Global Innovator | Humanitarian | National Geographic Explorer | United Nations Visionary Award Recipient | TED Speaker

Aloha, I’m Dr. Elizabeth Lindsey

I help leaders make clearer decisions when conditions keep changing.

In the Pacific, navigators call this wayfinding:
staying oriented in motion, reading what’s real, 
trusting your inner compass, and course-correcting calmly.

Many leaders are carrying high-stakes pressure:

• uncertainty without clear answers
• burnout they don’t talk about
• markets shifting faster than strategy
• the sense that the old map no longer fits

My work helps you:

• see clearly (inside and out)
• reduce decision overload and choose the next right step
• course-correct with steadiness as conditions change
• return to True North: values, meaning, alignment

I’m a National Geographic Explorer and anthropologist (PhD in ethnonavigation). 
I translate timeless wayfinding wisdom into practical frameworks for modern life.

I’m currently building a digital wayfinding companion for decision mastery. 
Planned release: mid-April 2026.

From those who’ve experienced my work:

“Elizabeth's timeless insights provided critical unlocks to our team and will no doubt do the same for a broad audience.” 

Ashley Grice, CEO BCG BrightHouse

"Elizabeth is a spellbinding presenter who embodies an inimitable coherence as a daring explorer, visionary, and courageous advocate for cultures around the world."

Dr. Chellie Spiller, Leader-in-Residence, Oxford University

"Elizabeth has greatly honored her cultural heritage. She is superbly qualified for her global quest to find and protect the essence of at-risk cultures." 

Captain Don Walsh, National Geographic, Ocean Elder

Dr. Elizabeth Lindsey

The people you keep close 
shape the person you become.

Not through grand gestures.
Through quiet moments of belief 
when you doubt yourself.

It's been true for me.

Each time, the difference between 
staying stuck and moving forward 
came down to one thing:

The voices I let into my inner circle.

This is what I learned from those voices:

Some people light fires. 
Others tend them. 

The rarest ones sit with you in the dark 
until morning comes.

You need all three.

The colleague who sees 
your potential before you do.

The friend who stays steady 
when you're not.

The mentor who celebrates small wins 
like they're milestones.
Because they are.

At this stage of life, 
we're choosing people who energize us.

We're building connections 
that feel like true partnership.

We're keeping company 
with those who expand our vision.

Your circle should make you braver, 
not smaller.

It should remind you who you are 
when the world tries to tell you who you're not.

Surround yourself with people 
who reflect your strength back to you.

Not because they're perfect.
But because they're real.

Share with those who 
want to protect their peace.

For daily insights on intentional leadership, 
join me, Dr. Elizabeth Lindsey.

Dr. Elizabeth Lindsey 

Helping leaders navigate with greater clarity | National Geographic Explorer | United Nations Visionary Award Recipient | TED Speaker

Most people don't fail because they lack talent.

They fail because they stop believing.

You've started over before. 
Maybe more than once.

You may be standing at another edge, 
wondering if you still have what it takes.

If so, I understand what you're going through.

You may feel exhausted from holding it together.
Wonder why decisions don't feel as clear.
Worry this time might be different.

That doubt isn't weakness.

It's the cost of caring deeply 
about what comes next.

Belief isn't something you find. 
It's something you practice.

One small decision at a time.
One honest conversation.
One step when you're not sure.

A year from now, 
you won't remember the fear.

You'll remember the moment 
you chose to trust yourself anyway.

Not because it was easy.
Not because you had all the answers.

But because you decided your next chapter 
mattered more than your comfort.

Repost for those standing at their own edge.

For daily insights on intentional leadership,
join me, Dr. Elizabeth Lindsey.

I didn’t quit my career.
My life quit it for me.

I spent 15 years building a career.
Then life said: "start over."

Seven times.

Each time felt like failure. 
Like I'd missed some invisible rulebook 
everyone else had memorized.

After decades of reinvention, 
the chaos wasn't random.

Hard conversations I avoided 
taught me courage.

Projects that collapsed 
taught me resilience.

Moments I felt obsolete 
taught me adaptation.

Every time I felt a loss of identity,
I learned who I actually was.

The skills I needed for what came next 
were being forged in what felt 
like falling apart.

Your uncertainty right now isn't
evidence you're behind.

It's preparation.

- The pressure you feel leading through fog.

- The exhaustion from holding it together.

- The quiet fear that you've peaked.

These aren't signs you're failing. 
They're the exact conditions that build 
the steadiness you'll need for what's ahead.

What you're going through isn't punishment.

It's preparation for what you asked for, 
even if you didn't know you were asking.

