Creativity is a Power Tool. Two years ago, Quentin was planting pansies in our front flower garden well before the May long weekend. As I watched my husband root around in the dirt on his hands and knees, I most wished for his success. I wanted his pansies proliferate and be plentiful. In the spirit […]
Hope for Cyber Security
Once upon a time, not that long ago, only the largest corporations had to consider the rare possibility of a hacking attempt. The news stories were few and far in between. The companies were huge. SME (Small and Medium Enterprise) carried on with the reassuring thought that this wasn’t relevant to them, that it couldn’t […]
Creativity for Better Strategy
In governance, leadership, and business we talk about strategy. I’ve heard strategy referred to alongside pillars. I’ve heard it used in terms that liken its meaning to goals. I think strategy is different from those and I think the way to refresh it best is through creativity. So, what is strategy? If we think in […]
Variety: Not Just the Spice of Life
Variety. It’s not just the spice of life. It’s necessary to good governance and leadership. When it comes to organizational oversight, you want a variety of perspectives. There is a push away from all of the people who sit around a board table coming from the same background or having the same level of experience. […]
Canada’s Peace Keepers: Risk Management in Action
I think a lot about Veterans around this time of year. I hope that most people do but for my husband Quentin and I, it’s a commitment. Quentin’s Dad served in World War II as an electrician for an anti-tank regiment of the Royal Canadian Artillery. Imagine that. Your job is to be anti-tank. I’ve […]
Responsible Innovation
I am a business person through and through. I believe that business is hardwired into me from my ancestors. When I was much younger, for a business idea to appeal to me, it had to be something that I had personal fascination with; something about which I was passionate. The potential market didn’t matter; at […]
Start with Why. But Keep it Short.
Any enterprise or organization would benefit from the content in Start with Why. People in governance and leadership are busy people. Really, everybody is busy no matter their scope. This is why I would suggest reading a summary rather than the book in its entirety. The core message, although simplistic, is profound. However, I found […]
Exploring Three Elements of Climate for Business Sustainability
Climate Change. It’s not just for the realms of charities and government. The Supreme Court of Canada has ruled that “Climate Change is real” and that “it is caused by emissions resulting from human activities” and that “it poses a grave threat to humanity’s future.” Since Climate Change has been formally recognized by Canada’s highest […]
The Tone at the Top
In leadership, they talk about “the tone at the top”. The concept is that a organization’s culture and its values should be set at the top, demonstrated at the top, and will therefore resonate down the organization’s hierarchy to set expectations and influence the conduct and behaviors of all. This can be in regards to […]
Tact and Diplomacy: A Lost Art in Leadership?
I agree with what Maya Angelou said. “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” I see a a lack of politeness and respect in some of our leaders today. It concerns me. Having manners is not a […]