Desmond McKenzie, Finance Expert in Toronto, ON, Canada
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Desmond McKenzie

Verified Expert  in Finance

Finance Expert

Toronto, ON, Canada

Toptal member since October 14, 2022

Bio

Desmond is a change and transformation leader experienced across a range of industries. For two decades, he's architected and guided change initiatives for corporations, governments, higher education, and nonprofits. This work involves processes and technologies, but at the core, people are those who determine project success or failure. Desmond brings field-proven methods and tools to help senior leadership, program directors, and project teams achieve success.

Career Highlights

Director
Leadertree Inc.
Managing Consultant
Tata Consultancy Services

Education Highlights

Graduate Certificate
Harvard University
Bachelor's Degree
York University

Certification Highlights

Case Studies

Expertise

  • Business Transformation
  • Digital Transformation
  • Executive Coaching
  • Leadership
  • Management Consulting
  • Organizational Change Management (OCM)
  • Strategy
  • Training & Training Content Development

Work Experience

Director

2019 - PRESENT
Leadertree Inc.
  • Helped clients build the effectiveness of their leaders, teams, and transformation processes. Provided targeted development, training, coaching, and tools for leaders in high-leverage roles and their teams.
  • Designed, led, and equipped internal teams for strategy development and implementation.
  • Provided toolsets, leader and team member training, an organizational change management (OCM) framework, daily and weekly coordination and support, and senior leadership guidance to ensure successful transformation initiatives.
  • Acted as an authorized partner for Everything DiSC, focusing on the workplace, Agile EQ, productive conflict, leadership, and sales, and developing cohesive teams. Worked as a Microsoft partner, specifically as a service adoption specialist.
  • Worked with clients that include organizations such as AWS, Scotiabank, and Tinuiti.
Focus areas: Microsoft, Collaboration, Leadership, Organizational Change Management (OCM), Marketing Technology (MarTech), Growth Strategy, Business Process Analysis, Facilitation, Digital Transformation, Strategy, Team Building, Stakeholder Engagement, Sales, Business Process Optimization, Management Consulting, Training & Training Content Development, Process Mapping, Business Analysis, Financial Services, Workflow Diagrams, Project Management, Change Management, Sales Training, Communication, Business Process Re-engineering, Growth Strategy Consultants, Business Strategy, Organizational Design, Learning & Development

Managing Consultant

2011 - 2019
Tata Consultancy Services
  • Architected, led, and coached strategic transformation initiatives for national and global clients.
  • Focused on leadership, innovation, digital transformation, and ecosystem development.
  • Assisted clients in developing mindsets, capabilities, and business processes needed to achieve breakthrough results.
  • Worked with clients that included major financial institutions in the US and Canada, such as World Bank, State Farm, and CIBC.
Focus areas: Management Consulting, Organizational Change Management (OCM), Training & Training Content Development, Communication, Leadership, Employee Communication, Travel, Sales & Channel Enablement, Sales Strategy, Business Process Analysis, Facilitation, Digital Transformation, Training, Stakeholder Engagement, Program Management, Sales, Process Mapping, Business Analysis, Financial Services, Project Management, Change Management, Business Development, Workflow Diagrams, PMO, Business Process Re-engineering, Growth Strategy Consultants, Business Strategy, Learning & Development

Consulting Project Manager

2004 - 2011
Oracle
  • Provided change and transformation leadership for companies and governments. Identified people-related risks and developed execution roadmaps to enable successful transitions for projects of between $5 million and $30 million.
  • Designed and managed detailed plans for communication, training, and other actions to accelerate the achievement of business outcomes. Provided guidance and tools for executives and program leadership to aid their effectiveness as leaders of change.
  • Developed service offerings and market strategies for the practice globally, including co-creating the OCM process for Oracle Unified Methodology.
  • Architected and led the change and integration process for the Oracle/PeopleSoft merger.
Focus areas: Organizational Change Management (OCM), Oracle, Business Process Optimization, Digital Transformation, Employee Communication, Stakeholder Engagement, Program Management, Sales, Management Consulting, Training & Training Content Development, Process Mapping, Business Analysis, Financial Services, Workflow Diagrams, Project Management, Change Management, Communication, Technology, PMO, Business Process Re-engineering, Growth Strategy Consultants, Business Strategy, Organizational Design, Learning & Development

Director of Client Services

1998 - 2003
Development Source | Friesen Kaye & Associates
  • Developed and implemented a business development strategy for a North American consulting firm focused on training and performance development. Managed in-house and field-based consultative sales teams.
  • Provided coaching and tools for executives and line management to strengthen their effectiveness as leaders of change.
  • Achieved a certification in sales and sales management training based on Huthwaite International's proprietary research and intellectual property (IP). Delivered training in leadership, sales, and negotiation across North America.
Focus areas: Training, Sales, Sales & Channel Enablement, Sales Strategy, Sales Training, Facilitation, Strategy, Team Building, Management Consulting, Business Development, Growth Strategy, Growth Strategy Consultants, Business Strategy, Organizational Design, Learning & Development

Head of Sales Training

1995 - 1998
GlaxoSmithKline
  • Created, coached, and managed all sales training activities nationally.
  • Planned and executed product launches, annual sales strategies, and quarterly action plans.
  • Created a customized research-based sales skills training program called Essential Selling Practices, implemented nationally.
Focus areas: Sales Training, Leadership, Business Development, Growth Strategy, Business Strategy, Organizational Design, Learning & Development

Education

2000 - 2022

Master's Degree (Ongoing) in Adult Education

University of Toronto - Toronto, Canada

1993 - 1994

Graduate Certificate in Negotiation and Conflict Management

Harvard University - Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States

1986 - 1990

Bachelor's Degree in Economics

York University - Toronto, Canada

Certifications

DECEMBER 2021 - PRESENT

Adoption Service Specialist

Microsoft

NOVEMBER 2020 - PRESENT

Five Behaviors of Cohesive Teams: Authorized Practitioner

Wiley

NOVEMBER 2020 - PRESENT

DiSC Assessment and Coaching

Wiley

Skills

Industry Expertise

Technology, Financial Services

Other

Negotiation, Collaboration, Leadership, Training & Training Content Development, Microsoft, Organizational Change Management (OCM), Management Consulting, Communication, Executive Coaching, Digital Transformation, Business Transformation, Strategy, Education, Team Building, Training, Stakeholder Engagement, Sales, Sales Training, Growth Strategy, Facilitation, Change Management, Business Process Re-engineering, Growth Strategy Consultants, Business Strategy, Organizational Design, Learning & Development, Employee Experience, Employee Engagement, Oracle, Employee Communication, Marketing Technology (MarTech), Travel, Conflict Resolution, Talent Strategy, Performance Management, Program Management, Sales & Channel Enablement, Sales Strategy, Business Process Optimization, Business Process Analysis, Process Mapping, Business Analysis, Workflow Diagrams, Project Management, PMO, Digital Transformation Program Management, Economics, Policy, Regional Development Analysis, Business Development

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