Meet Ajarn* Mark Caldwell
Healthy Teams are High-Performing Teams
I’m Ajarn Mark Caldwell and I teach technology teams how to enjoy work and optimize productivity.
I believe that 'culture eats strategy for breakfast,' and Death by Meeting is a horrible way to go.
MY STORY

I started my career in technology as an individual contributor, writing code, solving problems and expressing strong opinions. Within a couple of years, I was promoted into management (if you keep telling people how things should be done, they eventually tell you to do it). It was at this point I learned that all my schooling hadn’t really prepared me for leading a team of people who used to be my peers, even though I had a college degree in Business Administration.
I dove into books and events seeking guidance and growth. I didn’t know it at the time, but I was trying to follow Simon Sinek’s advice to “be the boss you wish you had”. I voraciously consumed John Maxwell, Simon Sinek and Patrick Lencioni; learning The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, The 5 Dysfunctions of a Team and The Six Types of Working Genius in the process.
I rebuilt my team from the ground up, and propelled that company from West Coast to nation-wide dominance.
Today, I help other technology teams accomplish their grand ambitions while enjoying the ride, strengthening relationships, and building for long-term success.



Certifications
Committed to providing exceptional services tailored to meet the unique needs of each client as a:
Maxwell Leadership Certified Speaker, Trainer, Coach
Certified Working Genius Facilitator
As a Senior IT Director with extensive qualifications, I bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to every project. Contact me today to discover how I can help your organization reach new heights.
My Approach

*Why Ajarn?
Ajarn (pronounced like awe-john) is the Thai word for teacher or professor.
When I was in high school, I studied a style of martial arts called Lotus Self-Defense, which was a style developed by Ajarn Precha Mahachanavong in Ubon, Thailand. After years of study and practice, I attained the level of Black Belt, and started teaching my own class, thus earning the title of Ajarn in the process.
As I got into online discussion forums and social media, I was looking for a unique User ID that did not just assign me a number. I started to use the moniker AjarnMark and stuck with it. When it came to naming my training and consulting business, I realized that the meaning behind Ajarn was an appropriate fit once again.