An interview with Murray Marchant

CAN’s Leadership and Management Training Programme

We interviewed Murray Marchant, one of our Principal Mechanical Design Engineers and participant of our internal leadership and management training programme. Here’s what he said…

1. What is the L&M Training Programme?

The programme is a structured development pathway designed to cultivate future leaders within CAN by building both the hard and soft skills essential for effective leadership and business-level management.

2. Tell me about your journey on the L&M Training Programme

I’ve been on the course for around two years, during which I’ve had the opportunity to develop key skills in assessing business risk, shaping business strategies, and managing organizational change. A highlight has been completing an external training module on Organizational Change Management through Knowledge Hub, which deepened my understanding of the complexities and challenges involved in driving effective and sustainable change.

In addition to these strategic skills, the course has also helped me strengthen my formal presentation and public speaking abilities, which are essential for communicating ideas and leading teams with confidence.

3. Why did you decide to join the L&M Training Programme?

I joined the Leadership and Management Training Programme to grow as a leading engineer within the business. My goal was to address gaps in my core capabilities—areas I may not have had the opportunity to develop fully in my day-to-day role—so that I can lead teams more effectively and be prepared for future challenges.

Continued professional development is very important to me, and this course has provided a valuable opportunity to strengthen the leadership and management skills I felt I was lacking. It has already helped me enhance my impact in my current role and better align with the evolving needs of the business.

4. What is the most valuable thing that you learnt so far?

The most valuable insight I’ve gained so far is the critical role of active listening within broader communication strategies. Coming from an engineering background, the training has broadened my perspective, introducing leadership and management concepts that extend beyond the scope of traditional engineering practice. It also helped me challenge and overcome any internal biases, allowing me to fully appreciate the value of what was being taught.

I’m looking forward to the next module Conflict Management where I can continue developing these skills and apply them in the next phase of the course.

5. Have you applied any of the learnings in your current role?

I found the training on change management particularly insightful, especially regarding the importance of effective communication and the various types of communication required to support project-level change and day-to-day management activities.