Business Strategy and Facilitation
 
"My thanks again for the wonderful two days you shared with us. It added significant value and has given us real substance to work with. With thanks."
Julia Dyssell, Head: HR , Santam Commercial Strategy
 
 
 
"Thanks again for an amazing two days. I have to say that out off all the strat sessions I have attended this certainly rates as one of THE BEST."
Ashleigh Upton, HR Manager, RBS Financial Services
 
 
 
"I enjoyed the combination of creativity and safety offered by the cafe-style approach; I particularly enjoyed your personal style of honesty, assertiveness and confronting comfort zones. I liked the way you closed of the session with clarity and clear direction for next steps and your approach to "finishing the job" within a couple of days with clear and simple documents which can then be actioned"
Julia Dyssell, Head: HR, Santam Commercial Strategy
 
 
 
"I enjoyed the cafe style discussions. It enabled everyone (from various disciplines within the business) to participate fully, but also kept us to the point. I also enjoyed the diverse nature of the ideas generated as a team. Louise, I do sincerely recommend your facilitation service. You have the diplomacy and wisdom to handle awkward situations, whilst ensuring positive contributions from everyone and the ability to summarize issues until a workable plan emerges. My brain felt like a sponge that had everything squeezed out of it."
Mike Glasby, Santam Commercial Strategy
 
 
"A huge thank you for another wonderful National Sales Meeting. I really appreciate all the effort and energy that went into putting it together and making it such a special experience. I learnt a lot, as usual, and loved seeing everyone again."
Jennie Mallitte, Hertex
 
 
 
"We would like to express our sincere thanks for guiding us through our National Sales Meeting this weekend. It was a privilege to have you in our circle and you showed us strong leadership. It was a happy relaxed meeting with lots of learning and appreciation. It was a sterling performance from your side and for that many thanks again"
Peter Hermann, CEO, Hertex Fabrics.
 
 
 
"Dear Louise Since you have started to facilitate our strategy sessions, I have never looked forward to strategy days as much! You have a gift for creating a day which is fun, creative, yet focused and structured. Your brain-wave of getting everyone to participate in the shoe-box exercise ensured that the day started off on a personal yet positive note. From the onset we were all engaged and enrolled in the process of strategy. I am very happy with the action plans which were generated. Thank you for your expert facilitation"
Suzanne Annenberg, General Manager Exact!
 
 
 

"Louise facilitated a senior manager's dialogue with BAT South Africa which focused on workload and complexity in the business, as we faced the challenges of a new regional and global strategy and an ever changing business environment. Her sensitivity, creativity and just sheer sense of fun made the day a very valuable one for each and every participant.

The team was really pumped and excited by the day as we got right into the issues and worked on real, tangible and meaningful solutions to the issues we faced. The feedback from all the team was that it was pragmatic, actionable and realistic and that she allowed us to see a clear way forward to our situation.

A great day, full of fun, humour and real work with a focus on real actions to take us forward successfully. It was superb"

David Crowe, CEO, BATSA
 
 
 
"I regularly quote the time that Louise got a group of hard-nosed site managers to quote poetry in their operational plan. This says everything about her ability to get clients thinking innovatively and creatively."
Tim Connolly, Founding Director, Partners for Change
 
 
 
"Louise is not afraid to go where other people are thinking. I have left her workshop events more than once reflecting for days on what has taken place."
Rhona Mears, Process Consultant, GlaxoSmithkline
 
 
"Louise added vibrancy and focus to our planning session."
Delegate, FutureLead strategy session (June 2005).
 
 
 
"Louise's assistance in facilitating an integration planning process as frontrunner for our merger was invaluable. She was able to continuously drive out the positives from the process, thereby keeping a group of seasoned Line and Support Managers focused on the opportunities at hand, whilst addressing the toughest issues at the same time. Of particular interest to me was Louise's ability to listen to her customer and understanding the requirements, supported by a willingness to challenge the status quo and think outside the box. Her combination of competency and wit is a great plus to any organisation."
Hans de Nysschen, CEO, Commsco (June 2005)
 
 
 
"Great job! Getting a group of diverse consultants to sing from the same sheet is a challenge that was done with skill and sensitivity."
Delegate, FutureLead strategy session (June 2005)
 
 
 
"Louise; just a few words of thanks for guiding us through our national sales conference which was a huge success. We all enjoyed the professional manner you were leading us through those 2 days. The interaction was great fun, and we are already working on your feedback to implement some of your recommendations. Although it is very early days we would like to have you back as facilitator for our next national sales conference."
Peter Hermann, CEO, Hertex (June 2005)
 
 
 
"Melanie possesses a gift for facilitation. She approaches conflicting and complex situations with creativity. She walks in the path of possibility with intelligence, intuition and empathy. Passionate about people, she strives for success, is truly authentic, open and honest and it is my joy and privilege to call her a friend and colleague."
Suzanne Annenberg, General Manager, Exact!
 
 
 
"Melanie has facilitated a number of conversation processes with employees from many different levels in the organisation. She has the ability to engage all participants and create a relaxed space to ensure all voices across the many levels are heard."
Senta van der Merwe, Human Resource Director: Talent Management, The Foschini Group
 
 
 

"I found the process to be very synergistic; the idea of having attendees moving between tables is excellent and certainly helps in adding value to the conversations. The use of colour in note-taking and choice of music background also goes a long way in helping the creative process and it adds an element of "play/relax time" to the conversation.

However, it is important to note that the process gains acceptance and credibility from the style and presentation technique employed by the facilitator; in this you did indeed excel!"
Toni Metelo-Liquito, Marketing Director, Financial Services, The Foschini Group