Insight produces breakthroughs. Breakthroughs produce new realities. New realities produce hope. Hope inspires creativity. And right now — maybe more than ever — young people need hope. Youth are the white blood cells of any society. Their energy and optimism protect against the infection and disease of cynicism and inertia that can accompany maturity.
Les helps organizations turn creativity into a competitive advantage and unlock adaptive innovation. His career-long obsession with creativity and culture led him to develop a process called Clarity Engine. It produces a cultural operating system that quickly, consistently and reliably reveals what is — and isn’t — energizing the vision, mission, values and goals of the organization. This creates trustworthy leadership and a highly adaptable culture designed for responsiveness, momentum and execution.
Adaptation is the theme woven into Les’ 35-year career. For close to a decade, he indulged his talent for invention in the creative departments of regional, national and international advertising agencies. At the same time, he honed his strategic chops serving clients as varied as General Motors, RBC, Telus, Sport Chek, Syngenta, Rogers, Sandman Hotel Group, and Old Dutch. Through close work with these powerful organizations, he saw the undeniable connection between a successful brand and a healthy culture. And the connection between a healthy culture and leadership that listens.
With those indelible insights in tow, Les made the leap into entrepreneurship, co-founding a boutique branding agency focused on helping organizations develop strategic crand Cultures. After a decade of converting hundreds of leaders and dozens of organizations to the benefits of bringing the entire culture into the process of energizing and animating the brand, he co-founded a start-up incubator that grew to a team of 35 members and took two startups public. One of which included putting an HD camera on the International Space Station.
Since leaving the incubator, Les consults and advises established organizations on the adaptive art of thinking and responding like a startup.
As an affiliate of Transformational Education Inc., Les contributes to the leadership team as a co-author and culture strategist, bridging branding, innovation, and human-centred transformation. With his background in entrepreneurship, creative leadership, and organizational consulting, he helps leaders and teams align culture, strategy, and communication to support adaptability and meaningful progress. Passionate about education, creativity, and healthier futures, Les brings a thoughtful, deeply human lens to transformational change.
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