Hello!
I'm Elaine Dutton, founder of The Change Agent. As a psychologist, leadership coach and HR/business consultant, I possess an unrelenting energy to help individuals, teams and organisations move forward and reach their goals. An area I am passionate about is helping leaders build high-performance learning cultures in which team members are genuinely engaged to do their best work. Fuelling this drive is my deep interest in how human beings live, work and create meaningful, fulfilling lives.
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The services offered on this website are based on the expertise I have gained through the years, as well as the fruit of collaborations with a network of trusted professionals.
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I'm always looking for new and exciting opportunities and look forward to being of service.
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Let's connect!
My Story
I first embarked on my HR & Training career in 2011 to support myself while reading for my PhD in Health Psychology which I obtained in 2017. At the time, I was lecturing part-time at the University of Malta while working in the public sector. As a Health psychologist, I focused on helping individuals pursue a healthier lifestyle or find new ways to cope with the limitations of newly diagnosed health conditions. One could say that supporting people through change has always been my vocation.
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A Passion for HR
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Although my first role in HR was more of a means to an end (believing, at the time, that I would eventually move into a full-time position in research and academia), I found myself completely absorbed by the dynamics of a vibrant working environment. I found myself yearning to learn more about the Company’s products, the role of departments, individuals and how these all came together to push an organisation forward. I enjoyed the fast-paced environment and the strategic role of an HR professional to help leaders resolve issues, provide insight and act as that change agent that can spur positive energy. I soon realised that what started as the side job, would eventually become my full-time occupation.
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Life is never straightforward, and what I learnt from that time is that it’s okay to plan and study one path, only to eventually be steered towards another. I feel that we are often too quick to chastise ourselves because something didn’t work out and many asked me whether I felt ‘I wasted time’. The truth is that it’s simply how things turned out and, in many ways, what I offer to society today is far richer because of these parallel streams of knowledge and experience that I built over several years. My psychology background gave me the insight and the tools needed to work with people on a 1:1 level and help them explore barriers and a way forward. My budding HR career was adding the bigger picture, the reality of organisations that need to meet targets and shareholder expectations. From hearing about ‘stress’ from my clients in a clinic setting, I was now experiencing and seeing it first-hand when pressures accumulate before a product release or deadline.
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Developing High-performance Cultures
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Over a span of 10 years, I had the opportunity to lead several senior HR roles, in diverse industries; including, Manufacturing, Software Development, Telecomms, i-Gaming and Financial Services. I worked alongside top executives and organisational decision makers who were willing to mentor and, in turn, I added value by supporting a wide array of in-house projects including the setting up of talent management frameworks, change management, fostering high-performing organisational cultures, building the human capital of a new start-up, company downsizing and company closure. Each role enriched my understanding of what helps Companies and employees thrive. This sparked my passion in change management and supporting leaders to build high-performance cultures.
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Having gained a sharp commercial acumen through these in-house HR roles, in 2020 I was given the opportunity to fork my career into business consulting, assisting senior leadership teams on their people strategy, carrying out 360 reviews for top management executives, as well as training and coaching leaders at all levels. Since then, the portfolio of industries in which I provided training, consultancy or coaching increased to include pharmaceuticals, aviation, audit, private equity and banking.
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This brings me to August 2023 where I took the plunge into this new venture and opened up more opportunities for collaborations with like-minded professionals who wish to bring a positive change around them. This is where The Change Agent was born.
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A Journey to Fulfilment
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Aside from my career, nothing has brought more change, or sense of purpose in my life than being a mum to an inquisitive 3-year-old boy. I am also an avid traveller and perpetual student of too many interests, some of which include learning music, painting, gardening, learning different languages and keeping fit. If I am ever successful as a Change Agent, I also owe it to a formidable ‘village’ who have supported me emotionally and tangibly throughout this journey. It’s one thing being ready for change, but having a support system that cheers you on and at the right time offers a hand, is truly immeasurable.
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