Mike Farrier is a senior consultant with Farrier & Associates and has been actively involved in assisting both organizations and individuals in optimizing their potential for the past 20+ years. Based on experience that has encompassed in-house and consulting roles, he clearly understands the internal dynamics within organizations and draws from parallels and successful analogies in other industry segments. This blend enables Mike to help organizations and individuals achieve major breakthroughs by designing and developing creative solutions with a strategic focus on linking vision, mission, direction, human capital and performance management.
Over his career, Mike has recognized and worked with the need to strengthen the connection between identifying and developing the competency requirements and talent for enhancing competitiveness in a global and changing marketplace. To gain further understanding of these issues he completed a Master in Business Administration (MBA) degree focusing on the Management of Organizations and Human Resources and is currently pursuing an Executive Coaching designation. He has led major career management and transition projects and has spearheaded reviews and redesign of competency and skill profiles. His approach has been future-oriented and has resulted in the development of proactive career development ladders and position matrices that enable client organizations to be well positioned in understanding needs and attracting and retaining the required talent pool.
Over the past few years Mike has been involved in designing and delivering many leading–edge initiatives in individual and organizational development. He has proven successes in creating cultural shifts; identifying and targeting the true enablers of performance success; developing balanced scorecard approaches and systems to link strategy to measurable activity through job evaluation, competency profiling and professional development strategies to close skill gaps; developing leadership and management effectiveness; developing powerful approaches to succession management; facilitating shared learning, knowledge exchange, and knowledge management; and, assisting individuals in professional career management. His recent focus has been on developing and implementing approaches to link corporate strategy to performance management in ways that fully engage and develop the human capital of the organization.
Mike is a Certified Executive Coach (CEC) and a certified change management practitioner with PROSCI. In addition, he is a published author, guest speaker and change agent who has assisted clients in, mining, telecommunications, energy and utilities, information services, health-care, oil and gas, manufacturing, agri-chemicals, automotive retail, food services and the public sector. He has experience in negotiating win-win processes and commitments in unionized and non-unionized environments and multi-site, international operations. He is a Chartered Professional in Human Resources Professional (CPHR) through CPHR-Alberta and is a member of the Board of Directors of this association and the past Prairies Region Director of the Engineering Human Resources Association (EHRA).
In addition to his consulting practice, Mike is currently the Canadian Human Resources Business Partner for the Industrial Automation – Energy Solutions (IAEN) Business of ABB Inc.
Mike is a strong supporter of appreciating and furthering work life harmony and is active in the community having served as a Director of West Island College. He also supports a number of community causes and is involved as a volunteer with agencies such as the Calgary Interfaith Food Bank and the Kidney Foundation.