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Expert Partnership for Complex, High-Stakes Transformations

N E S W

Strategic transformation partnership for M&A integration, enterprise technology implementations, and organizational restructuring. When the stakes are high and failure isn't an option, get specialized expertise to navigate complexity.

When Change Can't Afford to Fail

Some transformations are too complex, too visible, or too critical to the business to approach without specialized expertise. You need a strategic partner who's navigated this terrain before, not just someone to deliver recommendations and leave.

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You're facing:

  • M&A integration across borders, cultures, and systems

  • Enterprise technology implementations (ERP, CRM, Microsoft 365, Dynamics 365, AI) impacting thousands of people

  • Major organizational restructuring that will fundamentally change how work gets done

  • Cultural transformation following leadership changes or strategic pivots

  • Regulatory or compliance-driven changes with strict deadlines and legal implications

 

These aren't opportunities to learn by trial and error. You need someone who's navigated this terrain before.

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The Challenge

You have internal project managers who can execute plans. You might even have change champions. But do you have someone who:

  • Knows how to assess readiness and identify risks before they derail the initiative?

  • Can design stakeholder engagement strategies for complex political landscapes?

  • Understands how to communicate transformation across diverse audiences?

  • Has guided leadership teams through the messy, unpredictable middle of change?

  • Can course-correct when reality doesn't match the plan?

 

That's where strategic change management advisory comes in.

Strategic Partnership for Complex Transformations

I don't take over your transformation or just hand you slide decks. I work alongside your leadership and project teams as a strategic partner, providing guidance, frameworks, and expertise at critical moments. Think of me as your experienced navigator for complex terrain who makes you more capable, not more dependent.

What I Bring to Your Transformation

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1. Change Landscape Assessment & Readiness Analysis

 

What it is:

Before you launch, I assess the complexity of your change, organizational readiness, and potential risks across stakeholder groups, culture, processes, and systems.

 

Why it matters:

Most transformations fail because risks weren't identified early enough. A thorough readiness assessment reveals obstacles while you still have time to address them.

 

What I help you develop:

  • Comprehensive readiness assessment across key dimensions (leadership, stakeholder, cultural, structural)

  • Risk identification with likelihood and impact ratings

  • Stakeholder landscape mapping (power, influence, support levels)

  • Readiness score and gap analysis

  • Prioritized recommendations before launch

2. Change Strategy & Roadmap Development

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What it is:

A clear, actionable change management strategy aligned to your transformation objectives, with phased roadmap, key milestones, and decision points.

 

Why it matters:

Without a coherent change strategy, efforts are fragmented. People work hard but in different directions. A solid strategy aligns all change activities toward shared outcomes.

 

What I help you develop:

  • Change vision and objectives tied to business outcomes

  • Phased roadmap with milestones and decision gates

  • Integration with project plan and governance structures

  • Success metrics and measurement approach

  • Resource plan (who does what, when)

3. Stakeholder Engagement & Resistance Management

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What it is:

Strategic approaches to engage stakeholders at all levels, build coalitions of support, and proactively address resistance before it becomes a barrier.

 

Why it matters:

Complex transformations have complex stakeholder landscapes. Mismanaging key influencers, especially resistors with power, can derail even well-designed changes.

 

What I help you develop:

  • Detailed stakeholder analysis (power/influence mapping, ADKAR assessment)

  • Engagement strategies tailored to stakeholder segments

  • Resistance management playbook (anticipate, prevent, address)

  • Coalition-building tactics for building critical mass of support

  • Executive sponsor coaching on stakeholder management

4. Communication Planning & Execution Support

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What it is:

Strategic communication plans that ensure the right messages reach the right people at the right time, across multiple channels and audiences.

 

Why it matters:

Poor communication is the #1 cited reason for transformation failure. It's not enough to communicate. You need to communicate strategically, consistently, and with empathy.

 

What I help you develop:

  • Communication strategy and channel plan

  • Key message frameworks for different audiences

  • Leadership communication coaching and script development

  • Templates and tools for cascading communication

  • Feedback mechanisms to understand what's landing (and what's not)

5. Leadership Alignment & Executive Coaching

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What it is:

Working with your leadership team to ensure they're aligned on vision, modeling the change, and equipped to lead through the transformation.