The question isn't whether you 
can handle what's coming.

It's whether you'll trust that everything 
so far has been getting you ready.

Think of one moment in the past year 
that felt like a setback. Write down what 
strength it actually built in you. 

That's the pattern worth seeing.

For daily insights on Inner Leadership, 
join me, Dr. Elizabeth Lindsey.

Real luxury isn't what they're selling you.

It's waking up without an alarm.
Walking to your kitchen in silence.
Making tea while the world 
is still quiet.

I spent years collecting symbols 
that meant nothing.

The title that impressed strangers.
The watch that said I'd made it.
The calendar so full it proved
I was indispensable.

Then burnout taught me
what I'd been trading away:

• Saturday mornings with nowhere to be
• Conversations that go deeper than work
• Sleep that actually restores you
• The ability to say 'no' without justifying it

The people I admire most
don't own the most expensive things.

They own their attention.
Their energy.
Their peace of mind.

They've learned the difference between
being busy and being fulfilled.

True luxury is building a life
you don't need to escape from.

Everything else is just noise
we've been convinced to call success.

Repost for those redefining wealth.

For daily insights on intentional living,
join me, Dr. Elizabeth Lindsey.

One of the hardest things you'll do
is stop holding on so tight.

Most people I work with are exhausted not from 
doing too much, but from holding too hard.

Gripping the role that no longer fits.
Gripping the client who drains you.
Gripping the identity you've built.

Detachment isn't giving up. It's clearing space.

When you stop chasing what doesn't want you, 
you make room for what does.

When you stop begging for the seat at the table, 
you build your own table.

When you stop settling for misalignment, 
you finally hear your own compass.

This is the work of your next chapter:

• Let the wrong opportunities fall away
• Let go of relationships that cost more than they give
• Stop defending choices that no longer serve you
• Trust that what's meant for you won't require force

Detachment is the quiet strength that comes from 
knowing your worth doesn't need external validation.

Let go. Make space. Watch what arrives.

Share with those who are ready to start trusting.

For daily insights on intentional leadership,
join me, Dr. Elizabeth Lindsey.

Most leaders I know are exhausted.

Not tired. Exhausted.

They've built the career, 
earned the title, checked every box.

But somewhere along the way, 
they lost themselves.

After decades of starting over, 
I've learned:

The markers of real wealth 
aren't on your resume.

1. They're in your body:

• Can you sleep through the night?
• Do you have energy for what matters?
• Can you move without pain?

2. They're in your mind:

• Can you sit in silence without spiraling?
• Do you trust your own judgment?
• Can you let go of what you can't control?

3. They're in your circle:

• Do your people see the real you?
• Can you be honest without performing?
• Do they make you better or just busier?

The truth most won't say out loud...

You can have every external win 
and still feel hollow inside.

Because success without peace isn't wealth.
Achievement without health isn't winning.
Status without real connection is just noise.

The people who last 
don't optimize for more.

They protect what actually sustains them.

Repost for those interested in 
the markers of real wealth.

For daily insights on intentional leadership, 
join me, Dr. Elizabeth Lindsey.

Own who you are.
Then approval stops being currency.

I spent 20 years building 
a version of myself that 
looked good on paper.

The right credentials. 
The right titles.
The right answers.

But this is what what no one 
tells you about that version:

It requires constant maintenance.

Every decision becomes a vote.
Every choice needs validation.
Every move waits for approval.

The exhausting part is that you’re never 
quite sure if you're succeeding 
or just performing.

I see this pattern everywhere now.

Leaders who've built incredible careers 
suddenly second-guessing everything.

Professionals in transition asking everyone 
else what they should do next.

People who've earned their authority 
still seeking permission to use it.

The shift happens when you realize:

The approval you're chasing 
won't make you more certain.

It just makes you more dependent.

Owning who you are isn't about confidence.

It's about ending the negotiation.
It's deciding your experience counts.

Your instincts matter.
Your path is valid even when others 
don't understand it.

The people who move through transition with clarity
stopped asking if they're allowed to be who they are.
They just started being it.

Repost for those who are tired of 
seeking permission to trust themselves.

For daily Heart of Leadership insights, 
join me, Dr. Elizabeth Lindsey.

You're standing at a threshold 
you didn't plan for.

The path that carried you here just ended. 
The next one isn't visible yet.

Lessons I've learned in major transitions:

1. The discomfort isn't a warning sign.
It's the way through.

2. You don't need to see the full path 
to take the next step.

3. You need something else entirely: 
trust in your inner compass.

4. The stillpoint within you 
has always been there. Quiet and precise. 

Most people at this crossroads 
do one of two things:

They retreat to what feels safe.
Or they step into what's possible.

