Approach

I assist leaders of business, family, and social enterprises to interpret and respond correctly to complex leadership or organizational challenges. This may be to adapt to short-term impacts, or to realign their organizations with longer-term strategies.

Organizational Psychology is at the center of the analysis and interventions I offer, firstly by gaining deep understanding of context through intensive organizational review, before facilitating activity and directing behavior towards successful outcomes.

My consulting approach is based on 35 years of corporate experience to Board level; serving in Non-Executive Board Director roles including chairing of boards; Advisory Partnerships; serving as a Trustee; and extensive Business Consulting experience. Additionally, I have worked in numerous non-commercial environments, gaining understanding of how human behavior generally contributes to success or failure.

I operate as SG Consulting, internationally, but primarily from Cape Town.

Profile

My approach has been developed over many years of working and studying internationally in a diversity of environments, from stable and progressive, to innovative and artistic, to disrupted and complex. 35 years of direct corporate involvement, including in senior leadership roles in manufacturing, retail and professional services have allowed me to develop deep insight into successful human enterprise, effective business leadership, productive organizational configurations, and drivers of commercial success.

My corporate experience ranges from hands-on detail in a number of business functions to the highest levels of Boardroom governance and participation. I have operated in general management roles with P&L accountability, held responsibility for commercial functions at a Holdings level in large companies, led the Human Capital functions of two major South African retailers, and built early consulting skills through positions in a major global consulting firm. The latter included hands-on involvement in information systems implementations and leadership of software and technology solutions for clients (mostly SAP), change management, organizational development, and Human Capital consulting.

Throughout my corporate and consulting career I have been fortunate to have worked with CEO's of large multi-national companies, chair national industry forums, serve as a Trustee in various entities, and have sat on advisory boards in the USA, Switzerland, Russia, and Southern Africa. I have worked extensively with Business Schools worldwide, and held membership of numerous organizations. I have held and continue to hold Directorships and participate on Board sub-committees, I serve as Board Chairman in client companies, and I currently serve as a Trustee.

Qualifications

I qualified with a Masters degree in Developmental and Educational Psychology in 1989, and a diploma in Clinical Organizational Psychology at INSEAD in 2008. I have studied Business at several business schools including Harvard (1999), and attended or spoken at several seminars and conferences within my academic areas of interest in Psychology and social systems as well as business topics of interest. I am a qualified fixed wing and helicopter pilot, with previous commercial interests in the aviation sector.

I am able to provide multiple references, confident that my track record demonstrates legitimate guidance to clients seeking to better understand themselves and the organizations in which they live and work, or through providing support to their business strategies, companies, and enterprises. This is particularly where change and transition are requirements to unlock new potential and stimulate progress towards new goals.

Feedback from clients indicates that partnering with SG Consulting in the application of uniquely designed techniques and methods of support has been highly value-adding in unlocking personal and organizational effectiveness, as well as contributing significantly to commercial success.