Di has worked with HewardMills in a long-term fractional strategic advisory role since the organisation’s early stages, supporting the leadership team as the business evolved from start-up through to an internationally recognised data protection consultancy operating in a highly regulated environment.
Working closely with the founder and CEO, her role extended beyond traditional strategic consultancy into broader organisational development, helping shape not only market positioning and commercial direction, but also many of the operational and structural foundations needed to support sustainable growth.
Challenge
Building credibility in the global data protection and governance sector requires more than technical expertise. The organisation needed to establish a clear market identity, professional infrastructure and scalable operating approach capable of supporting growth across multiple jurisdictions and client sectors.
Alongside commercial expansion, there was also a need to ensure consistency in brand, communication, governance and client experience particularly given the trust-sensitive nature of data protection work and the increasing complexity introduced by GDPR and UK GDPR regulation.
The business was also developing a growing portfolio of social impact and non-profit clients, requiring careful positioning and go-to-market thinking within a highly specialist field.
Approach
Acting as a strategic adviser and trusted operational partner, Di supported a wide range of foundational and growth-focused initiatives across the organisation.
This included advising on aspects of company structure, organisational development and operational scaling as the business matured internationally. She led the development and implementation of core brand and communications infrastructure, briefing and managing the design process to establish a professional and credible market presence aligned with the organisation’s positioning.
Alongside this, she embedded practical operational tools and templates across the business including reporting structures, presentation materials and client-facing documentation helping create consistency, professionalism and scalability across day-to-day operations.
Her work also included strategic advice to the Board on market positioning, commercial development and growth opportunities as well as supporting go-to-market strategy for the organisation’s social impact client portfolio. Part of this work included her support for HewardMills’ successful application to become a B Corp.
Over time, Di developed a strong working understanding of GDPR, UK GDPR and the wider governance and risk considerations affecting both commercial and non-profit organisations, enabling her to contribute effectively to strategic discussions in a highly regulated environment.
Outcome
The organisation successfully evolved from early-stage consultancy into a globally operating data protection business with a stronger commercial identity, more consistent operational infrastructure and clearer market positioning.
The work helped establish a professional brand presence and scalable internal systems capable of supporting international growth, while also strengthening the organisation’s ability to engage both commercial and social impact clients with confidence and credibility.
Throughout the engagement, Di provided continuity, strategic challenge and practical implementation support across multiple phases of the company’s development.
Testimonial
“Di played an important role in helping shape HewardMills as we grew from an early-stage business into a global organisation operating in a highly regulated sector.
What sets her apart is the breadth of her contribution. She combines strategic thinking with practical delivery and has a strong instinct for what an organisation needs in order to scale effectively and professionally.
From brand development and operational infrastructure through to commercial thinking and leadership support, she consistently brought clarity, pace and sound judgement. She became a trusted adviser to both the Board and wider leadership team during a critical period of growth.”