I've chosen the second path multiple times.

Each one of them felt like 
starting from scratch. 

Each time I was wrong about that.

You're not starting from zero 
when you rebuild in your second act.

Something changes when you're rebuilding 
instead of building fresh.

You stop navigating by external markers.
You start trusting internal guidance.

You learn to read the terrain, 
sense direction, 
and trust the next right step.

The metrics change completely.

You stop measuring:

• Whether you're keeping pace 
with people half your age

• If this matches your original plan

You start measuring:

• Whether this aligns 
with your inner compass

• If you're honoring 
what that stillpoint tells you

Your next chapter won't mirror your last one.

It's going to surprise you.

Not because you forced it into being.

But because you trusted the process 
when you couldn't see the full picture.

If you found this helpful, share it with those 
who are navigating a transition.

For more on Mastery and Mindset, 
join me, Dr. Elizabeth Lindsey.

If mental clarity is wealth, 
we’re in a recession.

Notifications pinging.
Multiple browser tabs demanding attention.
Podcasts, articles, updates.

All are competing for the same mental space.

We mistake consumption for productivity.

Your brain wasn't designed for this.

The executives I work with
often feel mentally exhausted.

Not because they lack focus.
But because they're trying to focus
on everything at once.

Your attention is finite.
Your mental bandwidth has limits.

The clearest leaders I know
protect their cognitive space
like their most valuable resource.

They turn off non-essential notifications.
They batch similar tasks together.

They create buffer zones
between intense work sessions.

They understand that saying ‘yes’
to every information stream
means saying ‘no’ to deep thinking.

Mental clarity isn't about
processing more information faster.

It's about choosing what deserves
your mental energy in the first place.

Your next breakthrough won't come
from consuming more content.

It will come from creating space
for your best ideas to surface.

Repost for those ready to protect
their mental well-being.

For daily insights on intentional leadership,
join me, Dr. Elizabeth Lindsey.

Change doesn’t wait for your approval. 
It waits for your trust.

Most people think transformation 
is about having a plan.

It's not.

It's about dissolving.

At 50, when my husband died, 
I found myself standing 
in the rubble of everything I knew.

Logic said stay.
Stay where the memories lived.
Stay where it felt safe.
Stay where it made sense.

But something deeper whispered: 

California.

I had no plan.
No job waiting.
No logical reason to go.

Just an inner knowing 
that wouldn't be silenced.

That whisper was my instincts 
guiding me through the darkness.

The truth about transformation 
is that it feels like dying 
before it feels like living.

The caterpillar doesn't just grow wings.

It dissolves.
Completely.
Into nothing recognizable.

No map through the dissolution.
No roadmap for the in-between.

Just trust in what wants to emerge.

Your deepest instincts are 
your compass when 
everything else fails.

They feel the pull 
before your mind understands.

They sense the opening 
before your eyes can see it.

They know the way forward
when logic offers only fear.

Transformation is:

1. Messy before it's beautiful.
2. Terrifying before it's liberating.
3. Confusing before it's sacred.

But your body knows the path
when your mind is lost.

The whisper that says "go."
The pull that says "now."  
The knowing that says "yes."

Instead of asking:
"What if I'm making a mistake?"

Ask:
"What if my instincts see 
what my mind cannot?"

I followed that whisper to California.

Not because it made sense.
Because it made me alive again.

In the space between 
who I was and who I was becoming,
instinct was my guide.

It led me home to myself.

What's calling you to trust more deeply?

Share with those navigating 
their own transformation.

For daily insights on intentional leadership,
join me, Dr. Elizabeth Lindsey.

Wayfinding for modern leaders | Decision clarity as conditions change | National Geographic Explorer | United Nations Visionary Award Recipient | TED Speaker

"May you never lose the drive 
to pursue the things you love 
no matter how hard it gets."

It's important to remember
you're not alone.

It gets hard for all of us.

At different points.
And in different ways.

The question isn't whether it will get hard.
It's whether you'll keep going anyway.

I've led expeditions far beyond my abilities. 
The difficulty wasn't the point. 
The pursuit was.

1. The drive doesn't disappear. 
It gets buried under doubt.

2. Hard doesn't mean impossible. 
It means you're stretching.

3. What you love 
will ask everything of you. 

4. You don't need certainty. 
You need commitment.

5. The exhaustion is real. 
So is your capacity.

6. Alignment matters 
more than ease.

7. Your compass still works, 
even when you can't see the path.

The things worth pursuing don't get easier.

