Dr. Paul Snowdon
Founder & CEO
Dr. Snowdon is a business professor at the DeGroote School of Business, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. He teaches strategy and management consulting to future business leaders in both MBA and Undergraduate programs.​ He also serves as Co-Director of the Engineering & Management Program in McMaster’s Faculty of Engineering. In this role, he is responsible for developing engineers to work (and thrive!) at the intersection of innovation, engineering, and business.
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For 25 years prior to joining academia, Paul was a chemical engineer, change agent, consultant, and entrepreneur. He led numerous business transformations and strategic initiatives across industries such as manufacturing, technology, higher education, and government. His consulting work has taken him around the world, including projects in Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States.
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Known for being an approachable, engaging, and forward-thinking leader, Paul is highly skilled at developing strategy and translating it into actionable results. He is passionate about helping teams and organizations build capabilities that support sustainable growth and long-term success.
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Working Theory is a boutique management consulting firm that helps leaders make strategic choices to transform their business.
Here are some of the ideas that underpin our work.
Working Theory is a great name. Why did you choose it?
We passionately believe in the connection between theory and practice.
Our research informs our consulting practice, and our consulting shapes our research. In short, we put ‘theory’ to ‘work’ and create better client outcomes because of this blend of theory and practice.
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The development of ‘working theories’ is also how we solve our client’s toughest problems. By developing and testing hypotheses, we find the root causes of our client’s challenges and design unique solutions to create sustainable change.
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When you work with us, you will experience a highly collaborative consulting team of global experts. Our problem solving approach is creative, iterative and emergent. And even our logo reflects this.
How We Work
What are some of the principles that guide your consulting?
1. We work with you, not on you.
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2. We start with the assumption that there are no simple answers in our complex world. Everything is connected.
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3. To create sustainable business strategies and transformations, it is critical to understand your unique situation BEFORE we design the solutions with you.
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4. Your consulting team is selected AFTER we understand your current state, your desired state, and the GAPS that need solutioned.
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5. We select our consulting teams to be a versatile group of experts who bring a blend of industry expertise, research insights, and practical know-how.
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6. Your solutions move through an iterative innovation process that is centered on improving the human experience (of your employees and your customer!) and creating a solution ecosystem that is self-sustaining.
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7. We bring evidence of what works, what does not, and co-create the future in an iterative, emergent, and collaborative manner.
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8. We start as ‘outsiders’ in your business, then become ‘insiders’; colleagues who truly understand your organization and care about it's success, as much as you do.
