25 Years On

It was all the way back in 1992 when I first started in the "gig economy" as a freelance consultant. The economy was in a recession, I was unemployed and had decided to go back to university to complete my degree. Freelancing seemed like a good idea as a means to pay the bills until I graduated and got a "real" job. It is now 25 years later and I am still a consultant!


The life of a consultant has its fair share of ups and downs - busy times and quiet times, soul-searching times and deeply rewarding times. It is certainly a challenging and unique journey and one that I have nonetheless cherished every step of the way. It has provided me the opportunity to work with a diverse range of clients, variety of industries, international travel, friendships, flexibility, fun and continuous learning. It has enabled me to play to my strengths and core values of autonomy, independence, influence, purpose, making a difference and contribution.


This book is a collection of 25 refections as an Inter-cultural Management Consultant. They have been chosen from my monthly newsletter "The Cultural Synergist". The topics covered in these refections range across a spectrum of themes from cultural intelligence to leadership philosophies, and from cross- cultural humour to leveraging diversity. I hope these will provide you with food for thought and also provide a colourful insight into the working life of a consultant 25 years strong and still counting.


I am thankful to all the clients who have trusted me to work with them and their organisations. I am also thankful to all of the colleagues, mentors, associates and friends who have helped to guide and shape me on this incredible journey. Finally, I am thankful to my wife, Alison, who has always been the bedrock of stability, good counsel, support and love on this journey.