I have gained significant experience as a business mentor from serving over 400 organisations (big, medium and emerging) across 15 industries in Australia, the United Kingdom, Asia and the United States of America.
In 2009, I retired as a partner from the global consulting firm, Deloitte, to establish this Strategic Mentoring business. I aimed to get much closer to a few business owners and CEOs rather than drive significant projects and teams as I had done for the previous 20+ years around the world. Along the way, I founded a successful, 25 person start-up with two partners and offices up the eastern seaboard serving some of Australia’s largest distributed businesses. This taught me so much about the realities of business ownership!
If you know where you want to take your business, do you know what’s holding you back? And if you know what’s holding you back, do you know what to focus on first?
The Organisation Performance & Value (OPV) Diagnostic helps you take focused, targeted action, immediately. It helps you rate over 75 success factors in your business and, then decide the #criticalfewactions™ that, if you did nothing else, would have the biggest impact on helping you achieve your vision.
It’s for CEOs and senior leaders of organisations looking to develop, build or exit their business and wanting to understand, which are the few big-hitters that will give them the best result in improving both the value, and the performance of their business. You already know what they are. But when there’s 80 or more ways to improve your business, it can be overwhelming or confusing to choose just the #criticalfewactions™, that will make all the difference.
The CEO Masterclass in Strategic Planning & Implementation is a carefully structured program designed for dedicated founders, CEOs and senior leaders. Led by seasoned business Chairs with over 30 years of experience and their own firms, the Masterclass provides a confidential and intimate space to collaborate with peers from diverse, non-competing organisations.
Our extensive expertise across various business models, combined with the collaborative group setting, allows you to explore a wide range of innovative ideas and strategies that you won’t find in any traditional/theory-based business management programs and take the time out to work on your business.
A curation of interviews and presentations to support you on your leadership journey as you focus on only the #criticalfewactions™ that will improve your business.
In this episode John Downes talks with Joe Ciancio, the Director of Maxsum Consulting, a highly awarded and successful IT strategy and consulting firm.
Today’s discussion focuses on Cybersecurity Threats that are affecting EVERY BUSINESS, large and small. He also discusses the steps you can take to prevent them.
In this episode John Downes talks with Tim Cartwright, the then General Manager of Fresh Foods at Drake Supermarkets, to discuss the core principles that drive his success in leadership, including the mantra that “you don’t lose, you learn.”
Tim shares his journey from starting as a 15-year-old at BiLo Supermarkets to leading a team of over 3,000 employees. With practical advice on delegation, approachability, and prioritising team well-being, this episode is a treasure trove of insights for aspiring leaders.
Discover how Tim’s commitment to continuous improvement and passion for mentoring are key to cultivating high-performing teams.
Summary
In this episode, John sits down with LinkedIn expert Sue Ellson to reveal why a polished online presence is non-negotiable for CEOs and senior leaders.
Sue draws from her vast experience in LinkedIn consulting and authorship to share practical, actionable strategies to boost your digital footprint.
Learn how to conduct an online audit, manage your content like a pro, and track your online activity for measurable results.
Sue dives deep into the essentials of having a professional LinkedIn profile and personal website, offering tips on optimizing them for search engines and minimizing risks.
Discover how to curate engaging content, build a strong network, and prepare yourself for future career transitions.
Looking For Bonus Slides and Material, Including FREE Resources? Click Here!
In this episode of the #CriticalFewActions™ podcast, John Downes shares a simple four-step approach to strategic planning that turns vision into action.
With real-life examples, John explains how to focus on what matters most—understanding your customers, assessing your business, setting a clear vision, and prioritising the #CriticalFewActions™ that drive real progress.
If you’re ready to stop being overwhelmed and start moving forward, this episode is essential listening.
In this episode, John Downes talks with Damien Lacey, founder of OE Partners; an expert in operational excellence.
Damien shares key insights from his experience with companies like Toyota and Bosch, outlining the critical steps for high value business transformation. From setting a clear vision to aligning leadership and achieving small, quick wins, this episode provides actionable strategies to help businesses improve productivity and drive results.
Tune in to learn how to make lasting changes that can set your company apart from the competition!
In this episode John Downes sits down with Lisa Vincent, Founder and CEO of HowToo, to unpack her journey of building a game-changing SaaS platform for digital learning.
Lisa shares the secrets behind HowToo’s rapid growth, how she used venture capital to fund her vision, and the hard lessons learned from navigating the startup world. She also dives into strategic planning, making data-driven decisions, and the power of clear communication with investors.
Don’t miss this episode packed with insights every business leader needs to hear!
In this episode, John Downes introduces ‘The Critical Few Actions’ podcast, aimed at helping business leaders cut through the noise and focus on what truly matters.
Drawing from his vast experience in consulting and working with mid-market businesses, John shares his insights on the importance of ruthless prioritisation and focusing on key actions that drive real, lasting value.
I illustrate these principles with a real-world example of a CEO overwhelmed by attempting to implement too many changes at once.
The episode also introduces the Organisation Performance and Value Framework that highlights six key areas every CEO should focus on to improve their business.
