Translating Strategic Change into Bottom-Line Impact

As an emerging business discipline, change management can generate the competitive edge that an innovative business strategy and today’s market demands. Whether it is a significant investment in technology, a product launch, or the revitalization of an operating business model, change management is at the crux of realizing the benefits of those investments, and bringing a strategic vision to life.

At Osborne Interim Management we understand the issues, the challenges, and the opportunities. With our team of experienced executives and our expertise in change management, we can help our clients manage the challenges and create solutions for success.

Change Management Challenges

Accelerated change, pervasive market uncertainty, and evolving corporate priorities creating change complexity and inertia.
A blurring of lines between home and work demanding changes to corporate culture.
Dramatically changing workforce and employer/employee relationships.
Proliferation of media and engagement approaches and tools for both internal and external stakeholders.
Extended stakeholder accountability with intensified focus on “triple bottom line” impacts of people, profit, and planet.
A demand for more immediate value-add and test and learn adoption cycles requiring more sophisticated approaches to strategic implementation.
Emergence of new business models of joint ventures, strategic partnerships, and formalized “skunk-works” requiring organizational capabilities that test traditional hierarchy.
Shifts in social power demanding the highest standards of privacy and data management, while simultaneously requiring enhanced transparency and accountability.

Change Management Opportunities

A vibrant and aligned corporate culture: cultural assessment and leadership development.
Engaged and motivated employees: employee health check and employee engagement support.
Captured benefits from transformational change: new market development, systems implementations, mergers and acquisitions, re-branding, product and/or line of business launch or attrition, new leadership, employee up-skilling, distribution channel launch or sales acceleration activities, operations, and client service enhancements.
Supported delivery of change management tools and practices: cultural assessments, stakeholder analysis, impact assessments, readiness assessments, post-implementation reviews, embed and sustain activities.
Supported delivery of change management tactics: leadership/sponsorship initiatives, communications, coaching, training and change adoption measurement and adjustment activities.
Change adoption assessments and measurement.

Who Can Help

Yvonne Thevenot

A highly experienced and accredited change strategist and practitioner.

Russ Tynan

Experience with transitions, recoveries and governance.

Gary Smith

A leader of major change programmes aimed at restructuring, growth or accommodating changing technology or customer requirements.

Grant Halford

Shareholder ownership changes and diversification of SME revenue streams.

Jacob Tan

Experience in restructuring organizational behaviours to increase profitability.

Paul McCarthy

25 years’ experience supporting organizations with how they approach, prepare, develop and implement organizational wide change management initiatives.

Have Questions?

Please contact us if you have any questions about how our team can help.

Proven Success

Provincial Not-for-Profit Organization Delivers Cultural Change

The organization experienced exponential growth and required an increased culture of discipline and delegation to deal with the change. The senior financial team resigned, and a new team was needed to put in place financial best practices to align with the new organizational structure.

The Osborne Principal assessed the financial functions and resources, determined gaps, and presented a list of alternatives and solutions. The Osborne Principal then led a new financial team to implement the suggested solutions.

Changes supported through this engagement included: optimization of the corporate culture; enhanced resource allocations and capabilities alignment; implementation of appropriate tools to support work effectiveness; routines to enhance communications and up-skilling; and tactics to ensure the sustainment of the change, including an interim resource assignment.

Engineering Firm Embraces Change Management with Direct Benefit to the Bottom Line

An Alberta-based engineering company with a strong revenue base, identified external market challenges requiring a pivot in their strategic direction and business model.

Acting as trusted advisors, the Osborne Principals provided a business review to identify target areas that needed to be addressed and a process by which to get there. Areas included project management, accounting and reporting issues, information technology challenges, change management and facilitation of partner accountability sessions.

The identified challenges were acted on by the Partners, with the Osborne Principals’ help, to enhance their business processes and improve their bottom line.

Agricultural Manufacturing Firm Achieves Enhanced Pricing Changes

A mid-sized ag sector company required a significant shift in their product and service portfolio to create enhanced longer-term sustainability.

Support included research, analysis and recommendations for the creation and delivery of products and services that could generate revenue as part of a drive to longer term sustainability.

Change management tactics incorporated into strategic recommendations included: extensive stakeholder engagement activities in particular with client groups, a test and learn iterative approach to price modelling through initial stages of implementation, and changes to the client segmentation strategy to provide a more tailored approach to specific target groups.

Representative Change Management Assignments

Cultural assessments in support of business transformation and strategic realignment with supported facilitation of leadership sessions and change strategy/implementation planning
Coaching and mentoring through times of significant change
Mergers and acquisitions integrations with reduced disruption
Product portfolio changes with accelerated go-to-market and employee/client adoption of change
Business approaches in support of sales acceleration through effective process and tool implementation
Operational effectiveness supported by effective current state analysis, detailed impact assessments, timely training and readiness assessments, and a committed approach to adaptation through monitoring of change adoption measures
Leadership development, training, communications, and change adoption support

I want to express our gratitude and my gratitude for how Mark Olson of Osborne Interim Management has led us through the last six months. There is no denying his expertise is exactly what we needed and has us on the even footing we needed to pass the baton to our first ever Alberta Grains Executive Director. Thank you isn’t enough but I say it most sincerely.

