Testimonials
“Through his deep sector knowledge and understanding of the forces at play, Tony is helping me as a leader to steady the good ship STRUT during a period of incredible sector disruption and turbulence.
His clarity of purpose, guidance and support is wrought through with a compassion and desire to bring about positive charge and capability in an individual as well as an organisation.
Tony supplied the Board and executive of STRUT Dance with a set of ready tools and strategies that still enables us is to both navigate and adapt to the challenges of running a small to medium organisation with vision in a highly competitive ecology.”
– Paul Selwyn Norton, Director, STRUT DANCE – National Choreographic Centre, based in Perth
“Tony guided me confidently through a tricky transition during the middle of the global COVID-19 pandemic crisis, where there was nothing business-as-usual about business. Tony not only made sure I had the internal information I needed to get my feet under the table quickly and efficiently with a team working remotely, he also generously introduced me to all the right people I'd need to succeed in the longer term. Tony brings an extraordinary breadth of experience and know-how to every conversation and dilemma you might be dealing with, so you absolutely know the advice he's giving has been tried and tested. He's smart, thoughtful, incredibly generous with his time and knowledge and makes it fun even when the situation you're dealing with is the opposite of fun.”
– Caro Llewellyn, CEO, The Wheeler Centre for Writing Books and Ideas
“I have been so fortunate to have Tony Grybowski as a coach and mentor when preparing for my current role and now performing it it.
His leadership experience and sector knowledge is immense and what sets him apart is his ability to tap into exactly where clients are at in the moment and at the current stage of their career and role.
When I was interviewing with the TSO, I knew I had the skills to do the job but I didn’t believe I would be able to win the role. Tony knew this and worked with me to tell my story passionately and with a litany of examples from throughout my career. My sessions with Tony were transformational and I doubt that I would be where I am today without his insight and generosity.
Tony knows how to work with clients to build confidence and amplify strengths, in addition to navigating the strategic and stakeholder issues of cultural entities. He understands the inward and outward facing rigours of leadership and draws on his outstanding career to support clients in navigating the challenges and opportunities of theirs.
I can’t recommend Tony highly enough.”
– Caroline Sharpen, CEO, Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra
“I have worked with Tony Grybowski when he was in his role as CEO of the Australia Council for the Arts, and following that time when the Department of the Premier and Cabinet in South Australia engaged a consultant team to deliver an Arts Plan for the government – of which Tony was a lead member.
Tony’s knowledge of the arts and cultural sector in Australia is exceptional. Tony understands what is involved in successfully leading and managing diverse organisations and he has demonstrated his broad leadership and management skills in organisational roles where sound and functional relationships between boards, staff and stakeholders are nurtured to enable good governance and the delivery of vision and strategy, viable operations and solid outcomes - both artistic and operational.
In contributing to the development of the arts plan for South Australia, Tony was able to bring his broad sector knowledge and understanding – from a high-level, whole of sector perspective informed by his deep understanding of individual organisational structures and the challenges they face at an operational and artistic level – to engage with the sector, listen to the diversity of views expressed and to analyse sector strengths and weaknesses, identifying areas for strengthening and change. His understanding of the intricacies within the arts and cultural sector ecology informs and enables Tony to confidently lead the delivery of outcomes and the implementation of change – in both strategy and policy settings and in arts and cultural organisations.”
– Jennifer Layther, Director, Arts South Australia, Department of the Premier and Cabinet
