René Carayol

René’s focus is on inspirational leadership and culture, bound together with a compelling philosophy founded on his own board level experience.  Extraordinary times demand extraordinary leadership and make no mistake about it; we find ourselves in unprecedented and turbulent waters.

In the traditional world, a good product or service coupled with a good management team was sufficient to ensure success. But in today’s aggressive and unforgiving market place they are no longer enough on their own. Business transformation has become pivotal in the battle to keep afloat and keep up with the pace. 

Progressive, contemporary businesses are learning the hard way, that it is leadership and culture that separate the winners from the losers. The race is no longer about being the best; everybody is trying to do that. The winners are those that strive to be unique, special and different.

René Carayol is one of the world’s leading business gurus specialising in leadership, culture and transformation, drawing from his own unique experiences on the boards of the biggest British and American organisations; from Marks & Spencer and Pepsi to IPC Media and the Inland Revenue.

He is the best-selling author of the leadership and culture bible, ‘Corporate Voodoo’ and has had the privilege of working closely with some of the world’s best leaders; from former US President Bill Clinton to the seventh Secretary-General of the United Nations Kofi Annan and from former US Secretary of State Colin Powell to Sir Richard Branson.

He has provided leadership support to the likes of the Prime Minister’s Strategy Unit, e United Nations and e World Bank, and is now an accomplished Visiting Professor at Cass business school. In 2004 he was awarded an MBE for outstanding service to the business community.

René is a regular broadcaster for the BBC and has presented the influential ‘Pay Off Your Mortgage In 2 Years’ series, BBC2’s flagship business offering ‘The Money Programme’ and the critically acclaimed ‘Mind Of A Millionaire’ and ‘Man From the Met’ documentaries. He is a broadsheet columnist, a frequent voice on Radio 5 Live and a regular expert commentator on Sky News and BBC Breakfast.

It is a career that has seen René become internationally-renowned for his work with first-appointment CEOs across the globe; transforming the career and profile of some of the world’s most exciting and emerging business talents, and taking a plethora of iconic corporations on a journey that has changed their business model forever.

He asks awkward and uncomfortable questions. How do you change old-fashioned, risk-adverse processes that are ill suited to emerging global markets? How do you secure and nurture the talents of a new generation of leaders? How do you overcome cynicism and complacency, and replace them with resolve?

René has built his reputation on seemingly knowing the culture of businesses better than they do themselves; providing answers and solutions no matter how big or small the problems and showing them not only what lies within their grasp, but how to keep one step ahead of the chasing pack.