Consulting
Organizations bring me in when something specific has to happen, there’s no obvious person to hand it to, and they’d rather not learn it the expensive way. Some of that work has an end date. Other engagements have run for years.
I’ve run companies myself, as a COO, a President and a CEO, and I led two of them to a sale.
Project work
For work with a clear objective and a defined scope
Each project starts with a goal: faster growth, the right partnership strategy, an executable strategic plan, a successful deal.
I begin by getting to know the business and the people running it, then work with the team on what needs to change and how. Much of that happens in workshops and working sessions, and it ends with a plan the team owns and can act on. Engagements run from a few weeks to several months.
Where I’m most useful:
- Strategy
- Partnerships
- Culture
- Team alignment
- Transformation
- Must-win deals
- M&A
“Arjen spent time with my team, asked good questions and did not jump to conclusions. He rolled up his sleeves and got involved with the work we do. He distilled what he learned into a number of clear recommendations and an action plan, which we are now executing with his support.”
Advisory boards
For organizations building an advisory board, or looking for someone to join one
Where a company already has an advisory board, I join it as a working member.
Where there’s no advisory board yet, I help define its purpose and structure, recruit the members and run the meetings.
I also serve on boards of directors.
“Arjen helped us develop our overall strategic plan, contributed significantly on our advisory board and helped us recruit a key executive for my senior management team. His business experience and contacts are extensive and valuable.”
Cross-border
For companies moving into a market they don’t know yet
When a company from outside the US is ready to set up here, I know how the process goes and who to call. I’ve done it myself, most recently setting up the US entity for a Canadian startup I co-founded.
Working in the other direction, I help US companies build their route into new markets abroad, including how to choose and manage the partners who sell for them. I spent twenty-five years of my career based outside the US, in Asia, Europe and New Zealand, mostly in roles with a global reach.
Interim & fractional leadership
For organizations that need an experienced executive in the seat for a while
Sometimes an organization needs someone to run things for a period: between leaders, through a transition or until a permanent hire arrives. I take on interim and fractional roles as CEO, COO or CRO, and I can step in quickly, without a long learning curve.