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If you are a community builder and collaborator
looking to make wiser decisions faster,
you’re in the right place.

Collaborative Planning

I am an insightful and high energy collaborative strategist; a world class facilitator who has served as a trusted advisor to hundreds of mission-driven organizations in Canada and internationally for more than 20 years. I bring intellect, enthusiasm and varied experience in strategy development and collaborative leadership to my speaking, writing and mentoring. I am a skilled communicator, with a particular gift for helping leaders make wiser decisions faster.

I provide planning and governance support to CEOs and Boards of Directors; strategic analysis to social and health policy makers; multi-stakeholder consultation processes to governments; training in various collaborative skills to teams, and strategic coaching to leaders. Let me leverage my experience as a speaker and mentor for your team.

What’s new?

Wiser by Choice

Interested in a leadership book club where you don’t have to read the books? Join me for Wiser by Choice. Feed your curiosity and stay up-to-date on the latest business thinking from bestselling authors, without leaving home and without reading the books!

Register for the fall session: September 17, October 15 and November 19 at 7:30 a.m. ET.

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Handling Hybrid Meetings

As we continue to figure out hybrid work arrangements, our ability to facilitate productive, engaging hybrid meetings is more important than ever. Let’s chat about what we’re learning in that space.

Join me for a free workshop on Wednesday, October 6 from 12-1 p.m. EDT.

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Designing Public Engagement for the Tired and Distracted

This candid, practical session provides road-tested tips for building effective engagement when people are exhausted, distracted, irritable or entrenched, and a deeper toolbox and a more flexible mindset is needed to channel their attention productively.

Join me Wednesday, September 29 from 1-4 pm EDT for a workshop through IAP2 Canada.

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Boost your digital facilitation skills

The need for masterful virtual facilitation skills is higher than ever before. Join me for two workshops hosted by IAP2 Canada to improve your digital engagement.

Enhancing Engagement in Digital Facilitation (Part 1):
Tuesday, October 5 from 1-4 p.m. EDT

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Hone your Digital Facilitation Skills (Part 2):
Thursday, October 14 from 12-3:30 p.m. EDT 

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SIGHTLINE

Even in uncertain times — perhaps especially then — we need a plan.

To gain traction, that plan doesn’t only rely on other people to make it happen, it needs to be crafted with and by them.

My new book spells out the why and the how of collaborative strategy building.

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Podcasts

I love being on podcasts! I love the range of topics that all have some relevance to the collaborative planning work I do. Have a listen!

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Evidence of Wiser Decisions Faster

Check out my video series showcasing the impacts of collaborative planning.

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Thoughts

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Well-Equipped Decision Makers

One of the phrases I often hear during strategic planning sessions is the need for “evidence-based decision making.” This reference comes up across many sectors, along with the occasional musing about what is considered “evidence” at all. As I’ve been working with various Boards of Directors at the environmental scanning stage of strategic planning recently, …

Continue reading “Well-Equipped Decision Makers”

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What Rusty Looks Like

I facilitated two in-person workshops last week, for the first time in almost a year. I’m still processing the experiences, but as we all navigate this next season of pandemic life, hybrid work and re-learning how to “people,” I thought I’d capture some initial impressions here: