When it comes to Deri Llewellyn-Davies, the phrase 'suited and booted' takes on a new meaning. As the UK's leading authority on bringing strategy alive, Deri spends his days in a pinstriped three-piece and his spare time climbing the highest summits in the world wearing some of the biggest boots in the world (just one of his extreme exploits). Deri loves business and adventure in equal measure and the same motivation underpins both: a fascination with life and a curiosity that always leads him to ask, "Why?" or more importantly, "Why not," as he believes anything is possible.
That questioning is key in his role as CEO of Business Growth International, as he helps leaders in both FTSE 500 and entrepreneurial companies to take their businesses to the next level. With over 15 years' experience of the commercial markets, Deri knows that whatever issues businesses are facing — from funding shortages to management fall-outs, redundancy to bankruptcy — he's personally been there from acting as director on 18 boards, advising over 125 companies and through his MBA, angel and venture capital networks. And it's exactly that experience he shares, teaching 3 key steps to improve their business:
Deri is also the CEO (Chief Exploration Officer) of Inspired Adventure, when planning his adventures and uses Strategy On A Page to plan them. He is part way through a self-styled "Global Adventurer's Grand Slam" — something he created aged 30 when an injury sustained during an international tournament ended his rugby career.
Having completed the Marathon des Sables (the toughest thing he'll ever do) and climbed five of the world's highest summits, Deri has only two more mountains, both Poles, an Iron Man and a jungle marathon to go.
Deri has an MBA from Australian Graduate School of Management and a Diploma from the Chartered Institute of Marketing, as well as an Bachelor of Chemical Engineering.
BGI Strategy on a Page: Develop your business strategy on just one single page!