about George Watson

Hi, I’m George. My background is in engineering and construction project management. I grew up in Austria, studied in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and have worked across Europe, China, and Africa throughout my career. In 2013, I founded Global Business Design Ltd (gbd) to support companies in their expansion into new locations — helping with business set-up, engineering, and construction management. Along the way, I’ve provided guidance to individuals and organisations on their journeys toward excellence.

Book cover titled "Surrounded by idiots" by Thomas Erikson, featuring silhouettes of four people in red, yellow, green, and blue, representing the DISC behavioural colours, with the title and author and mentioning the four types of human behavior.

about gbd People & Performance

gbd People & Performance brings all of this experience together into one focused source of expertise offering practical solutions for organisational excellence.

We are proud to be an authorised Level 1 Partner of “Surrounded by Idiots” Thomas Erikson’s 12-million-copy bestseller. We bring his powerful insights — the four colour-coded behavioural styles (Red, Yellow, Green, Blue) — along with assessments, workshops, and analysis to an ever-growing audience in Ireland and beyond.

gbdPeople & Performance delivers grounded, people-first solutions that help private companies, charities, and public sector organisations align leadership, clarify purpose, and build healthy, high-performing teams. With decades of global business experience, we address real-world challenges, including:

Improving effectiveness of indivuals and teams through greater self-awareness and better communication

· Applying the bestselling ”Surrounded by Idiots” framework by Thomas Erikson (the four colour-coded behavioural styles: Red, Yellow, Green, Blue)

· Addressing team dysfunction and leadership misalignment through our bespoke 6-step mentoting programme

· Delivering cross-cultural awareness and communication training

Enhancing organisational clarity and purpose

· Defining and refining organisational structure, roles, and reporting lines

· Articulating and communicating vision, purpose, values, and assisting in enbedding policies and procedures

· Facilitating effective business planning, budgeting and risk management

Our approach is sharp, collaborative, and rooted in deep operational understanding. We engage with insight, simplicity, and focus — helping organisations move from complexity to clarity. Whether you’re an individual leader, a team, or an entire organisation, we’re here to provide you with practical solutions for organisational excellence.

Reach out via our contact page or directly at george@gbdpp.com to discuss your needs and aspirations. We’d love to hear how we can support you or your organisation.