Every leader faces complex situations.

At these junctures, some Sage Advice can be helpful.

We are a team of senior management business-builders with decades of frontline experience successfully growing businesses, brands, not-for-profits and public agencies.

Why Work With Us

We offer practical advice – advice that draws upon years of managing, navigating and consulting on diverse business challenges. The breadth and depth of our collective experience enables us to quickly cut to the chase, be provocateurs to your thinking, and astute sounding boards to your ideas.

 What do we do?

The Sage team works in a collaborative style that coaches, mentors and motivates internal staff to become the custodians and champions of the resultant solutions. We don’t utilize formulas or models but instead apply our vast professional experience and intuitive and savvy thinking into one Sage focused solution that is insightful, imaginative and actionable.

What would you gain?

Quantifiable outcomes based on practical advice that:

Peels away the superfluous to reveal the insight;
Is based on a work approach customized to address your business need;
Does not rely on formulas or systems that pigeon-hole thinking;
Is collaborative rather than dictatorial;
Is uncomplicated versus complicated.

How is Sage different?

In a word: Experience. A collective experience that spans:

Decades;
Corporate, entrepreneurial and academic careers;
Eclectic management experiences;
Challenging business environments;
Successes and failures!

Who We Assist

Organizations who are looking for a different perspective and sagely considered solutions for their marketing, sales and organizational challenges.

Small to Medium Businesses

 Facing restructuring challenges, management issues, stalled growth.

Corporations 

Dealing with impacts of a merger / downsizing / new competitive environment.

Associations 

Looking for a clear brand/marketing positioning, resolving membership challenges.

Not-for-Profits 

Needing to strengthen core messaging, overcome stakeholder conflicts, achieve a larger share of public support.

Our Team

We are a team of business builders and entrepreneurs with decades of frontline experience. We’ve steered companies (our own and clients) through every upturn and downturn you can imagine, successfully growing businesses, managing brands, enhancing reputations and resolving tough management issues.

Jim Ryan

Formerly, Senior Advertising Executive and Founder / President of Ryan Edwards Communications.

Jim’s entrepreneurial spirit enabled him to open and head up a successful advertising and communications company. Over the 27 years that Jim led his company he had to navigate many issues, the last one being how to sell his company. Prior to launching his own company Jim worked at major ad agencies in Canada and internationally.

Peter Francey

Formerly, Founder and President of Trajectory Brands and Partner/President of Spencer, Francey, Peters.

Peter’s expertise in brand management spans a broad Who’s Who of public and private sectors. He co-founded and led a multi-million-dollar agency for many decades, acquiring and divesting of businesses, taking the company public, launching new services, management buyouts and building international partnerships.

Norm Simon

Formerly, Brand Master and Chief Communications Strategist for: CBC English Networks; Ontario Hydro; Bell Canada; City of Toronto and CUPE.

Norm has achieved a unique trifecta of business experience – Corporate, Government/Public Sector and Not-for-Profit. In the corporate world, Norm has been at the table for a variety of mergers and de-mergers. His NFP experience has included several international organizations, while his Public Sector experience includes both national and provincial files, including serving as the Chair of the Ontario Government’s Advertising Review Board.

Alan Middleton

Formerly, Adjunct Professor of Marketing and Executive Director, Schulich Executive Education Centre, Schulich School of Business, York University.

Alan’s career spans a breathtaking arc. His business endeavours have taken him through many senior management agency roles nationally and internationally. His academic pursuits have led him to obtain a PhD. in Business Administration, and then onto several university placements, culminating with his appointment as Executive Director Schulich Executive Education Centre (SEEC).

Portfolio

Our goal is to help businesses tackle issues that might benefit from our sage advice. Here are a couple of projects we recently completed.

View Projects

Viewpoints

Some interesting perspectives on successful brands and the importance and benefits of mentorship.

Learn More

Contact

If you have a business challenge or issue that you think could benefit from some sage advice please contact us.

Contact

About Us Portfolio Viewpoints Contact