You get stronger, clearer, steadier.

And that's how you keep the drive alive.

Not by avoiding the hard parts.
By remembering why you started.

I'd love to know what keeps you going 
when things get hard.

Share to remind others: 
that the pursuit is worth it.

For more on courage, alignment, 
and inner steadiness, join me, 
Dr. Elizabeth Lindsey.

Most redirections don't feel like upgrades.

They feel like failures.

Like proof you missed something.
Or, evidence you're falling behind.

When you stop measuring redirections against 
where you thought you'd be, and start measuring 
them against who you're becoming, 
everything changes.

1. The layoff that felt like rejection 
becomes the exit you needed.

2. The pivot that looked like retreat 
becomes the recalibration you avoided.

3. The change that seemed like loss 
becomes the clearing you required.

Not because you're putting a positive
spin on it.

But because you've built enough self-trust 
to know you don't need the old path 
to validate you.

A secret to happiness is to have 
so much love for yourself that any redirection 
in life feels like an upgrade.

That's not about affirmations.

It's about knowing your worth isn't tied to a title, 
a trajectory, or someone else's timeline.

When you trust yourself that deeply, 
redirections stop feeling like setbacks.

They start feeling like course corrections.

And that shift changes everything.

Repost this for those who 
are navigating a redirection.

For daily insights on intentional leadership, 
join me, Dr. Elizabeth Lindsey.

Starting over doesn't mean you're behind.
It means you're brave enough 
to begin again.

If you're standing at the edge of a major transition right 
now, you might be wondering if you have what it takes.

You do.

After rebuilding my life from scratch at 50, I learned 
something that completely shifted how I think about 
starting over:

I went from being a married executive and co-owner 
to a widow starting over when the company dissolved.

Everything I'd built with my husband was gone.
Yet, my past wasn't wasted. 

Every year I invested, every challenge I faced, 
every decision I made built something in me 
that can't be taken away.

Resilience. 
Fortitude. 

The ability to keep going 
when everything falls apart.

That's not gone. That's yours.

When you're rebuilding and everything feels 
uncertain, these steps helped me find solid ground:

• Stop measuring yourself against 
who you were 10 years ago. 

Your experience didn't disappear. 
It's the foundation you're building from now.

• Write down 3 hard things you've already 
survived. Not to dwell on them. 

To remember you're tougher than you think.

• Take 1 small action today that aligns with 
where you want to go. 

Not where you've been. Where you're headed.

• Trust that the skills you've built over decades 
don't expire. They adapt. 

You've done this before in different forms.

Transition at this stage of life looks different 
than most people think:

You're not starting from zero. 
You're starting from experience. 

Not too old to rebuild, but exactly 
the right age to do it with wisdom. 

And you're moving forward with 
more tools than you had at 30.

Every morning is a choice: 

Either believe the voice that says 
you're too old and you've wasted everything.

Or, remember that you've rebuilt yourself 
more times than you can count. 

You already know how to do hard things.

This is just the next one.

Repost for those facing their own transitions.

For daily insights on the Heart of Leadership 
join me, Dr. Elizabeth Lindsey.

Humanitarian | National Geographic Explorer | United Nations Visionary Award | TED Speaker

Most people in their 40s to 60s 
don't abandon their dreams.

Instead, they quietly negotiate them down.

A little less ambitious.
A little more "realistic."
A little safer.

I've done this.
For self-protection.
To avoid disappointment.

I’ve also watched brilliant leaders do the same:

• The executive who wanted to start something new 
but stayed for the pension.

• The founder who had a vision 
but settled for what seemed possible.

• The professional who knew their worth 
but accepted what was offered.

They didn't fail.

They just made their dreams smaller 
to fit the life they already had.

After starting over more times than I can count, 
I've noticed something:

Your reality will always try to shrink your dreams.

That's not wisdom. 
That's fear wearing a practical mask.

The real question isn't whether your dream fits 
your current reality.

It's whether you're committed enough 
to build a new one.

Because the ones who actually create what they want 
don't downgrade their vision.

They upgrade their belief in it.

They stop asking "Is this realistic?" 
and start asking "Am I all in?"

Your dream doesn't need to be smaller.

You need to believe in it more.

Repost those who are ready 
to stop negotiating with their potential.

For daily insights on Intentional Leadership, 
join me, Dr. Elizabeth Lindsey.

Real influence isn't about getting people to follow you.
It's about helping them get where they want to go.

When I am truly present for others,
they feel seen, heard, and cared for. 

An unspoken connection is born.

People who actually move things forward
aren't the ones talking about themselves.

