The perfect blend of humanity and business performance.
What we bring to the table
Who We Are
Advanture is a boutique consulting practice offerings custom leadership development solutions, executive coaching, and 360° feedback services.
We teach leaders how to build talent and manage culture to accelerate performance, keep the talent pipeline flowing, and create inspiring workplaces.
Advanture by the Numbers
Our Corporate Clients
Our Services
Leadership Development
Bespoke leadership programs. We teach leaders how to build talent, manage culture, and make employees part of the solution for exceptional business results.
Executive Coaching
& 360° Feedback
Enhancing employee morale and motivation for exceptional performance, teamwork, and retention. We fix toxic cultures and build truly inspiring workplaces.
Employee
Engagement
Executive coaching for skill development, transformation, problem triage, and career progression. 360° feedback using MRG’s extraordinary LEA system.
Urgent Change Management
Situation Overview
Two weeks prior to launching a new IT system for their Inventory and Maintenance departments, WestJet reached out to Joel for a change solution to support and sustain the launch. This new IT system would affect roughly 600 employees, and utilization of the new system (compliance) had to be 100% as it impacted airplane maintenance and flight safety. WestJet called Joel because they knew he could deliver a comprehensive solution in the short time frame.
What Advanture Did
Joel invented a new solution for WestJet by combining (1) transition management (helping employees prepare for, deal with, and make the most of change) and (2) a new proprietary leadership practice for making projects stick (enabling leaders to drive, reinforce, and sustain the change on their own teams, and thus on every team across those two departments). In two half-day sessions:
Joel taught the fundamentals of those two leadership practices
Supplied comprehensive toolkits, with metrics and sustainability tactics
Facilitated real-time action planning, with quality control
Engaged senior departmental leaders and HR managers in monitoring results and support ongoing implementation for project success.
Global Leadership Development
Situation Overview
After running several successful development programs for Apache Corporation in Calgary, Advanture was engaged to develop Apache’s first official suite of global leadership programs: (1) interviewing & hiring, (2) setting goals & metrics, (3) performance management, and (4) coaching. Joel designed and facilitated these sessions for hundreds of Apache managers around the world, including in Calgary, Houston, Lafayette, Midland, Tulsa, Buenos Aires, and Aberdeen (North Sea).
Testimonial
“Joel Shapiro has provided development consulting to Apache over the last several years; first in Canada, then to the United States and later this year in the United Kingdom. The phrase may be cliché, yet Joel is a true partner in developing and delivering managerial training that is pragmatic and fits the culture of Apache Corporation. Initially, Apache framed our practical, foundational objectives with Joel and then later worked with his model to refine the training for the specific regions and audiences to which the courses were targeted. Initially he created and delivered two programs in Calgary, Canada and now he provides customized management training to our employees across the globe. Obviously we value his work and approach!”
Mark Forbes
HR North America, Apache Corporation
Culture-Shift
Situation Overview
Gemini contracted Advanture to design and facilitate and targeted culture-shift program. Project Objectives: Shift from a Silo organization to a collaborative organization; and from an exclusive focus on competitive results to a broader focus on human performance and being market driven. The project included a combination of culture assessment, consultation (strategy, priorities, objectives, and planning), and leadership development and coaching to sustain the change.
Testimonial
“Having Joel facilitate Gemini’s ‘Cultural shift’ initiative has been instrumental in helping the organization in our transformation. The advice and tools used were given in a manner that was easy for even the most inexperienced senior leadership member to understand and adopt. We have been able to penetrate deep into the organization and make the necessary changes to help our organization become more competitive. Joel’s ongoing support enables you to never feel abandoned throughout the design and implementation phases of the transition.”
Roger Harripersad, VP
Human Resources, Gemini
Action Learning
Situation Overview
Advanture was engaged by BC Hydro to train six change management teams: two change leaders and one sponsor for each of six change initiatives. The program enabled the change leaders to apply new practices to their change initiatives in real time, coach each other, and leave the workshop with project plans.
What Advanture Did
Joel designed and facilitated an action learning program on change management. Typical progression in each module of the workshop: learn the theory; take the tools for a spin (practice); build a real time plan around that aspect of change management (in small teams); and then report back to the large group for quality control, idea sharing, feedback, and joint problem solving.
Testimonial
“Thanks very much Joel… Appreciate the time you spent in preparing for and conducting the workshop. It will help us very much with the change initiatives we reviewed, and with many other initiatives which we will be leading in the months to come. Again, thanks. It was a pleasure to work with you.”
John Irvine, Manager
Fleet Services, BC Hydro
Testimonials
Our work is uniquely effective, real, and human.
