Strategy Consultancy

Strategy consultancy exists because organisations face decisions that are too large or too uncertain to make on instinct. A company might be deciding whether to enter a new country, buy another business, or change its product range. They hire consultants to gather evidence, structure the problem, and recommend a course of action.

Strategy work is less technical than risk or data consultancy, but it relies on clear analysis. A project usually starts by breaking a broad question into smaller ones, then gathering data to answer each. At a large firm the client might be a multinational deciding on a global strategy. At a smaller firm it might be a mid-sized company planning its next few years.

The main tools are Excel and PowerPoint. Most analysis is done in spreadsheets, and findings are presented as slides. Some projects use heavier data analysis, but the emphasis is on structuring a problem and communicating a clear answer. The skills that matter most are logical thinking, comfort with numbers, and the ability to explain a complex situation simply.

In the Netherlands, strategy firms range from large international names to smaller local outfits, with most work in Amsterdam and the surrounding area. Clients come from every sector, from Banking to government to retail. Similar work happens inside organisations' own strategy and corporate development teams, but consultants are brought in for specific decisions rather than running a company day to day. A strategic decision often leads to follow-up work in data or risk.