Complexity Coaching & Mentoring

Leadership isn't about control, it's about discovery. I empower leaders to find their own answers.

Leadership at the top isn't about having all the answers - it's about asking the right questions. I've worked with many senior executives and directors who thought they needed to control everything, only to watch their organisations tie themselves in knots. What if instead, we empowered you to find your own way through the labyrinth of senior leadership?

"Tony's inquisitive nature and meaningful engagement has opened me up to a whole new perspective..."

Here's the reality: Your leadership journey is uniquely yours - but the next stage is always tougher than the last. It’s like scaling Everest where the air gets thinner the higher you climb. That’s where I come in. Think of me as your executive sherpa, helping you see the boardroom and beyond through complexity-tinted lenses. Together, we'll help you see opportunities to nurture who you need to be next.

"He has inspired me more than anyone I've ever interacted with."

Caught between conflicting stakeholder demands, trying to deliver seemingly incompatible goals.

Navigating a market situation so complex it makes quantum physics look straightforward.

Finding that strategies that previously worked no longer have the impact they once did.

Feeling that you're holding yourself back in some way from making the bold moves your role demands.

Sensing that you're held back by 'the system' or the people around you (your teams, peers, or leaders).

For someone at your level, complexity coaching is not about throwing more money, more resources, or more consultants at a problem. Often, the solution is a perspective shift that can only come from outside your executive bubble. That’s what I do – I help you and your fellow directors see the big picture differently. And suddenly, innovation pathways that were invisible before open up in front of you.

When it comes to those wickedly complex, constantly changing problems that land on a director’s desk, some people swear by systems thinking, others by complex adaptive systems. The academic difference doesn't matter to you. I (and my colleagues – because we often work together) are focused on what will best support you in delivering results, not on winning theoretical arguments.

"Tony creates a safe space from the moment he says hello!"

Moving forward -- both with the external problems your organisation faces and the internal leadership struggles you're grappling with -- takes a new perspective, a fresh approach to the journey ahead, and an experienced guide. That’s where I come in.

The coaching aspect of complexity coaching means that I won’t show up with a binder of ready-made solutions or a slide deck of leadership programmes (although I’ve got those for broader training needs). For senior leaders like you, we need to, together, empower you to develop your own next actions that fit your specific organisational situation.

The first step is to broaden how you see what's happening now – I’ll ask the tough questions, listen intently and help you reframe the situation, drawing on theories and approaches I’ve used over the years. It’s like cleaning a pair of executive spectacles you didn’t even realise were smudged.

The challenges you face as a director may be complex, but are not necessarily complicated. My job is to cut through the executive jargon and find actionable simplicity in these complex and volatile environments you’re navigating.

The complexity element of the coaching means that there is no universal answer -- just the next strategic move that propels you forward. We can only make the shifts that are possible for you today – which will open doors for the next changes later. Each conversation is different, tailored to the high-stakes challenges you face. I can work with your entire system, the board dynamics, directors’ relationships and organisational culture. Often, it isn't a huge overhaul that is needed, but small, strategic shifts in behaviour at different points. It’s like adjusting the rudder of a corporate ship – a seemingly tiny change can lead to a completely different destination over time. For you, and for your organisation.

Complexity coaching is a gateway to unlocking your personal and professional potential, but it's more than that. We’ll look at the context, experience, and relational dynamics at play, as much as your individual actions and skills as a top-tier decision maker.

I’ve worked with executives and leaders across the globe, and through my association with Cultivating Leadership, I’ve got access to amazing coaches worldwide. This network allows us to help you navigate dynamic and complex situations where traditional coaching approaches can fall short.

Together, we’ll start from where you are now, helping you reframe your thought processes to understand situations in a new way. It’s like giving you a new set of tools to address the kind of problems that only land on a leader’s desk – the ones that are constantly shape-shifting and defying traditional solutions.

Now, a warning: this kind of executive coaching takes time. We need to build our relationship and create the conditions for meaningful change at your level. Typically, we might have regular conversations every 3-5 weeks for a minimum of three months. With some clients, I’m still having conversations years after our first sessions, as their organisational challenges and leadership roles continue to evolve. It’s a journey of continuous growth and adaptation, after all, not a quick fix leadership seminar.

"His personality keeps you excited, no matter what the topic!"

“Tony Quinlan is an absolute gem. He is extremely personable, very engaging and an incredible coach! His personality keeps you excited, no matter what the topic! I've had the honour of having Tony as my coach through a leadership development program at Google, and he has inspired me more than anyone I've ever interacted with. I've been struggling with knowing where to go next, and his inquisitive nature and meaningful engagement has opened me up to a whole new perspective on my abilities and career trajectory. Tony has become someone I can confide in, as he creates a safe space from the moment he says hello!”

Leader at Google

Development Sector

We have a substantial portfolio of experience in conducting narrative-based research, monitoring and evaluation for development interventions globally.

Corporate Sector

Narrate has worked with a wide variety of commercial organisations around the world, from social enterprise startups to multi-national Silicon Valley tech companies.