“An absolutely superb ½ day Master Class. Everyone was delighted with Joel’s presentation, pace, and professionalism. He is so easy to listen to, engaged the attendees in meaningful discussions, and imparted practical knowledge and skills they take back to their own workplaces and use in their personal lives.” (VP Finance, ACFE)
“The workshop was a tight package of good research, worksite examples, and individual change / improvement mechanisms. I particularly appreciated the variety of theories rather than just one approach. Good context mapping for how the workshop fit with the overall program. [I also liked] the facilitator’s style and knowledge.” (Change Mgt., TELUS)
“[I liked] the fast pace, depth of well researched material, workbook, and great, friendly facilitation style. The simplicity of the tools makes them easy to apply. The coaching interaction was also useful.” (Leadership & Learning, Fortis BC)
“Extremely effective presentation skills. Best I have seen at a HRMA workshop.” (Workshop for BC HRMA)
“The philosophy of the facilitator/company comes through strongly and sets the workshop apart from other similar material offered by others. The experience is unique in: (1) believing in the best in people; (2) it is possible and effective to choose to put dignity and positive attitude into seemingly mundane tasks and work situations; (3) the vision for integration and authenticity between work and personal lives; and (4) the emphasis on taking it from the abstract to concrete applicability.” (Director, Servant’s Anonymous)
“Both topics were very timely with current activities at work. The practical delivery and tools provided me with a quick win. Great materials. Well worth [the time].” (Workplace Learning Manager, Best Buy Canada)
“Thanks Joel. You do a super job on relaying your information in a very clear way. Honestly, I think you are a fantastic communicator, the best I have ever had in all the CPA classes I have been in! And I really enjoyed the class, very useable delivery method to get your class participants working with setting goal and metrics. Thank you!” (CPA Metrics Workshop)
“Thank you very much for the report. I have read it a couple of times now and am still digesting all of the information and suggestions you have provided to me. It is very good and I certainly appreciate the expertise and knowledge you have shared with me. It is honestly more than I expected and certainly has already got me wanting to get more done than I think is possible in one year. I guess that is the beauty of what we get to do every day… Thank you again, I cannot tell you how impressed I am with the content.” (Vice-President, ICBC)
“The course and content were fabulous and it is, so far, the best CPA course that I have attended… Thanks again for a great course!” (Controller, Jean Larrivee Guitars)
“I have to tell you how impressed I am with your materials, presentation and research… Thanks for inspiring me.” (Change Initiatives, Providence Health Care)
“Joel is a fantastic facilitator! He is so good at getting everyone to participate. So much good thought-provoking content.” (Manager, Paramount Resources)
“The techniques are practical and real.” (Chief Planning Engineer, BC Hydro)
“Excellent instructor, excellent engagement, practical ways to address issues, learning by doing / role playing / practicing. Love the tools! I like the fact that I have a manual of great ideas I can reference.” (Manager, Apache, Houston)
“I thoroughly enjoyed your invigorating presentation style and admired your ability to get through so much material without compromising the excellent content. I particularly liked how you combined your personal philosophy with extensive research and experience—this resulted in a more authentic and practical workshop. Advanture [models] being true to your-self as a manager and allowing your integrity & honesty to inspire your team to reach their full potential. This is a huge responsibility in today's workplace. Keep doing what you're doing!” (Forum People Solutions)
“I really enjoyed the session. I think that this was one of the few training courses that I have walked away with an action plan to implement some of the learning's in my day to day behavior. I have used the action plan by putting objectives and measures into my performance review. I firmly believe that you do not need to be in a leadership role, i.e., manager, to take on leadership qualities. I am focusing on developing these qualities in my day to day activities with my team… The information is great, as is the instructor. He really breaks the material into components that are easily understood and universally applicable.” (Customer Marketing Manager, Pepsi-QTG Canada)
“Awesome course. I have found myself applying your techniques just about every day in some form or another. I will continue to use your tools and reference the course guidelines to continuously improve on my communication skills and working with others as a team to achieve "well above" marginal results in my daily life and Apache too. Thanks again, I really enjoyed the seminar as well as your delivery. [And from Chris’s internal letter to his manager:] The training course was phenomenal and I was able to take away valuable tools that can be used for the career oriented benefit for which the course is designed as well as applying the tools to everyday life situations. I appreciate the opportunity to attend this awesome course and hope to utilize the tools and reference them to continually raise the bar on my performance in the years to come.” (Production, Apache Egypt)
“This is one of the best seminars a leader can participate in to further their ability to lead the people side of change. Very practical. Virtually every page or discussion either ‘reinforced’ or provided that ‘uh huh’ moment on my previous experiences with leading change. Excellent presenter.” (CFO, Lifting Solutions)
“I appreciate the practical suggestions for managing change. The group activities made the tactics more real and gave some real life examples. I liked the tactics and having a reference guide to take back to work.” (Director, Alberta School Board)