COACHING, STRATEGY, GOVERNANCE
Hi. I’m Jonathan Bennett.
MY STORY
I’d quit an executive role at a large hospital to strike out on my own, founding a management consulting firm.
And, for 10 years, things were pretty great. The company grew. We became a B Corp and served hundreds of organizations across Canada.
Except I’d become…unfulfilled.
For years I’d been delivering consulting projects that clients loved, but I wasn’t happy anymore. Nothing had really changed about the work, so I thought it was me. I thought that I just needed to dig deeper, work harder. Though nothing I tried seemed to relieve this feeling: that I was supposed to be doing something else. But what?
Then one Monday, looking at the week ahead on my phone’s calendar and desperately trying to find some motivation, three things sparked hope. They were all coaching sessions.
You see, I had, over the past few years, been taking on leaders to coach. I’d started reluctantly—I didn’t think I wanted to coach. After all, I was a management consultant! But, one by one, leaders accumulated on my coaching roster, and unexpectedly, I found enormous joy in it.
Why? Because coaching meant going deep. Making lasting, personal change with interesting, powerful people. Working one-on-one had such an impact. Not better, just different. I was serving leaders, not their organizations. This was the different for which I’d been searching.
That Monday, I immediately knew what I had to do.
With a succession plan in place, I stepped away from consulting for good. I went ‘all in’ on executive coaching—starting a new company.
Since I made that decision, it’s been transformational for me. It’s what I’m supposed to be doing with my life.
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My mission now is to help purpose-driven leaders—to go from overwhelmed and stuck, to thriving, quickly.
It’s lonely being a leader. There’s often no one you can really talk to. I’ve been there.
So, wherever you’re at, I’ll bring 25 years of creativity and leadership success to your situation. You’ll experience humour and empathy, and see firsthand why I am known for my deep-listening and breakthrough questions that create insights and new strategies.
Some other things about me…
I care about and take action on: social justice issues, First Nations reconciliation in Canada, autism and neurodiversity. I am a feminist. I grew up in Sydney, Australia and now live in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada. We have two dogs at our house. I also care a lot about good governance, social enterprise business, B Corps, and nonprofits. Finally, Canadian literature is a passion of mine, as is, cricket. Especially cricket.
I write on LinkedIn a lot, so give me a follow for content on leaderships pretty much everyday. Also, sign up to my newsletter for monthly longer essays on leadership.
Jonathan Bennett, C.Dir., FNI. Dir., provides sought-after leadership coaching and strategic counsel to CEOs, executive teams, politicians, and boards of directors across Canada. With experience in urban, rural, remote, and First Nations communities, Jonathan’s expertise is in social purpose business strategy, governance, branding, change, and communications.
Prior to coaching, Jonathan Bennett founded Laridae, a management consulting and training firm that helps non-profit and public sector organizations soar. Laridae has now served more than 200 clients. As its first CEO, Jonathan grew Laridae from a start up to a leading firm in its space—Laridae is a proud B Corp.
Jonathan is a Special Graduate Faculty in Trent University’s M.A. Sustainability Studies Graduate Program. An experienced director, he serves on three privately held, corporate boards: Accerta (ON), OwlCrate (BC), and CashCo Financial (AB), and is Board Chair of a local non-profit, Peterborough Community Health Centre. He is a member of the Institute of Corporate Directors and is a Chartered Director (C.Dir.) and holds a First Nations Director designation (FNI.Dir.) from the First Nations University of Canada. Previously, he has served terms as Chair of the Board of Directors of Ontario Telemedicine Network (OTN) and the Kawartha Haliburton CAS, and served two terms as a Board Director for the Writers' Trust of Canada.
A widely published and award-winning writer, Jonathan is the author of seven books. Born in Vancouver, grew up in Sydney, Australia, Jonathan lives with his family in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada.
Biography
Kind Words
“I really appreciated my coaching with Jonathan. He provided me with a very knowledgeable outside perspective which in turn gave me insight into how to handle a variety of situations. He had a way of giving me the tools, but I had to do the work. I always left the call feeling inspired.” — Amanda Lipinski, Program Director, Indigenous Diabetes Health Circle
“I was skeptical about trying coaching. I was busy, overwhelmed in starting a new role, and couldn’t see how this one extra thing would be helpful. However, my time with Jonathan was incredibly valuable. He listened with no judgment, guided me as I reflected on the challenges I was facing, and then pushed me to step out of my comfort zone and try new techniques. Each time I was amazed at how well the team responded. Because of his support and suggestions, I was able to bring together a new team and gain a better understanding of the best way to support each unique member. Thank you!” — Lindsay Muir, Team Lead, Kinark Child and Family Services
