BRETT MACFARLANE

Organizational Psychologist | Head of Leadership Development

The Innovation Leadership Map

Brett is a recognized innovation leadership expert. As an organizational psychologist, consultant and researcher, he adds a unique psychodynamic perspective to manage the tricky aspects of innovation and change. He serves as a trustworthy thought partner to senior executives in central banks, leading corporates, tier 1 consultancies and high-growth startups.

Originally trained as an economist while also an athlete and then coach in Canada’s Olympic development system, his approach has always been grounded in business realities and the psychology of high performance. As recognized by over 200 awards and patents when he served as an innovation leader living in Vancouver, Paris and London—working with innovators like Apple, Google, Jaguar Land Rover, AMEX, Barclays, Diageo and Unilever.

In 2019, he sharpened his leadership development practice at INSEAD—the leading global business school based in Fontainebleau, France. During the three-year Executive Master of Change (systems psychodynamics), Brett focused his research on the psychology of effective innovation leadership—receiving distinction in 2021. A product of this research, The Innovation Leadership Map (ILM) has become a powerful leadership development tool to help professionals more effectively achieve higher impact, healthier teams and happier careers.

Brett has a specialist interest in treating impulse control, burnout and loss of confidence from workplace challenges such as excessive expectations or permanent frustration. Symptoms that are often addressed by ILM and clinical leadership development programs for more positive professional and personal outcomes.

Outside his private practice, Brett advises the G20 Leaders Summit on digital leaders, is an advisory-backed investor with Working Title Capital and is a board advisor. Socially, he cycles as an official Rapha Cycle Club, enjoys alpine pursuits and loves good food. Vancouver based, globally active!

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