heart work
The deeper why. Grounding transformation in what truly matters.
Some of the most meaningful work we do isn’t always packaged as a deliverable. It’s the psychology behind the systems, the humanity inside the strategy, the values behind the policies, and the belief that organizations don’t transform unless people do. We’ve all heard the expression culture eats strategy for breakfast. But culture is shaped by how people lead. We’ve seen firsthand how a single leader’s self-awareness, courage, or humility can shift an entire organizational climate overnight.
Servant leadership. Empathy. Curiosity. Integrity. These aren’t soft skills. They’re hard ones. If they were easy, everyone would be good at them. Instead, they’re often seen as “nice to have” or even incompatible with dedication, performance, and accountability. But the truth is: they are accountability. They are the foundation for real performance, real trust, and real impact.
This isn’t always part of a contract or a deliverable. It’s often part of the conversation, the way we frame challenges, the questions we ask, and the vision we hold for what’s possible.
This is the thread running through every engagement we take on:
- That behind every policy is a set of human values and principles.
- That leadership, when done right, can be a force for growth, not just performance.
- That behind every framework and action plan is a chance to shape real lives.
The belief that systems change when people are seen, supported, and empowered has shaped Marc’s career from the beginning. Long before coaching senior executives or supporting leadership transformations, Marc studied social sciences research and worked in community development, health promotion and early childhood development, with a deep focus on system reform, and social determinants of health, including mental health. His early work grounded him in population health research, systems thinking, and the realities of cross-sector collaboration.
That foundation led to the creation of the Health Promotion Alignment Framework. A policy and planning tool to help governments align multi-sectoral efforts to support health promotion efforts across the lifecourse. Rooted in developmental transitions and positive health outcomes, it reflects a systems-thinking approach: identifying the factors that influence the achievement of positive health outcomes over time, and mapping how diverse sectors can contribute through coordinated, evidence-based strategies.
Marc’s work in this space includes:
- Leading major pan-Canadian consultations related to mental health, tobacco control, public health, and child development, including for the Mental Health Commission of Canada, and the Public Health Agency of Canada to name but two.
- Advising on population-level strategies related to child development, youth resilience, ageing, and community well-being.
- Contributing thought leadership on how systems, services, and leadership must evolve to better support men’s mental health, developmental transitions, and holistic well-being.
Taken together, these efforts reflect a deeper philosophy. One that sees policy, research, and leadership as tools for human development.
It’s our heart work. And it shows up in everything we do.
