Principals & Partners
ABOUT SUZANNE MCGUGAN (CEO + Founder)
In Act I, Suzanne McGugan enjoyed a successful 32 year career in the Financial Services Industry, including positions in Retail Branch Banking, International Audit, Finance, IT and 20+ years in increasingly responsible roles in Project & Program Management. Suzanne decided that for Act II, she would use her training, experience and insights to help Project Managers and Project Teams achieve top performance.
Recognizing that there was a need for Project Managers to look beyond process to excellence in Stakeholder Management, in 2003 Suzanne launched Suzanne McGugan & Associates, to offer clients her insights and hard-won experience in the trenches of Project Management.
Suzanne combined her extensive experience + a Project Management Certification from Boston University + a Project Management Professional (PMP) designation, with her accreditations as a Licensed Practitioner of Insights Discovery®, and an accredited trainer and practitioner of advanced facilitation services from the Facilitation First® organization to create the suite of tools and services she offers today.
It is this combination of experience + world-class tools + “cut-to-the-chase” focus + award-winning leadership that resulted in successful implementation of a critical BMO Financial Group Program, and ultimately earned her the title of “World’s Best Project Manager” from the international research firm “The Standish Group” . It is also this same combination that makes Suzanne McGugan & Associates a high-demand resource for clients including BMO Financial Group, BMO Nesbitt Burns, TD Securities, HarrisBank, Fidelity Information Services, Luminance Inc., and Environment Canada.
Clients report that her programs are practical and focused, and at the same time provide a fun, interactive, and energized environment for teams to experience optimal learning. Want proof? Just click on any navigation link in the blue area to the left and scroll through our testimonials!
ASCENT LEARNING + DEVELOPMENT - JANE EASTMURE (CEO)
"Suzanne McGugan & Associates" and "Ascent Learning + Development" have formed a strategic partnership which combines the training, experience and expertise of each company for the betterment of both.
Whereas Suzanne’s areas of expertise are in Project and Team Communications and Stakeholder Management in the Financial Industry, Jane's areas of expertise are in Leadership and Sales in the Hospitality Industry. Suzanne and Jane have co-created all of their Communications-based programs and deliver them interchangeably.
About Ascent Learning and Development and Jane Eastmure
Recognizing there was a need in the hospitality industry to focus learning and development solutions on managing relationships and interpersonal communication to maximize productivity and financial performance, Jane established Ascent Learning and Development in 1999.
Jane, a Canadian Sales Professional (CSP), has combined her extensive qualifications and experience in Sales and Leadership training with a Licensed Practitioners accreditation from Insights Learning and Development© and a Professional Facilitator accreditation from Facilitation First© to create an extensive suite of programs to meet the needs of her clients. Jane has delivered her highly successful programs in outstanding organizations in Canada, US, and Europe.
Click here for more information about the services offered by Ascent Learning and Development.
INSIGHTS LEARNING & DEVELOPMENT
Suzanne McGugan and many of SM&A's Partners are Licensed Practioners of Insights Discovery® and have incorporated Insights’ solutions into our training and consulting services.
Established in 1988 in Dundee Scotland, Insights is a global learning and development company working in partnership with leading organizations in 35 countries, in 29 languages with a wide range of clients in every business sector.
Insights specializes in tailored transformational learning and development solutions, supported by an extensive portfolio of customizable products and services, delivered by a worldwide team of exceptional and inspirational people, to help clients improve their effectiveness in five key areas, Individuals, Teams, Organizations, Sales and Leadership.
Click here for more information about the services offered by Insights Learning and Development in the Toronto Region.
ATOCRATES PROJECT SCIENCES
Suzanne McGugan & Associates and Atocrates Project Sciences (Atocrates) have formed a strategic partnership whereby Suzanne McGugan heads up Atocrates' “Project Stakeholder Management" Division.
Atocrates consults with and trains project professionals in the disciplines of Project Management, Systems Engineering, Business Analysis and Organizational Dynamics, with associate Canadian offices in Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, Detroit/Windsor, and Calgary, and international affiliates in America, Europe, Africa and Australia.
Atocrates is the principal architect and producer of Canada's number one Masters Certificate curriculum in Program and Project Management, Business Analysis, Systems Engineering and Organizational Dynamics (in partnership with Insights Learning & Development) offered through leading Colleges and Universities coast to coast.
Click here for more information about the consulting and training services offered by Atocrates Project Sciences.
MORE VALUED PARTNERS
Suzanne McGugan & Associates has created partnerships with several outstanding people and organizations that are experts in their respective fields. We do not hesitate to invite these partners to participate in our engagements when warranted by client need. We are proud to have them as part of our team and highly recommend their services.
Facilitation First
Luminance Inc
MAXPotential
Manifest Consulting
JMP Consultants Inc
Interthink Consulting Inc
CMS Web Solutions