Testimonials
"Patrick O'Neill gave our audience of over four hundred corporate Human Resource practitioners something they desperately needed: 90 minutes to feel good about themselves. He drew us in slowly and sweetly. He gave us the opportunity to reflect on what matters most and see how it relates to business. Taking care of self. Taking care of relationships. I highly recommend him as a keynote, a workshop leader, as a teacher of leaders."
Janet Wigfield
Vice President/Executive Director
Conference + Events
Working Mother Media/Diversity Best Practices/NAFE
"Patrick O'Neill gave our audience of over four hundred corporate Human Resource practitioners something they desperately needed: 90 minutes to feel good about themselves. He drew us in slowly and sweetly. He gave us the opportunity to reflect on what matters most and see how it relates to business. Taking care of self. Taking care of relationships. I highly recommend him as a keynote, a workshop leader, as a teacher of leaders."
Janet Wigfield Vice President/Executive Director
Conference + Events
Working Mother Media/Diversity Best Practices/NAFE
"I was referred to Patrick O’Neill at 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 Patrick O’Neill and Extraordinary Conversations for any complex organizational issues."
Carolyn Acker Founder
Pathways to Education Canada
"Rapidly expanding into an international marketing services company through global acquisitions, I found myself attempting to manage ten culturally disparate, strong-minded entrepreneurial leaders who now had to work collaboratively. Competing agendas made it impossible to create synergy between the regions and deliver a more comprehensive service offering to our clients. The expansion was faltering under ever-increasing expectations from the Board of Directors.
Patrick O'Neill evaluated the unique components of our predicament and facilitated a series of customized off-site programs which would reveal the sabotage of our shared behaviours as well as our potential as a group. Through the techniques of Extraordinary Conversations, the group was able to come to agreement and formulate a common mission and vision: one that focused on the achievement of the organization rather than personal goals.
In addition, reparation techniques directly addressed damaging personal conflicts and healed old wounds. Now working together, conflict was minimized while personal respect increased. Management meetings were now made up of like-minded participants who would move forward with collaboration and deliver the comprehensive solutions our clients demanded.
Extraordinary Conversations assisted our organization in establishing true working partnerships, which ultimately enabled us to achieve shared organizational goals. Within 5 years our revenues climbed from $12 million to $750 million. Most importantly, we were able to continue acquiring high growth companies with the knowledge and skill necessary to successfully integrate high performance entrepreneurs."
Mike Preston President
Tapestry Group Inc.
"Nestle Canada has utilized Extraordinary Conversations several times with wonderful success. They are very involved with their clients and really care about making a difference and achieving results. They take the time and put a lot of effort on assisting the individual with results. I would recommend Extraordinary Conversations to anyone."
Bob Leonidas President and CEO
Nestlé Canada Inc.
"Extraordinary Conversations was instrumental in creating extraordinary communications that helped build momentum, excitement and a sense of urgency for launching Children's Treatment Network's new model of care for kids with multiple disabilities. They helped us define strong messages and create compelling communications that fostered broad understanding and engagement with stakeholders, families and the community. Their ability to create communications that ignite and align action behind the Network's vision and new service delivery model has been a very important element in our success."
Bob Morton Founding CEO
Children's Treatment Network of Simcoe-York
"I have had to the pleasure to work with Extraordinary Conversations over a number of years. They are an organization that is capable of meeting a wide range of challenges that business executives face.
My experience with Extraordinary Conversations began when I had recently taken over as the CEO of a $60 million technology business. Extraordinary Conversations was retained to take my leadership team through an intense three day workshop to ensure that the team was aligned in meeting the challenges that our organization was facing. It was a period of transition, uncertainty and many of the team was questioning their commitment to the organization as a result of a difficult year and a declining demand for our services. At the end of the workshop, we had created a path forward for the business and had a newly found unity and honesty amongst the team that reenergized our efforts. Patrick O'Neill was instrumental in helping us to reach this goal.
Following the completion of the workshop, there was a tremendous amount of work to be done. We needed to create a compelling vision for the enterprise to return the company to a path of growth and prosperity. We also needed to rebuild the morale of the workforce. Extraordinary Conversations was instrumental in helping us achieve these objectives as well. Working with Elinor Trainor, one of Extraordinary Conversations communication experts, we spent weeks together building a vision and strategy that every employee could understand and rally around. The work was intense but the payoff when the final product was completed was huge. Our new vision energized our employees, and created a path to prosperity that everyone could believe in. Within two years, our company had exceeded $100 million in revenues.
Rebuilding the morale of the workforce was another rewarding exercise that Extraordinary Conversations played a key role in. Throughout the enterprise we ran a series of approximately 15 - 20 three day workshops around the globe and over 200 employees had the benefit of learning the art and importance of having difficult conversations. The feedback from employees was overwhelming. Many employees commented that the course had been the most beneficial educational opportunity they had experienced, and that the rewards were both professional and personal. Our company learned how to work effectively as a team, and how to build bridges between countries and departments. The trust, energy and enthusiasm generated by these courses was a critical element in keeping spirits and efforts high as the company embarked on a major growth trajectory.
I have been impressed by the breadth and depth of Extraordinary Conversation's services and staff. I would highly recommend their services to any organization that is looking to inject growth, excitement, trust and enthusiasm into their businesses. The results will speak for themselves."