 

Why it matters:

Employees watch leaders closely during change. Misaligned executives send mixed signals. Leaders who aren't equipped struggle visibly. Both undermine confidence in the transformation.

 

What I help you develop:

  • Executive team alignment sessions (shared vision, roles, commitments)

  • Leadership communication coaching (town halls, team meetings)

  • Sponsor effectiveness coaching (visible support, removing barriers)

  • Navigation of political dynamics and competing interests

  • Support for difficult conversations and decisions

6. Adoption & Sustainability Planning

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What it is:

Strategies to ensure new ways of working stick after go-live, not just technical adoption, but behavioral and cultural embedding.

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Why it matters:

Projects end, but transformation success is measured by sustained adoption. Without intentional sustainability planning, organizations revert to old behaviors within months.

 

What I help you develop:

  • Adoption metrics and tracking mechanisms

  • Training and enablement strategies

  • Reinforcement mechanisms (incentives, performance management integration)

  • Post-go-live support plans

  • Continuous improvement processes for ongoing refinement

How I Apply the PATH Framework to Change Advisory

Even in advisory engagements, I follow the PATH framework, ensuring we don't just create plans, but actually drive adoption and embed new ways of working.

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PREPARE Phase (Month 1-2)

Assess readiness and build the foundation

  • Change landscape assessment and readiness analysis

  • Stakeholder mapping and engagement planning

  • Leadership alignment on vision and approach

  • Change strategy and roadmap development

  • Governance structure design

 

Deliverable: Change management strategy, readiness assessment, stakeholder plan

ACTIVATE Phase (Month 2-4)

Launch the transformation with engagement and momentum

  • Communication campaign launch

  • Stakeholder engagement execution

  • Leadership communication support (town halls, team sessions)

  • Early adopter identification and mobilization

  • Quick wins to build confidence and demonstrate progress

 

Deliverable: Communication materials, engagement activities, visible momentum

TRANSFORM Phase (Month 4-10)

Navigate the complex middle of transformation

  • Ongoing stakeholder engagement and resistance management

  • Communication execution and feedback loops

  • Leadership coaching through challenges

  • Course correction based on adoption data

  • Issue escalation and problem-solving support

 

Deliverable: Sustained engagement, risk mitigation, adaptive execution

HARNESS Phase (Month 10-12+)

Embed and sustain the change

  • Adoption measurement and gap closure

  • Sustainability mechanisms implementation

  • Lessons learned and continuous improvement

  • Knowledge transfer to internal teams

  • Transition planning for ongoing ownership

 

Deliverable: Embedded change, measured adoption, sustainable new state

Is Strategic Transformation Partnership Right For You?

You're an Ideal Fit If:

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✅ You're facing a complex, high-stakes transformation
M&A integration, major technology implementation, significant restructuring, or cultural overhaul where failure would have serious business consequences.

✅ The change is urgent and timeline-sensitive
You need results in 3-12 months and can't afford a 2-year capability-building approach.

✅ You need specialized expertise you don't have internally
Your team can manage projects but lacks deep transformation experience for this level of complexity.

✅ Stakeholder landscape is politically complex
Multiple competing interests, organizational silos, cross-border dynamics, or sensitive power dynamics require expert navigation.

✅ Leadership needs a trusted strategic partner
Executives want someone who's "been there before" to help them avoid pitfalls and make smart decisions.

✅ You want to build capability, not dependency
You're looking for a partner who will make you more capable of handling future transformations independently.

