Hello, I’m Courtney
I like to build high-performing tech businesses that make something in the world better.
I help people and companies imagine new futures, then join the dots to get there. As Mr. G.B Shaw put it, “progress depends on the unreasonable”. I like turning unreasonable things into viable businesses.
Working with brave founders, and leading teams of driven, curious people who question what is ‘normal’, together we can 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 growth architect, business designer, occasional impact entrepreneur and speaker. I’ve spent my career working globally to help market-leading companies and market-breaking start-ups scale, transform, and continuously launch things their customers rave about, backed by solid operations, and usually 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