They're the ones asking better questions:
"How can I help you?"
"Who should you be connected with?"
"What would success look like for you?"

The Law of Influence is simple:
Your influence grows when you place
others' interests first.

Not as a networking strategy.
Because it's how real relationships work.

Here's what that looks like:

• Share opportunities that don't benefit you
• Make introductions without expecting anything back
• Celebrate someone else's win publicly
• Ask how you can help before talking about what you need
• Remember what matters to them, not just what matters to you

The most influential people I know
built their reputation one conversation at a time.
One moment where they chose to serve
instead of self-promote.

Your influence isn't your title or your followers.
It's how many people are genuinely better off
because they crossed paths with you.

Start there.

Repost for those building influence
the right way.

For daily insights on the Heart of Leadership,
join me, Dr. Elizabeth Lindsey.

Reinvention begins the moment you decide.
You're no longer available for your old life.
That's when everything shifts.

At 50, newly widowed, I found a travel magazine.
Something stirred so deep I couldn't ignore it.

I was living too small.

I made a commitment to myself: I would travel.
I had no plan. No map. No idea where it would lead.

It led to National Geographic.
First Polynesian Explorer in their history.
And first female fellow. 

Someone once told me I'd never do great things.
That I should be grateful for the job I had.

People project their own fears.
Most often, their opinions are untrue.

You don't need permission to walk away 
from what no longer serves you.
You don't need to wait until it makes sense.

The dream comes before you're ready.
Before you have a plan.
Before you know the next step.

You've already started by considering it.

What version of yourself 
are you no longer available for?

Repost to remind others: 
reinvention starts with one decision.

Follow Dr. Elizabeth Lindsey for more on 
courage and finding your True North.

We're drowning in content.
And calling it strategy.

Every platform screams:
"Post more. Share more. Create more."

But I've watched people exhaust 
themselves feeding the machine.

I've been there myself.

Creating because we think we should.
Not because we have something worth saying.

But content without meaning is noise.
Meaning becomes increasingly valuable.

After years of watching what actually
cuts through the chaos, here's what separates
content that matters from content that disappears:

1. One focused message beats ten scattered ideas.
Stop trying to cover everything in one post.
Pick one insight. Make it crystal clear.

2. Write for the person lying awake at 2 AM.
The executive questioning their next move.
The leader feeling uncertain about their path.
Not for the algorithm that rewards frequency.

3. Share what you've lived, not what you've learned.
Your battle scars carry more weight
than all the books you've ever read.

4. Before you publish, ask: "Will this matter in a week?"
If the answer is no, save your audience's attention
for something that will.

The creators who actually influence
don't confuse volume with value.

You can post every day.
But only if each post earns
the attention it's asking for.

Something that makes you think.
Something that changes how you see things.

Meaning requires space to breathe.
Noise fills every available moment.

Your audience's attention is sacred.
Let's treat it that way.

Repost for those choosing
substance over frequency.

For daily insights on intentional leadership,
join me, Dr. Elizabeth Lindsey.

Status is rented. 
Character is earned

When you prioritize character,
success becomes inevitable.

Not because you're chasing it,
but because people want to 
work with those they trust.

I've watched this play out
across continents and cultures.

In Kenya, a Maasai elder with no formal education
taught me more about leadership in one afternoon
than four years of college.

His secret wasn't his knowledge.
It was how he listened.
How he made every person feel seen.

I saw this pattern play out around the world.

The fisherman who shared his catch
never went hungry.

The mother who adopted a stranger's sorrows
never lacked for family.

Choosing character over credentials
requires courage that some people lack.

You'll lose opportunities that compromise your values.
You'll speak truth when lies would profit you.
You'll invest in relationships 
that may never "pay off."

This is the cost that our achievement-obsessed world 
doesn't talk about.

The people who sustain success
ask different questions from the start:

Not "How can this help me?"
But "How can I help?"

Not "What will I gain?"
But "What value can I add?"

That shift in orientation
changes everything.

The difference between performative 
and authentic character is simple:

Performative character asks:
"What will make me look good?"

Authentic character asks:
"What's right?"

I've seen executives with impressive credentials
crash and burn over character flaws.

And watched people with modest backgrounds
build empires because they were trustworthy.

The CEO who still answers his own emails.
The billionaire who's lived in the same house for 30 years.
The leader who promotes the person who challenged them.

They understood something
our credential-focused world forgets:

Credentials depreciate.
Character compounds.

Your followers can disappear overnight.
Your degree may lose relevance.
Your title changes with your job.

But your reputation
follows you everywhere.

