learners' perspectives. Design learning based on outcomes rather than content.
Collaboration
Work with you, not for you. I have an overarching ambition to collaborate effectively all stakeholders to achieve shared goals.
Accountability
Take ownership of results and responsibility for consequences.
integrity
100% commitment to ethical principles and acting in the best interests of the organisation and learners, as well as community and planet.
Impact
Relentless focus on driving positive outcomes through tailored L&D programs, making a tangible difference in the workplace and the lives of employees.