Flip van der Merwe — Co-Founder
You don’t fix complexity with more complexity. You fix it with coherence. Most growing companies aren’t short on talent or ideas. They’re just stuck in a fog of: 1) Fragmented systems that don’t talk to each other 2) Strategy decks no one knows how to action 3) Leaders stretched thin, stuck firefighting instead of steering 4) Everyone’s busy, but the business isn’t moving. You’ve tried the dashboards, the tech stacks, the off-sites. Still stuck. It’s not a people problem. It’s a system problem. When strategy becomes a binder instead of a rhythm, alignment slips. Decisions stall. Culture fragments. Progress slows. But clarity? Clarity builds speed. I help leaders turn complexity into coherence - not by starting from scratch, but by reconnecting people, data, and decisions into one high-functioning operating rhythm. Who I Am: I’m Phillip van der Merwe, a strategy consultant for post-growth service companies. I help mid-cap service businesses scale without the chaos by aligning people, processes, and data into one clear system of execution. Before consulting, I earned 38 Springbok caps, where I learned what it means to perform under pressure and lead when the stakes are real. That lived discipline shapes every room I enter. I’m calm under pressure, obsessed with clarity, and fiercely loyal to the leaders I work with. Oh, and I believe strategy should feel like rhythm, not rigidity. What I Do: I help leadership teams drive momentum by aligning: - Human-centric data strategies - Cross-functional decision-making - Practical, scalable operating rhythms My Growth Alignment method helps you: 1) Diagnose what’s actually stuck 2) Align leadership around one clear playbook 3) Build a strategy that reaches the front line, and sticks. Proof It Works: – Re-aligned a $150M insurance division post-digital fatigue — from stalled to strategic rhythm – Took a mid-cap asset manager from fragmented to aligned in under 90 days – Trusted by leaders across Europe and Africa to build traction-first operating systems If your team is smart but stuck, let’s talk.
Stackforce AI infers this person is a Strategy Consultant specializing in aligning business operations and data strategies in the Finance and Insurance sectors.
Experience: 7 mos
Skills
- Strategy
- Business Development
- Data Analysis
- Investment Management
Career Highlights
- Expert in aligning strategy and execution for service businesses.
- Proven track record in transforming fragmented operations into cohesive systems.
- Experienced leader with a background in high-pressure environments.
Work Experience
Ikigai Formation
Keynote Speaker and Leadership Coach (4 mos)
Winning the Away Game Podcast
Co-Host (7 mos)
The Lekker Network
Co-Founder (1 yr 7 mos)
Comotion Business Solutions
UK and Europe Spearhead (1 yr 11 mos)
Biarritz Olympique Pays Basque
Board Member (6 mos)
OHROS Consulting Group
Director of France (2 yrs 4 mos)
Level6 Consulting
Managing Partner (4 yrs 11 mos)
Accenture
Senior Consultant (1 yr)
CGI Business Consulting
Consultant (1 yr 6 mos)
ASM Clermont Auvergne
Professional Rugby Player (3 yrs 9 mos)
South African Rugby Union (SA Rugby)
Professional Rugby Player (5 yrs 1 mo)
Lynnwood Investment Group
Director (16 yrs 4 mos)
Education
Master of Business Administration - MBA at Cambridge Judge Business School
Master of Science - MS at Clermont School of Business
Future Commerce at Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com.) at University of the Free State
Matric 2003 at Grey College
Certificate at GetSmarter
Certificate at GetSmarter
Diploma at GetSmarter
Matric at Grey College
