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At The Gunter Group we categorize our work into four practice areas: Technology, Execution, People, and Strategy, with client engagements often stretching across multiple service categories.

Our strategy work capitalizes on existing organizational strengths, as we lead executives and their teams to develop and implement plans that allow them to reach their strategic objectives.

In this Q&A we talk with Stephen Bacon, Service Delivery Manager for our Strategy Practice, and explore our strategy work in greater detail.

Tell us a little bit about the nature of work TGG focuses on within the Strategy Practice:

Strategy for us is about working to articulate our clients’ goals and then helping to articulate and organize a plan for them to get there. Sometimes clients might not know their goals, and sometimes they do. We help them discover the path and make recommendations.

Tell us about a recent engagement supporting a client initiative?

We helped a senior leader in a financial services organization articulate their long-term strategy for a product line. We helped them discover a different way to go to market and recognize the challenges of the industry. And by using their strengths to overcome those challenges and execute, they delivered a record financial year.

What are recent trends you see impacting businesses in the Strategy space?

There are unique economic factors at play right now. Since capital is abundant and interest rates are low, businesses can undertake a wide variety of initiatives. Deciding where to go and how to use their capital in the best way, for their organizations and shareholders, is going to be the main goal. 

Tell us about one of your favorite projects your team has worked on:

We worked with a healthcare organization to learn about and recognize the impacts of an engaged workforce. The results of an engaged workforce result in a multitude of benefits like a sense of collegiality, more effective leadership of teams, and decision making processes that are inclusive and engage the whole workforce. 

More about Stephen Bacon:
Stephen is passionate about understanding the overarching strategic goals of an organization and leading the changes that are so often necessary to implement those strategies. His expertise is guiding strategy and change efforts across a variety of organizations. Stephen has spent twenty years leading initiatives at Fortune 500 companies, academic institutions and not-for-profits in the education services, technology, financial services, consumer products, and healthcare industries, including extensive international experience. Stephen is a PROSCI Certified Change Practitioner, Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM), holds a green belt in Six Sigma, and is accredited in various psychometric assessments (MBTI, ESCI, NBI). He holds a B.S. in Finance and Marketing from Boston College and an M.A. in Organizational Psychology from Columbia University. In addition to his service on not-for-profit boards, Stephen has three young children and a chocolate lab. He lives and works in Portland, Oregon.