Kalypso was recognized as one of Consulting magazine’s 2011 Seven Small Jewels. The firm was selected for its “explosive growth” and unique blend of innovation and strategy.

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Small Jewel 2011

“ We started Kalypso to address a glaring need in the professional services marketplace for the combination of deep industry expertise and product development knowledge. ”

– , Founding PartnerGeorge Young

The Kalypso StoryThe concept for Kalypso was born in a St. Regis hotel room in Houston when George Young and Bill Poston - then partners at a large consulting firm - were attending the retirement party of a close friend and mentor. His retirement was the spark that ignited an idea.

The idea was Kalypso.

They left comfortable roles with their old firm during the consulting industry turmoil of 2003 to create something special and have some fun.

The Story of Kalypso is the Story of its People

Kalypso Founders George Young and Bill Poston

In Their Own Words We founded the firm on a core principle – to serve clients the way they want to be served. Serving clients is a privilege and it is our responsibility to do it well.

We saw a market with niche competitors focused on narrow aspects of innovation, strategy and operations, and large technology competitors implementing product lifecycle management (PLM) systems. We did not see anyone who could combine management consulting with PLM technology implementation expertise.

Three factors allow us to truly make something innovative happen in the marketplace: (1) an exclusive focus and a comprehensive set of capabilities to deliver sustained improvements in innovation, (2) a unique blend of people – true characters with character, and (3) a strong set of core values and a cultural affinity for hard work on cutting-edge concepts.

What is it that makes Kalypso so special? We work really hard and balance that with the fact that we get to do interesting work for amazing clients every day. But behind it all, the key to it, is our people.

Our VisionWe will be the world’s premier innovation consulting firm.

We will combine a comprehensive set of world-class capabilities to deliver on the promise of innovation while becoming the world’s most respected provider of objective technology advisory and implementation services.

As a private partnership, we serve clients, not shareholders. We are a platform for professionals to grow personally and professionally by creating friendship, eminence, excellence and prosperity.

2010 Consulting Magazine Best Small Firms for Strategy

Hardest Working Firm Most Interesting Assignments

“ Kalypso’s unique focus on innovation, product development and PLM technology, along with the high integrity of all of the team members, has made it an exciting time to be a part of the firm. ”

– , Senior ManagerRich Gaby

Our MissionKalypso’s mission is to help clients deliver on the promise of innovation. Kalypso helps clients innovate more and fully harness innovation to drive profitable, sustainable growth by:

Capturing new top line revenue

Growing product margins

Getting more from existing resources

Extracting greater value from IP

Stripping out cost, inefficiency and waste

Increasing agility and improving time to market

How We Deliver on Our MissionKalypso helps companies by improving capabilities across nine dimensions of The Innovation Engine:

BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE & INNOVATION ANALYTICS

BUSINESS & INNOVATION STRATEGY

PLM TECHNOLOGY

LEADERSHIP & ADOPTION

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT

FRONT END OF INNOVATION

PORTFOLIO & PIPELINEMANAGEMENT

NEW PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT EXECUTION

VALUEREALIZATION

The Kalypso DifferenceKalypso was founded on a core principle – we will serve our clients the way they want to be served.

We are a firm big enough to provide the experience, expertise, resources, and tools needed to help clients succeed, yet nimble enough to ensure clients get exactly the type of support and service they deserve.

The Kalypso approach is unlike traditional professional service firms – it’s the Kalypso Difference.

Exclusive Focus – Focus on enhancing innovation performance across the front end of innovation, portfolio and pipeline management, new product development and introduction, and value management.

Comprehensive Capability – Deep experience across all aspects of innovation, including business and innovation strategy, process improvement, PLM technology, organizational effectiveness, and intellectual property management.

Flexible Delivery - Serving clients the way they want to be served, assuming shared project risk and structuring client engagements to allow for maximum flexibility.

Informed Opinions – Providing clients with informed opinions and uncommon solutions, helping clients turn challenges into success stories.

Sustained Results – Dedicated to helping our clients create solutions that deliver sustainable results.