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You're NOT the Right Fit If:

❌ You're looking for someone to execute the entire project (I partner; I don't replace your team)
❌ The change is routine and low-complexity (your team can likely handle this)
❌ You want a longer-term capability-building approach (consider Organizational Capability Development instead)
❌ Budget doesn't support strategic partnership rates

What to Expect: Structure, Investment, and Outcomes

Engagement Models

I offer flexible engagement models based on your needs

MODEL 1:
Strategic Partnership (Part-Time)

When to use: You have strong internal teams; you need strategic guidance and expertise at key moments

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Structure:

  • 2-3 days per week on-site/virtual

  • Strategic planning, stakeholder engagement design, leadership coaching

  • Attend critical meetings and decision points

  • Available for ad-hoc consultation between scheduled sessions

 

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Typical Duration: 3-12 months
 

Investment: €1,400-€1,800 daily rate | Monthly retainer €8,000-€12,000

MODEL 2:
Intensive Partnership
(Embedded)

When to use: The change is very complex, fast-paced, or high-stakes; you need consistent presence and hands-on support

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Structure:

  • 4-5 days per week embedded with leadership and project teams

  • Full change management strategy development and execution oversight

  • Direct stakeholder engagement and resistance management

  • Real-time problem-solving and course correction

 

Typical Duration: 6-12 months

 

​​Investment: €1,600-€1,800 daily rate | Monthly engagement €25,000-€35,000

MODEL 3:
Specific Phase Partnership

When to use: You need help with a specific phase but can handle the rest internally

 

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Structure:

  • Focused engagement on single phase (1-3 months)

  • Assessment & Planning: Readiness assessment, strategy development

  • Launch Support: Communication execution, stakeholder engagement

  • Sustainability: Adoption measurement, embedding mechanisms

 

Typical Duration: 1-3 months

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Investment: €12,000-€35,000 depending on phase and scope

What's Included (All Models)

 

Strategic Advisory:

  • Change readiness assessment

  • Change strategy and roadmap

  • Stakeholder engagement planning

  • Communication strategy development

  • Leadership coaching and alignment support

 

Execution Support:

  • Attendance at key meetings and decision forums

  • Stakeholder engagement and resistance management

  • Communication materials review and guidance

  • Risk identification and mitigation recommendations

  • Regular status updates and course correction

 

Knowledge Transfer:

  • Change management frameworks and tools

  • Templates and playbooks for your team

  • Training for internal change champions (where appropriate)

  • Lessons learned documentation

 

NOT Included:

  • Day-to-day project management (you own execution)

  • Full-time resource management (I advise; I don't staff)

  • Technology implementation (I focus on people/change side)

  • Travel outside Vienna/Lower Austria (billed separately at cost)

What Organizations Achieve With Strategic Transformation Partnership

OUTCOME 1: Faster, Smoother Implementation

  • Timeline reduction: 20-35% faster adoption compared to transformations without change management

  • Issue resolution: 60% fewer escalated issues requiring executive intervention

  • Stakeholder support: 75%+ stakeholder approval ratings vs. typical 40-50%

OUTCOME 2: Higher Adoption & Lower Resistance

  • User adoption: 80-90% adoption within 6 months post-launch vs. typical 50-60%

  • Resistance management: Proactive identification and mitigation preventing derailment

  • Employee engagement: Maintained or improved during transformation (not declined)

OUTCOME 3: Reduced Business Disruption

  • Productivity: Minimize productivity dips during transition

  • Turnover: Retain key talent through uncertainty (vs. typical 15-25% attrition)

  • Business continuity: Maintain operations while transforming

OUTCOME 4: Sustained Value Realization

  • Benefits achievement: 85%+ of projected benefits realized within 18 months

  • Sustainability: Changes stick long-term (not reversion to old ways)

  • Capability transfer: Internal team equipped for future changes

Client Results

Result 1: Cross-Border M&A Integration (Digital Services)

Challenge: European digital company acquiring competitor in 4 countries. Cultural differences, regulatory complexity, talent retention concerns. 18-month timeline to integrate operations and realize €45M in synergies.

What I Did:

​9-month embedded advisory engagement focusing on leadership alignment, cultural integration strategy, and stakeholder management across countries.

Outcomes:

  • Integration completed in 11 months (vs. projected 18)

  • 87% retention of key talent (vs. typical 50-60% post-M&A)

  • €48M synergies realized (107% of target)

  • Cultural integration score: 4.1/5 (measured 12 months post-close)

Result 2: Global ERP Implementation (Construction)
Challenge: 2,400-person construction company implementing global ERP across 6 facilities in 3 countries. Previous ERP attempt failed spectacularly. Leadership nervous, employees skeptical.
What I Did:

6-month strategic advisory (part-time) focused on stakeholder engagement, communication strategy, and leadership coaching to rebuild trust after previous failure.

