Universal Leadership Struggles – Colonel James Cameron CBE Inspiring Leadership interview with Jonathan Bowman-Perks

James Cameron CBE, Vice President Leadership Initiatives, Walmart Stores Inc. Universal leadership struggles

James is currently responsible for executive development, high potential programs up to senior executive level and driving strategic initiatives that will evolve Walmart to meet future challenges, the scale is the challenge, 1.3 million associates in the US, 2.3 million world-wide. His career before Walmart was six years of risk and business consultancy and a 26-year military career. After an Infantry (Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment) career up to Battalion command, his last appointment before retiring early was as Assistant Director Counter Terrorism in the British Ministry of Defence. In 2007 he was made a Commander of the British Empire (CBE) by Her Majesty the Queen for that role, an award that he should probably now give back as he is now a US citizen! A key lesson he has learned since leaving the military is that vulnerability is strength.

25 years as an Army Officer. Retired at 44 as a Colonel. Last Government job Assistant Director Counter Terrorism MOD. 2006. Joined Control Risks. Became Director Government and Public Sector. Jun 2008 joined McKinney Rogers as Partner. Created and led accelerated leadership development project in Walmart until acquired, with whole team, to expand the programme from within into a global capability.
Now responsible for Executive Development and top talent programs for Walmart US but also leads the global high potential, future officer program. Leading a strategy to create an ecosystem for the development all levels from new leaders to senior executives.

Current priorities include digital training for all senior executives and the concurrent transformation of behaviours and leadership philosophy, with a focus on risk taking and empowerment. It has to work or we will fail as a business.

Specialties: Leadership development. Large scale change. Strategy. Business performance consultancy. Counter Terrorism. Training. Crisis Management. Retail. Risk Analysis. Government and public sector liaison.