Get more from your people
with lateral thinking.

your productivity

It’s not about working harder, The Elevator gives you the tools and the techniques to work smarter.  More productive people give you a far better return on your human capital.

your staff engagement

Get people working together to solve problems, ideate freely and become more empowered. Job satisfaction climbs and expensive churn falls.

your use of AI

Your people will learn how to integrate a personal AI strategy and use it daily to think broader, solve problems and help generate opportunity.

your competitive advantage

The Elevator teaches people to think outside the box more instinctively. They’ll generate fresher ideas and think more strategically.

your return on payroll

Faster, smarter, proactive people deliver a more efficient and forward-thinking organisation. And your payroll costs don’t change at all.

When you stop thinking in straight lines, all the roads open up.

How does it work?

The Elevator is a cognitive consultancy that delivers lateral thinking training to forward-thinking organisations. Unlike many training methods however, the Elevator programs are geared towards demonstrable results with very clear metrics of success.

It’s less about delivering vast amounts of knowledge, and more about integrating better thinking techniques into the daily working lives of human beings. With the tools to do so.

The world is faster, more complicated and more competitive. To be successful, an organisation needs to maximise its output from the people within it. Based directly on the original teachings of Edward de Bono and Australian Michael Hewitt-Gleeson – the world’s foremost lateral thinker – The Elevator teaches people to be better at what they do.

Structure & Cost

The first step is establishing those critical metrics of success. For some organisations, it’s success on the sales front. For others, it’s ideation and problem solving. Some want greater staff engagement and a lift in employee satisfaction.

 

Each program is tailored, but as an example, a typical day with The Elevator includes the following:

Format

A genuinely interactive workshop-style event, that includes up to 20 participants. Most days contain
4 sessions of 1.5 hours each.

Location

Ideally in your business for convenience and minimising down time. External
locations charged at cost.

Inclusions

All training tools and equipment, along with a strategic feedback write-up post session to outline key learnings and reminder processes, specific to your business.

Toolbox

Each attendee receives an Elevator toolbox to transform theory into actionable practice.

Follow-Up

A recommended follow-up session after 30-60 days to review progress and quantify success.

Pricing

As a guide a standard one-day program is priced at $9,900 and includes up to 20 participants.

About

Nick McDonald - Founder
and Director of The Elevator

With over 20 years of experience using lateral thinking to reshape the direction and profitability of businesses, Nick McDonald is a seasoned leader in innovation and strategic transformation. As the founder and director of The Elevator, he brings a wealth of practical expertise, helping organisations and individuals unlock their cognitive potential through the power of lateral thinking.

 

Throughout his career, Nick has proven his ability to deliver impactful results across a range of industries. His strategic influence has driven a 30% sales increase for Australia’s largest automotive service and repair organisation, redefined Perrier’s positioning in the Gulf region to become a go-to choice for everyday consumption, and unified Uncle Toby’s cereal products ahead of a major share float. His recent work with the Australian International Airshow has led to four consecutive sold-out events, marking record-breaking success for one of Australia’s premier events. Nick has also led high-stakes pitches, including a multi-million dollar win for the Mercedes Benz advertising business in the Gulf region.

  • In addition to his commercial achievements, Nick has spent 15 years in human resources, where his talent for spotting "out of the box" thinkers has made him a sought-after consultant. Strategic placements of key creative personnel has helped transform Melbourne ad agencies into more creative and profitable businesses. Most notably, his placements are almost always successful with a 96% success rate inside the guarantee period.

    Nick's dedication to the next generation of creative thinkers is reflected in his role on the Deakin Advisory Board, where he shapes marketing and advertising curricula. He has coached over 50 young creatives, many of whom are now internationally recognized in their fields. His contributions extend beyond business, with pro bono roles including committee work for the Australian Grand Prix and revitalizing the Melbourne Advertising and Design Club.

    At The Elevator, Nick is now channelling his passion and expertise to help businesses elevate their problem-solving capabilities, improve productivity, and think laterally. His track record, experience, training and deep understanding of what drives innovation make him uniquely suited to help businesses become more productive.