Outcomes:

  • 92% user adoption within 3 months of go-live

  • Zero critical issues requiring rollback (previous attempt had 47)

  • Employee confidence in transformation: increased from 2.1 to 4.4 out of 5

Result 2: Post-Acquisition Cultural Transformation (Technology)
Challenge: Tech company acquired by PE firm. New CEO brought in to "professionalize" startup culture. Significant resistance from long-tenured employees who feared losing what made the company special.
What I Did:

4-month intensive advisory helping new CEO and leadership team navigate cultural transformation while retaining innovation and talent.

Outcomes:

  • 83% employee engagement maintained (vs. expected 30-40% drop)

  • 91% retention of high performers through transformation

  • Culture transformation roadmap co-created with employees (not imposed)

  • New operating model adopted with broad support

  • Revenue growth continued through transformation (no disruption)

FAQ - Change Management Advisory

How is strategic partnership different from consulting?

Traditional consulting typically means delivering recommendations or executing work for you, then leaving. Strategic partnership means I work alongside your team as a navigator and advisor, providing expertise, frameworks, and strategic direction while building your capability. You own execution; I provide the map, help you avoid pitfalls, and strengthen your team's ability to handle future transformations independently.

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Do I need to hire you full-time?

No. Most engagements are part-time (2-3 days/week) or intensive phases. I work alongside your existing teams, providing strategic guidance when needed most.

 

What if I have internal change resources?

Perfect! I often work with internal change teams, providing advanced expertise, coaching, and support for complex situations they haven't encountered before. I strengthen your team rather than replacing them.

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Can you just do the assessment and planning?

Yes. Phase-specific engagements (assessment, planning, launch support, sustainability) are available. Many clients start with assessment/planning, then decide whether to continue for execution support.

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How do you charge for travel?

Vienna and Lower Austria travel is included. For other locations, travel expenses (mileage, accommodation, per diem) are billed at cost. For international travel, we discuss arrangements upfront.

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What happens when the engagement ends?

I transfer knowledge, frameworks, and tools to your team. We document lessons learned. I create a sustainability plan. Many clients stay in touch for occasional consulting on future changes, but the goal is your self-sufficiency.

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Do you work with other consultants or vendors?

Yes, frequently. I collaborate with strategy consultants, technology implementation partners, and other specialists. My focus is the people/change side; I complement technical implementation work.

 

How do I know if I need partnership or capability development?

Partnership: You have an immediate, complex transformation that needs expert guidance now.
Capability: You face constant change and want to build internal capability for the long term.
Both: Start with partnership for the critical transformation, then transition to capability development to prepare for the future.

Many clients do both—just not simultaneously.

Ready for Expert Change Management Guidance?

Let's start with a strategy session to understand your transformation, assess fit, and discuss how advisory support could de-risk your initiative.

Three-Step Process

 

Step 1: Free Strategy Session (45-60 minutes)

We discuss:

  • Your transformation (scope, timeline, complexity)

  • Current challenges and risks you're seeing

  • Internal resources and capabilities

  • Whether advisory support makes sense and what model fits

 

Step 2: Scoping & Proposal (Optional)

If there's a fit, I can conduct a brief scoping assessment:

  • Review transformation documentation

  • Interview 2-3 key stakeholders

  • Assess readiness and risk landscape

  • Provide preliminary recommendations and engagement proposal

Investment: €3,000-€5,000 (credited toward engagement if you proceed)

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Step 3: Engagement Launch

Once aligned, we kick off with:

  • Detailed planning and stakeholder mapping

  • Governance and communication protocols

  • Quick assessment to identify immediate priorities

  • 30-60-90 day roadmap

Don't Navigate Complex Change Alone

If you're facing a transformation where failure isn't an option, let's discuss how strategic change management advisory can help you succeed.

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