Founded by Debbie Craig in 1997, Catalyst first brought personal, team, and leadership development solutions to the mining, banking, automotive, and petroleum industries, as well as a number of parastatals. To strengthen her impact on leadership in South Africa, Debbie joined Mac Consulting in 2001 as a leadership and talent specialist. Together with John Gatherer, they spearheaded a global leadership development program that reached 2500 leaders worldwide, establishing an era of leadership alignment, extraordinary performance, and a vibrant culture.

In 2005, Debbie returned to Catalyst, delivering large transformational projects, including the HR transformation of Transnet (with the Resolve Group). She invited John to partner with her on the group-wide talent management strategy, which received an external auditors’ award for the best implemented HR program and the greatest impact on the company’s culture.

In 2006, John and Debbie joined forces and focused on building Catalyst Consulting (Pty) Ltd. One of their first joint projects was with Buckman, a US-owned multinational chemical company. They applied their OD, strategy, leadership, and talent expertise in a 7-year (still ongoing) partnership on a Transformation Journey that spanned the USA, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Europe, SE Asia, China, India, and Australia.

In the following years, Catalyst continued to establish and strengthen its expertise and credibility through various projects. These included CEO succession planning, accelerated learning programs for successors, integrated talent solutions, retention strategies, executive and leadership development, culture transformation, HR transformation, capacity building, and high-performance team journeys.

As business demand grew, Catalyst brought many experienced and hand-picked associates into the fold. Kathy Kraus joined Catalyst Consulting in 2018 as a talent and leadership development specialist and principal consultant. Her extensive experience in developing and operationalizing business, leadership, and talent strategies, processes and frameworks across 22 countries in Africa, combined with her deep passion for unleashing the unique potential of people, teams, and organizations, was a natural fit for Catalyst Consulting. In 2019, Kathy was appointed General Manager of Catalyst Consulting.

As Catalyst’s reputation as credible, high-impact, value-adding partners grew across different markets and industries, they collaborated with organizations such as The First Rand Group, Abudawood Group, Rand Merchant Bank, Massmart Group, Imperial Group, Nedbank, Heineken, BankservAfrica, Vodacom, MMI Holdings, Tongaat Hulett, Aveng Group, SA Home Loans, AdVTech Group, Engen, Volkswagen SA, Sun International, Landrover-Jaguar, JSE, Ethos Private Equity, Arysta Life-Sciences, as well as government and parastatals such as Eskom Pension & Provident Fund, Transnet, eThekwini Municipality, and National Treasury.

In 2023, after 27 years, Catalyst evolved and found new expression and contribution in the world. With new ideas, technology, opportunities, and leadership, Catalyst Evolution (Pty) Ltd was established. Lead by Kathy Kraus as Managing Director, in partnership with LifeAssist Group, it focuses on creating innovative, integrated wellbeing offerings to build organizations, cultures, teams, and capabilities that nurture healthy, energized, engaged people who can contribute their best and thrive, especially in times of unprecedented and unpredictable change. Our value is enhanced with strong operational capabilities and exciting, innovative tools including a focus on AI and digital talent.

Debbie Craig continues as a strategic thought partner, innovator, mentor, executive coach, and facilitator. She explores her passion for unleashing energy and potential through neuroscience, meditation, and quantum physics, both in South Africa and globally through her Dr. Joe Dispenza network.

Catalyst looks forward to sharing this unfolding journey with you. It’s an exciting and significant change on many levels. Catalyst hopes to cross paths with you to collaborate and partner in building a positive, engaging, high-performance work environment and a country to be proud of.