What I Do

I have spent many years working with people in both public and private sector roles. I have run my own companies in New Zealand, Australia and the UK. I have worked in leadership development and service improvement.

My Mission

'Kotahi anō te kaupapa, ko te oranga o te iwi’

“There is only one purpose to the work: it is the wellness and wellbeing of the people.”

Years ago I worked for the Department of Corrections Psychological Service - this purpose statement is unashamedly stolen from the Department because it really resonates with me.

The wellbeing of people is at the heart of everything that I do and it motivates me to strive to do better.

How I work

Using my experience as a manager and leader, I provide personal coaching, mentoring and business advisory services either face-to-face or online. I can help in areas such as, building your career, improving your leadership skills, implementing change management, improving productivity - all allowing you to be the person you’ve always wanted to be.

I also consult in quality improvement implementation. I have years of experience in many organisations implementing service improvement programmes.

What I’ve achieved in past projects

Teams who worked on the lean based service improvement programs reported:

  • Improved staff satisfaction

  • Improved staff well-being thus reducing sick leave

  • Improved client experience

  • Improved staff retention

  • Reduced monthly costs of consumables and equipment

  • Improved KPI results

  • Reductions in errors and improved safety

Leaders who participated in the leadership programs reported:

  • Optimised effectiveness in time management techniques

  • Improved skills in managing difficult staff

  • A deeper understanding of generational differences thus enhancing team dynamics

  • Improved ability in succession planning

  • Enhanced skills in managing and facilitating change

  • Greater team cohesiveness and improved team culture

What people say…

Marion Dixon has been my mentor since January 2021, where she has enabled me to gain clarity and direction in my career.  She has provided support, insights and guidance when I truly needed it, and I have had several ‘ah ah’ moments.  When I catch up with Marion each fortnight, it is one of my highlights, as it gives me an opportunity to reflect and gain an outsider’s perspective on setting goals and continuing to move forward.  Marion is a truly magnificent mentor and for anyone working with her, it is a privilege. I am looking forward to continuing to work with Marion.

C.H. Canberra

What people say…

I worked with Marion after a particularly difficult experience in my career resulting in me feeling a bit lost and unsure of next steps I should be taking. She helped me to understand my personality type and provided me with useful exercises to help understand the personalities of others also so I could come up with strategies for dealing with them. We also completed exercises to re balance my life. Marion is a very empathetic and pragmatic mentor and I appreciate every bit of guidance she gave me.

E.H. Wellington

What people say…

Marion Dixon become my mentor through the ANZ Institute of Managers and Leaders member mentoring program in 2020. I previously had good experiences with this 4-month mentoring program and Marion kept up the high standard! After the formal mentoring period had passed, Marion and I agreed to continue with the mentoring relationship as it was of benefit... I would recommend Marion as a mentor for others looking for a more experienced perspective on their current work situation.

Being mentored by Marion has been a positive experience. She provided the right mix of a listening ear, pointing me towards useful tools and asking useful questions. I also appreciated her time keeping in our chats and her follow up on "homework". Her experience with leadership and management was a great background for us to find common ground even though we are from different technical fields.

Marion's understanding of how to manage "difficult situations" along with her cross cultural and international perspective was useful when I needed a sounding board for my own work circumstances. I felt that she had empathy for the challenges I was facing and was genuinely interested how I would be able to resolve issues.

Again, I am happy to recommend Marion to you and believe that your work life will benefit from a mentoring relationship with her.

J.T. Toowoomba