Hello, I’m Courtney
I like to build high-performing tech businesses that make something in the world better.
I agree with Mr. G.B Shaw; “Progress depends on the unreasonable”. I like turning unreasonable things into viable businesses.
I work with brave founders and lead teams of driven, curious people who question what is ‘normal’. Together we uncover, build, scale and stabilise opportunities that flip industries and create a ripple effect of positive change, by driving:
Some companies I’ve worked with:
Places & projects
Click on a pin 📍 for more information
🐛 I’m a big fan of farming tiny food bugs, getting muddy, running on trails, and a bit of amateur exploring. Sometimes I head out on longer expeditions with friends. The ones that don’t go to plan are usually the best; there’s magic in the detour.
🌱 I get involved with local food and regenerative economy movements as much as I can, and I was a volunteer surf lifeguard 🌊 at Muriwai (Danger Beach TV) for 10 years. I have a lot of mini-whiteboards, zapier hacks and excel shortcuts and I hate watching TV series. Please don’t suggest one I may like. You may be right, but I still won’t watch it.
🐭 Ah - and my last name is McConnochie. I couldn’t spell it when I was little, so I rhymed it with the Mickey Mouse Club theme song and that’s still how I spell it out.
📖 Currently reading: ‘The Doors of Perception’ (Aldous Huxley)
🎸 Currently learning: Biomimicry & mycelium models. Guitar.
Taking a group through the sustainable innovation accelerator
One of the more scenic spots for an all-day meeting - Switzerland
Speaking on the future of cities at a conference in Oslo
The World Food Innovation awards - Nobel Institute, Stockholm
Mapping how information travels within this company; both formally and informally
Speaking on the future of cities - London
How people manage money - in-home user research, Norway
This is definitely also research 🙄
Taking some Prioritisation Yoga with Coca-Cola in Atlanta
The Board gets involved; charting probable, potential & wildcard scenarios for the future of connectivity.
the Captain Planet theme tune makes a good timing bell for a circular design workshop 😂
Ideas and analysing research patterns
Speaking on emergent strategy - Stockholm
Working on my posture
Co-creation turns strategy into action at Google Atlanta
Post-workshop synthesis… team bonding
It’s a good session when the worksheets end up on the floor 🎉
Strategy for end-to-end service experience; this map covers three more walls 😮
Playing around with map layers at the Future of Cities exhibition
25 people, 6 hours, 8L of coffee, one North-Star vision statement 🎉
I’m an executive-level strategy maker/do-er, business designer, impact entrepreneur and speaker. I’ve spent my career working globally to help market-leading companies and market-breaking startups scale, transform, and continuously launch things their customers rave about, backed by solid operations, and often driven by advanced tech. And I firmly believe that what’s better for the world is also better for business.
Don’t take my word for it, there’s a mountain of proof - here is a diagram. So, now I focus on helping ambitious businesses and social enterprises who want to do something incredible for the world while performing at their very best.
I lead cross-disciplinary teams that help companies imagine new futures, uncover the highest-potential opportunities - both operationally and in the market, identify leverage points for change, then join the dots to get there - and execute fast.
My sweet spot is working on the fringes of what’s familiar; where things start to get a bit uncomfortable, and where there tends to be a lot of volatility, uncertainty, change, and ambiguity (VUCA).
I do this through executive leadership in operational and business design, growth and product strategy, lean execution, and - most importantly, orchestrating diverse skillsets to drive toward a common vision - from designers, data scientists and engineers, to citizens and customers. My own toolbox includes co-creation and executive/stakeholder facilitation, analysis and insight/foresight, design, investor relations, behavioural psychology, and an eye for awesome, talented people.
I’ve done this for <$1 start-ups and >$10B Fortune 500 corporations and Sovereign Wealth Funds, for friends, philanthropists, farmers… and once, a President