Lead from your strengths and continue to grow into your ideal role.
Sean Spence
Hi, I'm Sean Spence
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'Where do you come from?'
Having travelled widely and lived in the UK, Hong Kong and now Australia, Iā€™m often asked where I come from. The short answer is Ireland. I grew up in Belfast and there's still an echo of that accent in my voice! The longer answer is that Iā€™ve had many influences shaping how I now work with partners and professional firms on career strategy and Continuation.
My early training was in physics at Oxford, followed by accounting with PwC and international executive search with Russell Reynolds Associates. Iā€™ve worked in more than 30 countries and across most industries and professions, often in roles that requireĀ individual capability, good organisational design and long-term performance. This may mean a firm rebuild its vision, redesigningĀ its governance paradigm or rethink partner careers.
On the way Iā€™ve experienced significant losses, setbacks and changes that shaped how I think about leadership under pressure and the long arc of professional life. Over time, this has led me to focus less on short-term role transitions and more on how professional power evolves across decades.
I believe most senior professionals have a form of contribution they are finely tuned to deliver. This needs the right design of their role, influence on their organisational environment and a strong career strategy,Ā With the right approach their contribution can continue to evolve in ways that benefit both the individual and the firm.Ā To do this work, I bring my whole self, along with practical tools that help turn reflection into effective action.
More about Sean
I began working with senior professionals in 1999 after careers in accounting (PwC) and executive search (Russell Reynolds) in London, Hong Kong and Australia. Over time, my work has spanned CEOs, executive teams, partners in professional firms, and founders ā€” often at points where the shape of their contribution is changing.
I bring a deep understanding of what demanding roles require, particularly when responsibility, authority and influence are expanding. I have always worked at the intersection of personal experience and hard organisational realities. That means I'veĀ been in the trenches with them when things have been both good and tough. With individuals and leadership groups we work with the gamut of issues in elite performance, effective governance and culture as their organisations evolve.
My international experience, multidisciplinary background, and training in both analytic and human aspects of work are now primarily in the service of career strategy and Continuation. I support partner along their professional arcs in ways that align individual contribution with the strategic direction of the firm.
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