Here's how to spot authentic character:

1. Watch how a person treats people
who can't help them advance.

2. Listen to how they talk
about people who aren't present.

3. Notice if their private values
match their public persona.

This question is like my North Star:

"If I choose character over credentials,
how does this decision change?"

Suddenly, every choice becomes clearer.
Every relationship deeper.
Every opportunity more meaningful.

We carry two resumes through life:

One lists our achievements.
The other lists our character.

Only one opens doors
that actually matter.

The world will always reward credentials first.
Character takes longer to pay dividends.
But when it does,
the returns are exponential.

Is there a decision you'd make differently
if character was your only currency?

Share with those those building legacies 
and not just resumes.

For daily insights on intentional leadership,
join me, Dr. Elizabeth Lindsey. 

Credit: Business2Success

RenewIQ

I am Your Culture Catalyst

The Challenge: To truly transform an organization, you can’t just change the process; you must change the people. I recognized that many leaders and teams were disconnected, operating in silos, and missing the mark on cultural health.

The Story: For over two decades, I've served as the architect of organizational transformation, stepping in as a cultural change agent to elevate the values and enrich the spirits of the teams I work with. My approach is a focused day journey that transforms a client's culture from the inside out. By using a blend of leadership coaching, business analysis, and process engineering, I guide leaders to master three core spaces: positive head space (motivation), positive team space (inclusion), and positive workspace (production). 

My ultimate goal is to empower staff and leverage my experience in cultural transformation

Chief Executive Officer / Executive Coach & Facilitator

Ontario Government | Gouvernement de l’Ontario

I am Your Modernization Architect

The Challenge: To improve labor relations and organizational culture by leading the modernization and transformation of the provincial program for workplace discrimination, harassment, and prevention. This was not merely an administrative task; it demanded a fundamental shift in mindset across the public service.

The Story: I stepped into this critical leadership role with a clear mandate to drive a major cultural and operational shift within the Ontario Government. By leading a dedicated team, I am orchestrating the complete overhaul of how the province addresses workplace issues. As a leader, I've adopted a "pastor-parent" style—listening to painful stories of hurt and trauma from my clients and figuring out a way forward that instills not only confidence, but the competency needed to navigate these thorny workplace relationship issues. I'm giving hope not with platitudes, but with a concrete plan.

This transformation is directly focused on improving labor relations, ensuring greater accountability, and creating a more equitable, respectful, and modern organizational culture for the entire public service.

The End: My work is about setting a new standard for workplace conduct and belonging at a provincial scale.

Senior Manager - Ontario Government Respectful Workplace Office (formerly WDHP)

Connect Ontario Professional Development Group

I am Your Movement Builder

The Challenge: To build a public service where every voice feels heard and where belonging is the standard, not the exception. This meant moving beyond traditional diversity training to engineer systemic, sustainable cultural change across the organization.

The Story: I lead this award-winning organization dedicated to fostering workplace belonging, inclusion, diversity, and anti-racism. This role is a testament to my commitment to systemic change: I manage a senior executive team who, in turn, oversee nearly 300 public sector professionals. We execute on people development strategies by advising senior leadership, including the Secretary of Cabinet, to create an OPS-wide, shared vision of an inclusive and anti-racist workplace. Most critically, I design and deliver organizational learning that creates safe and brave spaces for managers and staff, enabling courageous, career-advancing conversations across all levels of government. 

My leadership, vision, and innovation have transformed this network into a community where members see each other not just as colleagues, but as a supportive, working family. I recall one woman who wrote to me that the community I've created was "God sent," and another who said it "saved her life" because we provided a community that truly cares.

The End: My work is not just about building programs; it’s about building a legacy of leaders who fundamentally believe in belonging.

Executive Director

Treasury Board Secretariat | Secrétariat du Conseil du Trésor

I am Your Strategic Resource & Talent Steward 

The Challenge: To ensure the critical policy and operational teams within the government's central financial agency were equipped with the necessary human and financial resources, while simultaneously tackling the long-term challenge of developing and retaining talent that is fluent in both digital transformation and complex government operations.

The Story: Building on my strategic work advising the Cabinet Office, I transitioned to the Treasury Board Secretariat to ensure that organizational strategy translated into effective resource deployment. My mission was to act as the steward of key public resources, managing and allocating funds to sustain high-priority government programs.

However, I expanded this role significantly by working with external partners, specifically Deloitte, to envision a better way to develop and incubate talent. My focus was on figuring out ways to keep and evolve talent that deeply understood the intersection of digital, technology, and government. This required rigorous budget monitoring, financial forecasting, and strategic alignment of personnel, confirming my ability to execute not only cultural transformation, but also the practical, innovative talent and financial operations that underpin a successful, accountable government.

