Strategy Sphere

STRATEGIC ADVISORY FOR CLIMATE SOLUTIONS

Mobilizing capital for climate solutions with innovative finance

We value candid feedback from clients who have used StrategySphere to sharpen their climate and nature strategies. Their testimonials speak to what it feels like to move from fragmented ideas to a grounded plan that their boards, partners, and funders can stand behind.

Helping RenewWest determine what to prioritize and focus on has allowed many other doors to open. Sean helps reduce the clutter and makes good connections.

Renew West logo - Gordian Knot Strategies client
John Cleland – CEO
RenewWest

It has been an immense pleasure to work with the GKS team: they are incredibly knowledgeable, comprehensive and, importantly, have always been able to explain complex climate topics to our team in an approachable way. The strategy development work GKS has done for us will serve us well as we work toward meeting our climate targets.

De Beers Group logo - Gordian Knot Strategies client
Ruby Stocklin-Weinberg – Carbon Neutrality Specialist
De Beers Group

Thank you GKS again for your informative and engaging presentation. We couldn’t have done it without all your help. We also wanted to relay that many Task Force members followed up with us to share that they really enjoyed your talk.

Bipartisan Policy Center logo - Gordian Knot Strategies client
Caroline Normile, PhD – Senior Policy Analyst, Energy Project
Bipartisan Policy Center

In addition to the obvious expertise in building a financially sustainable impact program, the thing I enjoy most about working with the GKS team is the opportunity for constant learning and growth–all offered with the utmost respect and patience to every individual at every level of our organization.

American Forest Foundation logo - Gordian Knot Strategies client
Christine Cadigan – Executive Vice President, Carbon Origination
American Forest Foundation

The engagement with Gordian Knot Strategies was professional, well organized and incredibly valuable. The knowledge we gained during the engagement moved us leaps ahead of where we were prior to the engagement. We feel significantly more prepared to move our project forward and will be trying to find a way to remain engaged with GKS as we move forward.

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Jim Snyder – Chief Financial Officer
Savory Institute

Gordian Knot Strategies’ work on the financial model for our program allowed us for the first time to chart a viable course to implement and scale the program.  Before working with you, we had a good idea with no way to implement.  Now we have a much more concrete road map.

American Forest Foundation logo - Gordian Knot Strategies client
Nathan Truitt – Executive Vice President of Climate Funding
American Forest Foundation

Gordian Knot Strategies helped us launch our impact investing program. They provide high-quality analysis and leadership that allowed us to develop a program that reflected our values and needs and that was informed by superior research and diligence from GKS

US Endowment for Forestry and Communities logo - Gordian Knot Strategies client
Peter Stangel - Chief Development Officer
US Endowment for Forestry and Communities

It was an absolute pleasure to work with Sean and the whole GKS on this project. The GKS reports were of very high quality and fully comprehensive.

Soil in Formation logo - Gordian Knot Strategies client
Henry Rowlands – CEO
Soil In Formation

Gordian Knot Strategies are my ‘go to’ experts for anything related to carbon offsets/ the voluntary carbon market and strategy development around that. They are extremely knowledgeable on both the policy- and technical side of things. They are very context sensitive and take the time to really listen to our needs and challenges. They deliver on time and on budget, communicate super clearly and are over all a great pleasure to work with!

Vale Base Metals
Kirsten Hund - Director, Climate & Nature
Vale Base Metals

GKS is thorough and exacting in their thinking and work. They make sure they understand our needs and goals, touch base while they are doing the work, and provide ample opportunity for feedback and course correction.

US Endowment for Forestry and Communities logo - Gordian Knot Strategies client
Peter Stangel – Senior Vice President
US Endowment for Forestry and Communities

GKS synthesized the views of many stakeholders, results of discussions and market sentiment to provide a succinct roadmap tailored to our capabilities.

