My Friends at Sollertis Strategy

A few words about each of your backgrounds, how you met, and why you decided to work as a team.

Former strategist for multinationals, some government organisations and corporations, Rebecca Bachmann specialises in high-level strategy at the intersection of crisis management and private intelligence. Having studied psychology and law, and in addition to her strong capabilities in analysis, contingency planning as well as risk and vulnerability assessment, she now advises high-growth ventures and investors.

Elizabeth J. Taylor’s expertise lies in architecting concept and operational strategy, crisis management, and negotiation. Given her studies in human and organisational development, data science, and risk management, Elizabeth’s principal strength lies in solving problems at the convergence of future, technology, and risk. Colorado is her home state and natural state of mind.

Elizabeth and Rebecca met while working on a joint project, they quickly became good friends and soon after business partners founding Sollertis Strategy.

They share the same background and passion of working with multinationals, think tanks, and governments.

What do you bring to the table that’s special?

The leadership qualities of the Sollertis Strategy management team are what sets them apart from other advisories in attaining nimble wins and providing the much needed operation and strategic expertise to highly scalable companies both from within or as the operator tasked by the investor or VC. Elizabeth and Rebecca perfectly complement their skills and successfully lead their rapidly growing team of experts in the areas of law, IP, marketing, product development, design, software development and funding.

Why Munich? Why Europe?

The company is incorporated in London with a subsidiary in Munich – the consideration was between Munich and Berlin. We choose Munich since that’s where the money is. If you can succeed in Munich, you can make it anywhere. The hurdles are extremely high and adjusting these fundamental barriers to entry was a challenge we also want(ed) to tackle.

Who are your dream clients? Walk us briefly through your journey together.

Nobody can be the Chief Everything Officer, especially when a company is scaling fast, many mistakes are made. That’s okay though. Our ideal client is curious, willing to learn, accepting of his or her limitations, a team player who leads by example and is passionate about his product, company and vision of the future.We have ‘pivoted’ our fair share in the beginning, really trying to nail our services-to-client-fit. It was a learning process for us as well and it wasn’t always easy. We completed a lot of pro-bono work, choose projects carefully, focused on growing the team and setting up Sollertis Strategy to be in a position to adjust and scale quickly as well. Much of our energy was focused towards being able to cover various development stages and industries.

How many companies owe their success (or part of it) to you two?

I would like to believe around 15-20. These are the companies and individuals we have helped, worked for and worked with. Value can be contributed in many ways and we are very open with a ‘How may I help you’ attitude before we consider a formal engagement. Even during our vigorous vetting process during which we determine if there is a fit for both sides, we don’t hold back giving advice and providing actionable intelligence.

I want to be a successful entrepreneur. Why can’t I just read all the good books on the subject and take it from there? Hey, I can even read your book? Do I need to hire you?

You need to execute! Even if you read all the books in the world you need to find people who have expertise and experience in their respective fields to execute all that advice. Hiring those people is expensive and even if you can attract the high calibre talent you seek, you probably won’t have enough work to fill their whole day, and even less money to pay them.

Hiring Sollertis Strategy, with our agile and lean organisational structure, you have the experts most suitable to your challenge at your disposal, won’t have to formally hire them, negotiate with them or manage them. We offer, in the truest sense, the most tailored and cost-effective solution to executing your highest priority matters while monitoring impediments to your success.

What is the one most important step in success? And a couple more, please.

Planning, executing and reviewing! If you implement a feedback loop inside your company you can learn from your successes and your failures and improve.

Discipline, hard work, time-management skills and honesty with others and oneself are vital too.

Sollertis Strategy

2016