December 2024 – Deano's World

The familiar warmth (and by warmth I mean torrential big fat rain drops that sends evening traffic in Nairobi into meltdown) of Nairobi welcomed me back as my wife Buffy and I landed at Jomo Kenyatta late on Thursday the 19th December. The sounds, sights and smells quickly wrap me up in memories of past adventures and invite the promise of new ones to come. This visit feels especially poignant – it marks ten years since Buffy and I spent our honeymoon here, guided by my old university friend Andrew “Cappy” Campbell. After a fairly horrific year, starting with Buffy suffering a Sub Arachnoid brain haemorrhage, it is great to be back in such a wonderful place with the time and space to decompress.

Tomorrow brings one of my favorite Nairobi traditions – a visit to the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust’s elephant orphanage. After that, the evening promises to be filled with laughter and stories, catching up with my Kenya-based Shogun rugby family, along with some old Royal Navy friends over drinks and dinner. These reunions always remind me why I feel so at home in Kenya and why friendships are so important now more than ever.

The real adventure begins on the 21st when we’ll gather at the Sheraton to meet our full safari party – Stuart and Sophie Kidd (our wonderful neighbours from Oxted who’ve become such good friends; largely because they know where all the bodies are buried and enable our red wine habit) and Robin Callaway (who was with me on the Everest Rugby Challenge back in 2019) with his daughter Katy. There’s something magical about sharing Kenya with people you care about, watching their eyes light up as they discover the wonders that made you fall in love with this place. I am hugely looking forward to seeing their reactions as we explore the landscapes of the incredible Kenyan National Parks of Tsavo, Amboseli and the Masai Mara and meet the incredible wildlife that live there: up close and personal.

Our friend Cappy, a multi-generation Kenyan safari guide, has woven his magic once again, crafting an anniversary journey that began to unfold today. There’s something deeply reassuring about having a friend who knows every hidden gem of this magnificent country, whose family history is intertwined with Kenya’s wild spaces. This isn’t just another safari – it’s a celebration of ten years of marriage, of friendships that span continents, and of the timeless appeal of Kenya’s wilderness. As I settle into my first night back in Nairobi, I can feel the familiar excitement building. Tomorrow, the journey truly begins.

“THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT SAFARI LIFE THAT MAKES YOU FORGET ALL YOUR SORROWS AND FEEL AS IF YOU HAD DRUNK HALF A BOTTLE OF CHAMPAGNE — BUBBLING OVER WITH HEARTFELT GRATITUDE FOR BEING ALIVE.” Karen Blixen

Special thanks to Kelvin (Tradewinds), Anthony (AC Safaris), Charles (Tessen) and Shirley (Sheldrick Wildlife Trust) for making our arrival and first few days so stress free! Big love as ever to Terry (Tessen & Shogun) who very kindly let us use his apartment in Nairobi as a base when we arrived – you are the man.

Let me tell you, jumping from a long-term senior role to running your own consultancy is like trading a well-mapped highway for an exhilarating off-road adventure. If you’ve met me before you’d probably suspect I wouldn’t have it any other way.

After years of thriving in the remarkable organisation that is Paye Stonework & Restoration, I realised I was ready for a new challenge. My extremely varied corporate journey had been incredibly rewarding, but I felt a growing desire to create space for my own professional evolution and, more importantly, to enable the progression of others. That’s exactly why I founded Hartfield Consultants.

Challenges? More Like Opportunities

Starting your own consultancy isn’t for the faint-hearted. The security blanket of a monthly paycheck? Gone. The comfort of established teams and processes? You’re now building those from scratch. But here’s the thing: every challenge is just an opportunity wearing a different costume.

For me, the biggest shift has been moving from executing strategies to helping organisations reimagine their entire approach. Whether it’s internal communications, talent development, or creating genuine business value through CSR and ESG strategies, I’m now in a position to catalyse real, meaningful change.

The Freedom to Think Differently

One of the most liberating aspects of consultancy is the ability to truly “think differently” – which, not coincidentally, is a core principle of Hartfield Consultants. Previously, innovation often felt constrained by the growing pains and the focus on immediate delivery that tends to accompany it. Now? I can help businesses break through those barriers.

Take our approach to people development, for instance. It’s not just about training programs; it’s about nurturing talent, understanding individual potential, and most importantly creating environments where people can truly excel that align with strategy, values and even purpose. Having led teams and managed complex projects across various industries, I bring a holistic perspective that goes beyond textbook solutions.

Redefining Problem Solving

The heart of exceptional consulting lies in problem-solving that goes beyond surface-level fixes. My approach is ruthlessly methodical: first, fully understand the issue by stripping away preconceived notions and personal biases. This means creating a space where existing beliefs are challenged, and the root cause is meticulously examined. It’s about gathering the right people – those with diverse perspectives, deep expertise, and a genuine commitment to positive change – and facilitating a collaborative approach to solution design.

True problem-solving isn’t about having all the answers, but about creating the conditions where innovative solutions can emerge. It’s a process of deep listening, critical analysis, and collective intelligence. Whether we’re auditing processes, realigning strategies, or developing talent, the goal is always the same: to deliver meaningful, sustainable solutions that create genuine value for the organisation.

Unexpected Lessons from Unexpected Places

Interestingly, some of my most valuable consulting insights come from experiences outside the traditional business world. My adventures – like being a team manager for the Nigerian national rugby team, running the hugely successful invitational rugby club Shogun RFC at tournaments all over the World, working as part of a de-mining project in western Denmark, travelling to over fifty countries from Australia to Zimbabwe and participating in world-record charity rugby matches 6331 metres up Mount Everest – have taught me more about leadership, adaptability, and high-pressure problem-solving than any MBA ever could.

These experiences reinforced a crucial truth: success is about agility, continuous learning, and the courage to step outside your comfort zone.

The Reward? Impact and Autonomy

Running Hartfield Consultants isn’t just a career move; it’s a mission. We’re not just another consultancy. We’re partners in helping organisations reimagine their potential across strategic alignment, communications, talent development, value creation, and process optimisation.

The reward isn’t just financial independence. It’s the privilege of walking alongside businesses during their transformation, seeing leaders and teams discover capabilities they didn’t know they possessed.

A Note to Fellow Corporate Adventurers

If you’re contemplating a similar leap, here’s my advice: Trust your skills. Embrace the uncertainty. And remember, your most significant asset isn’t your past experience—it’s your willingness to continuously learn and adapt.

To new beginnings, bold strategies, and the courage to think differently!

Interested in exploring how we can unlock your organisation’s potential? Let’s chat.

Mark Dean

Founder, Hartfield Consultants

http://www.hartfieldconsultants.com