"We shape our tools and then our tools shape us."Winston Churchill*
The Mission
I'm here to inspire people and companies to find flow and perform at their best.
The Canvas:OS journey began with the simple belief that people are worthy of dignity, agency, and respect, regardless of their position, and that given the right conditions, most people can become highly engaged, high-performing contributors. I work to help companies discover those conditions by creating systems and practices that bring out the best in people.
This isn't achieved through motivational tricks, free fruit in the office, or engagement surveys, but by reshaping the systems, structures, and processes that define what we value and how we work together every day. Canvas:OS is designed to do just that, with practical tools to go beyond merely talking about change, and start taking concrete steps to unshackle the talent and creativity hiding behind bureaucratic and ineffective systems.
My Values
People over process
Sustainable value over short-term results
Creative innovation over staying the course
Inviting change over setting expectations
Going deep over solving symptoms
That is, while I value things on the right, I place greater value on the left.
Partner qualities I look for
- A purpose beyond profit that contributes to making a positive difference in the world.
- An appetite to break down bureaucratic structures that no longer serve the organisation.
- A desire for people-first practices that value each individual as a creative contributor to the company.
As a registered International Coaching Federation (ICF) member, I adhere to the ICF code of ethics and its values of Professionalism, Collaboration, Humanity, and Equity.
My Background
My background is in agile software development in various roles and companies, coaching teams to discover better ways of working together. I have learned many lessons over the years, from wasteful systems that erode trust and effectiveness to those that cultivate collaboration and consistently high-performance.
When I'm not working, you'll find me on my bike in the Whakarewarewa forest in Rotorua, New Zealand, or spending time with my wife and two girls.
Ways to Connect
*The actual quote from Churchill was "We shape our buildings and afterwards our buildings shape us" in reference to restoring the bombed House of Commons during WWII, but it still works…