About the Exec Team Whisperer

Most Leadership Consultants Have Never Actually Led Anything

I spent 30 years in the trenches—first building and scaling franchise operations, then leading banking teams through complex transformations. I've sat in your chair, faced the same impossible decisions, and felt the weight of organisational performance on my shoulders.

That's why I don't bring theoretical frameworks—I bring tested solutions that work in the real world.

The Breakthrough Moment

After watching countless leadership teams struggle with the same predictable patterns, I discovered something powerful: The difference between good teams and great teams isn't talent—it's alignment. And alignment isn't about getting along—it's about focusing on a singular set of goals and results, together.

My Guarantee

I only work with leadership teams committed to measurable change. If you're looking for feel-good workshops, I'm not your consultant. If you want to transform how your team operates and drives business performance, let's talk. If I don’t deliver what I promise, I won’t bill you.

A close-up of a bald man wearing a dark suit and blue shirt, smiling slightly outdoors with blurred green and yellow foliage in the background.
A classroom with students sitting at desks and a teacher standing at the front of the room.
Blue logo with a stylized globe and the text 'United States Postal Service'
The logo of the University of Melbourne featuring a figure with wings holding an olive branch, above the Latin phrase "POSTERA CRESCAM LAUDE" and the university's name.
Black text on a white background that reads, "The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams."
Black and white logo with an exclamation mark integrated into a question mark, next to the text "HOMEBWARD BOUND."
Logo of Ryman Healthcare, featuring a stylized white 'R' on an orange background with the words 'RYMAN Healthcare' beneath.
G.J. Gardner Homes logo with black text and red accents.
Logo of Spark NZ with a purple abstract starburst symbol and the word Spark in bold purple letters followed by 'nz'.
Venn diagram showing overlapping circles labeled 'SEN environnement' in green and 'Degrément' in blue, with a small yellow circle overlapping both.
Motorola logo with a blue circle and a stylized white 'M' above the word 'motorola' in lowercase black letters.
General Mills logo with a red heart above the company name and the slogan 'Making Food People Love'.
Green geometric star-like logo with the word 'PROGRAMMED' underneath.

People I work with

Fonterra logo with blue, green, and white swoosh design.
Logo for NZ Blood with a red blood drop and the words 'NZ Blood' in green and red, and the Maori phrase 'Te Raranga Toto o Aotearoa' underneath.
Illustration of a house with a heart-shaped chimney and two hands holding each other inside, representing charity and care, with the text 'Ronald McDonald House Charities' below.
Logo of Thames Coromandel District Council featuring green hills at the top, blue water waves at the bottom, and bold blue text in the center.
Logo for Mars Wrigley Confectionery with the company name in large blue and black text
Logo of Outward Bound Anakiwa New Zealand, established in 1962, with a circular design featuring a compass and rope border.

“I have worked with Marshall Cowley for many years. I know him as a trusted advisor, deeply engaging facilitator and brilliant coach. His depth of knowledge on leadership and engagement is outstanding. I can’t imagine a better person to help those committed to a more aware and sustainable approach to self and others”

Global CEO

“I have worked with Marshall a number of times over the last decade. He is professional and incredibly informative particularly in his analytical approach to building executive team dynamics and culture. His relaxed and authentic style and wealth of experience in both the private and public sector environments ensures that any work undertaken will be ‘on-point’

Chief Executive, Local Government

“Marshall has provided us with tools and a common language to build a culture of transparency, trust, accountability and respect. I was impressed by the way Marshall helped us consider aspects of our overall team dynamic that have benefited from a reset. Whether it be executive coaching, change management, leadership development or culture change, I cannot recommend Marshall highly enough”

Federal Government Commissioner

“Marshall is one of the best consultants I have had the pleasure of working with for many years. He is deeply insightful, and always has the best interests of the client at the forefront of everything he does. Can’t recommend him highly enough”

CEO, Professional Services

“Marshall takes the time to truly understand the business culture and operating environment to provide meaningful interventions. His programs really provide a foundation for people to gain true insight into themselves in order to focus on their own development”

A/PAC HR Director

“Marshall’s programme was a great success, delivering a nationally consistent, values-based approach to leading our people.  For many of our clinical staff this was their first leadership training experience, equipping them with both new skills and confidence to lead and develop their teams”

Chief Executive, National Health Agency

Expertise

Leadership & cultural transformation expert, an experienced executive leader of 30 years (Franchise Operations & Banking) with deep expertise in:

  • Executive team performance coaching

  • Strategy development and execution

  • Building leadership pipeline and bench strength

  • Embedding cultural change

I also partner with hand picked specialists with deep experience in niche areas outside the core competencies when needed.

Accreditations & Qualifications

Where needed I use the following tools to provide a baseline of data to underpin an evidence-based approach to the work that I do:

  • Lifetime Accredited in the Human Synergistics Life Styles Inventory (LSI), Group Styles Inventory (GSI), Organisational Cultural Inventory (OCI) Organisational Effectiveness Inventory (OEI) & Customer Service Styles (CSS)

  • Korn Ferry Emotional and Social Competency Inventory (ESCI)

  • Mayer Salovey Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test (MSCEIT)

  • SHL OPQ32 Ability Assessments

  • Korn Ferry Talent Q Ability assessments

  • Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)

  • Lencioni - Five Behaviours of a Cohesive Team

  • Herrmann Brain Dominance Instrument (HBDI)

  • Quad Assessment’s Business Acumen Gauge

  • Health and Care Industries Leadership Capability Assessment Tool (HILCA & CILCA)

  • Global Leadership Wellbeing Survey (GLWS)

  • Bachelor of Commerce

  • Certificate 4 (Category 2) in Workplace Training Assessment