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Overview

Strategy+People has helped hundreds of C-Suite executives master strategic leadership and embed their strategic vision as the foundation for how their company thinks and operates.

Our clients have been supported to successfully:

  • Transform their company into global recognized brands

  • Transform their legacy business for new value creation and operating efficiencies

  • Drive new revenue streams from entering new markets and innovating new products and services

  • Increase customer retention for bottom line profitability

  • Transform Staff Departments (HR, Finance, IT) for business partnering

  • Recover transformational enterprise initiatives and reposition them for breakthrough performance

  • Lead and Deliver strategic enterprise transformation initiatives

  • Drive breakthrough levels of employee engagement and transform culture for high performance teamwork and a great place to work.

  • Position their company for long term profitable growth for increased private equity valuations

 

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Pinnacles & Praise

I meet my clients where they’re at, working together to take their potential to new heights.

Below, success stories and testimonials from some of my valued relationships.

 
 
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$2.1B US | 5 year relationship

+ Trusted Advisor to Chairman/CEO to advance his vision “Dare to be Great” and strategic consultant to Executive Team to develop their Strategic Enterprise framework and deploy their business strategy across the US with their 55,000 employees

+ Clarified AlliedBarton’s core market segmentation as basis for aggressive growth objectives.

+ Developed an aligned Regional Business Planning system, implemented by Regional Leaders with their teams for the development of regional strategies to position AlliedBarton as best brand in their market, in alignment with Vision and Strategic Growth Objectives

+ Developed an employee strategic statement, badge and supporting operational framework to focus all front line resources on brand, values and operating principles in their work, every day

+ Instrumental to Executive Team in developing AlliedBarton as a best in class organization, that attracted a leading private equity partner with an industry record valuation.(11.4x EBITDA)

““Joanne was instrumental in helping our leaders develop and drive our strategic vision to differentiate AlliedBarton as the best brand in our key market segments, in addition to helping us clarify a significant opportunity for the growth of our business. As a result, we increased our earnings and attracted a world-class private equity valuation”
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— MR. WILLIAM (BILL) WHITMORE, CHAIRMAN & CEO, ALLIED BARTON SECURITY SERVICES
““Working with Joanne over the past 5 years we transformed the company to deliver exceptional value to customers, employees and shareholders. Joanne helped us take a legacy strategy to the next level. Under her strategic planning process, we created new differentiation and services; expanding new markets, identifying underserved markets and deploying a unique program to grow an underserved market. Joanne’s market planning process, ideation and professional and thought-provoking style helped our leadership team align and deliver. I’d highly recommend Joanne and her work”
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— MS. CAROL JOHNSON, PRESIDENT & COO ALLIEDBARTON SECURITY SERVICES

$21B US | 12 year relationship

+ Supported Manpower’s development from an international to Global corporation.

+ Supported the Chairman and Executive team to align Vision and Strategy with newly developed Global Brand Strategy.

+ Supported Canadian, US, EMEA, Global HR, IT, Sales and Marketing executives to leverage Global framework, develop local business strategies and achieve Manpower's financial plan.

+ EMEA's strategy resulted in revenue growth from $5B to $8.95B over a 5 year period.

+ Supported US business to realize increased profitability of 120%.

+ Implemented programs that aligned thousands of employees to Manpower’s Strategy and Brand 

Other clients include: Sovereign General, Aviva Canada, Toyota Canada, ManuLife Financial, VitalAire/Air Liquide, The Learning Care Group, SERCO, Vonage Canada, ATI Technologies (now AMD), University of Michigan.

““Strategy+People brought Manpower the services and tools that allowed us to transform our business. Assisting leadership teams in clarifying the corporate vision and strategy, global alignment to common goals was quickly achieved, resulting in stronger financial performance.”
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— Ms. Barbara Beck, EVP Manpower Inc.; President EMEA
““Strategy+People helped us align thousands of branch employees to our vision and business strategy; improving operating efficiencies, engagement and execution.””
— Steve Walker, COO, North America
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Other Success Stories

+ Strategy partner to Baxter Corporation for 10 years, working closely with executive leaders across all strategic business units in Canada, US, and Global to assess their market within the context of the corporate mission, clarify their strategic plan and deploy initiatives for development of long term customer relationships.

+ Worked with European Executive Team of Campbell Soup Company to developed Pan-European Strategy Framework to support European business leadership and growth of Campbells Soup Brands throughout Europe.

+ Strategy partner to Sovereign General Insurance Company supporting development of Vision, Strategy and 4 year business plan; clarifying market segmentation to transition to strategic business unit structure and innovative growth strategies

+ Leadership development partner to Imperial Oil (Exxon/Mobil), working closely with the Chairman, to achieve his vision of operational excellence as a key business platform. Collaborated in the design, was lead facilitator in the delivery and accountable to the client for the overall value of the program over a 10 year period. The advanced case study driven development curriculum was delivered to all senior to mid level leaders throughout Canada. 

+ Strategy and leadership development partner to CEO and executive team at ATI Technologies as they grew from an innovative, entrepreneurial Canadian company to a global leader in the semiconductor industry (graphics processing units and chipsets). 

+ Worked closely with Founder, CEO/President of Gennum Corporation, Dr. Douglas Barber, Officer of  The Order of Canada to support his vision for leadership alignment and employee engagement to the business strategy and core operating principles involved in the design, manufacture and marketing of Gennum's semiconductor-based products for global video, audio and data communications markets. 

+ Strategy partner to Executive Team at CAMI Automotive (joint venture GM/Suzuki) working closely with the CEO and his team to advance the efficient production of vehicles using the CAMI Production System (CPS).

“I have been very fortunate to have worked with Joanne Downey over the past decade in the area of strategy development for two organizations I have been with. The reason I work with Joanne is simple: She quickly gains credibility with senior leadership through her ability to understand the business issues and facilitate discussion that support strategic alignment within the leadership team. When Joanne is working on a project with me, I am confident we will achieve what we have set out to do and be stronger because of her contribution.”
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— Jo-Anne Yanuziello, Vice President, Human Resources, Sovereign General
““Quick intelligence and infectious enthusiasm and curiosity mark Strategy + People’s founder, Joanne Downey. Whether leading a group of executives in discussion or one-on-one, Joanne’s passion for successfully aligning strategy and people to drive business success, is unquestioned.” ”
— Terry Nickerson, CFO, ATI Technologies
““I have worked with Joanne on multiple occasions, each time with great results. Joanne is one of those very rare people that has great process orientation but also develops new and creative solutions to problems. I look forward to working with her again.” ”
— Paul Serio, Global CIO, Baxter Corporation