Robert Nelson, a Certified Association Executive, (CAE), brings over a quarter-century of successful executive leadership experience, working with Boards and high-powered CEOs in a not-for-profit setting. Nelson brings hands-on experience guiding and facilitating the development of solutions to complex organizational challenges and global grand challenges for national as well as international organizations. He is adept at designing governance structures and an engaging Board trainer.

As a former association chief executive officer for almost two decades, Nelson understands the importance of developing practical, strategic solutions that work within the culture of an organization and are aligned with the organization’s capacity potential. His expertise also includes the development of complex government affairs strategies, including referendum strategies, at the local, state, federal and international levels and he has international negotiating experience in a multi-lateral setting.

As a CEO, Nelson has successful turnaround experience and a track record developing and executing strategy that creates and sustains growth. As a strategist and facilitator, he has worked with the private sector and governments worldwide to design and facilitate think tanks to address grand challenges, develop issues management strategy and craft organizational strategy. In fact, his strategic response to a global economic crisis in the agricultural sector resulted in a Harvard Business School case study. As a board retreat facilitator and board trainer, Nelson custom designs and facilitates highly interactive programs that are targeted at the specific client’s needs.

Nelson believes that the development of successful strategy and the building of high performing boards begins with clearly defining the future state and getting the “right people on the bus at the right time.” The process ends with succinct, clearly defined initiatives and / or structures and practices that are coupled with success metrics and can be easily communicated to internal and external audiences.

He also understands that strategy execution is as important as strategy development. That begins with integrating the strategy into an operating plan and creating an environment permeated by strategic thinking at every level of the organization.

As a facilitator working in multi-cultural environments, Nelson skillfully uses a blend of logic, creative thinking, analytics and humor to engage participants in an out-of-the box thinking session (the think tank) that results in consensus around clearly defined outcomes.

For more information about Robert Nelson and Nelson Strategic Consulting, click here.