Closing the execution gap: A Cliftons and Afterburners event series

Combining technology and people for successful transformations and flawless execution

In a series of exclusive invitation only events across Sydney, Canberra and Brisbane, Cliftons will be hosting the Afterburner team to share their unique perspectives, blending technical excellence, deep business experience and military precision to give you practical strategies to apply to project implementations that can close the execution gap and achieve organisational performance excellence.

Later, join the discussion over networking drinks and canapes and to engage directly with experts, discuss challenges and ideas with peers, and gain insights into achieving flawless execution.

Daniel ‘Fuzz’ Walker, Managing Director (APAC), Afterburner

Daniel is a former US Air Force F-22 Raptor Mission Commander, keynote speaker and lead consultant with Afterburner.

Daniel combines frontline military experience with practical business know-how bringing the same strategies and approaches used in high-pressure military environments to businesses, to achieve flawless execution. A graduate of Harvard Law School, he consults to organisations in Australia and the US  including Brookfield, John Holland Group and IHG

Christopher Howell, Afterburner

Christopher is much more than a former Commando. He graduated cum laude from Yale University, where he co-founded the Warrior-Scholar Project, supporting veterans transitioning to higher education, as well as completing a Master of Computing from Australian National University focused on planning and decision-making in artificial intelligence. Christopher is currently a PhD candidate with the Centre for Quantum Software and Information at the University of Technology, Sydney.

Holly Ransom, Emergent CEO

Holly is equally impressive. CEO of a strategic advisory firm working with organisations like Microsoft, Virgin and AMEX on design-thinking, augmentation innovation and ethical systems hacking, Holly has also   interviewed personalities from Obama to Venus Williams and the Dalai Lama.  Named one of Australia’s 100 Most Influential Women by the AFR, and with a Master of Public Policy as a Fulbright Scholar in the Harvard Kennedy School, Holly is a speaker and facilitator not to be missed.

Topic:

What are ideas worth to your business? Ideas generate innovation, right? But what if we argued that ideas are worthless and it’s the execution that really matters.

We’ve all heard the horror stories of failed projects, strategy redirects going wrong, systems and cultural transformation projects falling over, some of which have cost companies millions or billions of dollars. The good news is that the right approach can help you to close the gap between idea and execution for successful execution.

Similarly, having a plan isn’t enough to make AI/ML work for the humans in the loop. We have to communicate that plan and verify it is understood by the people executing the plan and interpreting the outputs. There is no magic in the machines; the magic is still people.

But how do we do this when we don’t necessarily understand the technological tools to help us achieve it, or use the same terms of art and practice?

It is through clear, compassionate communication, briefing, and leadership between decision-makers and teams is created and leveraged and how to ensure the technology truly works to make our lives better.

Contact us directly if you would like to invite a peer or colleague: marketing@cliftons.com

Learn more about Daniel Walker and Closing the Execution Gap here

Learn more about Christopher Howell and Daniel’s approach to Transformations in the Data Age here