The End: I laid the blueprint and groundwork for transformation the way I&IT talent are developed and positioned in the organization.

Resource Manager

The Ontario Cabinet Office

I am Your Executive Coach & Culture Strategist 

The Challenge: To provide strategic Human Resources advice to the province's highest-ranking public servants, ensuring that talent management and leadership programs were rooted in modern principles of equity and inclusion. This often required coaching executives through unprecedented situations; I recall a Deputy Minister coming to me for guidance on how to best engage their teams when issues of the world couldn't be separated from the work.

The Story: I operated at the strategic apex of the public service, providing direct, critical HR advice to executives within the Cabinet Office. My mission was to improve the employee experience in areas like wellness, diversity, inclusion, and anti-racism. When a Deputy Minister sought my counsel on navigating global issues impacting her team, I provided her a listening ear, reassurance, and guidance on practical steps of engagement, which helped alleviate her concerns and rectify the issue.

I successfully conducted, facilitated, and negotiated HR policies, but my most impactful achievement was introducing and facilitating anti-racism coaching sessions for the Cabinet Office Deputies (akin to CEOs) and Senior Management Tables—a significant first for the organization. Furthermore, I led the design and delivery of a ministry leadership management program for a large cohort of 39 students, where I was the first to co-design and develop a manager leadership module focused on anti-racism and equity. 

The End: This work fundamentally shifted how top-tier leadership approached talent and culture.

Senior Advisor, Talent & Culture 

Ontario Ministry of Government and Consumer Services

I am Your Crisis Navigator 🛡️

The Challenge: The COVID-19 pandemic had fractured global supply chains, creating an urgent, life-critical need to secure Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for Canadians.

The Story: During the height of the pandemic, I served as a key leader in the global supply chain transformation. My mission was to ensure PPE reached the front lines, a mission fueled by listening to the stories of average citizens looking to me for the critical supplies they needed. I distinctly recall alleviating the concerns of a woman pleading for assistance, working to figure out a way to be a bridge of support for her and her organization. This personal connection drove my strategic work.

To achieve this, I provided strategic leadership and change management by building authentic, collaborative relationships with the most sensitive and critical clients. I navigated complex procurement and policy challenges to drive a massive transformation of Ontario's supply chain, ensuring timely and negotiated distribution of PPE. 

The End:  My work in fostering this collaborative, continuously improving, and inclusive environment was recognized by my peers, and I was nominated for the prestigious 2020 Amethyst Award for service excellence.

Change Management Lead

ServiceOntario, Ministry of Government and Consumer Services

I manage contracts and relationships of vendors, which operates our government offices (akin to business franchises). I provide advice and coaching to support their businesses. The goal is to change the customer experience of how citizens receive government services. I review regularly customer feedback, performance reporting and audits (i.e. compliance to privacy, accessibility etc.) and design work improvement plans. I coordinate and provide global communications for change management and briefing notes (status updates) for issue management. I monitor and analyze customer experience data across the province to tell the story and improve the experience. I work with our businesses to provide the right branding and advertisements on behalf of the Ontario government. I support them in serving a diverse audience in their towns and cities to be the best in class as a small business. In 2016, I received a government award with my unit for achieving excellence.

Senior Business Advisor

Ministry of Goverment Services

I acted as a portfolio lead for the Open for Business to support one-window modernization for clients. I transitioned to act as the project lead for the federal-provincial, call center program which had a yearly budget of $1M+ under the portfolio. I managed partner relationship with their transfer payments, key performance indicators and service levels.

Business Advisor

Ministry of Community Safety & Correctional Services

Within the I & IT Justice Cluster, providing project management and business analysis expertise in regards to improving audio/visual communications for the Ontario justice system.

Business Analyst - Project Manager

Bell Mobility

Business Prime for enhancing customer experience through customer self-serve channels.

Implementation & Change Management
* Lead and coordinate change management: business readiness and corporate communications planning. 
* Develop test plan and test scripts for business user acceptance testing.
* Provide testing reports, forecasts on work effort and feedback on critical issues.  
* Conduct business user acceptance testing.
* Assess training and communications requirements for business readiness.
* Review communications document for customers, call center agents, retail channel and employees.
* Provide daily status reports to senior management and executives.
* Map current state and future state of customer experience with deployment of self-serve application.

Project Lead

Me in short...

