Great business leadership has always been in high demand. In Canada today, it is a particularly scarce natural resource, even more so than in most other advanced economies. We have allowed ourselves to become distracted from the responsibility we have to build a robust pipeline of exceptionally talented, globally oriented and future focused business leaders. Our complacency, comfortable standard of living and inward focus have created a perfect storm and put Canada at risk of falling even more dangerously behind in terms of our competitiveness and relevance in the global marketplace.
Doug Williamson has worked with senior leadership teams and their organizations all around the world. He has helped them transform their strategies, build their talent base and improve their leadership effectiveness. Since the global economic downturn in 2008, he has become increasingly concerned Canadian business is being outplayed, outmaneuvered and outthought by business leaders in both the emerging economies, who are more driven by the pursuit of new markets, and by the more entrepreneurial, focused and experienced leaders in the developed world. He believes Canada is being squeezed from all sides and, if it does not awaken to the threat this poses, our prosperity, our relevance and our future will be put at risk.
Canadian business has a rapidly closing window of opportunity to turn this around. It can only be done if we begin to cultivate a new generation of leaders with the competencies and capabilities that can help us compete successfully on the world stage. Straight Talk on Leadership offers a radical action plan that combines practical advice and useable tools with an impassioned call to action for Canadian leaders to take up the challenge, shake off the dust and act.
Praise for Straight Talk on Leadership
“This book is for leaders who aspire to make a difference by transforming their organizations for global competitiveness. It is for those who approach leadership as a privilege to be re-earned each and every day, rather than a reward for past successes. Doug covers the landscape of issues facing leaders today in a compelling, insightful manner, and always with the frankness for which he is respected in the business community.”
Eric Siegel, President & Chief Executive Officer (Retired), Export Development Canada
“Williamson’s approach is effective and real-world: confront truths, wear them and move forward quickly with accountable action. This book is an invaluable recipe as to the “how” and why leadership is critical to Canada’s economic future.”
Rupert Duchesne, Group Chief Executive, Aimia Inc. (Formerly Group Aeroplan Inc.)
“The turbulent fast-changing times we live in pose great leadership challenges. There are no easy leadership recipes. Doug Williamson’s unvarnished straight talk puts the environment in global perspective and provides leaders with a competency framework suited to the times we live in. A must read.”
Naseem Somani, President & Chief Executive Officer, Gamma-Dynacare Medical Laboratories
“Succeeding in global markets requires an aggressive and competitive style. Doug has created a blueprint for success. Open communication and high transparency are the hallmarks of the best-run companies. In Straight Talk on Leadership, he makes a no-nonsense, patriotic plea for pragmatic leadership in the executive suite and a wonderful roadmap for high performance results on the international stage.”
Robert Courteau, Chief Executive Officer, Altus Group Limited
About the Author
DOUG WILLIAMSON is Chief Executive Officer of The Beacon Group, a global leadership and strategy development firm whose clients range from well-known multinational companies to small and medium sized entrepreneurial businesses in Canada.
Over his varied career, Doug has worked in Canada, the United States, Europe, Mexico, the Middle East and Australia. Prior to founding The Beacon Group, he held senior executive-level positions with The Royal Bank of Canada and with the Canadian Government (including posts as Deputy Superintendent of Bankruptcy and as a member of the Canadian Government’s 1992 Commission on Economic Prosperity).
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