Tara Sawyer – Chair, Interim Board of Directors, Alberta Grains
Osborne brought both expertise and capability to help us validate and plan some significant organization changes which we felt we needed to meet operational challenges and position the business for the future. Osborne helped us communicate the changes to our wider leadership team and then fielded an Interim Executive to help us deliver them. The Interim Executive adapted well to our organization and successfully stabilized and improved our hospitality operation so that we are entering the winter 22/23 season with much-improved capability and confidence. He also ran a successful recruitment process for us to fill the role on a permanent basis with a strong candidate joining us in time for the start of the winter season. I would highly recommend the services of Osborne Interim Management for both consultancy projects and provision of interim executives.

Darcy Alexander – Vice President & General Manager, Sun Peaks Resort LP and Sun Peaks Grand Hotel LLP
Osborne Interim Management was able to provide us with interim leadership during a period of significant transition and organizational rejuvenation. In addition to the Principal who acted as Interim Executive Director, they provided resources as required to facilitate a strategic planning session and update our Personnel Policy manual. The Interim then led the recruitment process that helped us find and onboard our new CEO. I would highly recommend the services of Osborne Interim Management.

Victor Benz – President, Alberta Fish and Game Association
“Osborne Interim Management supported our recruitment efforts for a new CEO from start to finish. They helped us develop the right profile for the individual we needed and then oversaw a process that resulted in a significant number of very qualified applicants. Their engagement in the screening and interview process led us to hiring a terrific new CEO, bringing much needed relief to the Board and invaluable momentum to our Society. I’d highly recommend their services to any other charitable or not-for-profit organization.”

Julie Hamilton – Board Chair, Palliative Care Society of Bow Valley
“Osborne effectively employed a team approach in assisting our company with several significant projects in 2021. Their ability to communicate with stakeholders internally and externally really helped our leadership team validate and focus our needs.”

Bob Wilcox – President, Glacier FarmMedia
“We engaged Osborne Interim Management to redesign our outdated website, wanting to modernize the design and make it easier to read and understand. Working with little direction and with a short time frame, Osborne was able to produce a dynamic, fresh and user-friendly website on time and under budget.”

David Dial – VP Corporate Services, Next Hydrogen
“Osborne Interim Management provided invaluable assistance to us as we merged three different operating entities into the new 4-H Alberta. Mark Olson as Interim CEO of the 4-H Foundation and Judy Williams as communications strategist played a significant role in our transformation and I would highly recommend their/Osborne’s services.”

Kim McConnell – Former Interim CEO, 4-H Alberta
“The Osborne Principals assisted us in identifying areas of improvement, then worked with us to make their recommended changes. Their actions have had a positive impact on the way we operate our business.”

Andy McKnight – Partner, Maskell Plenzik & Partners Eng.
“We engaged Osborne Interim Management to assess the capacity of our Canadian Operations in the wake of ambitious five year growth plans. Not only did the Osborne Principals deliver a thorough report, but they provided us with valuable tools to undertake ongoing analysis and forecasting based on a number of Canadian market variables.”

Elias Partyka – Director of Global Marketing, Gowan Company, Yuma Arizona
“As a young charity, early guidance from the Osborne Interim Management team provided timely direction as we developed the YouQuest service in support of younger families living with dementia. It was energizing to learn from each team member and very rewarding to feel their personal interest in our progress and future success.”

Myrla Burlman – Co-founder, YouQuest
“I would recommend Osborne Interim Management’s approach for any organization looking to add coaching and mentorship into their workplace for senior and mid-management staff.”

Randy Williams – President, Premiere Suites Western
“We engaged Osborne to undertake a thorough assessment of our business and the marketplace which involved interviewing multiple stakeholders in the development of a five year strategic plan. We were more than pleased with the results and wouldn’t hesitate to refer the quality of their work to others.”

Dave Hansen – President & CEO, CANTERRA SEEDS
“For organizations looking for interim executive support, I would highly recommend Osborne Interim Management. They provided us with a quality CFO until we could hire a full-time replacement for this position. It was a seamless, effective process.”

Sandip Lalli – CEO, Calgary Chamber of Commerce
“We contracted Osborne Interim Management to help transition our Foundation into the future with stronger processes, plans and leadership. We were very pleased with the results and would highly recommend their work.”

Reiny Kristel – Board Chair, Stockmen’s Memorial Foundation
“The Osborne Principals our business has engaged have delivered important support to our business in a number of areas and provided excellent value.”