I empower CEOs, founders, and leaders to drive rapid culture change within their organizations. My unique 90+30 day program focuses on transforming the head, heart, and hands of leadership through an iterative four-step process: 

1. Storytelling
2. Reflection
3. Practice 
4. Engagement.

This creates lasting transformation when leaders lean in. 

If you're curious how this can revitalize your company culture, let's connect! And if you enjoy my podcasts on Apple and Spotify, consider me your dedicated 'Coach in the Corner' – ready to help you every step of the way.

Reach me 3 ways:

>  Direct Message
>  hello@renewiq.ca
>  www.renewiq.ca


******************************************

Me in long if you need to know...

As an author, podcaster, and keynote speaker, I’ve had the privilege of making a meaningful impact on both my community and the broader world. My work centers on transforming workplace culture and leadership—ideas that have gained wide recognition and adoption.

I was honored by the Ontario Government with the prestigious Amethyst Award for my service as a public servant. Over the years, I’ve delivered speeches to professionals and senior leaders from all walks of life, including public servants at every level of government. I’ve also shared insights internationally, speaking to governments in Mongolia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

My experience spans keynote speaking, executive coaching, strategic planning, culture change workshops, and listening sessions. Through these avenues, I’ve helped companies, governments, non-and profits build a better workplace culture.

I bring passion, energy, and charisma to every stage, engaging audiences with my vision for inclusive workplaces—what I call workplace communities.

Denley W. McIntosh, MTS, PMP, B.Eng

Happy New Year! 🎉 

Almost... 


2025 has been a year of huge change, same time, huge opportunities - deepen relationships, love, friendships, partnerships and marriage. 

I recognize this year's been hard for many, but there's a saying I've leaned on over the years: Don't get bitter, get better. Let everything that's been tough as coals be turned into precious as diamonds 💎. 

Take your scars of '25 and make them stars of '26 ⭐️. Shine bright for 2026! 

I recognize there's much out of our control, much beyond our reach, which no cliches of positive thinking can change. 

But there's a world within us, a universe of hopes and dreams and resilience that lies between the space of our ears 🌟. 

If we can intentionally tap into that deep, mysterious yet beautiful world within us - wading through our doubts, despair and dark pasts - we may be able to reflect that beauty. 

2026 is a time to tap into that universe of hopes and dreams. 🌌


Reflection:

What's one thing you're looking forward to in 2026?


Wishing you a Happy New Year, a great year ahead! Cheers & Blessings 🥂


That's your wisdom in a scroll to wrap up 2025.


P.S. Grateful for 21 years of marriage with Tajé McIntosh, with this beautiful partner in life.

Denley McIntosh, MTS

Coaching Others to Make a Life Rather than a Just Living || Sharing Wisdom in a Scroll || Keynote Speaker & Author || Award-winning Culture Changer & Leader || Middle-Brained Professional & Loving Dad

Are you FREAKING OUT!!! 

Stay calm. Stay calm. Stay calm. 


There are times when unrest seems to be everywhere even right in your home and work.

One key thing you and I can do is stay calm, and it's crucial. It's not just a cliché or mantra. It's science. 

When we're not calm, our amygdala hijacks our prefrontal cortex, blocking good decisions. The prefrontal cortex is where logic and reasoning happen. 


The amygdala reacts fast, often before our thinking brain kicks in. It's meant to help us survive, triggering fight or flight. 

But sometimes it gets it wrong. Often, actually.

Staying calm lets our prefrontal cortex catch up and say, Is everything okay? Everything will be okay.


CALM means:

C - Care
A - Always
L - Love
M - Meaningfully


Fear and anger are like intoxicants. They cloud our judgment. When we let them sit and fester, they block clarity and good decisions. Often, when we're angry, it's rooted in fear. 😨

By recognizing this, we can take a step back, calm down, and let our thinking brain catch up 🧠.


Check out more in the clip and below.

The Coach on The Coach's Corner 🙌

That's your wisdom in a scroll.

P.S. Shout out to these countries below that's been tracking with The Coach.

- Canada
- Jamaica
- United States
- Dominican Republic
- Brazil
- United Kingdom
- Germany
- Italy
- Kenya
- Nigeria
- South Africa
- Australia
- Philippines
- India
- Japan

#canada #jamaica #unitedstates #dominicanrepublic #brazil #unitedkingdom #germany #italy #kenya #nigeria #southafrica #australia #philippines #india #japan

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The Battle

Dr. Elizabeth Lindsey

Denley W. McIntosh, MTS, PMP, B.Eng

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The Battle

Dr. Elizabeth Lindsey

Denley W. McIntosh, MTS, PMP, B.Eng

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Dr. Elizabeth Lindsey's LinkedIn Performance

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