In the ten years I have worked with Apricot, I have appreciated its coaches’ uncanny ability to see through the noise that surrounds some issues and to lead his clients towards intentional key decisions and actions. They provide challenging and stimulating questions that have provided me with a pathway forward on many difficult and seemingly impossible situations. Apricot’s insightful questioning and guidance often lead to implemented solutions that normally result in better engagement and relationships with others.

—Paul Adams, Managing Director of Jemena Limited

  • Jemena
  • Bilfinger Berger
  • United Energy
  • China Light and Power
  • SP Ausnet
  • Singapore Power
  • TXU
  • Thiess

Creating a Community Engagement Plan for an Iconic Sporting Brand

Our client was an iconic sporting federation interested in growing its community prominence. Apricot helped the organization to understand both the potential value of the brand and to uncover how the current community engagement strategy was little known and its philanthropic partners were delivering scant value back to the brand.

By working with the client to pinpoint the core values and the strategic objectives of the organization, Apricot created a cutting edge community engagement strategy that tapped into a highly timely social issue, garnered government favor, and opened up numerous opportunities for sponsorship funding. In the end, the community strategy engaged staff, fans, and players in a high impact program that would create an ongoing legacy for the organization.

  • Cricket Australia
  • Essendon FC
  • Kangaroos FC
  • St Kilda FC
  • Western Bulldogs FC
  • Australian Football League (AFL)

I have worked with Apricot Consulting around their executive coaching services for more than five years, both in Australia and America. From executive challenges to employee team building, the Apricot consulting services have always been dependable, engaging and progressive. I’m happy to endorse them and look forward to working with then again in the near future

— Commissioner James Knaggs, The Salvation Army, USA West.

  • Anglican Church
  • Baptist Church
  • Centre for Survivors of Torture
  • The Salvation Army
  • White Lion
  • World Vision

Apricot created a number of leadership development programs that have built strong engagement with my emerging leaders, as well as coached and assisted my Senior Executive team work more constructively together.

Apricot has also assisted our organisation in building a stronger commitment and increased staff involvement to Community projects and Corporate Social Responsibility. These initiatives strengthened our brand in front of our employees, as well as our external stakeholder audience.

—George Savvides, Medibank Managing Director

  • AIG Insurance
  • Australian Friendly Societies Association
  • Lifeplan Funds Management
  • Medibank Private
  • National Australia Bank
  • OFM Investment Group
  • QBE Americas
  • Lifebroker

Designing a Community-Oriented Employment Program

Strongly rooted in the manufacturing sector, our client wanted to create a CSR initiative that would impact the blue collar communities in its close vicinity. Working closely with employees in various roles and departments in the organization, we created a community reentry program for recent nonviolent ex-offenders to be employed at the client organization.

Working with human resources, managers, strong community alliances and non-profits, we developed a mentoring and social support system to ensure the success of new employees. The end program was deeply connected to the core values and mission of the company to work with communities and consumers as partners, while ensuring that the company continued to meet its strategic business goals.

  • Smorgon Steel
  • Solar Systems
  • Blue Scope Steel

Through the fastest five years of growth, Apricot was closely involved in developing the senior team and human capital of the business. Apricot facilitated a number of senior executive conferences, shining the light into dark corners where some fear to tread. These times were exciting and challenging: ownership change, demerger from parent, acquisitions and integrations, and several restructures.

Working closely with me and my senior executives, Apricot always provided a candid view of each team member’s attributes and how they were likely to impact the company. Its insights into the strengths and weaknesses of key individuals was invaluable to my role as as a leader and played an important part in the evolution of the business.

—Mark Elliott, MD Bilfinger Berger Services (Australasia) 2002 - 2011.

  • Bilfinger Berger
  • National Power Services
  • NDC
  • Tenix Alliance
  • T Squared
  • Spotless Group

Creating a Cohesive Team Within a Modern Education Institution

Our client was a prestigious educational institution with an internal department riddled by conflict, high turnover, and generational gaps. Looking to build a cohesive, collaborative team, the university hired Apricot to help them through this transformation. Apricot leveraged the skills of senior and newer members of the organization and custom designed an organizational development and leadership program for the staff after assessing organization needs, strengths, and conflict areas.

By custom designing a social intelligence building workshop, leadership development curriculum, and assessments for team building and bridging generational gaps, we worked with individuals and the team as a whole to lay the foundation for a thriving team-oriented culture.

  • AMES
  • Council for Christian Education in Schools
  • Kangan Batman TAFE
  • Marantha Christian Schools
  • Melbourne Business School
  • Salvation Army Training College
  • William Angliss TAFE
  • Casey City Council
  • Wodonga City Council
  • Victorian Government