Blue Ridge Strategy Partners
Strategy/Execution/
Culture/Coaching
Blue Ridge Strategy Partners is a catalyst for your organization. We offer customized consulting solutions that help organizations thrive. Our passion lies in articulating powerful organizational strategy and translating it into sustainable growth and operational excellence. We believe culture is the cornerstone of long-term success, and our team brings the expertise to help you shape, strengthen, and sustain a high-performance culture. Count on us to provide clear insights and practical guidance that drive real results.
Our Services
Organizational Strategy
Unlock the full potential of your organization with our expert analysis and strategic guidance. We work with your team to articulate compelling and understandable strategies, bringing clarity to your team as we develop their ability to carry this work forward.
Operational Effectiveness
Strategy is vitally important, but what comes next? Operationalizing your strategy is the difference between feeling good about where you’re going and actually getting there. Let our team help translate your strategy into action that energizes your entire team.
Executive Coaching
It can be lonely at the top, and CEOs need thought partners too. A trusted outside perspective can improve your leadership effectiveness through thoughtful questioning, deep conversations, and insightful assessment that bring clarity and direction to your work.
Foundations
In response to requests for strategic advice and assistance, Blue Ridge Strategy Partners was founded by Kirk Swenson in 2020.
Kirk brings over 25 years of experience leading high-performing teams at some of the nation’s most respected educational institutions. With a career focused on the intersection of philanthropy and institutional strategy, Kirk founded Blue Ridge Strategy Partners in 2020 in response to requests for business strategy consulting services from a diverse range of companies in the tech startup, beverage manufacturing and hospitality, nonprofit, sports and entertainment industries.
Kirk is also the co-founder and executive director of Asheville Ideas Fest, an annual destination event that convenes thought leaders and highly engaged citizens to explore humanity’s most pressing challenges through meaningful discussion and civil discourse.
As a doctoral candidate in Organizational Learning at UNC Chapel Hill, Kirk’s research focuses on the impact of transformational leadership on organizational effectiveness. Academic pursuits have deepened his insights into navigating complex organizational challenges and crafting strategies that foster innovation, resilience, and growth.
Kirk is discerning in selecting clients, prioritizing authentic alignment with leadership, values, and mission. His core competencies include comprehensive analysis of organizational strengths and challenges, building leadership consensus and ensuring alignment, crafting strategic roadmaps, and ensuring seamless execution for impactful results. Kirk champions the belief that culture is the critical differentiator for sustained success, and collaborates with leaders to build and sustain culture that energizes teams and drives performance.
When working with clients, Kirk draws from a group of skilled partners to create a team with the right skills and experience for any challenge.
