When you first meet Carol Smith, her calm, measured tone might suggest a softly spoken strategist. But don’t be fooled, behind her modesty lies a powerhouse of transformation, clarity, and problem-solving prowess, honed over three decades of global experience.
A proud Scot and graduate of the University of Edinburgh, Carol began her career as a chemical engineer before stepping into a 25-year leadership role in R&D and innovation at Procter & Gamble. There, she developed a unique skill set at the intersection of deep consumer insight, human-centred design, and operational effectiveness, skills that would later become the foundation of her thriving consultancy work today.
But Carol’s journey into transformation advisory didn’t follow a straight path.
“I didn’t jump from corporate into consultancy,” she reflects. “After P&G, I stepped away and spent nearly a decade studying fine art. I was travelling, exploring my creative side. Then lockdown hit and everything changed.”
Turning Chaos Into Clarity
It was during lockdown that Carol reconnected with fellow engineer and transformation expert Suzanne Trew, discovering that their parallel career paths, one through Heineken, the other through Procter & Gamble, complemented each other perfectly.
“We realised we had two ends of the same process,” Carol explains. “I specialised in the front-end of innovation, finding and shaping ideas, and Suzanne was brilliant at execution and delivery.”
Together, they responded to a rapidly changing world. When a branding agency asked them to support virtual focus groups with a newly centralised 600-person global marketing team, the pair stepped in. The assignment turned into a much deeper engagement, ultimately guiding the organisation from chaos to clarity.
“We didn’t just deliver a report and disappear,” Carol says. “We mobilised volunteers, mapped a practical roadmap for change, coached leaders, and measured progress. Eighteen months later, silos had disappeared, people felt connected to the vision, and leadership was thriving.”
The transformation succeeded because of Carol’s distinctive approach: a synergy of strategic thinking, deep empathy, and collaborative execution.
Not Just a Function: A Fixer for Fuzzy Problems
Unlike many fractional experts offering specific functions like HR, finance, or marketing, Carol’s magic lies in her generalist lens. “I don’t fit neatly into one box,” she says. “My role is often to help people define the real problem.”
That’s exactly why Carol joined Nexus, the collaborative support programme for Scottish SMEs. At a recent networking event in Edinburgh, she met Nexus founder Cath Strachan, who was looking for experienced professionals to support purpose-driven businesses.
“I like to think of myself as 30 with 30 years of experience,” Carol laughs. “I’m still curious, still learning, but I’ve also spent decades solving complex problems. Nexus is the perfect community for people like me, generous, strategic, and deeply committed to helping businesses grow.”
Carol offers fractional transformation support, leadership coaching, and organisational clarity. She specialises in untangling issues where no one can quite articulate what’s wrong, but everyone feels it.
“If a business is working hard but still feels stuck, that’s where I come in. I help clarify strategy, redesign ways of working, and create systems that support the people doing the work, not fight against them.”
A Human-Centred Approach to Change
Carol’s roots in deep customer insight at P&G taught her that transformation isn’t just about processes, it’s about people.
“Every system is made up of humans. If we want real change, we need to design for them. I help businesses find the simplest, most empowering path forward.”
That human-centred approach means Carol’s advice often starts with a deceptively simple question: “What’s really going on here?”
She listens intently. She facilitates workshops using tools like LEGO® Serious Play®. She draws insights from teams at all levels, believing that everyone, regardless of title, holds part of the puzzle.
Her message to business leaders?
“Listen to your people. Every individual holds a piece of the jigsaw. If you create a culture where they feel safe enough to share it, you’ll get the clarity you need.”
Ideal Clients and Core Values
Carol’s ideal client is a leader who’s ready to grow, not just their business, but their leadership.
“I love working with open-minded leaders, people who are ready to explore what’s really going on, and who believe in their teams. If you’re just looking for someone to implement what you already believe, I’m not the right fit.”
She’s particularly drawn to purpose-led businesses, especially those contributing to environmental sustainability or aiming for net zero. But industry isn’t a barrier.
“The kind of transformation I support can happen in any sector. It’s about purpose, people, and process—not just products.”
One of her core beliefs is that real change doesn’t feel like disruption, it feels like clarity.
“The best change is when people say, ‘Why didn’t we always do it this way?’”
The Ask: Helping Scottish Businesses Thrive
Now part of the Nexus network, Carol’s “ask” is simple: connect her with purpose-driven Scottish businesses that want to move from good intentions to real impact.
If you’re a business leader struggling to get traction, spinning plates, or sensing misalignment between your strategy and your daily operations, Carol may be exactly the catalyst you need.
Whether you’re navigating a major transformation or just want to improve how your team collaborates, she brings deep insight and practical tools to support lasting change.
And in Carol’s world, change isn’t something to fear.
“Nobody wakes up wanting to be a problem,” she says. “People want to be great. I help them find the clarity, structure, and confidence to be exactly that.”
About Nexus:
Nexus is a curated network of fractional business experts and Scottish entrepreneurs committed to supporting ambitious SMEs. Learn more at nexus.scot.
If you're interested in becoming a Nexus member, get in touch: cath@nexus.scot