Michael Major🇦🇺

About Michael Major

Strategy and Design Director at Middlesex University UK and Unitec NZ

At the age of 11, I went on a Mediterranean school cruise with 2000 other 11-year old's. Our first stop was Venice. At 10am that day, we were told to go and explore and be back by 4pm. No chaperones. That day I fell in love with the built environment. getting lost and found, the process of exploring, discovering, being surprised, and delighted. of course at the time, I had no idea what a gift this experience was for me and how it has informed my thinking ever since.

I started my first company in 1991. It was an award-winning retail design agency. We specialised in shopping centres, supermarkets, signature retails stores and hospitality. Our design focus was on spatial psychology and the customer experience journey. We helped out clients transform or revitalise the way they conducted their business in the built environment - on average increasing their turnover between 17-21%.

In 2000, I did a Master in Design Management, my thesis title was 'Strategic Branded Experiences'. At the time I wanted to call it 'Emotion is the new Black', but the title wasn't considered academic enough! For me, design management is the business end of design dealing with strategy, operations and innovation.

I trained as a leadership business coach in 2010 to help my clients even more. The focus is on strategy, leadership and innovation. I bring human centred/design thinking, knowledge, and experience to help my clients. Essentially I'm a change agent, helping my clients transform their business or the way they work to achieve their own aims and the company aims. Over the years, I've worked with a variety of companies, from manufacturers, design agencies, shopfitters, architects, property developers, health practitioners, financial advisors, and retailers. Some of the results they've achieved has grown their companies, given them clarity, strengthened their leadership capabilities, enabled them to have a more balanced life.

I'm also run a pre-development property advisor and neuroarchitecture advisor.

I live in Brisbane with my wife and 3 of my children. The other two live in the UK and New Zealand.

Enriching people's lives is what I love doing, whether this be individually face-to-face or communities.

Expertise

Sessions with Michael Major

• Mentorship Session (30 min): General mentorship