STUDION
Igniting growth through organizational change and rebranding
THE CHALLENGE:
Extension Engine, renowned for crafting bespoke digital learning experiences, stood at the forefront of innovation. Its dynamic leadership, spearheaded by the same partners, also ventured into the burgeoning field of digitizing clinical trials, birthing the rapid-growth entity now known as Agilathon. As these two brands coexisted under one roof, 2022 brought accelerated expansion, prompting the need for a cohesive organizational design.
The challenge: forge a unified leadership team, geared for enduring growth, and distill these diverse offerings into a singular brand.
DESIGNING THE ORGANIZATION FOR EXPONENTIAL GROWTH
To propel the organization from a $25M to a $100M powerhouse, a strategic redesign was imperative. I initiated the process by crafting succinct briefs and establishing clear goals. Expertise from the House of Creativity, guided by Andrea Kershaw, fortified our organizational design efforts. Merging Agilathon and Extension Engine, and incorporating a team of engineers in Croatia, demanded additional senior leadership. We shifted from a founder-led structure to a robust team of 8 executives, delineating roles, accountabilities, and organizational structures. Learning and Life Sciences Practices emerged, each with dedicated leadership, while a centralized set of services bonded them as a singular entity. A unifying purpose ensured seamless integration, backed by a strategic board.
The new organization, now fully staffed and operational, implements streamlined processes, strategic planning, and has core metrics to steer growth.
FRESH MESSAGING AND REBRANDING
With the revamped organization in place, the focus turned to rebranding. The previous brands, hastily created in an engineering-centric culture, lacked depth. The websites generated few leads, awareness was minimal, and business relied heavily on partner networking. The companies were labeled "industry secrets," a status incongruent with the desired exponential growth trajectory.
Teaming up with Akin, led by Caroline Flagiello, for brand expertise, we undertook a comprehensive rebranding initiative, involving cross-functional collaboration.
Together, we crafted a brand position, values, verbal and visual identity, culminating in the birth of Studion.
We meticulously navigated legal processes to secure the name. We also articulated distinctive core processes for client engagements, emphasizing critical differentiators.
IMPACTFUL LAUNCH AND BEYOND
With the Studion brand defined and embraced across the organization, we orchestrated the launch of a new, purpose-driven website. Thought leadership became the bedrock of the brand, manifested through a series of impactful blog posts. Social media campaigns and internal global engagement sessions marked the external and internal unveiling, respectively. The entire process concluded with the strategic hiring of a VP to oversee long-term marketing and brand management.
The Studion journey continues. Today, I remain deeply involved with Studion, serving on its board and nurturing relationships with some of its most esteemed clientele. The transformation is ongoing, but the impact is palpable, echoing the power of strategic vision and collaborative execution.
“You led us on a journey as a fractional executive and then board member that we could never have navigated alone. From structuring strategic decisions to establishing an organization poised for scale and gifting us a beautiful new brand, your creative vision and deliberate follow-through were indispensable.”
Furqan Nazeeri, Studion CEO and Partner