My Story
Leading teams to feel it’s “theirs”.
Early Career
I didn’t learn what I know in a text book.
Like many great businesses, I created what I know to solve a real problem – my own.
Flashback to the mid 1980’s, when I started my international career managing teams delivering enterprise level change across Asia-Pacific or Europe. The teams were diverse culturally, and as I didn’t have time to learn the nuances of each one, I had to rely on people to manage their own workload. Because if they didn’t own their job, then guess who owned it?
I soon worked out how to spot the tell-tale signs. When people weren’t taking ownership, my email inbox filled up, the phone rang off the hook, and I’d have fewer dinners at home with my wife.
Ownership Leadership
So I learned quickly and developed an ownership framework that allowed me to build strong, diverse teams that delivered results long after I’d left.
Today I use the same framework to mentor executives and businesses across the world to help them lead their people to own their results.
I’ve mentored leaders and delivered masterclasses in over 50 countries, and have delivered leadership development programs for companies like Docomo Digital and WiZink Bank. I also teach courses on ownership, leadership and influence at business schools across Europe including such prestigious institutions as IE Business School, and Headspring Executive Development.
Personally
Getting people to own their job has given me more time back, which I’ve used to explore the world. I’m originally from the USA, but I’ve lived in Singapore, Egypt, Netherlands, Italy, Japan, and the UK. After all that, I’ve settled in London with my wife Atsuko who is from Japan. We still explore the world, but enjoy lots of dinners at home together too!
When I’m not helping leaders integrate their personal and professional lives, I have a lifelong love of golf dating back to when I was recruited to play for a university.
To create the future faster…