"With my background in the oil industry, it's no wonder that I developed  a rationalist view of the business world. I suppose I became what pop psychologists would call a left brainer. In a high-risk business where science, engineering, law and economics prevail, executives who act rationally are preferred, and I fitted in very well.

From left brainer to right brainer

"This comfortable view was upended in my first week on the INSEAD MBA when we were set a book by Manfred Kets de Vries: The Neurotic Organization. Manfred is, among many other things, a psychoanalyst and he uses psychoanalytic techniques to understand the irrational forces playing out in organizations. That organizations can be crazy I had already observed - I'd seen lots of them around the world. Finding a systematic framework to explain that craziness was a real insight.

Playing organizational detective

"Since INSEAD, and before setting up independently in 2001, I was CEO of an industrial training organization, and worked in business schools, mostly in custom corporate education. In parallel I worked occasionally with Manfred - who has become a friend and mentor - researching and writing business case studies. Playing organizational detective is fun.

The conventional Harvard-style case study is a recognition that business and management can't be taught through theory alone. They're not ideal as a teaching tool, but at least they try to bring the real world into the MBA classroom. They're a step towards Learning in Practice. I still write and use them in group facilitation, but increasingly I prefer client custom cases because of their greater impact.

An international outlook

"I've always had an international outlook and took my first job because I was promised an overseas assignment. Within 6 months I was on a plane to Africa. It seems I've been on planes ever since, having done business in about 40 countries. Along the way I've picked up languages, an interest in cross-cultural issues and read widely on geo-political and economic trends, particularly about countries I have visited. My current interest is the BRIC countries, that disparate group whose fortunes will affect us all.

GTN Newsletter

"I edit the newsletter and contribute articles on subject so interest to me. You'll find a link to the newsletter under Professionals Network.