René is an author, one of the world’s leading executive coaches and keynote leadership speakers, working with some of the Fortune 500s top CEOs and their executive teams and has also been Chair and CEO of blue-chip businesses. René energises leaders to see the art of the possible and has built his reputation on getting to know the culture of businesses better than they do themselves and providing answers and solutions no matter how big or small the problems.

René has acquired a reputation for providing first-hand advice and support for a series of successful CEOs in the Fortune 500, FTSE 100 and all around the world. Many may claim to have worked at the ‘sharp end’ with CEOs, but in actual fact very few have. He has worked closely with Jim Yong Kim (President, The World Bank), Antony Jenkins (CEO, Barclays Bank), Mario Greco (CEO, Generali) and Maria Ramos (CEO, Absa Bank). Hardly any can match his sustained track record of success.

René draws much from his own unique experiences on the boards of some of the biggest international organisations; from Marks and Spencer and Pepsi, to IPC Media and the Inland Revenue.

René’s focus is on inspirational leadership and how this can create an inclusive culture. Given his background and experience as a former executive and as Britain’s first Black board director, his guidance and counsel is much more in tune with the volatile and turbulent times that executive teams are having to navigate through today. Every leadership team is as “unique as their fingerprints” and this requires tailored support. His philosophy built upon Strengths Based Leadership reflects the winning mindset necessary for progressive businesses today.

It is imperative that at every level, each leader becomes part of a strong and fully functioning team. Nowhere is this more important than with the Executive Team, as they are the ‘role model’ team for everyone in the business.

René is no remedial coach. He is not there to fix things or repair anything that is broken, but by working on the strengths of the individuals, his relentless focus is building and empowering teams to exceed all performance expectations. His recent successful work on Inclusion has become the key to driving business performance with all clients.

The year 2020 has changed life and business in every aspect as we know it. Tough and challenging subjects can no longer be ignored.

Large businesses are at the forefront of those pertinent discussions and the change we want to see in our business and societies.

From Sustainability, The Future of Work, to Inclusion, leaders are being tasked to navigate a post-pandemic world. They seek to rebuild their organisations culture and capability and build back better for societies and economies at large.

Throughout the pandemic it all became very much obvious; this change will not happen without a concentrated effort towards Diversity and Inclusion. Many organisations have made meaningful statements and declarations of intent about Diversity and Inclusion but now comes the real challenge – the actual changes. The words are where we all want to be, the actions prove who we are and what we stand for.

This essential commitment by businesses in Diversity and Inclusion is much more about Culture than it is about Strategy.

This requires a little more leadership with a little less management.

When every team member takes some ownership for performance, collaboration, morale, team spirit and values, so much more can be realised. But it starts with making them feel included and creating a culture of Inclusion which penetrates throughout any organisation.

Rene will demonstrate how we can collaboratively work together to;

•Create an inclusive culture where differences are valued

•Make sustainable change a reality

•Experience the power of vibrant teams

We all need someone to believe in and something to belong to. We must try and create an environment where difference is respected, valued, and encourages an approach that when we all come together, we can create vibrant and innovative teams.

René will work with you to identify and unveil everyone's ‘Spikes’ – what you are great at. This will help drive both alignment and performance, and our Primary Team philosophy.

The world of business faces unprecedented volatility from the impact of COVID-19, macroeconomic turbulence, global political upheaval and the demands of the compelling ESG agenda.

The key to success is leadership not management. It is inspirational and inclusive leadership – and there is no better role model than René.

Leaders in every business sector are not only tasked with trying to stabilise how they operate, but are learning the hard way that it is leadership and culture that separates the ‘winners’ from the ‘losers’. Less focused businesses are struggling to escape the pull of the past and are floundering in this far more complex and unforgiving world. The race is no longer about being the best; everybody is trying to do that. The winners are those that strive to be unique, special, and different. This is their strength.

René coaches with the authority and confidence of the expert and leader who has seen and experienced it all before. He has the unique ability to 'show, not tell' precisely what needs doing, how it’s done, and vitally – why it’s done. René draws much from his own unique experiences from being Managing Director at IPC Media, leading the largest management buyout in European history and serving on a variety of boards such as Pepsi and Computacenter.

This has enabled him to move authentically and credibly into coaching in the boardrooms and executive suites of Barclays Bank, McDonalds and The World Bank.

A vital element of our success is René's track record of establishing trusting relationships with the Chief Executive/Chair, and these have tended to endure over time.

His messages are practical, real-life experiences delivered with electrifying effect. He both shakes up and inspires his audiences by showing them not only what lies within their grasp, but how true inclusion and collaboration makes everyone stronger.

The world of work has gone through the most fundamental of changes, and we will never go back to the traditional method of running business. Demographic shifts, changes in global power structures, and disruptive innovation have completely transformed the business landscape forever.

In recent times, a good enough management team, a good enough strategy, and a good enough brand, was good enough. This is no longer the case. The certainty of the recent past has been replaced by the uncertainty of contemporary times. The blunt instrument of management alone just doesn’t cut it anymore. It is the time for leadership, and inspired leadership at that.

René will deliver real case studies and stories that will make an authentic approach to Leadership both understandable and entertaining for your audience.

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