Andrew Connolly

My leadership journey began on the slopes of Switzerland — what started as a three-week ski instructor gig turned into a decade of leading teams and heading marketing for a small multinational organization. Whether guiding beginners down a mountain or aligning teams toward business goals, I became fascinated by the dynamics of influence: what makes one person follow another — not just once, but again and again?

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I quickly noticed the extremes — some students were frozen in fear, others recklessly overconfident. Both were at risk. My job was to help each of them navigate the terrain safely, build real capability, and leave them wanting to get back on the lift. That same lesson has applied to the leaders I work with: how do you build skill and will in others while navigating uncertain, variable conditions?

 

In 2000, I returned to the U.S. to work with Dr. Paul Hersey, creator of the Situational Leadership® Model. As part of his faculty at the Center for Leadership Studies, I helped leaders around the world drive success and engagement with their teams. Under his mentorship, I deepened my understanding of influence and expanded my work to include insights from emotional intelligence, positive psychology, coaching, and authentic leadership.

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Today, my practice is anchored in my purpose:

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Connect. Discern. Shred the Gnar.

 

What this means is that I forge meaningful connections with individuals and teams, engage to uncover and identify opportunities that are untapped or obstacles in their way, and help them navigate from where they are to where they want to be regardless of the conditions. Because life is gnarly.

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