• OK, it looks like we're all here. Let's make a start. Alex, you're on mute.

    Brett wants a new website so let's go with one of those cookie cutter website templates that looks like all the others. Throw in words like experienced, facilitator, advisor, strategic, big picture, innovation, ex-CEO and CTO. You know the drill. Add passionate, engaging and public speaker too and a few testimonials. Yeah, that should do it.
    Sound good ? Cool. OK, can somebody copy all that from the call transcript and drop it into the website template ? And don't forget to replace the stock photo. How embarrassing would that be ? LOL.
    OK, outta here team. Have a great weekend. Alex, you're still on mute.

    < call transcript ends >

  • But seriously...

    broken image

    Hi, I'm Brett, this is a templated website and I have no idea whose photo that is above but I've made a note to get mine redone.

    I started my career as an Avionics Engineer with Air New Zealand and since then I've held senior leadership roles at Microsoft, co-founded digital strategy consultancy BusinessIQ, been CEO of Cucumber Digital, a Business Innovation Advisor at Callaghan Innovation, Associate Director of Digital Experience at Datacom, Community Director for the kiwiSaaS initiative and Managing Director of Voluntas Ventures. I'm also co-owner and Managing Director of Creative CAM, a CNC manufacturing business based in Auckland.

    Clearly I'm not the guy to talk to about structured career pathways but when it comes to growing your business, strategy, innovation, facilitation or keynote presentations I just might be.

    As part of that non-linear journey I've had the opportunity to learn a lot about people, business, technology and me...

    According to Clifton Strengths, my Top 5 are: Strategic, Ideation, Relator, Futuristic and Positivity which might explain my knack for spotting new opportunities, solving tricky problems, seeing the big picture and spotting trends, connections and patterns early on. It's also helped me build a reputation as both a left-field and strategic thinker and a facilitator who brings everybody along for the ride with empathy, positivity and humour.

    And along the way I've learned the art of synthesising complex concepts into audience-appropriate language which I've applied to helping companies with their PR, marketing and pitch decks and to my own benefit as a public speaker.

    If any of the above sounds of interest please get in touch.

  • Strategy

    I am constantly surprised at how often companies of all shapes and sizes confuse strategy with planning or goal-setting. A robust and effective strategy can be built in the space of a workshop or two and then serve as the foundation on which future decision-making is based at all levels within the organisation. In my experience company leaders almost always possess all the insight required to formulate good strategy. Where they often struggle is with frameworks, workshop structure and facilitation and that's where I can help.

    Innovation

    Innovation is hard and the vast majority of kiwi businesses struggle with it. There are a myriad of underlying reasons but two of the most common are a lack of understanding of the broader principles of innovation and broken or non-existent product development systems and structures. Together they're a challenging combination. After spending 5 years with Callaghan Innovation and also working with a large number of Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) companies (whose success hinges on their ability to innovate and get new products and features to market quickly and efficiently) I've had a close-up view of what works and what doesn't and can help your organisation do a lot more of the former and avoid the latter. And not just for SaaS companies.

    Facilitation

    When it comes to things like strategy and innovation I am a firm believer in keeping it all in-house (i.e. no consultants) and the reason is simple. Nobody understands your company, its people and customers like you do. Nobody. The same applies to things like business planning and product development but the business leaders involved almost always find it difficult to fully participate in the process whilst simultaneously running it. That's why I recommend that they engage somebody to do that part for them. Me !

  • Speaking

    The first presentation I delivered to a large audience was at a Microsoft event at the then Sheraton Hotel on Symonds Street in Auckland. It was on Thursday, February 19th, 1998 and the reason I know that is because that was the first day a major cable fault plunged most of Auckland's CBD (including the room I was presenting in) into darkness. So I organised candles, gathered everybody around my laptop screen, crossed my fingers that the battery would last. The show went on and, to my surprise, nobody left the room.
    Since then I guesstimate I've given over 500 business presentations, keynotes and leadership team briefings. I also regularly present to participants of the ICEHOUSE Owner Manager Program and other leadership development programs.
    I've figured out that I've figured out how to make the story of technology and its impact on business, society and our futures relevant and engaging for thousands of people over the years and I'm pretty sure I could do the same for your company or conference too. Please get in touch if you'd like to know more.

  • Testimonials

    And only 10% of them from family members !

    "Brett is a visionary technologist who has a knack for people and getting things done."

    "That was the best presentation I have seen in my entire life."

    "Thanks dad, you're awesome"

     

    "I was impressed with his depth of technology knowledge and his ability to translate it to business imperatives of the day. His speaking style was relaxed and entertaining. I would recommend Brett for work around technology and business strategy."

     

    "What Brett doesn't know about technology, including tricky subject areas, isn't worth knowing. He could be an expert on relationship management, and is always insightful, clever, funny, caring, strategic - often all in the same sentence or interaction!"

    "Brett's strength is his character and willingness to innovate coupled with rock solid integrity, you can and should trust this man, his advice and his motivations."

    "I have been in a lot of strategy sessions in my career and that was by far and away the best."

    "I have worked alongside Brett both within Microsoft and in other roles where he has been in an advisory role. He is without doubt one of the sharpest thinkers I have worked with. He has a very good business brain, and often comes at a problem from a different angle to others."

     

  • CONTACT ME

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