CEO Monthly Issue 9 2018

8 CEO MONTHLY / ISSUE 9 2018 , Established in late 2011, Complex Adaptive Leadership (CAL) is a global network of talented associates who deliver globally consistent leadership development at a local level. Recently we profiled the firm to gain further insight into the firmand their CEO, Nick Obolensky to discover more about his award-winning leaderships style and CAL’s innovative ways. Changing Leadership Mindsets for an Uncertain World Complex Adaptive Leadership Ltd (CAL) delivers ground breaking organisational, talent and leadership development which gets demonstrable and proven results with a high ROI, allowing companies to achieve better results, faster for less resource. Although relatively young, it has grown quickly with over 40 associates around the world, a fully owned Chinese subsidiary (Agile+ Leadership Ltd) and has served dozens of MNCs in some 20 countries. CAL’s CEO is Nick Obolensky, who founded the company based on his best-selling book “Complex Adaptive Leadership – Embracing Paradox and Uncertainty”. He has decades of leadership experience both as a practitioner as well as a consultant, academic and author. His current responsibilities include accrediting quality consultants to deliver the CAL IP, growing the client base of both the UK and Chinese companies, enabling the company to become more digital in its approach, and creating disruption strategies to CAL’s business models, thus ensuring continual innovation. Nick started his career in the army and rose to become the youngest Major at the time in the British Army. He had a varied career both as an armoured officer and well as being intelligence and special forces trained. He also led various expeditions around the world as a qualified Mountain Expedition Leader. It was in this early career where he learned that if authority, responsibility and supported accountability is pushed down to the lowest possible level, astonishing results can follow. He left the army to gain an MBA from IMD, where he graduated as Valedictorian. Since then he has had a variety of leadership roles both as a practitioner, consultant, academic and entrepreneur. When asked to describe his leadership style and success, Nick says: “The days of ascribing or holding to a particular style I think are over – more important than having any particular style is to be mindful and realise behaviour is a choice. Stepping back allows one to know when to push, when to pull, when to lead, when to follow, when to get a grip and, more importantly, when to let 1809CE01