Hidden away in an old ‘speaking showreel’ on YouTube: a showcase of the exceptional talents of René Carayol
Watch the video, then answer this: what innovation leadership role would be beyond his capabilities?
Here’s a bit of background from his website:
René’s focus is on inspirational leadership and culture, bound together with a compelling philosophy founded on his own board level experience.
Extraordinary times demand extraordinary leadership and make no mistake about it; we find ourselves in unprecedented and turbulent waters.
Looking for clues from the past on how to navigate the storm is proving useless and “off the shelf” solutions simply no longer prepare organisations for what lies ahead, regardless of their sector or industry.
It has become a business imperative to consider if you have the necessary attitudes and leadership in place to ensure your organisation continues to thrive.
In the traditional world a good product or service coupled with a good management team was sufficient to ensure success.
But in today’s aggressive and unforgiving market place they are no longer enough on their own.
Progressive, contemporary businesses are learning the hard way that it is leadership and culture that separate the winners from the losers.
The race is no longer about being the best; everybody is trying to do that.
The winners are those that strive to be unique, special and different.
They know the difference between management and leadership.
René Carayol is one of the world’s leading business gurus specialising in leadership and culture, drawing from his own unique experiences on the boards of the biggest British and American organisations; from Marks & Spencer and Pepsi to IPC Media and the Inland Revenue.
He is the best selling author of the leadership and culture bible, “Corporate Voodoo” and has had the privilege of working closely with some of the world’s best leaders; from former US President Bill Clinton to the seventh Secretary-General of the United Nations Kofi Annan and from former US Secretary of State Colin Powell to Sir Richard Branson.
René is a regular broadcaster for the BBC and has presented the influential “Pay Off Your Mortgage In 2 Years” series, BBC2’s flagship business offering “The Money Programme” and the critically acclaimed “Mind Of A Millionaire” and “Man From The Met” documentaries.
He is a broadsheet columnist, a frequent voice on Radio 5 Live and a regular expert commentator on Sky News and BBC Breakfast.
He has provided leadership support to the likes of the Prime Minister’s Strategy Unit, the World Bank and BP, and is now an accomplished Visiting Professor at Cass business school.
In 2004 he was awarded an MBE for outstanding service to the business community.
It is this unrivalled business acumen that has seen René facilitate and host conferences all over the world and provide board level mentoring and master classes to some of the world’s largest corporations; establishing a plethora of globally renowned names in his client portfolio in the process.
René asks awkward and uncomfortable questions.
How do you change old-fashioned, risk-adverse processes that are ill suited to emerging global markets? How do you secure and nurture the talents of a new generation of leaders? How do you overcome cynicism and complacency, and replace them with resolve?
Everybody thinks their leadership team is strong enough in times of success.
But is it fit for purpose when the going gets tough? If ever there was a time for leadership to set the vision and instill confidence, it is now.
René has built his reputation on knowing businesses better than they do themselves; providing answers and solutions no matter how big or small the problems that simmer below the surface.
His messages are practical, real life experiences presented with electrifying effect.
He both shakes up and inspires his audiences, showing them not only what lies within their grasp but when to grasp the nettle; keeping them one step ahead of the chasing pack.
