EARLY-STAGE | THOUGHT LEADER | NON-PROFIT
Case Study: From Vision to Focus — Strategic Clarity for an Early-Stage Thought Leader
Engagement Type: Strategic Clarity Diagnostic
CLIENT OBJECTIVES
Clarify the core mission and leading objective
Identify near-term priorities that matched organizational maturity
Assess existing assets and capability gaps
Translate vision into actionable, board-consumable artifacts
“This OKR workbook is money. I’m going to reach out to my board and get something scheduled for Q1 to get started.”
About the Client
Genuine Sparkle (Founder: Amanda Dugger)
Thought leadership platform in early formation, supporting the mission of GenuineHuman.org
Context
Genuine Sparkle launched alongside the publication of Finding Sparkle in the Sht Show* with an aspirational goal of funding a nonprofit mission through speaking, book sales, and partnerships. While momentum was high, the organization lacked:
A clear priority sequence
Defined objectives for the next 6–12 months
Alignment between personal brand, revenue strategy, and nonprofit impact
Board-ready materials to guide discussion and decision-making
Approach
Salva facilitated a structured working session focused on:
Distilling the founder’s goals into a clear objective hierarchy
Reframing “funding” as a broader resources model (time, talent, treasure)
Identifying audience-specific narrative strategies for speaking and visibility
Sequencing initiatives based on capacity, readiness, and return
Capturing insights in formats suitable for execution and governance
Deliverables
6-month OKRs defining priorities, outcomes, and focus areas
Strategic planning notes formatted for board discussion
Visual synthesis of ideas, themes, and paths forward (Miro)
Outcomes
Narrowed focus to 2–3 achievable initiatives instead of diffuse ambition
Defined next steps for narrative development and speaking traction
Explicit recognition of what not to pursue yet given maturity and funding
Clear identification of giving back as the primary enabling objective
This engagement intentionally prioritized decision quality and focus over immediate revenue or growth metrics.
Why It Mattered
Rather than producing an overbuilt plan, this engagement focused on clarity, focus, and momentum appropriate to the organization’s current stage. This engagement created clarity, focus, and momentum—while protecting the founder from premature investment in initiatives that were not yet viable.
Stage-Appropriate Impact
This diagnostic engagement helped Genuine Sparkle move from possibility overload to intentional progress, setting the foundation for future planning when scale and funding allow.
