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Reducing Leadership Risk in High-Stakes Environments

Activating and aligning leaders and teams to accelerate momentum across growth-stage companies. 
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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.

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.

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.​

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

turns 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

Stepping into larger roles with increased responsibility and visibility.

Growth-Stage SaaS Companies

Requiring tighter alignment across functions to accelerate execution.

Organizations Managing Change

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

PE-Backed Portfolio Companies

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.

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.

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.

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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