About Services Work Get in touch

Thinking clearly
in complex
territory.

I work with corporates, startups, NGOs, and foundations to cut through complexity, design better strategies, build stronger partnerships, and unlock new ideas.

Experience 10+ years across Telco, banking, insurance, FMCG, healthcare and nonprofits
Languages English, Italian, Turkish, Farsi
Some organisations I've worked with Access to Finance RwandaFour PawsING GroupMediclinicMicroinsurance MasterNestléNN GroupRocheSOS Children's VillagesThe Social HubUNICEFUNHCRValmetVodafone
About

Strategist.
Facilitator.
Coach.

I've spent my career at the intersection of innovation, social impact, and strategic thinking. I've worked across two international consultancies, partnering with corporates, startups, and nonprofits. Currently I work at a leading financial services company as a Programme Manager, focusing on philanthropy strategy and cross-country partnerships.

I also serve as Advisory Board Member at DEGASTEN and Board Member at the Friends of Holland Festival Foundation.

Over 10 years, I have worked with 20+ organisations across Telco, banking, insurance, FMCG, healthcare, and the nonprofit sector, partnering with teams from early-stage startups to global multinationals and INGOs.

Alongside my full-time work, I take on freelance projects combining the innovation and facilitation toolkit from consulting with social impact, partnership, and fundraising expertise. I also coach professionals navigating leadership challenges, career transitions, and the strategic choices that come with them.

Based in Amsterdam. Available for projects globally. Multilingual: English, Italian, Turkish, Farsi.

Shervin Fekri

Strategic thinking

From business model mapping to ecosystem analysis and innovation governance

Cross-sector experience

Telco, banking, FMCG, healthcare, nonprofits, INGOs and philanthropy

Facilitation

5+ years designing and running innovation sprints, capability programmes and leadership labs

Coaching

Strategic, analytical support for professionals navigating transitions and leadership challenges

Consulting and Advisory

What I work on.

Strategy and Systems
  • Systems ThinkingMapping actors, value flows, failure points and leverage points in complex environments
  • Innovation StrategyHorizons, governance structures, innovation labs and playbooks
  • Business DesignEnd-to-end design and validation of new products, services and businesses
Design and Venture
  • Proposition DesignCustomer research, concept development, prototyping and validation
  • Venture CoachingRigorous coaching for corporate ventures and product teams on assumptions, business model logic and market fit
Partnerships and Impact
  • Partnership StrategyCorporate-NGO partnerships from strategy through governance and portfolio management
  • Fundraising InnovationDonor-centric innovation, private sector fundraising and nonprofit-business partnerships
  • Impact FrameworksTheory of change, KPI systems and programme measurement
Learning and Coaching
  • Innovation WorkshopsHands-on facilitation on ideation, prototyping, validation and business model design
  • Programme CurationExecutive masterclasses, leadership labs and multi-stakeholder convenings
  • Professional CoachingStrategic coaching for career transitions, leadership challenges and complexity
Selected Work

Projects & engagements.

Corporate Innovation
Building an Innovation Culture
NN Group
  • Built NN Group's innovation framework from the ground up with their Strategic Transformation Office
  • Set up Booster, NN's internal innovation lab, and designed its governance, processes and ways of working
  • Coached product teams across wellbeing, retirement, home and self-care from problem fit to market fit
Corporate Innovation
European Innovation Accelerators
ING Group
  • Designed and ran accelerator programmes across 8 European markets with ING Labs and the Chief Innovation Office
  • Coached C-level leaders and early-stage venture teams through structured innovation processes
  • Supported teams from initial problem definition through to validated business models ready for investment
Social Impact
Fundraising Innovation
UNICEF
  • Partnered with UNICEF's Global Fundraising HQ and national offices in Australia, New Zealand and Germany
  • Developed donor-centric fundraising strategies and analysed proposition portfolios to identify growth opportunities
  • Designed and facilitated innovation sprints and capability-building programmes for fundraising and partnership teams
Social Impact
Private Sector Partnerships
UNHCR
  • Worked with UNHCR's Private Sector Partnerships HQ and offices across Italy, Spain, Denmark, Australia, Lebanon, Sweden and the UK
  • Developed partnership strategies connecting UNHCR with private sector organisations across multiple markets
  • Facilitated cross-sector collaboration labs and innovation programmes for leadership and partnership teams
Social Impact
Innovation and Partnership Strategy
SOS Children's Villages International
  • Partnered with HQ and offices across Austria, Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Germany and Latin America
  • Designed innovation programmes, partnership strategies and fundraising propositions across markets
  • Facilitated sprints, accelerators and capability-building tracks for nonprofit leadership teams
Inclusive Innovation
Microinsurance Innovation Programme
Access to Finance Rwanda · Microinsurance Master
  • Led a 9-day innovation programme in Kigali guiding four Rwandan insurers through customer research, ideation and field prototyping
  • Helped design the first microinsurance products for Rwanda's uninsured majority — over 90% of the population
  • Combined human-centred design with sustainable business modelling for financial inclusion at scale
Learning and Convening
Better Society Masterclass & Academy Strategy
The Social Hub · TSH Talent Foundation
  • Designed and delivered a cross-European leadership programme for emerging changemakers, featuring thought leaders from business, politics and civil society
  • Partnered with TSH Talent Foundation to develop a five-year strategy for scaling the initiative as the Better Society Academy
  • Strategy covered programme design, partnerships, business model and social impact planning
Thought Leadership
Impact Partnerships
Board of Innovation — Published Report
  • Authored Board of Innovation's flagship publication on nonprofit–business collaboration
  • A practical guide to designing impact partnerships that accelerate positive change at systems level
  • Widely shared across the social impact and innovation communities in Europe and beyond
What people say

In their words.

Contact

Let's talk.

Whether you have a specific project in mind or just want to explore whether there's a fit, I'm always happy to have a conversation.

Currently taking on consulting projects, facilitation engagements and coaching programmes alongside my full-time role.

How we can work together

Workshop or sprint

A focused half-day or full-day session — for strategy, ideation, facilitation or team alignment.

Project engagement

Fixed-scope work with clear deliverables — strategy documents, frameworks, programme design or research.

Advisory retainer

Ongoing strategic support on a monthly basis — for organisations that need a thinking partner over time.

Coaching programme

Individual or small group coaching for professionals navigating leadership challenges or career transitions.

Engagements are tailored to scope and context. Get in touch to discuss.