I’m a problem solver, drawn to challenging work and outdoor experiences. My skills in product design, brand, and storytelling help your business stand out from the crowd, while doing better for people and our planet.

I use my engineering background and love of learning to adapt and find solutions, whether that’s helping a product better meet customer needs, a ski camp for kids, or in the midst of an Alaskan expedition. My passion is positively impacting communities and the environment - to do this I’ve worked in-house, in consulting and contract roles, and started my own businesses.

Some of the teams I’ve worked with are:

DPS Skis, Gritt, Big On Writing, Patagonia, Medsalv, Westpac NZ, Electricity Retailers Authority NZ, Capital Preferences, POC Sports, Fonterra, Department Of Conservation, Blue Sky Pastures, Watercare

My work focuses on four often interconnected areas. 

    • Strategy: from business cases through to action.

    • Commercial feasibility: understand how sustainability can be positive financially and ensure your best intentions align with commercial realities.

    • Technical audits: bespoke auditing of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, product and business carbon footprint to the GHG Protocol, and market analysis.

    • Communications: authentic science-based sustainability communication can drive brand and customer value, but needs to be done well to avoid a greenwashing backlash.

    • Go-To-Market strategy and leadership: ensuring on time and budget delivery of products that meet customer needs and support the business.

    • Concepts, testing, and feedback: I can identify whitespace opportunities, incremental improvements, and assess how customers will react to changes.

    • Product marketing: a product is only valued if the customer understands it.

    • Project management: I can manage all aspects of research and development, sourcing, and Go-To-Market.

    • Brand strategy: your brand creates customer value and separates you from the competition. I can help define your beliefs, purpose, and why they should matter to the customer.

    • Content strategy: good content builds community, supports your brand, and drives engagement.

    • Writing: stories, articles, web copy, content.

    • Project management: I can run a project from start to finish, ensuring a smooth process and high quality delivery.

  • Outdoor accessibility: one of my biggest passions is getting more people outdoors, making sure access to sports and our environment is as equitable as possible.

    Expeditions: I thrive in challenging situations and love exploring our wild places in a creative way. This involves expedition planning, production, and the athletic ability to pull it off.

    Environmental storytelling: I believe people want to protect things they care about. Telling environmental stories through adventure makes them relatable, inspiring, and drives genuine action.

I’m a ‘general specialist’ with a strong knowledge of commercial realities and customer needs, combined with specialised knowledge that lets me create a high value solution. 

Check out my recent work. Get in touch if there’s any way you think I could help you or if you simply want to yarn and get to know me.

I offer consulting services and contract work in all of the above areas, and believe the best meetings are while ski touring, trail running, or camping in the mountains.

Today you are only limited by the scope of your own imaginations, and the originality of your own creativity.

The future is yours to create.

Rich Clarkson