I founded TiGa in 2009 after several years in the commercial world where I noticed that whatever people’s academic qualifications or abilities, performances often diminished and rapidly deteriorated when they were put into positions of responsibility.  Over time I realised it wasn’t just people new to the world of business, it stretched throughout organisations and all levels of internal hierarchy.  Having benefited from a comprehensive professional leadership development program at the hands of Her Majesty’s Royal Navy, I initially didn't understand why other people just could not get to grips with basic leadership, particularly when you consider the millions of dollars invested in human resource capital and its development.

 

As soon as you give someone extra responsibility whether or not you pay them more money, they still need the tools to take charge. One of the contradictions I’ve found in modern society is that management - with all its education, experience and resources - seems obliviously confident that piling money on a set of responsibilities automatically makes a person better able to lead a team, no matter how large or small. Having left the UK for China more than a decade ago, I initially thought this was a China specific problem, however, as demographics have shifted and economic migrants come from western countries to China, it's clear to me that this situation is endemic throughout the world.

 

 

My vision for TiGa is to enable people in leadership and those aspiring to it,

to harness their potential and that of those they lead.

 

 

I also hold active roles as Director of Rugby at Shanghai Rugby Club and Director of Coaching at Chinese NGO, Sport for All.

Marissa’s professional pathway extends from Nanjing to Shanghai via relocation services, retail, purchasing and large scale engineering project management.  Having grown up in the high altitude desert of New Mexico and California, Marissa’s rich outdoor experiences comprise horse riding, sea-kayaking and diving.  She has strong views on women’s roles in the world particularly their potential leadership abilities which are often left dormant in modern business and commercial centres.

Daniel managed a legal services company in London of 40 staff before moving to Shanghai and as such, has a first-hand appreciation for the subtleties and real challenges that effective leadership requires.  "Everyone is different so a one-size-fits-all approach to management is short-sighted, lazy and certainly doesn't inspire confidence in those you are leading".  He believes in empathy, decisiveness, empowering people, and that the one thing - failing all others - that people will follow, is credibility.

 

Dan also has a genuine (somewhat geeky) passion for branding, marketing and business development.  Always eager to work with potential clients and partners to develop our services and reach out to new audiences.