Barry Schmitt – President, Barr-Ag
“On behalf of the Chiniki Nation, I would like to express my appreciation and gratitude for the remarkable work you have done in creating the Chiniki Cultural Centre. Your contribution to bringing our culture to the public, in an authentic and respectful way, has been invaluable. We appreciated your approach and your ability to bring people together in creating this special Centre where our people can celebrate their culture. We take great pride in our traditions, our culture and our history. You have created a place where those traditions can be celebrated and shared.”

Chief Aaron Young – Chiniki First Nation
“The interim management resources we brought in for a short time provided an organized overview of our HR functionality, helped to achieve a couple of senior level executive transitions without disruption and generally helped us to build a stronger organization going forward. We feel better prepared for next steps now.”

Peter Joe – CEO, Sunrise Soya Foods
“Mark Olson has completed his work as Interim CEO for Glenbow Ranch Park Foundation. This is his third assignment as an interim CEO for a not-for-profit organization that I am involved with as a Director, so I am familiar with his work. The fact that I have engaged him twice more after the first speaks volumes. You can count on a good result.”

Andy Crooks – Chairman of the Board, Glenbow Ranch Park Foundation
“I want to convey that Osborne would be a valuable resource for entities looking to engage the types of services they offer. I would not hesitate to refer someone to Osborne in the future.”

Heather Gore-Hickman – Trustee & Chair of Audit Committee, Kisoniyaminaw First Nations Heritage Trust Fund
“Osborne provided us with the interim management and business advisory services we needed at a critical juncture for the company. I would highly recommend them.”

Dr. Kevin Maloney – Board Chair, Line of Fire Inc.

Translating Strategic Change into Bottom-Line Impact

Change Management Challenges

Change Management Opportunities

Who Can Help

Yvonne Thevenot

Russ Tynan

Gary Smith

Grant Halford

Jacob Tan

Paul McCarthy

Proven Success

Provincial Not-for-Profit Organization Delivers Cultural Change

Engineering Firm Embraces Change Management with Direct Benefit to the Bottom Line

Agricultural Manufacturing Firm Achieves Enhanced Pricing Changes

Representative Change Management Assignments

Tara Sawyer – Chair, Interim Board of Directors, Alberta Grains

Darcy Alexander – Vice President & General Manager, Sun Peaks Resort LP and Sun Peaks Grand Hotel LLP

Victor Benz – President, Alberta Fish and Game Association

Julie Hamilton – Board Chair, Palliative Care Society of Bow Valley

“Osborne effectively employed a team approach in assisting our company with several significant projects in 2021. Their ability to communicate with stakeholders internally and externally really helped our leadership team validate and focus our needs.”

Bob Wilcox – President, Glacier FarmMedia

David Dial – VP Corporate Services, Next Hydrogen

Kim McConnell – Former Interim CEO, 4-H Alberta

“The Osborne Principals assisted us in identifying areas of improvement, then worked with us to make their recommended changes. Their actions have had a positive impact on the way we operate our business.”

Andy McKnight – Partner, Maskell Plenzik & Partners Eng.

Elias Partyka – Director of Global Marketing, Gowan Company, Yuma Arizona

Myrla Burlman – Co-founder, YouQuest

“I would recommend Osborne Interim Management’s approach for any organization looking to add coaching and mentorship into their workplace for senior and mid-management staff.”

Randy Williams – President, Premiere Suites Western

Dave Hansen – President & CEO, CANTERRA SEEDS

“For organizations looking for interim executive support, I would highly recommend Osborne Interim Management. They provided us with a quality CFO until we could hire a full-time replacement for this position. It was a seamless, effective process.”

Sandip Lalli – CEO, Calgary Chamber of Commerce

“We contracted Osborne Interim Management to help transition our Foundation into the future with stronger processes, plans and leadership. We were very pleased with the results and would highly recommend their work.”

Reiny Kristel – Board Chair, Stockmen’s Memorial Foundation

“The Osborne Principals our business has engaged have delivered important support to our business in a number of areas and provided excellent value.”

Barry Schmitt – President, Barr-Ag

Chief Aaron Young – Chiniki First Nation

Peter Joe – CEO, Sunrise Soya Foods

Andy Crooks – Chairman of the Board, Glenbow Ranch Park Foundation

“I want to convey that Osborne would be a valuable resource for entities looking to engage the types of services they offer. I would not hesitate to refer someone to Osborne in the future.”

Heather Gore-Hickman – Trustee & Chair of Audit Committee, Kisoniyaminaw First Nations Heritage Trust Fund

“Osborne provided us with the interim management and business advisory services we needed at a critical juncture for the company. I would highly recommend them.”

Dr. Kevin Maloney – Board Chair, Line of Fire Inc.

Representative Case Studies