High Tide Foundation logo - Gordian Knot Strategies client
Dee Lawrence – Co-Founder & Director
High Tide Foundation

Sean has been a go-to, trusted advisor to my team for many years on climate finance. His experience across multiple sectors helps us gain a better perspective on the progress we are trying to make. Sean’s guidance has helped my team improve our skills and understanding of blended finance, which allows us to better support our partners and get to our desired impact faster and more effectively.

Environmental Defense Fund logo - Gordian Knot Strategies client
Maggie Monast - Senior Director, Climate-Smart Agriculture
Environmental Defense Fund

GKS helped us create a disciplined process, with rigorous analysis and structured decision making, that ultimately supported a new approach to strategy setting. We don’t just feel ready to launch this next phase of our work, we have a new strategic planning template for our entire organization.

Doris Duke Foundation logo - Gordian Knot Strategies client
Sacha Spector – Program Director for the Environment
Doris Duke Foundation

What GKS did particularly well is to help us craft ideas ahead of when they’ll be needed. Understanding the needs of potential investors/clients before they do is valuable.

Renew West logo - Gordian Knot Strategies client
Mike Smith
RenewWest

It’s been fantastic working with GKS. The IFNF grant program has benefitted from GKS’ big-picture strategic thinking, and ability to connect strategy to less exciting but equally as important tactical decisions. Of the many positives, I’ve most appreciated GKS’ willingness to re-think assumptions, respond to group feedback and/or research takeaways, and adapt accordingly. They recognize the importance of problem identification, take time to vet assumptions with a range of experts, and are constantly brainstorming new ideas and connecting dots across sectors. GKS brought subject matter expertise, open and questioning minds, and intellectual enthusiasm for big questions and solutions to their work with the IFNF team – it was fun!

US Forest Service logo - Gordian Knot Strategies client
Nathalie Woolworth – Conservation Finance Program Manager
U. S Forest Service

Gordian Knot Strategies have been highly professional in their approach and a valuable partner to TransEnergy Global. As a new entrant to the sector, their support has been instrumental in strengthening our credibility and shaping our market positioning. Their decades of experience are evident in every engagement — from the depth of their insights to the quality of their strategic guidance. Beyond the core scope of work, their openness and willingness to support across multiple areas have created significant additional value for our business.

TEG
Duncan Ward - Executive Director
TransEnergy Global

GKS listens well. They know the carbon and impact investment space and bring much added expertise for us. You challenge us to think outside the box and use a well thought out process to tackle ideas. You are very well networked and those connections help you to see spaces that we have not even considered.

US Endowment for Forestry and Communities logo - Gordian Knot Strategies client
Alicia Cramer – Sr. Vice President
US Endowment for Forestry and Communities

Gordian Knot Strategies has played a critical role in shaping our commercialisation strategy and market positioning. They supported the development of what we believe is the world’s first price discovery and commercialisation framework for energy transition credits, effectively helping us define and enter a new market segment within the carbon sector. Beyond strategy, their execution support has been exceptional — from building a robust sales process and investor-grade sales deck, to delivering key commercial tools including ERPA templates, buyer guides, and a full media kit. Their work has materially accelerated our ability to engage the market with credibility, structure, and confidence.

TEG
Brad Moreland - CEO
TransEnergy Global

Gordian Knot Strategies exceeded expectations in all aspects of our engagement – experience, judgment, intelligence, diligence, and efficiency. GKS brought all these and more to provide deliverables we never could have developed on our own.

City Forest Credits logo - Gordian Knot Strategies client
Mark McPherson - Executive Director
City Forest Credits

The engagement with Gordian Knot Strategies was very helpful in focusing our execution on the tasks that are most important to launching our project.

Vitidore logo - Gordian Knot Strategies client
Jeff Thiel – President & COO
Vitidore

Utilizing GKS kept our process moving, helped us focus on key items and freed us up to really evaluate opportunities.

US Endowment for Forestry and Communities logo - Gordian Knot Strategies client
Joie Moré – Chief Financial Office
US Endowment for Forestry and Communities