Jefferson Hawthorne
Save Time. Worry Less. Be More.
ABOUT
What opportunities are you missing because there’s one challenge that keeps pulling your focus away?
Too many leaders have resigned themselves to the notion that opportunities will be missed and some risks are unavoidable – only they can deal with them, and they just don’t have the time.
The Jefferson Hawthorne Group was built to help. Think of what we do as a personal support system for leaders – ‘campaign managers’ for your priorities, to help you save time, worry less and be more.
With 20 years of experience from the boardrooms of Bay Street to the corridors of power on Parliament Hill we deliver solutions that work in the real world. Our competitive advantage is that we solve for the technical problem and the intricate web of how people in groups make decisions.
We see what others don’t and act where others won’t.
Situations We Help Clients Navigate
On-Demand Executive Agent: End-to-End Planning & Execution
03
You are leading a major strategic initiative and require an external force multiplier to streamline decision-making and execution
01
You face a challenge that falls outside the expertise of your existing team and need specialized support to navigate it effectively
04
You are stepping into a new leadership role and need an accelerated transition plan to deliver early wins during your first 100 days
02
You are balancing multiple critical projects and need additional executive capacity to ensure none fall through the cracks
05
Following a crisis, merger or proxy fight, you need to align business strategies and stakeholder culture to ensure long-term success
Legacy Leadership Architecture: Reputation Strategy & Personal Branding
03
You are an executive with big ideas and big aspirations who could use a right hand to help you execute and raise your profile
01
You are a newly appointed CEO or board chair and need to rapidly establish credibility within a competitive industry
04
You have successfully built a business but now need to position yourself as an industry leader to create opportunity and drive innovation
02
You are a newly appointed CEO who inherited a fractured leadership team and need to unify them around a shared vision to drive organizational success
05
You want to ensure your leadership tenure is defined by transformative contributions rather than incremental improvements
Value Protection: Crisis Preparedness & Issues Strategy
03
You are navigating geopolitical risks that threaten your supply chain and need a mitigation strategy to ensure business continuity
01
Your company has faced a crisis and needs a strategy to manage internal and external repercussions effectively
04
Your company has reactively adopted social policies, and needs a strategic roadmap to balance stakeholder pressure and organizational priorities
02
Following a data breach, your company needs to rebuild its reputation and reassure stakeholders through targeted reputation management efforts
05
You are worried there are unaddressed risks and issues that could escalate and want a framework to spot and prevent crises
APPROACH
In a world where what happens in someone's backyard can directly impact what happens in your front yard, we believe a more holistic lens is needed. The traditional paradigm for corporate advice usually only covers a fraction of the forces that shape our world and guide decisions. We help you understand subtle indicators through a wide spectrum of knowledge to chart a winning path forward.
Grand Strategy
Grand Strategy considers a wider array of factors – economic, social, political, geopolitical, historic context, and even psychological – often beyond your control to develop overarching plans and policies that secure a sustainable outcome. In the world of business, Grand Strategy provides a framework that addresses not only immediate challenges but also future opportunities and threats to ensure success.
Art of Power & Influence
Power strategies are are about redefining the rules of the game, so the only outcome is your win. They are about shaping the strategic landscape, commanding respect, and controlling outcomes. To truly excel, leaders must master the art of power.
Pattern Recognition
Experience allows us to see beyond surface-level data, connecting seemingly unrelated dots that others might overlook. Patterns are not just recurring trends but also subtle indicators that can signal emerging challenges or opportunities. The ability to discern these patterns before they become apparent to others is what will set you apart.
Wisdom Through Range
Much has been said about the importance of diversity in today's business world, but very little about the superior value of range. Range encompasses a wider spectrum of knowledge and experience across multiple fields. In the business world where specialization has narrowed focus, a bias for range allows us to uncover interconnected risks and seize non-linear opportunities. We intentionally seek knowledge and connect our clients with the best outside minds.
OUR TEAM
Ian Robertson
Partner
Ian is a seasoned executive with over two decades of experience helping global leaders solve novel, complex problems. He has developed a wide range of expertise from the boardrooms of Bay Street to the backrooms of government with a career that includes being CEO of Kingsdale Advisors and Chief of Staff and Campaign Manager to high-profile political leaders.
Andrew Sidnell
Partner
Andrew has extensive experience advising organizations on high-stakes challenges, with expertise in corporate strategy and special situations. As VP of Kingsdale Advisors, he led strategic initiatives navigating contested and hostile situations. Previously, as Chief of Staff to Ontario’s Minister of Finance he played a leadership role in the delivery of multiple provincial Budgets and the Capital Markets Modernization Task Force Report.
Daniel Gordon
Partner
Daniel brings a wealth of experience in policy, strategy, and investment advisory. As Deputy Chief of Staff to the Premier of Ontario, he oversaw the development and execution of the government’s policy agenda. Previously, Daniel worked in management consulting, advising Fortune 500 companies on investment decisions and growth strategies. Daniel holds an MBA from the Ivey Business School at Western University and is a CFA Charterholder.
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PRACTICE AREAS
On-Demand Executive Agent:
End-to-End Planning
& Execution
We work directly for you to get things done. We bring the capacity you need for end-to-end strategy development and disciplined execution, saving you valuable time and ensuring your strategic goals are met. Think of it as priority access to the force multiplier you need to take work and worry off your plate.
Legacy Leadership Architecture: Reputation Strategy
& Personal Branding
We help CEOs and senior leaders craft a durable legacy by defining and reaching their “win.” We provide the strategy, tools, and support necessary to create lasting significance that influences future generations.
Value Protection:
Crisis Preparedness
& Issues Strategy
We help leaders understand their organization’s risk exposure – especially in unconventional yet increasingly common areas – and arm them with an actionable playbook to mitigate or eliminate it.