I KNOW WHO WE NEED TO CALL"
Moment.
"
It usually happens during an executive meeting.
Something big is on the table. The ambition is there. So is the complexity. What's needed is the right experience, a different perspective, or dedicated capacity to take it on. And the business can't pause for any of it.
Someone looks around and asks, “Who do we know?”
We've been on the receiving end of that call more than once. And we've built a business around being ready for it.
Challenges We See Most Often
01
Too Close to the Business
The team knows the business inside out, but familiarity can make it harder to see things differently. Assumptions go unchallenged, opportunities get overlooked, and important decisions are made without the full picture.
What we hear from leaders:
We know there's more opportunity here. We're just not sure where to look or which ideas are worth pursuing.
We've been looking at this the same way for years. I think we need a fresh perspective.
02
Pressure to Deliver
A commitment has been made, the deadline is approaching, and your team is already stretched. Whether it's a major initiative or a critical decision for the board or investors, the expectations are high, and there's a lot riding on getting it done right.
What we hear from leaders:
We've committed to this, but there's a lot more involved than we originally thought.
This is one of our biggest priorities, and everything else still needs to get done.
03
Outgrowing the Way We Work
The organization has grown or changed, but the way it operates hasn't always kept pace. Processes, roles, and ways of working that once made sense are creating friction, slowing decisions, and making everyday work harder than it needs to be.
What we hear from leaders:
We've grown a lot, but we're still operating like the organization we used to be.
Too many decisions still come back to the same few people. We need a better way to run this.
04
Leadership Gap to Fill
The direction is clear, but the leadership needed to deliver it isn’t in place just yet. Whether it’s a new function, a critical initiative, or a period of transition, the work needs a leader to step in, make decisions, and guide the team through what’s ahead.
What we hear from leaders:
We need someone who can lead this while we're getting it off the ground.
We have a strong team. What we're missing is someone who can step in and lead us through this next phase.
Why Canvas + Key
Some challenges call for a fresh perspective. Others need experienced leadership support. Often, they need both.
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We've worked on both sides of the table, leading teams, advising executives, and doing the work ourselves. We bring that experience to every engagement, with a personal commitment to the people and outcomes involved.
Have a challenge in mind?
Our Services
Whatever the challenge, let's get to work.
Major Initiatives
Leading complex, high-priority work from strategy through execution.
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Some initiatives demand more than an organization's day-to-day operations can accommodate. From corporate restructuring and organizational transitions to strategic planning and major programs, we help leaders navigate complexity and bring the right people together to get important work done.
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Examples of Our Work​:
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Strategic Planning & Facilitation
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Revenue Diversification Strategy
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Transformation & Change Initiatives
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Strategic Program Leadership
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Corporate Transitions​
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Research & Insights
Bringing clarity to important business questions through research, analysis, and real-world evidence.
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Some of the most important business decisions start with questions that aren't easy to answer. We bring an independent perspective and evidence-based insights to help leaders challenge assumptions and understand their options before committing to a particular course of action.​
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Examples of Our Work​:
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Market, Customer & Member Research
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Problem Framing & Opportunity Assessment
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Early Market Testing
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Customer Experience Research & Design
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Strategic Prioritization
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Market & Jurisdictional Scans
Building What's Next
Exploring growth opportunities, developing new business models, and bringing ideas to market.​
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A promising idea is only the beginning. There's still the question of what to build, how it will work, and what it will take to bring it to market. We help leadership teams develop new offerings and establish the systems and processes needed to deliver them, drawing on our industry experience to make them work in the real world.
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Examples of Our Work​:
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New Business & Service Development
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Commercialization & Go-to-Market Strategy
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Innovation Program Design
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Strategic Partnerships & Ecosystem Development
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Operating Model & Process (Re)Design
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Program Design, Rollout & Enablement
Fractional & Interim Leadership
Experienced leadership when your business needs additional capacity or expertise.​
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Sometimes the business needs experienced leadership, but a permanent appointment isn't the right fit. Whether it's a period of transition or a new function taking shape, we step into the organization to take on leadership responsibility and work directly with the team.
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Engagements can be structured around an ongoing part-time leadership role or a defined interim assignment.
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Examples of Our Work:
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Fractional COO Leadership
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Interim Executive Leadership
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Strategic Initiative Leadership
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Operational Leadership During Transitions