Principal Consultant

What made you want to join Bath Consultancy Group?
I had long been aware of Bath's reputation in the field and been interested in their methods and approach through my work with Ashridge where I have been an associate for 20 years.  I particularly like many of the Bath models and the way they can be applied pragmatically within client organisations and have a real and immediate impact.  I was really pleased therefore when an opportunity arose for me to contribute to one of Bath's client assignments in Germany and have gone on to develop my relationship with Bath since then.

What has struck you most since joining the team?
It is fantastic to be part of a team which has such a strong commitment to doing our very best - aiming for a world class job - within very complex client systems.  I also enjoy the company of our widely varying team including doctors of philosophy and polo players: the whole team creates a very generous learning community.  You would think with so many horsey people amongst the Bath team, and my daughter being very involved with them, that I would fit right in, however, I can't say I enjoy trailing off to horse events in the small hours of the morning on my weekends and still don't really know one end of a horse from another.  

Where does your background lie?
Following my degree in Social sciences I worked with McKinseys as a research associate and learnt a great deal about how large scale strategy studies are done, however, I was very confused about how such intellectually rigorous studies could be, so divorced from behavioural reality and hence my journey as a change consultant began ... and the rest as they say is history, with a few twists and turns in the last 25 years...

What is your major contribution to the business?
I've been an associate at Bath for three years and I have been involved in developing and designing a range of Bath assignments, but I think my greatest contribution has been my role in managing a significant change and leadership intervention involving working with 400 partners in a major professional services firm.  This has been a really significant project for us and it has been very rewarding to be part of such a successful team in which I can bring a lot of my large programme experience to bear and at the same time learn so much from my colleagues.

Over the past months, what kinds of moments have inspired you?
I've been running a series of change workshops for senior managers of a major airline.  It has been great to see and feel the difference in energy you can create with a group of 50 leaders in the same room.  It inspires me that there is so much human potential in organisations, if only we can find ways of unleashing it.  Very often it is the simple words of the wise that make me stop and think. Sayings like "be the change you want to see", constantly helps me to tap into this wisdom.

What would you like clients and colleagues to know about you?
One of my most mad moments was buying a completely derelict wreck of a house in France with no planning permission - and marrying a mad Pole who I had only really known for a few weeks. However, we are still married nearly 30 years later.  I live a somewhat complicated life travelling between London, France (and further abroad) and with home base in Somerset where we have brought up our two daughters both of whom have flown the nest in the last year - leaving 2 rather sad golden retrievers who cannot understand why life is suddenly so quiet.

What would you most like your career with Bath Consultancy Group to be remembered for?
Working to grow the business in the professional services sector, and bringing a real interest and edge in how you work at both the intellectual and behavioural levels in organisations.  I hope that my diverse range of experience in consulting can bring great value to our work.  I don't shy away from challenge and like to provide real support and challenge to leaders at all levels - and within our Bath team.