Partnership power: James picks apart why some partnerships between international firms and local businesses thrive, and others don’t. Listen in to hear James’s thoughts drawn from private equity businesses in North America, hospitality companies in the Middle East, professional service firms in Europe, retail brands in China and many more examples. Leave with a clear set of questions and direction you want to head with your next collaborative discussion while avoiding time wasters, the curse of the international business development executive.

James hops on the latest A380 stateside and shares the lessons learned from his work with executives at Hilton, Caesars Entertainment, Hardees, AON, and Napster, who have successfully spread their wings to all corners of the planet. He discusses the importance of strategy, why marketing plans usurp business plans and what it takes to get the best out of regional and local business executives many miles from home.

Creating an appealing workplace that attracts the brightest and best people doesn’t have to involve HR policies and lavish pay. Listen to three lessons from James’s best clients, who have got it right through setting clear accountabilities, making intelligent use of managers’ time, and incentivising the right behaviours in their frontline people.

James gives a primer on the biggest lessons for entrepreneurs and executives wanting to avoid the pitfalls to profitable growth. He looks at the impact on international expansion, evolving a business brand and operating in a volatile marketplace.

James takes a tour around the world and talks about the importance of leadership in his best clients’ successful attainment of profitable growth. He illustrates in local examples why leaders must display high levels of self-confidence, resilience and resolve to turn global aspirations into impressive local results. Equally those very same local executives must readily accept what they don’t know and willingly collaborate internally or externally with others, when necessary to achieve their personal and the organisation’s goals.

“Consultants” are an ugly word in many businesses. Armed with their methodologies and matrices they paint a perfect picture of a profitable growth, yet the results are more often than not disappointing. In the real world, successful strategy implementation is more about maintaining top management’s focus and discipline than simply knowing what to do and how to do it. James explains where managers can gain real benefit and huge value from a consultant, and the role of a “business” fitness trainer.

The MBA has always been a target for executives looking to advance through organizational ranks. With technological change, demographic shifts and globalisation, profitable growth opportunities are constantly shifting. James explains why simply studying success isn’t sufficient to improve your own success. He talks about how his clients have learned by doing, to adapt and exploit success practices under his guidance and obtain unprecedented performance levels.

A look at the small number of profitable growth challenges common to almost every mid- and large-sized business, irrespective of culture. James tours the very personal fears and professional challenges that underlie each of them and reveals a number of approaches that have transformed the lives of his clients, their customers, their employees and their suppliers.