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Reducing Leadership Risk in High-Stakes Environments

Through leadership development, coaching, consulting and group facilitation based on 20+ years operating experience.
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  • Working with high-performing individuals, leaders and teams to build clarity, confidence, and alignment.

  • Supporting high-growth technology companies, PE-backed portfolio companies and public sectors.

  • Joanne supports the leadership moments that decide whether change builds momentum or stalls it.

Where Execution Breaks in Fast Growing Companies

Your newly promoted VP is stretched. Sales, Marketing & Product teams are pulling in different directions.

And the pressure to prove AI traction is real.

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As organizations adopt AI, expectations are increasing faster than leadership capacity.​​

​The difference isn't speed.​ ​

The companies that thrive in an AI-accelerated environment aren't the fastest adopters.

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The winners are the ones with the leadership clarity to channel the speed.​​

When that clarity is missing teams move fast in different directions.

They duplicate, drift, and stall.​

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Structured leadership development support grounded in real-operator experience, not theory.

Turning momentum into measurable results that reduce risk and amplify value.

The Risks & Impact of Leadership Transition

40%

40% of leaders fail or derail within the first 12-18 months (McKinsey)

70%

70% of transformation efforts fail due to leadership capability gaps (McKinsey)

1.4x

Leaders are 1.4 times more likely to perform effectively with structured leadership support (Gartner)

Who This Is For

​Newly Promoted

Directors & VPs

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Stepping into larger roles with increased responsibility and visibility.

Growth-Stage SaaS Companies

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Requiring tighter alignment across functions to accelerate execution.

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Organizations Managing Change

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Operating in merger, acquisition, restructuring,  or rapidly changing environments under pressure.

PE-Backed Portfolio Companies

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Needing a replicable approach to stabilize execution and drive value creation.

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A Model Built on Operating Experience

Based on 20+ years operating inside high-growth B2B SaaS companies, including PE-backed environments, leading through acquisitions, mergers and periods of rapid growth, Joanne Macdonald provides operator-led support for leadership transition and execution in high-growth SaaS companies.

 

Relevant experience includes:​​​

  • Leading teams through change within Hg Capital and Vista Equity portfolio companies;

  • Operating in Director and VP roles across $200M+ business units;

  • Scaling companies from $2M to $23M; 

  • Leading through multiple acquisitions, mergers, and restructures.

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With training in leadership development from Brown University and certification from the International Coaching Federation, Joanne has created the SCOPE Leadership Development Framework. She brings a unique, hands-on perspective to help your teams work together efficiently toward shared goals that minimize risk and optimize revenue.​​

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Joanne Macdonald
MBA | ICF Certified

Ways To Work Together

1

Leadership Transition Support

A structured 6-month engagement for first-time Directors and VPs during the most critical transition window.​

 

Includes: semi-monthly 1:1 sessions, weekly support & feedback hours, and Executive briefings.​​

2

Cross-Functional Alignment Support

A focused 4-month engagement for Product, Sales, Marketing leaders & teams operating at speed.

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Includes: semi-monthly team sessions, weekly feedback hours, Executive/Team alignment meetings, a unified strategic plan.

3

Build Your Custom Offering

We collaborate to create a custom offering to meet your specific needs.​​

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Get the value of 20+ years hands-on experience fuelled by a coaching approach to build your team's muscle while driving alignment and results.

Book a 30-minute no-pitch exploration call to discuss what's getting in the way & learn how structured leadership support will make a significant impact.

Learn More

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© 2026 by Ignite Clara. 

 

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