Sparky Smith

Background

About Sparky Smith

TRANSFORMING COMPLEX SYSTEMS—FROM FORTUNE 500 TO FAMILY DOGS As Susan L. Smith, I spent 30 years transforming organizational systems: managing $310M+ portfolios, leading initiatives across employees, and delivering 14+ enterprise strategies in Banking, Insurance, Manufacturing, and Asset Management. KEY CORPORATE ACHIEVEMENTS: Deputy Chair & Chief Strategy Officer, Strategic Management Forum (Global) Contributor to Harold Kerzner's "Advanced Project Management" Led "Most Engaged Team" worldwide at Aviva Canada Work selected by MIT as teaching exemplar for systems thinking Led 76+ direct reports across Fortune 500 transformations Strategic leadership at BMO Financial Group, Aviva Canada, Brookfield Asset Management I hold Mastery Level distinction in Strategic and Systems Thinking (MSST) from University of San Diego's Haines Centre—the highest systems thinking accreditation available—plus MIT certifications in Big Data, Six Sigma Black Belt, and Forensic Accounting certification. THE PIVOT TO CANINE BEHAVIOR SCIENCE After solving complex corporate problems, I recognized identical systems patterns in canine behavior—reinforcing loops, feedback dynamics, and multi-stakeholder complexity that single-methodology approaches cannot address. As Sparky Smith, I apply this expertise through Canine Neurobiological Systems Science (CNSS)—integrating systems dynamics, neurobiology, and caregiver-led recovery for complex cases including trauma, chronic stress, and aggression. WHY THIS MATTERS The canine behavior field faces complexity that conventional methods weren't designed for. Complex cases need systems thinking—seeing feedback structures, identifying leverage points, and understanding how interventions sometimes amplify problems. I'm not a behavioral professional who learned systems thinking—I'm a systems expert applying three decades of Fortune 500 transformation methodology to behavioral science. CURRENT WORK Host, Dog Parentology Podcast Founder, PivotalChange.ca - Behavioral systems consulting Developer, CNSS Framework - Open-source systems science Scientific Content Creator - Translating systems concepts for practitioners Researcher/Writer - Many academic papers on researchgate.com Connect for: systems applications in animal behavior, complex case consultation, research collaboration, or speaking engagements. The dogs who need systems thinking can't wait. Let's build the bridge together.