IN A NUTSHELL
.png)
TOP-LEVEL STRATEGY CONSULTING
REIMAGINED
FOR SMALLER COMPANIES AND SMALLER BUDGETS
3 stages of growth
No matter the size or industry,
each business goes through three key stages.
Each with its own challenges—from juggling priorities and aligning teams to raising capital, securing growth and planning for transitions.
In the early stages, businesses are often bursting with ideas but struggle to turn them into structured, actionable plans.
While the vision may be clear, day-to-day operations and the need to secure funding can become overwhelming, leading to a lack of focus.
organise, focus & fund
As the business enters the next phase of growth, new challenges arise that can stall progress.
While early-stage successes brought momentum, scaling up often introduces complexities that can lead to stagnation.
grow and mature
At this stage, business owners are ready to reduce their involvement in day-to-day operations, or they are preparing to sell the company.
But the business is inseparable from them – they are its essence. The company’s operations and success heavily depend on them.
reduce and sell
Each stage requires a clear, actionable strategy to succeed.
That is where OGSM—Objectives, Goals, Strategies, Measures—comes in. A proven strategy framework that:
1) connects your vision to actions
2) gives you focus so you can prioritise and aligns your teams
3) builds trust with your external partners.
Widely used by companies like Procter & Gamble and Coca-Cola, we have tailored OGSM specifically for start-ups, entrepreneurs, and SMEs.
key benefits of ogsm
OGSM connects your inspiring vision to clear strategies and actionable steps, ensuring your team knows exactly how to bring it to life.
from vision to action
With OGSM, everyone sees the bigger picture, understands their role, and works together seamlessly—no more misalignment or wasted effort.
prioritise and focus
The one-page format demonstrates a well-thought-out plan, building trust with stakeholders and showing that your business is prepared for the future.
trust and transparency
OGSM & SCRUM
OGSM and Scrum work extremely well together by balancing short-term flexibile execution with long-term strategic planning.
Scrum is great for driving progress through quick, focused sprints, but it sometimes lacks the big-picture vision needed to ensure those efforts contribute to broader goals.
OGSM provides a clear objective, measurable goals, and actionable strategies that give direction to the sprints. Which can serve as the action part of the OGSM.
Key principles that both frameworks share: collaboration, alignment, clarity, focus, and feedback.
Together they ensure Agile work stays aligned with strategic priorities, creating a roadmap where every sprint moves the team closer to its ultimate goal.
-
Scrum keeps teams adaptive, while OGSM keeps their work tied to long-term objectives.
-
Regular feedback from Scrum provides OGSM the input required to track progress on the strategies and make adjustments as needed.
the perfect match for strategic and agile success
athena associates
premium strategy for smaller businesses
A different kind of consultancy We believe that every business, regardless of size, deserves high-quality strategy support. We have reimagined top-tier consultancy to suit smaller businesses with smaller budgets. Fuss-free, friendly and fair-priced.
With hubs in Barcelona and Zurich, we operate globally, providing our services virtually and in person, in English, German or Dutch.
Actionable, achievable and affordable
Our process is designed to be straightforward and with maximum impact:
-
Reduced complexity
-
Fixed timeline
A unique partnership With both of us bringing over 25 years of experience—Rudolf in consultancy and Mariska from the corporate side—we combine strategic expertise with a hands-on understanding of how businesses operate. We create strategies that are both forward-thinking and grounded in business reality.
Who we are As Dutch nationals, we combine a pragmatic, direct, and can-do mentality with a personal, friendly and accessible approach—qualities often missing in larger consultancies. Both of us hold Master’s Degrees in Business Economics, bringing academic rigor to our hands-on expertise.
We have lived and worked across Europe and around the world (we still do).
ATHENA
strategic wisdom - tactical expertise
The Greek goddess of wisdom and strategy perfectly symbolises our consultancy's ethos and approach.
Athena was known for her clear-sightedness, great ideas and highly-developed ability to think ahead. She was the decisive factor in winning battles.
These are the qualities we bring to our strategic work with our clients.
Athena is our patron of strategic mastery
The ancient Greek civilisation, even after more than 2,000 years, continues to shape our culture, architecture and philosophy.
This lasting impact reflects our approach: building strategies on a solid foundation that adapts over time, providing clients with the flexibility to evolve today and the strength to thrive tomorrow.
