Navigating Polarisation

Leaders trying to undertake systemic change or conduct resilient and profitable business today face increasing geopolitical instability, culture-wars and radicalised, fractious politics. These challenges disrupt corporate and organisational strategies, requiring new skills to navigate effectively.

Populist polarisation shatters societies, organisations, and our own inner peace. At the heart of this challenge is disconnection. Leaders and groups who could collectively drive change often remain isolated, either because they lack awareness of each other’s efforts or because they assume their differences are insurmountable. This disconnection perpetuates a cycle of inaction where people feel powerless to address systemic issues. The result? A world where polarisation thrives, and collaborative solutions wither. 

Our programmes equip leaders and teams with strategic decision-making, negotiation, and resilience tactics tailored for high-conflict and uncertain environments. Participants acquire skills in strengthening team cohesion, stress resilience, and communication strategies for managing crises and hostile interactions. Navigating Polarisation is designed to surface and share information across sectors, helping participants see the bigger picture and understand how their actions intersect with others. The programmes empower participants by helping them identify the steps that can catalyse the systemic change they want to see. Whether it’s refining communication strategies, stress-testing negotiation tactics, or simply learning to avoid trigger words and landmines in language, the workshops provide practical tools for constructive engagement. 

The programme includes workshops, case studies, role-plays, and bespoke strategic advice. It is led by experienced practitioners Olivier Boutellis-Taft and Dr Stephen Backhouse alongside regular contributions from recognised international experts. 

Polarisation affects how every decision is made. We help leaders and their teams understand these forces, and acquire skills to remain effective and resilient in disruptive environments. 

Our programme supports leaders, decision-makers, and their teams across business, government, diplomacy, and NGOs. It is designed for those handling strategic development, negotiations, project viability, investment protection, business strategy, stress management, or seeking to understand polarisation dynamics. 

Drawing from our unique skills mix, we design and deliver workshops and bespoke strategy advice people who work with us learn how to: 

• Identify and understand the drivers of political and cultural division 

• Prepare for and respond efficiently to challenges raised by polarisation 

• Safeguard the integrity of their projects, organisations and alliances 

• Enhance personal and organisational resilience to remain grounded and effective despite pressure.

The programme is led by Olivier Boutellis-Taft, co-founder of North Star Transition. A registered mediator with over 25 years of board-level experience (including 18 years as CEO) Olivier brings deep expertise in strategic public affairs and high-stakes negotiation. His background in law enforcement and professional sports further enriches his practical approach. 

He is joined by Stephen Backhouse, Programme Lead at North Star Transition. Stephen specialises in religious nationalism and political polarisation with over 30 years of experience advising public figures, senior executives, sustainability leaders, and NGOs. His expertise is grounded in a doctorate from the University of Oxford, and he has published widely on the subject. 

Along with contributions from recognised international practitioners and experts together they offer a unique combination of expertise: 

• Negotiation and mediation to advance goals and manage crises 

• Strategic communication for impact in high-pressure, conflicted settings 

• Resilience and performance techniques to sustain focus and effectiveness 

• Political science, history, and psychology for deeper contextual insight 

• Facilitation and applied training to ensure skills are quickly put into practice.