Learn to live life accepting the face of defeat
A good year deserves a proper pause I took a three-week break at the end of what was, objectively, a very successful year. 2025 was demanding, but many things came into place. I served passionate clients around the world. I travelled to beautiful places. I swam in new waters. I met people who make a […]
The true value of an MBA in today’s job market
The true value of an MBA in today’s job market: what employers, trainers and newly hired graduates actually see For decades, the MBA was the ultimate career accelerator. It promised transformation – new industry, new geography, new role and twice the salary. It was widely understood as a high-return investment that repaid tuition, opportunity cost and […]
Ultra-high-performing teams are built, not found. Skill – not talent – makes the difference.
When teams struggle, many leaders jump to the wrong conclusion: “We need stronger people.” “We need more experienced managers.” After two decades coaching leadership teams across industries and continents, I know this is almost never the real issue. Teams rarely fail because people lack intelligence or potential. They fail because they have not learned the […]
The New Currency of Leadership: Authenticity – introduction message
The New Currency of Leadership: Authenticity – introduction message The cement smile. The Tarzan pose. We have all seen them in meeting rooms: leaders working harder on the mask than on the moment. But masks drain energy, stall innovation, and destroy trust. Authenticity does the opposite. It builds resilience, upgrades compliance to followership, and […]
Bursting the Bubble of Corporate Talent
Bursting the Bubble of Corporate Talent Are we still promoting “talent” – or just handing power to the best-dressed opportunists in the room? What I keep hearing in boardrooms, team sessions, and leadership coaching raises the same question: Have we lost sight of who actually builds organisations? Corporate decline does not start with dramatic exits. […]
Korporate Kamikaze: When Strategy Crashes Into Design Delusion
Korporate Kamikaze: When Strategy Crashes Into Design Delusion Have we all gone mad in the name of innovation — or are we simply feeding once-great brands to the cold-headed logic of the accountants? What I recently experienced in a plane seat, a hotel room, and a car dashboard left me wondering: Is anyone still designing […]
Mastering Professional Networking with ASCOT and CLEAR
Mastering Professional Networking with ASCOT and CLEAR How do you feel about meeting new people in a professional setting? Even with my experience and confidence in public speaking, I still find it daunting at times. How often do you present yourself skillfully in public situations? And what impact would it have if you did it […]
Building Better Answers to Old and New Problems: The Power of the Problem Solving Sequence
Building Better Answers to Old and New Problems: The Power of the Problem Solving Sequence This week, I had the privilege of working on Strategiser Workshops© with three exceptional organisations, each facing their own unique but highly complex challenges. One, a leading NGO, is on the front lines protecting Europe from an incumbent and not-yet […]
The Power of Problem Solving – In-house, not outsourced
The Power of Problem Solving – In-house, not outsourced Do you really need consultants for your must-win battles? Last week in Chicago, we worked with 50 upcoming and established leaders on two real business challenges – not in theory, but in full: from defining the problem to generating bold solutions and communicating them with punch. […]
Holding the Rudder When You Are Not OK
Holding the Rudder When You Are Not OK More than a third of first-world civil aviation tragedies are caused not just by human error – but by pilot suicide. If that can happen in the cockpit, what does it mean for us – as managers, influencers, and hard-working professionals? This reflection draws on insights from […]