“I was referred to Extraordinary Conversations to help with a very difficult organizational transition and leadership succession issue. Pathways to Education Canada was three years old, I was the CEO planning to move into the Founder role and the organization was transitioning from the informal stage to the formal stage of organization development. Needless to say this was a very difficult situation loaded with feelings from all sides. Patrick worked with the Board Chair and myself and made the difference between “change” and “transformation.” He is exceptionally sensitive, has outstanding organizational and interpersonal skills and is a visionary who can cut to the core of an issue in a nanosecond. He helped us design the right organizational structure, and also helped clarify roles, key strategic priorities and successfully resolve conflict. Pathways to Education Canada is now well positioned for its next phase of growth and development. I highly recommend Extraordinary Conversations for any complex organizational issues.”

 — Carolyn Acker, Founder, Pathways to Education Canada

Follow Patrick on Twitter @impatrickoneill

Patrick O’Neill

President

Patrick O’Neill leads Extraordinary Conversations Inc., a Toronto-based management-consulting firm founded in 1988. The firm specializes in change management, leadership development, team performance, organizational communications and conflict resolution.

A gifted teacher, consultant, mediator and mentor, Patrick has worked with thousands of people, and hundreds of teams and organizations over twenty-five years. He has made a contribution to the practices of leadership and wise governance through the development of leading edge organizational effectiveness programs that are practical, pragmatic and applicable to the workplace and community.

An expert in organizational dynamics, Patrick’s work has taken him to global corporations in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific; to the townships of South Africa; and to the peace process in the Middle East.

His corporate clients have included The Boeing Company, Teva Pharmaceuticals, The Ontario Pension Board, CIBC World Markets, The Walt Disney Company, Saab, Kraft, Nestlé, Pearson, Revlon, Telus and Sony-BMG Music as well as mid-size and smaller organizations.

Patrick is a volunteer board member of the Angeles Arrien Foundation for Cross Cultural Education and Research, a non-profit charitable organization based in San Francisco. He is also a past President of the Learning Disabilities Association of Ontario. Currently, he is a volunteer advisor to Warchild Canada, Pathways to Education and The Adrian Dominican Sisters. He is also an Advisor to Ryerson University’s Ethics Certificate program. Patrick’s insights on leadership are regularly featured in national newspapers like the Globe & Mail.