Agile Leadership – The Truth

Nick is Founder and CEO of Complex Adaptive Leadership Ltd (UK) and MD of Agile+ Consultants (China). He belongs to the faculty of CEDEP in France (INSEAD Fontainebleau campus) as a professor of leadership. He links complexity science, blended with ancient Chinese wisdom, for leaders to navigate VUCA times in a practical way. His approach was awarded the EFMD Gold Award for Executive Development beating many leading blue-chip business schools around the world. This approach has been employed by a variety of international MNCs (e.g. Rolls-Royce, Dow Chemical, GE, UBS, IBM, Société Générale, Rio Tinto, Nokia, Ali Baba) as well as public sector organisations (e.g. in UK, Russia, Indonesia, Malaysia). He has wide ranging leadership experience including:

• Practitioner: British Army Major (youngest at the time) in his late twenties trained in Armour, Intelligence, Special Forces and military Joint Service Mountain Expedition Leader; Development Director/COS of FTSE 100 firm (line responsibility for 12,000 staff, change responsibility for 45,000 staff); CEO of green energy technology start-ups.
• Consultant: Executive Strategy Consultant of Ernst & Young; Managing Partner of The Vth Dimension.
• Academic: Professor of Leadership Nyenrode (MBA professor of the year twice); visiting leadership professor: LBS, INSEAD, EHL, Duke CE and Thunderbird.
• Author: “Complex Adaptive Leadership – Embracing Paradox and Uncertainty” (Gower best seller translated in China as “Future Leadership” 未来领导力), “Leading Complex Projects” (ICCPM); “More for less – How to lead an agile self-organising organisation” (Taylor Francis). and “Practical Business Re-engineering – Tools and Techniques for Achieving Effective Change” (Kogan Page).

Nick holds an MBA from IMD (where he graduated as Valedictorian) and is a qualified Chartered Management Consultant. His other past achievements include Master Scuba Diver, twin engine instrument rated private pilot, Emergency First Responder (paramedic) and qualified mountain guide/expedition leader.

More at: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/nickobolensky

Hailing from Ottawa, Canada, Matt studied History and Political Science at the University of Ottawa, graduating with honors. After gaining experience in the public sector at Industry Canada, Indian & Northern Affairs Canada, and the Department of National Defense, Matt moved to the private sector, joining Bell Canada. He then moved to media and advertising, before relocating to Shanghai in 2012.

Karl has worked in the Logistics industry for 30+ years for both MNC’s, family owned companies and also built his own company later selling to an investor. He has extensive experience of managing teams of 500+ down to teams of 2/3.