In this episode of The Success Shuffle, host Ed Nell is joined by Mike Sinclair, founder of Kawarau Consulting, and Iris Walenkamp, founder of Moxie Minds Consulting. They discuss the power of shared services transformation and strategic business reinvention. Drawing on decades of experience in global leadership, consulting, and change management, they explore how organisations can embrace innovation, leverage data, and future-proof their operations in an evolving business landscape.

Key Takeaways

Shared Services & Business Value – Implementing shared services can reduce costs, streamline processes, and improve efficiency, but a clear business case and strong leadership buy-in are essential.

The Importance of Transformation Strategy – Successful business transformation requires continuous adaptation, scenario thinking, and engagement at all levels—not just top-down decision-making.

Overcoming Change Resistance – While leadership may approve transformation plans, real challenges often lie in gaining buy-in from middle management and employees.

The Role of AI & Data in Decision-Making – AI and data analytics are critical in shaping the future of work, improving efficiency, and enhancing strategic decision-making, yet many businesses hesitate to adopt them.

The Future of Work & Business Culture – Employee expectations are evolving, with remote working, AI integration, and agile leadership becoming increasingly important for organisational success.

Key Moments

"The best transformation strategies aren’t just decided at the top—they’re co-created with employees."

"AI isn’t waiting for businesses to catch up—companies must proactively explore how it can enhance operations."

"Standardising processes is only the first step—the real value comes from extracting insights and making informed decisions."

"Businesses that focus on resilience and human behaviour are the ones that will thrive in the long term."

About the Guest

Iris Walenkamp is a seasoned leader with 25 years of experience in the energy industry, specialising in transformational change, leadership development, and high-performing teams. She has held roles at a global level, from change management to internal audit and digital transformation, embracing new challenges to drive innovation. Now, as founder of Moxie Minds Consulting and Grit & Growth Executive Coaching, she provides strategic business transformation and organisational development solutions, helping organisations lead with integrity, purpose, and impact.

About Mike Sinclair - Kawarau Consulting

Mike Sinclair is an accomplished Business Consultant renowned for his expertise in driving transformative initiatives spanning Human Resources, Information Technology, and Real Estate sectors.

As the managing consultant at Kawarau Consulting, Mike brings more than two decades of experience from a prominent global corporation. His career highlights include spearheading large-scale ERP deployments and pioneering global shared services models.

Mike's distinguished track record extends to shaping organisational culture and performance strategies at the highest echelons, alongside managing substantial international programs across diverse disciplines. He is instrumental in strategic decision-making, focusing on governance, risk management, and talent development.

Kawarau Consulting are a UK based consultancy, specialising in supporting clients in building and/or developing a shared service/operations capability either fully outsourced, captive or hybrid. Find out more at https://kawarauconsulting.co.uk/

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