Strategy Planning with ACAI
ACAI is a sustainable women’s outdoor clothing brand on a mission to revolutionise all women’s experience outdoors. As one of the few female-led outdoor online retailers they have not only filled the void in the market for sustainable, performance-led outdoorwear for women, but also built a community via campaigns such as ‘Outdoorsing’.
The Challenge
Following great success and some challenges post-Covid with supply chain, rising costs and a changing workforce, ACAI was transitioning from being founder-led to engaging a CEO and a wider team, whilst looking for their next tranche of investment. When I met the Executive Team, they shared their feelings of frustration with the post-Covid business landscape and recognised that they were looking for a clearer direction and a much-needed morale boost. They needed to be reassured that clarity and reinvigoration was possible and that all their work up to this point had been worth it.
The Solution
The Exec Team at ACAI wanted an energising and engaging space in which to create a three-year business strategy to use internally to motivate their team and externally to pitch to future investors.
Using my coaching approach, I put the team at ease creating a safe space where they could share challenges and frustrations. We discussed how far they had come and what they had achieved so far in their journey. Once we had taken stock, we created a clear plan and direction of travel with everyone clear on their role and motivated to achieve it.
Bringing my expertise in facilitation I enabled them to focus, discuss, explore and be appropriately challenged. As a pair of unbiased eyes and ears, I encouraged them to make informed conclusions and decisions at the right time. Without being intrusive, I helped them reach their target outcomes more effectively and empowered them to find their own solutions so they can make a bigger impact.
The Impact
Clarity of vision and mission, confident it fitted with future ambitions. The team were brought together around a shared purpose and common goal, and they could see they were all on the same team.
A clear direction of travel with a plan to confidently pitch to potential investors and communicate to their team. Having a plan set out meant that they could refer to it at any time to keep them on track.
Priorities set for next 12 months to achieve that plan with everyone bought in, clear of their role, responsibilities and accountability. Each person could understand it would take all of them to do their bit to achieve their ambitions.
The morale of the team was greatly boosted. The team feel supported, resilient, confident and motivated. The leaders of this exciting business are equipped to take the next step in their journey.
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