Case Studies

Situation

Global Experience. U.S. Forces in Afghanistan were beginning to transition from conventional to reconstruction operations. A Lieutenant General formed a new command over 100k personnel with no immediate support staff.

Task

Review, fuse, and present information from large remote staff to enable & drive the Commander’s awareness, planning, and decision-making.

Action

  • Directly supported and built relationships with the Commanding General
  • Engaged daily with US Embassy, Agency, and United Nations leaders
  • Developed the business & staffing model for a new 88-person HQ and facility

Results

Measures of effectiveness improved 25%. Earned Bronze Star, White House Fellowship recommendation, first early promotion in 10 years.

 

Situation

Corporate Turnaround. New CEO joined a F50 company amid competitor pressure, shifting consumer & customer behavior, declining product groups, and doubts regarding brand survivability.

Task

Drive rapid CEO onboarding. Provide depth sufficient to set context for turnaround plan. Fuse findings to address key constituencies.

Action

  • Managed strategy & corporate development team to baseline revenue, profit, competitive, brand, consumer, customer, product, and trend performance
  • Created format & oversaw accountability for Division-level status reports
  • Led product portfolio rationalization and sustain/sunset recommendations

Results

Enabled 3x increase of share price in six months. Directly impacted CEO messaging resulting in analyst ‘buy’ recommendations. Led nine efforts highlighted in Harvard Business Review. Gained only growth-related CEO/CFO approval amid cost-centered turnaround.

Situation

Strategic Growth. A F50 consumer brand with $50B annual revenue saw six quarters’ declining comparable sales, flat market share, and decreased equity value.

Task

Support CEO and SVP Consumer Insights to develop Global Growth Strategy to increase revenue & profitability.

Action

  • Led enterprise strategy for Services and eCommerce
  • Integrated, pressure-tested capital & operating budget across four divisions
  • Partnered with corporate development regarding multiple acquisition options

Result

Enabled $1.2B and $400M incremental revenue & profit. Drove enterprise focus on business customers & managed services.
Compelled a $375M acquisition, $200M incremental revenue, $20M profit.

Situation

Business Growth. CEO and EVP of a F20 company with $37B annual revenue identified a prime contract as an enterprise risk given a technical & program timeline shortfall.

Task

Resolve technical issues and achieve formal compliance notification.

Action

  • Assembled a central team with client, business, technology, and vendor leaders
  • Identified shortfalls & requirements as well as client sentiment & unstated needs
  • Developed a Joint Program Office, detailed plan, and governance

Result

Achieved $575 impact ($450M new contract, $100M cost avoidance, $25M in-year revenue). Closed all schedule, technical, compliance, sentiment discrepancies in six months. Enabled enterprise reporting capability within existing budget.

Situation

Cost Reduction. A F5 company with $185B annual revenue had consolidated four functions into a centralized Corporate Services capability.

Task

Partner with Division executive teams and Portfolio Managers to provide the enterprise COO with cost opportunities amid increased headcount.

Action

  • Led a strategic planning team to develop a planning & engagement process
  • Improved criteria & data sources to optimize location for cost & experience
  • Developed decision support model for rent, lease, and build options

Result

Reduced cost basis by $140M. Influenced C-level understanding of feasibility, efficiency, savings by focusing on 8 of 50+ metro areas. Enabled enterprise planning & full-portfolio rationalization as a maturation from comparatively fragmented division-level and personality-driven approaches.