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

What else?

🐛 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.

  • Courtney McConnochie facilitating a sustainable innovation accelerator

    Taking a group through the sustainable innovation accelerator

  • Courtney McConnochie - office with a view of mountains in Switzerland

    One of the more scenic spots for an all-day meeting - Switzerland

  • Courtney McConnochie presenting on The Future of Cities in Oslo

    Speaking on the future of cities at a conference in Oslo

  • Courtney McConnochie speaking at World Food Innovation awards

    The World Food Innovation awards - Nobel Institute, Stockholm

  • Courtney McConnochie working with internal group

    Mapping how information travels within this company; both formally and informally

  • Courtney McConnochie speaking on the future of cities

    Speaking on the future of cities - London

  • Courtney McConnochie doing user research

    How people manage money - in-home user research, Norway

  • Courtney McConnochie with drill

    This is definitely also research 🙄

  • Courtney McConnochie at Coca-Cola in Atlanta

    Taking some Prioritisation Yoga with Coca-Cola in Atlanta

  • Courtney McConnochie mapping scenarios with company CEO

    The Board gets involved; charting probable, potential & wildcard scenarios for the future of connectivity.

  • Courtney McConnochie presenting on circular design

    the Captain Planet theme tune makes a good timing bell for a circular design workshop 😂

  • Courtney McConnochie analysing research patterns

    Ideas and analysing research patterns

  • Courtney McConnochie speaking on emergent strategy

    Speaking on emergent strategy - Stockholm

  • Courtney McConnochie planning a presentation

    Working on my posture

  • Courtney McConnochie presenting at Google in Atlants

    Co-creation turns strategy into action at Google Atlanta

  • Courtney McConnochie synthesising workshop

    Post-workshop synthesis… team bonding

  • Courtney McConnochie facilitating a workshop

    It’s a good session when the worksheets end up on the floor 🎉

  • Courtney McConnochie mapping a service journey

    Strategy for end-to-end service experience; this map covers three more walls 😮

  • Courtney McConnochie at future of cities exhibition

    Playing around with map layers at the Future of Cities exhibition

  • Courtney McConnochie facilitating a workshop

    25 people, 6 hours, 8L of coffee, one North-Star vision statement 🎉

About me

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

You seem cool

Thanks for visiting. If you’re curious, let’s have a chat. I’m currently based in NZ, and work remotely in most time zones.

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©2020 Courtney McConnochie