While the more traditional explanation of alchemy is related to the transmutation of any metal into silver or gold, there is also a metaphorical meaning of the concept. On a human level, alchemy is about a deep, spiritual transformation of self. This is my work - facilitating transformational learning with individuals, groups, and organizations.

I am an educator at heart. My passion, experience, and ongoing learning are in the arena of creating and cultivating adult learning environments. I bring a wealth of knowledge and experience, which includes over ten years as a corporate and business consultant in the IT industry, as well as over eight years of personal and organizational development, training, and education. My work has covered a broad range of applications: personal and professional development, collaborative learning, interpersonal communication, team and project leadership, coaching and mentoring, and organizational performance and change in a variety of environments. Merging the ancient principles of Eastern philosophies with the modern research into adult and social learning theories, organizational performance, creativity, and coaching modalities, I incorporate a holistic perspective into both my life and my unique, integrated services work. I am a Facilitator of Learning, an Organizational Development Specialist, an Educator, a Coach, and a Mentor - all roled into one. Whatever the forum, I facilitate the process of learning - as a way of being, as a continuing journey of integrated and applied exploration and practice.

Academically speaking, I hold a

• B.Sc. in Mathematics and Computer Sciences from Ben-Gurion University in Israel.
• Partial M.Sc. in Information and Systems Sciences from Carleton University in Ottawa.
• M.A. in Leadership and Adult Learning from Royal Roads University in Victoria.
• Certificate in Sustainable Business with Bainbridge Graduate Institute, Seattle.
• Ph.D. in Eco-Psychology with the Institute of Global Education (in progress).

Some of my core strengths, experiences, and competencies are:

• Rich, diverse, and multi-cultural background, as a result of having lived, worked, and travelled in Russia, Middle East, Europe, and North and South America.
• A charismatic leader who is passionate, experienced, and natural in building relationships of trust, creativity, and collaboration in diverse organizational settings and with multiple stakeholders.
• A confident, engaging, and creative instructor and public speaker, able to establish rapport and connection with different audiences and convey information with clarity and enthusiasm.
• A creative visionary and strategist, who loves to dare the status-quo, explore and implement non-traditional approaches and solutions to challenging situations.
• Over nine years of experience in design and delivery of program development and training services to diverse individuals, groups, and organizations.
• Over six years of integrating individual coaching and mentoring modalities with lifelong learning programs, workshops, and seminars.
• In-depth knowledge and practice with adult learning, transformational, and experiential learning theories.
• Experienced and comfortable with investigating, customizing, and applying technological solutions to augment and enhance teaching and training experiences, both face-to-face and online.

A one-page summary of "Simon at a Glance" visual overview is here (PDF).