Most Strategy Consultants… Suck at Strategy.

Look, some of my best friends are consultants. I’m (technically) a consultant. But, you know what I’m talking about.

Big promises to the CEO but they never stopped to ask teams if that could actually work.

Zero experience doing it inside a real organisation. 30 years working in consulting companies is not the same thing as 30 years in the trenches. Being a Partner somewhere does not a track record make.

When Everyone Else Has Failed (or Quiet Quit), Leaders Call Me

    • Firstly, I get stuff done without bulldozing or manipulating people to do it.

    • I’ve led +25 transformations (and counting) on three continents.

    • In the last 12 months, I have led five successful strategy development processes.

    • I have 16 years working across financial services, media, non-profit, telco, health, education, and professional services.

    • Nine-time, award-winning author.

    • Certified Executive Coach (CPC). Certified Agile coach. 2024 MSc Digital Transformation (with Distinction).

    • Whatever you throw at me, I’m a safe pair of hands. I don’t drop the ball.

  • I solve problems that require a certain set of skills.

    • Need a Board-ready strategy in a month? Call me.

    • Need someone who isn’t trying to sell you IT to help with your digital transformation? I’d love to help you pay less and get more.

    • Worried about AI adoption but also sick of hearing about it? Cool, but we still need to implement the tools of our oppressors. Inspirational leaders don’t make CoPilot the only option. If all your team have seen of AI is ChatGPT or CoPilot, of course, they think it’s useless.

    • Leading a transformation and everyone (lowkey) hates you now? Maybe they might have a point. What are they really getting out of it? If the answer is more work because “we need to reduce ‘headcount’ by 10%", I feel like the answer is: not a lot. But we can change that! I love organisational development and culture work. I like negotiated exits and redundancy processes way less but I do those with empathy and fairness too.

  • I’ve led a global Agile transformation covering 9,000 people at DB. Co-led the £31bn VMO2 megamerger pre-integration. Led Innovation and Development’s 150-person team postVMO2 merger. Advised a £100m charity on digital transformation and a £80m charity on organisational transformation. Led the $100m pre-integration for GoTyme’s Retail Capital acquisition. Raised £500k seed for my AI corporate venture/ HRtech startup. There’s been more, but NDAs are a thing.

    You get the point.

    • Need an Executive Coach who has actually BEEN an executive? Some of my best friends are coaches, but if your coach’s “20 years in corporate” were as a senior project manager…. Yeah, it’s not a good look. I’ve reported into the C-suite (or been on it) for a decade now.

    • Looking for some pro bono support planning a Board Away Day? I get so much joy out of providing structure, specificity, and clarity to those because they’re mostly a poor use of time. A fun poor use of time! A feel-good poor use of time! But not super helpful to teams doing the work when you have deep and meaningful conversations that end with “we’ll look int that”.

let's talk

You probably have questions… I would have questions at this point. If I were you, I would be asking me:

“Um… Who are you?”

Fair question! I’m Bontle, and that’s pronounced BOONT-leh. I’m a dual South African and British citizen.

I’ve been a charity CEO, top-tier consultant, author, speaker, commercial farmer, journalist, AI tech bro, Board member, artist, and coach. Right now, I mostly lead strategy development, transformation implementation, and change management.

I love solving problems that stress other people out.

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“Who are your clients?”

Mostly CEOs, occasionally COOs or Board Chairs, and sometimes strategy or transformation directors. I work with both private (banks, telcos, professional services) and non-profit (education, health, the environment) clients.

“What do your clients say? Do you have any testimonials or references?”

“In addition to being extremely efficient and highly competent, Bontle is never afraid to speak truth to power. She is confident of her capabilities, but she never exaggerates them. Her integrity is without question.”

Elinor Sisulu

Chief Executive, Puku Children’s Literature Foundation

Bontle has a fantastic way of working with teams to bring out the best in them, get to the root of issues and make decisions quickly. Her experience and strategic leadership are clear. She really supported us to take bold next steps for our organisation.”

Catherine Woodhead

Chief Executive, Living Streets

“You sound expensive… are you?”

Sometimes? My day rate is £750 - £1750 (excluding VAT), depending on the client industry, size, complexity, country currency, and annual revenue. I mostly do fixed rates with clients these days because who cares how long their consultant works on the problem as long as it gets solved?

Don’t assume you don’t have the budget for me, especially if you are a charity. Let’s talk. If I can’t help, I probably know someone who can.