Your creative genius got you this far. I’ll create the scaffolding to take you further.
Navigate change. See around corners. Move with clarity.
Somewhere in between creative chaos and creative flow lies the messy middle. But here’s something no one tells you: the messy middle comes around more often than you think.
The reality is, it’s harder than ever to run a design business, and today it requires continual evolution—which also means continual growing pains, whether it’s moving from startup scrappiness to more mature business operations, or realigning your brand and business model.
Here for you for the right time, not a long time.
DISTILL
(“Things feel messy; I know I need to make changes, but I don’t know where to focus.”)
If you’re overwhelmed by what to “fix” and need clear orientation, I bring things into focus by diagnosing what’s really going on under the hood, helping you sift, sort, and zero in what matters most.
2-3 working sessions culminating in a comprehensive written Strategic Recommendations Brief giving you direction, purpose, and a practical north star to work towards.
Audit • Prioritization • Diagnosis • Roadmapping
DEFINE
(“I know what it is but I can’t explain it.”)
If you’re struggling to communicate your brand, positioning, culture, services, or a new initiative, I’ll interpret and articulate what’s in your head, translating it into words, frameworks, and tools, enabling you to communicate, lead, and delegate more effectively.
Project-based engagement resulting in actionable deliverables (such as a Brand & Culture Playbook or Operating Systems Brief) that facilitate internal alignment and external clarity.
Brand Strategy • Org Design • Team Architecture •
Operating System • Service Definition
DECIDE
(“I’m overwhelmed and paralyzed.”)
If you’re at a key inflection point or decision crossroads and struggling with inertia and ambiguity, I’ll help you make more informed decisions with confidence and rationale, and help choreograph the change management to get from point A to point B.
Scenario planning & strategic blueprint
Multi-month partnership for founders navigating significant change. Scope structured around your timeline and priorities.
Scenario Planning • Change Management • Implementation Strategy • Leadership Advisory
FAQs
What kinds of companies do you work with? I'm not sure I fit the bill.
Creative services of all stripes: branding, advertising, interior design, architecture, events, PR, marketing. Because I work at the leadership and organizational level rather than the project level, what I do is largely discipline-agnostic. If you're a creative services founder navigating the business side of things, you probably fit the bill.
What kind of founder or leader do you typically work with?
The masters of their craft or subject matter experts (creative directors, interior designers, architects) who are navigating the realities of building and running a business, which is an entirely different muscle. Often these are senior creatives who've climbed the corporate ladder and launched their own studios, only to discover that leading a company feels nothing like doing the work.
What size creative studio or agency is a good fit — is mine too small or too big?
Size and years in business are less relevant than you'd think. What matters more is the gap between your craft expertise and your operator experience, which can exist at any size or stage. A studio of 30 that's really 5 seniors and 25 juniors can have the same challenges as a studio of 10 made up mostly of seniors. A hands-on founder and a hands-off founder at the exact same revenue will have entirely different needs. It comes down to operational complexity, leadership mindset, and openness to change, not headcount or revenue.
I just want someone to handle my day-to-day business operations for me. Is this you?
No, but what I can do is help you get crystal clear on exactly what you need and who to hire for it.
I already have a leadership team in place. Would bringing you in be redundant?
Not at all! It's actually complementary, and sometimes more effective. Internal leaders are often deep in their own silos and can't always see the full picture. As your informed outsider and objective insider, I'm the neutral, cross-functional voice that connects the dots clearly and impartially, which is a different job than the one your existing team is doing.
