My promotion to VP was announced yesterday. Now doing the same role with an expansion to South America, Middle east/Africa, Central and Eastern Europe /Russia on top of AP

I do want to say a special thank you for the substantial and long term impact on the way I work.
You have always asked direct and honest questions that have forced me to question why I do things or why I think in a certain way.
Your focus has never been to judge but much more focused on how I can personally achieve more than just the business area I work in.

In the recent 12 months you have helped re-define the way this business works and how I could succeed in this role even though I was never a dealmaker. It was an exceptional piece of coaching that has resulted in my team delivering the best results of any team around the world in my part of the business now for 2 years running. Ian, please feel very proud of this achievement, your assistance drove a clarity that has resulted in leaders in every GMT - 2 of them are now Director level.

Duncan Hewett
Vice President, Enterprise Sales & Compliance
IBM Software - Growth Markets

I wanted to send big thanks for the coaching over past 9 months.

I've always been keen to develop myself further as a leader, but have not really taken proper action beyond what is automatically coming on my way in our business. Normally business targets & objectives are clear and quantifiable and one pretty much know what needs to be done. However setting a clear personal development plan as a leader is normally less so clear (at least in my case).

My objectives for couching were many: to crystalize to myself my own leadership style, better understand the areas which are my natural strengths and identify the development needs. I also wanted to have an external sounding board for various leadership topics & ideas that surface time to time.

I'm pleased to say that these coaching sessions met and exceeded my expectations. The biggest value for me was to learn more about myself and to help me focus on specific areas with practicable steps. All discussions were around real life cases so no academics or theory, which worked very well for me. I believe that is the difference between teaching and coaching.

I can warmly recommend Ian to leaders & managers who have genuine interest to develop themselves and who are ready to put their personality in the game. The coaching relationship is very trusted and that trust needs to be established right from the beginning. That worked very well for me.

Thank you again,

Kalevi Kostiainen
Managing Director
Nokia Siemens
Australia & New Zealand

Thank you for the time and effort you have put into our coaching sessions over the last few months. I have found them extremely valuable in assisting me to think through the broader, longer term issues that relate to my current responsibilities. There is no doubt the time we have spent together has been very productive for me in several key areas.

Having benefited from coaching experiences in the past, I can honestly say your management experience and depth of knowledge have made an enormous difference to the value of this program. In many cases, the ideas you have suggested or the alternatives you have asked me to consider have led to far stronger conclusions than those I would have arrived at myself.

Thank you for all of the effort you have put into these sessions and I am certain you have much to offer anyone else who has an interest in pushing themselves to be better than they currently are.

Steven Worrall
General Manager, Software Group
IBM Australia & New Zealand

“From the beginning the relationship with Ian was very candid and open. He was always prepared for the sessions and followed through with specific questions/actions/notes.This showed he cared and that he took this role very seriously. That's what I was looking for”.

“I have gotten a tremendous value out of this process. I am glad it was recommended to me and that I participated in it. I am in the process of recommending it to one of my peers. It is practical and clear”.

“I have already recommended Ian to others. I strongly recommended to go through this process to do some inner thinking and find out what are the real issues that need to be worked on”.

Enrique Rodriquez
VP, Strategy & Operations
IBM software group, Asia Pacific

When I approached Ian for Executive Coaching in 2005, I had been in Sales for approximately 12 years post Engineering. I had come to a point in my career where I felt I needed external coaching around career, work life balance and my leadership style.

The structured coaching process was invaluable. His unbiased views (unlike my direct management) allowed him to coach but also teach/mentor me, given his years of experience and wisdom.

Apart from the results on my specific areas of focus, Ian has stayed in contact for over 5 years to stay in touch with my development.

Strong interpersonal skills, coupled with his passion and sincerity allows him to build strong trust.

Brings a wealth of experience from senior positions he has held within large complex multinational organisations.

I have no hesitation in recommending Ian's Executive Coaching to any professional or organisation.

Gavin Douglas
NSW Sales Director, Dimension Data

Ian, Thank you for your time and patience. Your insights and experience helped me to develop my management style and make use of additional communication techniques.

I found the sessions very valuable and I particularly appreciate that you worked with me over a long period of time with the focus on measurable outcomes.

Working with you was a journey of self discovery.

For those who have ever wondered how you are perceived within an organisation the coaching sessions are opportunities to look in the mirror.
I would recommend Ian's help to anyone who is interested in identifying and addressing potential blind spots.

Best Regards,

Simon McMurray
Software Compliance Executive,
IBM Corporate Governance Office, Growth Markets

I wanted to pass on my thanks for your continued support in our fortnightly coaching sessions. The format of the sessions, your approachable style and enthusiasm has helped my clearly identify and focus on goals that have enhanced me personally and professionally.

In particular, I appreciate the way you have helped me reach my own conclusions and develop an individual action plan through the sessions. This personal discovery has also been balanced with valuable insight from your own experiences where appropriate.

Over the program, I have achieved a heightened sense of awareness of key leadership characteristics as it relates to my management style, gained a better understanding of career development within IBM and enjoyed a much needed better work/life balance.

The overall program and sessions have far exceeded my expectation and I would strongly recommend to any other manager. Thanks again for your efforts and helping me accelerate my personal development. I look forward to our ongoing dialogue and joint future success!

PS. The sessions have also been fun.

Mitch Young
Large Deals & Coverage Executive, Asia Pacific IBM Software Group

This was the first coaching program I have attended and obtained significant value from it. I will be in a better position to comment in a few months to see if the objectives are achieved.

Benefits for me include:

• Better thought processes around tasks
• Clear goals and objectives in work and personal issues
• Greater sense of control in career and life in general
• I believe I will be much more measured in making key decisions - both personal and work wise
• Better understanding of if I want to do something, how motivated am I to really want to do “it".

Very professional - very much about “you” and what “you” want and where “you” want to go.

Eric Maya
Sales Executive
Dimension Data

“I was quite flabbergasted by the very high level of trust and intimacy I felt as a client when being coached by Ian. The rapport he built right from the start was very impressive”.

“Ian's use of placement was very strong right throughout the session. He handled the issue of trust and confidentiality with extraordinary finesse”.

“I was impressed that Ian wasn't “afraid” of the more personal areas that this session elicited. He listened with great interest, making me feel very “special” as a client. This was evident particularly in his ability to clarify effectively”.

“Ian's coaching style naturally makes it easy for the client to set very solid goals which are both inspiring as well as measurable”.

“Ian is adept in using thinking questions rather than informational questions thus deepening the level of the coaching conversation”.

Claire Burgess
Certified Personal and Business Coach
Coaching for Success
(comments taken with approval from Results coach certification session, 2006)