About

Jeff McRae

Founder

 
 

Founder, Different Light Consulting

Seeing things differently — and helping others do the same.

Jeff McRae has spent his career in the places where clarity is hardest to find — in complex systems, shifting priorities, and high-stakes industrial environments.


For years, he has worked inside one of Canada’s largest industrial companies, leading people through change, uncertainty, and growth. His specialty wasn’t just process improvement or leadership development — it was helping people see the connections between them.

Working as the lead of a site Operational Excellence department, Jeff guided engineers, geologists, and frontline leaders through transformation efforts that demanded both precision and empathy.
He built frameworks that bridged corporate strategy and on-the-ground reality — systems that helped teams move from chaos to clarity, from resistance to readiness.

But what truly defined his work wasn’t the spreadsheets or the stage-gates.
It was the conversations.

Jeff noticed something early on: change doesn’t start with a plan — it starts with a question. The right question can unlock understanding, shift perspective, and light a path forward.
That moment of realization — that lightbulb moment — became the foundation of Different Light Consulting.

A philosophy shaped by both data and humanity

Jeff blends structure with story. He’s Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certified, PROSCI Change Management certified, and trained in Kotter’s method of leading change. He holds a Royal Roads Executive Coaching Certificate (CEC)and a Harvard HBX CORe certification in business fundamentals — proof that he values the rigor behind improvement.

But behind every system and certification lies his belief that performance begins with people.
He’s spent decades helping leaders and teams navigate uncertainty, communicate with purpose, and align around shared goals.

From building Operational Readiness and Change Management frameworks for large projects to coaching senior leaders through organizational change, Jeff’s work bridges the technical and the human. He turns process into partnership — and data into dialogue.

The birth of Different Light

Different Light Consulting wasn’t created in a boardroom; it evolved from years of real-world lessons.
It’s the culmination of Jeff’s experiences in leadership, change, and community — from his days coaching leadership programs and facilitating off-site strategy sessions, to building housing initiatives and mentoring future leaders in his hometown of Fernie, BC.

Different Light is both a consulting practice and a philosophy:

When people see differently, they act differently. And when they act differently, results follow.

Through this lens, Jeff helps organizations:

  • Simplify complexity and improve communication.

  • Design systems that work with human behavior, not against it.

  • Build resilience and clarity during transformation.

  • Turn insight into lasting improvement.

A connector at heart

Jeff is equally at home in a boardroom, a control room, or a classroom.
He’s facilitated leadership sessions, coached executives, and guided front-line teams through change. He’s known for asking questions that cut through noise — and for listening deeply to what’s not being said.

Outside his professional work, Jeff serves on the board of the Fernie Citizens Housing Society, helping guide projects like Trinity Lodge, a seniors’ living facility.


He’s also a lifelong musician and storyteller — a reminder that creativity and leadership share the same roots: connection, rhythm, and courage.

What working with Jeff feels like

Clients often describe Jeff as steady, insightful, and disarmingly human.
He brings structure without rigidity, empathy without sentimentality, and humor when it’s needed most.
Whether you’re untangling a process, re-energizing a team, or redefining your organization’s path forward, Jeff’s role is simple:

to help you see what’s possible — in a different light.

Credentials & Certifications

  • Lean Six Sigma Green Belt (ASQ)

  • PROSCI Certified Change Practitioner

  • Kotter Change Management Graduate

  • Royal Roads Executive Coaching Certificate (CEC)

  • Harvard HBX CORe – Business Analytics, Economics & Financial Accounting

  • Refinery Leadership LFF & LFX Graduate and Coach

  • 20 years experience at multiple levels of an international industrial company

Connect

📧 jeff@differentlightcoaching.com


📍 Fernie, British Columbia
Available for speaking, consulting, and leadership coaching engagements — in person and online.