The world around us moves fast.
We are your confidential, hands-on, year-long strategy & operations partner.
Internalization of a company’s purpose, an effective corporate strategy that aligns with that purpose, and optimal dovetailing of that strategy with operations are the most common differentiators between the best companies and the rest. Winning as a company isn’t about one big idea or a few heroes. We can only win consistently if we know why we win and how we win.
In summary, focus on company fundamentals will reap dividends in customer value creation, organizational alignment, sustainable revenue growth, and profitability for years to come.
Founder & Principal
John is a seasoned strategy & operations leader with over 20 years of experience working with over four dozen Fortune 100, private equity, and venture capital companies in both consulting and internal roles. He is a strategic thinker who excels at creating customer value through strategy development, planning, operations design, and execution management. John has worked across a wide range of sectors including technology, business services, manufacturing, supply chain and logistics, energy and utilities, and financial services.
John's key strength is his ability to collaborate with CEOs and COOs to develop company-level strategy while simultaneously enabling operations that align with that strategy. He is a cross-functional leader who is equally comfortable working with frontline value creators as he is with executives and board members. He has built and led analytical SWAT teams as well as large operational teams throughout his career. He has a unique focus on sustainable overarching outcomes and a passion for creating holistic companies.
John holds an MBA from Northwestern's Kellogg School of Management, is an electrical engineer, and a General Electric-certified Six Sigma Black Belt. He recently authored The Spiral Stairway: The System To Build A Holistic Company, a highly actionable guide designed to aid critical thinking CEOs, executives, supervisors, and employees to build holistic companies.
Based in Chicago, John enjoys exploring different cultures and corners of the world. He is a fitness enthusiast and a forward-thinking individual who enjoys sharing his life and career lessons through critical-thinking and forward-looking thought leadership content.
Elton Cheung is an accomplished product leader and strategist with a successful track record of launching products from zero to millions of users worldwide. With over a decade of experience in the tech industry, Elton has grown and managed products with an annual gross value of over $1 billion, earning a reputation as a trusted advisor to some of the world's most successful companies, including Groupon and Rakuten and growth startups such as AnyRoad.
As an expert in eCommerce, online marketplace, and B2B SaaS, Elton has a deep understanding of these industries' complexities and nuances. His expertise in product development and management, combined with his ability to identify emerging trends, allows him to remain at the forefront of the industry, helping businesses to launch a new product and scale an existing one.
Elton holds an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management and is also a trained engineer with a master's degree from Cornell University. He has built and managed product organizations at established companies and early-stage startups, with a proven track record of hiring, mentoring, and developing high-performing teams. He has also established himself as a thought leader in the product management community, sharing their insights and best practices through industry events.
Beyond his professional passion, Elton is an avid snowboarder and cyclist. His love for adventure and the outdoors fuels his creativity and helps him approach problem-solving with a fresh perspective.
Nick is a highly accomplished change agent with extensive experience across diverse industries, including commercial construction, agriculture and food, and social networking. Nick's greatest strengths lie in his ability to coach and lead teams through challenging transitions while maintaining focus and alignment with their goals. He has a proven track record of transforming teams and products to achieve exceptional results, making him a champion of change.
With a background in leading organizational transformation efforts at industry leaders like Wolseley and Cargill, Nick co-founded and served as COO and Head of Product of an interpersonal relationships platform. He holds a bachelor's degree in industrial technology and is a trained and practicing co-active coach.
When not pursuing his professional goals, Nick loves to explore the great outdoors of Minnesota with his beloved golden doodle. He approaches kayaking, biking, and camping with the same passion and drive that he brings to his work. In addition to his outdoor pursuits, Nick and his husband enjoy traveling the world, immersing themselves in new cultures, meeting fascinating people, and gaining fresh perspectives on life and business.