Mike Dufton CEO
Comtext Systems Inc. (Creators of Intelliresponse)
"Patrick O'Neill is one of the most gifted consultants and advisors I have ever worked with. Extraordinary Conversations is a company that facilitates just that. Extraordinary, breakthrough, significant team-building and personal development sessions which create meaningful and significant change. I would recommend Patrick and his company to any leader looking at improving teamwork, effectiveness, and individual productivity."
Paul Alofs President and CEO
The Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation
"I have worked with Patrick O'Neill and Extraordinary Conversations on multiple occasions over the past thirteen years. He has been invaluable in helping me and the senior management teams I led or was a part of achieve breakthrough performance. Patrick is highly skilled at getting to the heart of the issue and helping the team identify the actions necessary to meet the challenges they face. I have found Patrick's approach and methodology to be uniquely effective in helping executive and senior management teams develop improved strategic clarity and teamwork."
Steven M. Liberty, Sr. Vice President Operations Canada
Patheon Inc.
"Patrick O'Neill and his team is any business executives 'secret weapon'. Several years ago when I was running a large/complex marketing services company the executive team which I led was 'disparate'. I contacted Patrick on a colleague's recommendation and the process began. The outcome was successful although difficult. What truly made it unique from anything we had experienced as individuals was the 'way' that he approached the teaching. It wasn't something you forgot - it was lasting with high impact. To this day I often reflect and apply the thinking that Patrick imparted on us. I would not hesitate to recommend Patrick to any individual or group. His passion and dedication to his art is infectious. Engaging 'Extraordinary Conversations' is a life altering event!"
Z. Cathy Preston Director
Preston Human Capital Group Inc.
"As an executive team of decision makers, prepare to be challenged when you work with Extraordinary Conversations - and with challenge comes reward. The O'Neills led us through a thoughtful examination of our assumptions, group dynamics and patterns that awoke in our team a new spirit of authentic collaboration and productive conversation. "Change begins with me" has become lived reality rather than a slogan. Through our work with Extraordinary Conversations, we are growing to see ourselves as empowered decision makers. Extraordinary, indeed."
Karen Murton Principal
Branksome Hall
"In any merger situation, the cost of cultural conflicts can be significant if not addressed directly and effectively. The Extraordinary Conversations team was instrumental in the re-alignment of our newly integrated executive team. Mr. O'Neill's unique ability to assist people in re-aligning their focus from past allegiances, competing priorities and silo-based thinking enabled our team to re-focus on achieving significant business deliverables."
Dwight O'Neill SVP Lending
TD Canada Trust
"The progress made in our intra-office communications and productivity has been striking to me. We have virtually eliminated third-party communications. The staff is telling me how much they enjoy coming to work everyday. I do not think it's coincidental that our bottom line has been so healthy. The work Patrick has done for us is simple, direct, compassionate, extremely powerful and effective."
Sue Wilson Sue Wilson Law Offices
"I have had the chance to work with Patrick O'Neill in two different organizations with three different leadership teams. Patrick has proven himself an outstanding facilitator."
Ed Hogan VP Operations
Novopharm
"Extraordinary Conversations is an extraordinary resource. I have used their services in difficult circumstances - most recently to help me prepare my executive team to lead the closure of a large manufacturing facility in a small community. They helped our executive team pull together and find the courage, compassion and mutual support necessary to manage 'honorable closure' over several months without incident. I truly believe that the preparatory work we engaged in made a huge difference in the quality of life for the employees, the leadership experience and the successful outcome for the Company. I would recommend Extraordinary Conversations as an invaluable partner in managing change, resolving conflict and helping people become stronger leaders."
Marcia Dion VP Manufacturing and Distribution
Gertrude Hawk Chocolates, Inc.
"I have employed Extraordinary Conversations over several years and two organizations that I led as President and CEO. They have provided me with invaluable support in building strong leaders at all levels of the organization. I have used their services to develop organizational vision and strategy, develop teams, overcome conflict and coach executive team leaders. They have consistently challenged us to change, grow and be better business leaders."
Lisa Zbitnew CEO
War Child
(former President of Sony BMG)
"Patrick O'Neill was instrumental in helping Pathways to Education successfully navigate complicated leadership succession issues. He helped us through a number of "extraordinary conversations" about roles, responsibilities, conflicts, and collaboration that has left Pathways significantly stronger and more unified. With his help, we are well positioned for the next phase of our growth."
Sam Duboc Chairman of the Board
Pathways to Education
"Patrick O'Neill conducted a full day workshop with the Massachusetts Organization of Nurse Executives (MONE) during my tenure as President of this organization. The focus of his session with over 200 participants included Leadership and Personal Effectiveness in working and living in organizations and other collectives.
This working session was both didactic with a focus on specific content and also allowed participants to have important reflective discussions with each other, to think through the most challenging situations and develop scenarios and strategies for effectively dealing with them. The day was invigorating, inspiring, and action oriented.
The day's work was preceded by careful and in-depth planning by Patrick and the planning committee to be sure that the content, approach and outcomes of the session would hit the mark for all participants. And, it certainly did. "I left with a new understanding of the power of my own sense of sufficiency - I realize now that I can manage whatever comes my way in terms of challenges," said a colleague of mine.
Patrick's work and model of living and leading can be instrumental in any organization, large or small to increase its' effectiveness and at the individual level improve personal mastery in life in general. I highly recommend him as an organizational consultant, keynote speaker, small and large group work leader for team development, strategic planning, conflict management and negotiation. He is superb."
Patricia Reid Ponte, RN, DNSc, NEA-BC, FAAN SrVP Patient Care Services & Chief Nurse
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Director, Oncology Nursing & Clinical Services
Brigham and Women's Hospital