Doug Williamson
President and Chief Executive Officer The Beacon Group
- Toronto ON
A bold thinker and dynamic speaker, with extensive global experience, who can provide unique insights into today's business challenges.
Social
Biography
He guides the company in providing relevant, state of the art Leadership Development, Organizational Effectiveness, Strategic Planning and Performance Management solutions to private and public sector organizations in North America, the United Kingdom, Europe, the Middle East and Australia.
Throughout his 30+ year international business career, Doug has been involved in initiating positive transformational change and improving the effectiveness of countless C Suite teams.
Prior to forming The Beacon Group Doug held several senior executive level positions with a number of large international institutions in both North America and Europe and within the Canadian Federal Government.
While in Ottawa, he played an instrumental role in the introduction of legislation to support and encourage the growth and financing of “knowledge based industries” and served as a Special Advisor in the Office of the Prime Minister. As a member of the 1992 Commission on Economic Prosperity, he was the author of their report - Financing the New Economy.
Industry Expertise
Areas of Expertise
Accomplishments
Author : Straight Talk On Leadership
Published by John Wiley & Sons (2013)
Education
The Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College
Hypercompetive Industry Program, Business Strategy & Leadership
London Business School at the University of London
International Business & Economics - Executive Program
McGill University
Banking & Commerce Program
Affiliations
- The Beacon Group
Testimonials
Executive Vice President & Chief Human Resources Officer
OMERS
"It is clearly time for Canadian business leaders to confront our national leadership dilemma. In he most recent book Straight Talk on Leadership, Williamson lays out a compelling agenda for leaders to act on to prepare us for a successful tomorrow."
President & CEO
Aimia (formerly Groupe Aeroplan Inc.)
"Williamson’s approach is effective and real-world: confront truths; wear them; and move forward fast to accountable action. His book Straight Talk on Leadership, is an invaluable recipe as to the how, and why it’s critical to Canada’s economic future."
President & Chief Executive Officer (Retired)
Export Development Canada
”Doug's book, Straight Talk on Leadership 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."
President & Chief Executive Officer
Gamma-Dynacare Medical Laboratories
"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…"
Chief Executive Officer
Altus Group Limited
“Succeeding in global markets require an aggressive and competitive style, and Doug has created a "must read" blueprint for success. Open communications and high transparency are the hallmarks of the best run companies. In Straight Talk, Doug Williamson makes a no nonsense, patriotic plea for pragmatic leadership in the boardroom and a wonderful road map for high performance results on the international stage.”
Managing Partner
Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP
”Doug Williamson’s book recognizes the unique position occupied by Canada in a changing global economy. He reinforces the need for Canadian business leaders to take advantage of that perspective by demonstrating a new type of leadership better suited to building not only highly profitable but also sustainable business organizations in this changing world. Rightfully, he sounds a warning in the event we do not heed the call to action.”
President
AVW-TELAV Audio Visual Solutions
"If you are currently a leader in Canada, or aspire to be a successful one someday, this is a must read book. From the title of the Introduction – “Moving Backward at the Speed of Light” - Doug’s book, Straight Talk on Leadership has forced me to stop, think and plan action to change."
Founder and retired CEO and later Chairman of Maxxam Analytics Inc.
Maxxam Analytics Inc.
"Doug Williamson understands the fabric of Canada. Strategy has been his forte and his book , Straight Talk on Leadership brings this to life. He sees the need for new leadership in business so that Canada itself is a global leader. This is lofty, but necessary thinking.
I would hope that not only business leaders, but that many of our political "leaders" would read and follow Doug's teachings. He has hit the nail on the head!”
Managing Partner & C.E.O.
Miller Thomson LLP
"Doug's book, Straight Talk on Leadership takes us out of our comfort zone. He challenges us to not accept the established norms and lets us know the consequences if we do. A mandatory read for all those who realize that businesses and institutions lacking in visionary leadership won’t reach their potential and often will actually fail".
President & C.E.O
Martinrea International Inc.
"Motivating employees is the key to successful growth, both in Canada and elsewhere. The challenge for managers of international growth, is the tailoring of management and incentive tools to reflect the cultural differences of employees in different countries. Doug's years of experience in assisting managers to identify and resolve these business issues are now available for all to read in his book Straight Talk on Leadership."
Senior Vice President & General Manager
Dome Productions
"The world is now more than ever a changing landscape. Straight Talk on Leadership - Solving Canada’s Business Crisis, is an excellent and thoughtful read that extends the knowledge base of leadership and provides valuable insights. It clearly defines the challenges facing the modern business leader. This book rises like Everest, above all other leadership books."
President & CEO
Kinectrics Inc.
“It is refreshing to find a uniquely Canadian perspective on leadership – the business challenges we face and the opportunities afforded us. This is what Doug delivers best…”straight talk…” without pulling any punches.”
President & Chief Executive Officer
VersaCold Logistics Services
”Straight Talk is a must read for all current and future Canadian leaders. As a country, Doug's call for greater leadership and transformational leadership is timely and well warranted."
Publisher & C.E.O.
The Globe & Mail
“The Beacon Group’s program proved to be a transformational experience for our staff, and has created a new, more open culture of creativity and collaboration that has given The Globe and Mail a marked and measurable competitive advantage.”
President of United States Solutions Group
Xerox Corporation
“The Beacon Group delivered cutting edge perspectives on many human capital topics that were tailored and customized to our company in a way that we could not have obtained at more generic, cookie-cutter advising shops.”
Group Head Global Human Resources & Communications
Scotiabank
The Global HR & Communications senior team engaged Doug Williamson in shepherding us through a unique strategic planning process that involved an outside-in view of our current and future workforce and how this aligns to our business strategy. Thanks to Doug and his team it was a thought provoking process that sharpened our strategic thinking and, in the end, made our strategy stronger.”
