Human Resource Transformation, Learning & Development, Leadership & Change Management advisor
John is a seasoned HR professional with over 25 years of experience, demonstrating expertise across a broad range of HR functions with a particular focus on Learning & Development (L&D) and Talent Development. He possesses a strong track record of success in both strategic planning and practical implementation, consistently aligning HR initiatives with overall business objectives. His experience spans various organizational contexts, allowing him to adapt and drive positive change in diverse environments.
John has vast experience specializing in Learning & Development (L&D), talent identification and development, and driving cultural transformation within rapidly evolving digital environments, primarily in Africa. He possesses a strong track record of success in designing, implementing, and scaling L&D programs, particularly within the context of technology organizational projects, with a strong focus on digital adoption, future skills development, and strategic talent management.
Key Strengths and Experience:
- Panelist and Thought leader in key HR Country and Regional HR forums: As a seasoned, thought leader John has over the years provided thought leaderships as panelist or speaker in the following HR forums:- Strathmore University Business School HR Symposium.
– Rise & Learning East African HR Symposium.
– CHRM HR Symposium
- Learning & Development Strategy & Execution: John has extensive organizational experience in formulating and executing L&D strategies at both country and group levels, aligning them with business objectives, digital transformation agendas, and talent development needs. He has a proven ability to translate business requirements into targeted L&D initiatives, including curriculum development, program design, and delivery. He has demonstrated expertise in building L&D functions and developing internal L&D capabilities.
- Learning & Development Experience in the Technology domain: With 3 years’ experience as the Head of the only Salesforce Academy in the world that enjoyed the status of a Salesforce Accredited Training Provider (ATP) at the time, John brings vast experience on Talent Development in the Technology space especially that which is related to Cloud Computing solutions. His strengths are in assessing an organization’s future readiness and recommending solutions to make it future ready in the context of a fast-changing digital landscape.
- Deep understanding of AI the People & Culture Function: Being a Salesforce AI Certified Specialist, John has significant experience on how to leverage generative and predictive AI across an organization’s HR value chain to enhance employee experience as well as achieve the organizational Talent specific strategic goals.
- Talent Identification & Development Strategic Planning: John has a proven ability to identify critical people competencies for digital organizations and develop strategic talent development plans to address future workforce needs. He has experience in designing and implementing programs for emerging talent, leadership development, and succession planning. He is skilled in mentoring and coaching individuals at various levels.
- Change Management & Culture Transformation: John has expertise in supporting change enablement from an L&D perspective, particularly for digital transformations. He has experience in designing and implementing bespoke leadership and culture interventions aligned with agile and digital transformation. He developed a high-level Salesforce change enablement approach adopted by multiple African countries.
- Digital Learning & Technology Adoption: John has demonstrated success in driving digital learning adoption, particularly of platforms like Salesforce Trailhead and Degreed, achieving high adoption rates (e.g., 99% Degreed adoption in Kenya, highest in the Standard Bank Group). He has a deep understanding of digital learning program implementation and management, including online learning, blended learning, and mobile learning solutions.
- Leadership & Talent Development: John has extensive experience in developing and delivering leadership programs for senior and middle management, providing executive coaching, mentoring emerging talent, and nurturing new L&D managers.
- Community Outreach-Program Design & Implementation: John has a proven ability to design, implement, and scale impactful programs, including the successful launch of a subsequent expansion to high schools. Between 2022 and 2024, he ran a pilot on the above in partnership with Strathmore University and the Technical University of Kenya.
- Partnership & Collaboration: John has a strong track record of building and managing partnerships with universities, technology providers (e.g., Salesforce), and internal stakeholders. He has experience working in cross-functional teams and contributing to group-wide initiatives.
- Salesforce Expertise: John has deep expertise in Salesforce, including program development, change enablement, and driving adoption. He is a Certified Salesforce AI Associate and Trailhead Ranger. He has been recognized for designing and driving impactful Salesforce people capability strategies.
- Award-Winning Performance: John has received multiple awards for excellence in employee experience, engagement, and execution, recognizing his contributions to digital learning adoption, Salesforce implementation, and people capability strategies. He was a 2-time winner of the prestigious Mark of Excellence Awards in the Standard Bank Group that trades as Stanbic Bank (K) LTD in Kenya.
- Executive Coaching: As an accredited Executive Coach, John specializes in engaging through thought provoking sessions, C-Suite leaders and high-potential individuals within their succession planning pipelines. He empowers them to achieve peak performance and navigate complex challenges through personalized coaching engagements.
- Performance Management: Certified as a Balanced Scorecard professional, John excels in optimizing performance across all levels of the organization. He partners with leadership and line managers to develop high-performing teams and design bespoke performance management processes that are perfectly aligned with the organization’s strategic objectives.
Specific Achievements & Projects in L&D and Talent Development:
- John launched and scaled the Salesforce Youth Development Program, providing cloud computing career opportunities to students, directly addressing talent gaps in a key technology area.
- He drove high adoption rates of digital learning platforms like Salesforce Trailhead and Degreed, demonstrating a strong focus on effective L&D delivery methods.
- John designed and implemented a high-level Salesforce change enablement approach adopted by multiple countries, showcasing his expertise in managing the L&D aspects of large-scale technology implementations.
- He developed bespoke leadership and culture interventions aligned with agile and digital transformation, demonstrating an understanding of the link between L&D, organizational culture, and business strategy.
- John partnered with leadership to identify critical people competencies for the digital organization and drive digital learning adoption focused on future skills, highlighting a strategic approach to talent development.
- He built knowledge of key individuals and their business unit strategies to ensure L&D initiatives were aligned with business needs, demonstrating a consultative approach to L&D.
- John grew and developed learning partners/consultants to be seasoned L&D professionals, showcasing a commitment to building internal L&D capability.
Academic and Professional Qualifications:
- Pursuing master’s in international business administration (Strategic Management- USIU-A)
- Bachelor of Education Degree (Business Studies and Economics- Kenyatta University).
- Higher Diploma in Human Resources Management (KNEC).
- Practioner Diploma in Executive Coaching (AoEC-UK)
- Certified Human Resources Manager (International Academy of Business & Financial Management).
- Salesforce Artificial Intelligence Associate Certification (Salesforce).
- Certified Balance Score Card Professional (Balanced Scorecard Eastern Africa (BSEA).
- Learning & Development Manager Program (CIPD-Career Connections)
- Certificate in Counselling (College of Human Resource Management, Nairobi).