Winners in Our Midst: Paul McNamara, CEO and Co-Founder of Adaptovate
For Paul McNamara, building a successful global consulting firm was never just about strategy - it was about making change real.
Paul is one of the founders of Adaptovate, a global management consulting firm established eight years ago with a clear mission: to help organisations bridge the often-challenging gap between strategy and execution. Having spent years working in strategy consulting, Paul saw first-hand how many organisations struggled to move from bold ideas to tangible outcomes.
“There’s a real ‘hump’ organisations need to get over,” Paul explains. “Once a new strategy is defined, leaders need to mobilise quickly, deliver early wins, and at the same time build long-term capabilities so they’re not dependent on external support forever.”
That focus on capability-building has been a consistent thread throughout Paul’s career. From his early days lecturing at university, he found deep satisfaction in teaching and nurturing talent - something he now brings into a business environment, where learning and performance go hand in hand.
From client success to company vision
The idea for Adaptovate was sparked while Paul was working at a major consulting firm alongside his two co-founders, Alex and Doug. Together, they led a large-scale transformation that combined program management, technology delivery, and the people side of change - capabilities rarely brought together effectively at scale.
“We realised how powerful it was to combine those three elements,” Paul says. “When we asked ourselves whether we could do this for other organisations and give more people the opportunity to work this way, Adaptovate was born.”
That “secret sauce” has since resonated globally. Against conventional business wisdom, Adaptovate rapidly expanded, opening 12 offices around the world in a remarkably short period of time.
“Any MBA case study will tell you not to do that,” Paul laughs. “It was a big leap of faith - trusting that our model, culture and ways of working would translate across different countries and business environments.”
The bold move paid off, giving Adaptovate the global reach needed to serve some of the world’s largest organisations and multinational clients.
Leading through uncertainty
Like many leaders, Paul faced moments that made him question, “What have I gotten myself into?” - particularly during COVID-19.
During that period, he stepped into the role of Head of Transformation for Australia’s largest retailer, working closely with both the client and an Adaptovate team to tackle unprecedented challenges.
“How do you feed an entire country when it shuts down?” Paul recalls. “How do you design digital customer experiences and deliver goods across a country as vast as Australia, when no one has the answers?”
By working collaboratively, the team delivered outcomes that made a tangible difference in people’s lives during a time of real need - an experience Paul considers one of the most meaningful of his career.
‘Pinch-me’ moments and personal rewards
Despite the challenges, Paul says his “pinch-me” moments come regularly, particularly when working alongside CEOs of some of Singapore’s and the world’s largest organisations. “It’s a privilege to be exposed to such incredible thinkers and leaders doing meaningful work,” he says.
Yet, it’s the people inside Adaptovate that bring the greatest personal reward. While he didn’t fully anticipate the sense of responsibility that comes with leading and supporting a growing team, he now sees it as one of the most energising aspects of the journey.
“There’s a special connection to the team you build,” Paul reflects. “They put their trust in you and seeing them grow through difficult challenges is incredibly fulfilling.”
Advice for founders - and future connections
If Paul could offer one piece of advice to anyone building a business, it would be simple: don’t do it alone.
“Find co-founders who complement your skill set and support you through the highs and lows,” he says. “Entrepreneurship isn’t what the movies portray; it’s mentally tough, and you need strong people around you, from family to employees.”
As an AustCham Singapore member, Paul values conversations built on curiosity and mutual benefit. “Everyone has an interesting story,” he says. “If I can learn something from them, and in return contribute something small - experience, insight, or a connection - that’s the start of a great relationship.”
You can connect with Paul on LinkedIn.
Your Story Next?
Are you an SME member with a great story to tell? AustCham Singapore is always looking to share the successes of our community. If you would like your business to be considered for a future article in our Winners in our Midst series, please email your interest to members@austcham.org.sg. We look forward to celebrating your achievements!