Senior Vice President & Chief Talent Officer
Foresters
“Top-level thought leadership, combined with practical, cost-effective solutions—that’s the real value the Beacon Group team brings to bear on Foresters talent challenges.”
President & CEO
Insurance Bureau of Canada
Doug Williamson and his team were of invaluable assistance in helping our organization navigate through a completely new strategic planning process and emerge with a three year plan resoundingly endorsed by our Board. Doug’s global perspectives and ability to drive consensus was an integral part of our success.”
President
SKF Canada
“SKF approached The Beacon Group to develop our Talent Management program. The process implemented by Doug Williamson and his team was extremely important for us in determining how to execute the program on a clear, organized and systematic way. This was one of our most important projects that will enable us to ensure our sustainable growth.”
President
Swish Maintenance Limited
The big contribution was The Beacon Group challenged our culture and our comfort level. We then arrived at a clear plan of concise deliverables that we needed to execute to move forward on our vision.”
President & C.E.O.
SCI Group Inc.
“Through its sound and strategically practical business knowledge and experience The Beacon Group has and continues to assist SCI in better understanding and enabling our organization to build engaged teams and leadership capability to help make our supply chain clients more competitive.”
Event Appearances
Straight Talk on Leadership: Why Learning How to Lead Matters
Conference Board of Canada :: COUNCIL FOR LEARNING AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT Toronto, ON
2015-05-13
Straight Talk on Leadership series
Habitat Canada Annual Appreciation Conference Toronto
2014-11-19
The Art of Strategic Thinking
ISSA/INTERCLEAN Orlando 2014 Orlando , FL
2014-11-04
Straight Talk on Leadership
The Executive Committee (TEC) July Forum Toronto
2014-07-24
Leading In A Global Environment
Strategic Capability Network (SCN) National Club - Toronto
2014-07-17
Straight Talk on Leadership
GIHRG Spring Forum Toronto
2014-06-06
The Secret Sauce:: How Canada's Leading Innovators Engage Employees and Create a Culture to Drive Innovation Results
Conference Board of Canada - Business Innovation Summit 2014 Toronto, Ontario
2014-05-28
Transformational Leadership
Conference Board of Canada: Change Management 2014: Engaging the People, Managing the Process Toronto, Ontario
2014-05-06
Straight Talk on Leadership
Retail Council of Canada - 2014 Retail Human Resources Conference Toronto, Ontario
2014-04-01
Straight Talk on Leadership
Strategic Leadership Forum - SLF Toronto, Ontario
2014-03-25
Creating Followers
HRPA 2014 Annual Conference & Trade Show Toronto, Ontario
2014-01-24
Straight Talk on Leadership
Cannexus 14 - National Career Development Conference Ottawa, Ontario
2014-01-21
Queens University - Business Conference
Queens Conference on International Business Toronto, Ontario
2014-01-17
Transformational Leadership
Soundview (Executive Book Summaries) Webinar Toronto, Ontario
2013-12-17
Straight Talk on Leadership
Sandermoen Speaker Series University of Fredricton, Fredricton , NB
2013-11-21
Innovation Canada: 20 Ideas That Matter
11th Annual Canadian Business Leadership Forum Toronto, Ontario
2013-11-07
On the Global Stage: Exporting Canada's Innovations
Canadian EdTech Leadership Summit 2013 Toronto, Ontario
2013-11-05
Leadership, Rising to the Challenge
Canadian Institute of Management (CIM) London, Ontario
2013-06-07
Young Professional Development Program
ISSA Conference Chicago, IL
2013-05-08
Leaders, Followers & Followership
Schulich School of Business York University, Toronto, Ontario
2012-10-02
Transformational Leadership
Toronto Board of Trade Toronto, Ontario
2012-09-19
The Traits of Modern Strategic Leadership
School of Business & Economics Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario
2012-05-17
Deny, Defend, Disrupt: Developing Leadership for Chaotic Times
Change Management 2014:: Engaging the People, Managing the Process Toronto, Ontario
2014-05-06
Straight Talk on Leadership
Leadership Development Summit 2015 - Conference Board of Canada Toronto, ON
2015-05-13
Sample Talks
The Art of Strategic Thinking
The turbulent world in which we currently live, requires leaders to develop their organizational strategy in some new and more relevant ways. The long held Strategic Planning bias and methodology of the past has given way to an new emphasis on the power and benefits of Strategic Thinking.
The Secrets to Transformational Leadership
The role of the leader today is not to enforce order and discipline but rather, to ensure the organization can readily transform itself in ways which will allow it to better serve its stakeholders. The skills and attributes of the transformational leader are different than those required in more stable and certain times.
Megatrends & Seismic Shifts - Coping with the New Reality
We are all subject to significant economic, social and technological forces which are shaping the context in which we live and lead. As much as we might wish otherwise, these forces are not under our own control. Understanding what they are and how they impact our organization is a major leadership responsibility.
The Leadership Secrets of Hidden Champions
The business press likes to feature articles and analysis on the big, well known organizations and their trials and tribulations - sometimes even their success. However, there are countless, less well know organizations who have found a way to quietly dominate their own "space" on a global scale. These organizations provide valuable lessons for the enduring success of any organization.
Leading through Chaos & Disruption
There is an emerging body of thought leadership suggesting the best way to survive, thrive and dominate today is to embrace a "hypercompetitive" posture. This means embracing chaos theory and practising the principles of disruptive innovation. While it may sound dangerous on the surface, it is a much better alternative than a slow, painful death caused by the inability to compete in a demanding environment.
Style
Availability
- Keynote
- Panelist
- Workshop Leader
- Author Appearance
- Corporate Training
