Hi, I’m Carolyn.
Carolyn Lawrence is an Impact Strategist who works with leadership teams to identify and eliminate the invisible barriers that prevent strategy from delivering results.
Her career spans sectors and contexts — from early executive exposure in financial services, to leading and scaling a purpose-driven business, to a decade at Deloitte in consulting and global people leadership. Across each chapter, her work has focused on the same core challenge: helping organizations translate good intention into impact by strengthening the people and systems so that execution isn’t harder than it should be.
At Deloitte, Carolyn built the firm’s Canadian inclusion consulting practice and later served as its first Global DEI Leader, operating across geographies and businesses. In parallel, she led work spanning talent advisory, leadership development, and large-scale change initiatives — navigating complexity at scale and partnering closely with senior executives responsible for results.
Earlier in her career, Carolyn led and successfully exited a purpose-driven enterprise, giving her firsthand experience of what it takes to be an owner and operator, and how to grow and make trade-offs in real time. That lens continues to inform her work today — grounding strategy in execution realities rather than theory.
Carolyn is known for her calm, and studied approach, her ability to speak truth to power with credibility and care, and her focus on outcomes that work. She has been recognized with multiple awards for her thought leadership and impact. She is a sought-after advisor, facilitator, and speaker for organizations navigating growth, complexity, or transition.
My Approach
Most leaders sense where things aren’t working, but not why. I work from the outside-in, bringing an integrated view across strategy, leadership, culture, and systems. I identify the barriers and blind spots limiting performance, define a Clear Path forward, and work alongside leaders and teams to bring it to life — without disrupting day-to-day operations. When you work with me you benefit from:
Ecosystem Partners
Highly trusted experts and companies are engaged to partner in delivery when additional expertise or scale is required, particularly in leadership assessment, large scale training, governance, and social impact. Partners are brought in selectively and aligned and integrated seamlessly, so leaders have access to the right expertise without unnecessary complexity or cost.
Tools & Diagnostics
Proven diagnostic and assessment tools are used to identify priority gaps, risks and opportunities.
These include: 8-point strategy diagnostic, 360 leader assessment, high-impact team assessment, a culture diagnostic, inclusion survey and custom analytics that integrate qualitative and quantitative data.
Experience
Global operating experience across sectors and scale inform each engagement. I leverage human-centered design, systems thinking, and inclusive, performance-enabling leadership practices. Frameworks are applied pragmatically, adapted to context, and used to support real decisions and execution — not as off-the-shelf models.
ECOSYSTEM PARTNERS
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Inclusive Leadership Compass
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Paradigm
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Confirm
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Canadian Purpose Economy Project
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ECOSYSTEM PARTNERS ✳︎ Inclusive Leadership Compass ✳︎ Paradigm ✳︎ Confirm ✳︎ Canadian Purpose Economy Project ✳︎
Case Examples
Systems & Strategy
Private-Equity Backed CRE Company
Address high-growth growing pains
Identified priorities and senior leadership buy-in where the company was at risk in its operations of losing trust and talent. Built the 2 key talent systems, a social impact strategy and governance structure required to translate values and drive execution.
Why it matters: Moving from start up to high growth requires systems to support strategic priorities and performance depends on it.
Leadership Capability
Global Strategy Consulting Firm
Partner-level leadership effectiveness
Supported the global rollout of inclusive leadership capability using a 360° assessment and targeted executive coaching. Focused on practical behavior shifts that strengthened judgment, trust, and team performance across regions.
Why it matters: Inclusive leadership is not a value add — it is a multiplier of leadership effectiveness.
Growth & Impact
Investment management
Culture transformation
Led an enterprise-wide culture transformation aimed at removing what was limiting team performance and innovation, a key strategic priority. Focused on clear expectations, strengthening decision-making, and reinforcing behaviours that enabled teams to execute more effectively.
Why it matters: Addressing systemic constraints unlocked stronger performance and created the conditions for innovation to take hold at scale.
What Clients Are Saying
“Carolyn brings a rare combination of deep expertise and executive presence. She navigates complexity with confidence, challenges leaders thoughtfully, and earns trust at the most senior levels.”
— Senior Partner, Global Professional Services Firm
“Carolyn consistently pushes beyond the obvious. Her systems-level thinking and ability to connect human and structural change are truly distinctive.”
— Founder & CEO, Financial Services
“Carolyn creates the conditions for meaningful dialogue that wouldn’t otherwise happen. She listens deeply and applies exactly the expertise required.”
— CEO, Commercial Real Estate
“Working with Carolyn feels like a dividend-yielding asset. She doesn’t just deliver in the moment, she leaves leaders and teams stronger over time.”
— Senior Leader, Financial Services
Beyond Client Work
In addition to client engagements, I spend time advising, building, collaborating, and contributing to impact for everyone.
I share select reflections from this work on LinkedIn.
Community Engagement
Venture + Angel Investment
Boards + Non-Profit Governance