Advisor & Operating Partner
I advise and operate alongside Founders, CEOs, Boards and leadership teams at the altitude where the real decisions get made.
The practice
Most advice comes from people who have only studied decisions. Mine comes with a P&L behind it and judgment from someone who has actually made the calls and lived with the outcome.
The front door
When the next stage depends on getting the big calls right, the model is shifting, a leadership gap has opened, or a turnaround can't wait, I step in and run it. Name the real problem, set a clear direction, and execute a path the whole company can move on, not just a deck that gathers dust.
The through-line
A trusted partner on the highest-stakes calls. I pressure-test the hard decisions, steady the room under pressure and stay close enough to the work to be useful and actionable. It's the difference between advice you have to translate and a partner who has already made the call you're facing.
The standing relationship
When the hardest calls reach your desk or the team escalates every decision, you need a partner in your corner. Unlike traditional coaching, I act as a thought partner, confidante and counselor that helps build a team which doesn't need you in every decision. You can lead the company, not referee it.
Proof, not promises
Judgment earned across full turnarounds, growth-stage scaling, and the calls that don't come with a second try.
Trusted in the room
RJ sees around corners. At the moment that mattered most, his judgment was the difference between a good call and a costly one.[ Name, Title — Company ]
RJ has a rare instinct for knowing where a business needs to go next. I've watched him lead big, small and everything in between with a strategic, thoughtful and operationally sound approach. He's straight with you, steady under pressure and genuinely invests in seeing others win.Board Chair & President
Why they'd bring you back — the judgment that made the difference at the decisive moment.[ Name, CEO — Company ]
References available on request.
About
Over the past 20+ years, I've run companies as CEO, served on boards, worked with founders and operated inside executive teams leading full turnarounds, scaling businesses quickly, and now pioneering in the AI space as a founding partner. Along the way I learned that the hardest part of growth is rarely the strategy. It's the nerve to act and the leadership to carry it through.
That's the work I do now: operating alongside leadership teams at the altitude where the real decisions and execution happen. What separates me from the crowded field is simple: I've sat in the seat and my advice comes with P&Ls and execution to back it up.
Connect on LinkedInConnect
Tell me what you're wrestling with. I only take on a few engagements at a time, so we'll start with a short, no-pitch conversation to see whether it's a good fit.
Prefer email? info@rjhilgers.com