Why We Are UniqueKalypso is distinctly qualified to help companies attain business improvements, bringing:

The expertise to improve business, innovation and product strategies

The knowledge and tools to improve innovation and product development execution through innovation process improvement

The experience to change innovation culture on a global scale

The know-how to maximize profit and return on investment through skillful pricing and value management

The capability to enable change and sustain innovation improvements by implementing appropriate information technology and training programs

“ The most exciting thing about Kalypso is in its unique set of values. A successful client relationship is one that does not end at project completion. ”

– , Senior ManagerEmily Adams

Our ValuesWe are a diverse group of professionals with a common set of core values that shape our culture and set us apart.

At the heart of this culture is a belief in the power of innovation– both in the way we deliver services and in the products that we help clients to develop. Our values are consistent across all of our team members, and are evident in the way that we work.

“ Our improvements in innovation capabilities are, in significant part, due to Kalypso support. Their experience, thought leadership, and unique focus on enabling the individuals involved to be successful are driving the organizational changes needed. ”

– , Cor Bosselaar

We act as the leaders behind the leaders.We invest in the long-term success of our individual clients, not just their companies. We celebrate every individual client promotion and view them as a measure of our value, and believe that trusted advisors do not stop advising when the project is complete. We reserve the spotlight and glory of success for our clients, not the consulting team.

“ Kalypso’s focus on innovation and its experienced, professional staff set it apart in its ability to bring clients real and lasting results. ”

– , PartnerNoel Sobelman

We harness the power of creativity and innovation.We believe that innovation combined with action can change the world for the better. We value different ways of thinking and problem solving, and expect lively debate and dissent from all levels of the organization - ours and our clients’. We feel that the diversity of our teams bring fresh perspectives and insight to our work.

Network of Executive Women Leadership Summit

We have passion for personal development.We do not tolerate intellectual sloth or stagnation - continuous learning is required. We stay on the leading edge of management thinking and adapt new concepts rapidly. We genuinely care about one another’s success and work hard to help our colleagues, believing in the development of the whole person, not just the business side.

Titan Award Winners

We are committed to our business partners.We treat our business partners as if they were our clients or our practitioners, and bring integrity and respect to our alliance relationships. We go to extraordinary lengths to help each other - without keeping score - and expect the same in return from the people we choose to do business with.

“ What is special about our team is the diverse backgrounds everyone brings to the table. These are real, multi-dimensional people who complement their expertise and intelligence with personality and integrity. ”

– , Founding PartnerBill Poston

We value professionalism, integrity and quality.We believe that serving clients is a privilege and accept the responsibility to do it well. We demand unquestioned integrity and veracity from all of our people in every situation. We hire exceptional people for their professional excellence and superior performance, and balance creativity and passion for ideas with professionalism and pragmatism.

“ Kalypso is filled with exceedingly intelligent and generous people. I am enormously fortunate to spend time with and learn from them, and hope to contribute to their successes. ”

– , Operations DirectorTimi Lynch

We are a team of characters with character.We think that interesting people are more fun to work with, and build life-long relationships with our colleagues. We foster a healthy lack of respect for hierarchy and positional authority. We are passionate about what we do and know how to have fun - at work and after.

What It Means to Be a Kalypsonian

You will work hard. Maybe a lot harder than at any other firm. The benefit is working with world-class clients on the most interesting assignments imaginable. We are changing the way the world innovates, improving people’s lives and the economies in which we operate in return. This is a privilege and it is our responsibility to do it well. This is not just a job or a career – it’s a calling.

You will work in innovation.Our exclusive focus on innovation, product development, and product lifecycle management means that you will always be working on projects within that scope. This is all we do. Driving growth through innovation is exciting and intrinsically rewarding work. If this is your thing, Kalypso is the place for you.

You are in control. It is what you make it.Kalypso was built for future generations of partners. It is a platform from which to manage your career. Our partnership model is unlike other public or closely held firms in that each member of the Kalypso team has the opportunity to become an owner. You can “build the house you want to live in.” Your path may look different than your colleagues’. You are in the driver’s seat.

You will grow. A lot.Our firm has a passion for personal development, but your own passion is what will drive your growth. Sure, the learning curve may be steep at times but you will have the opportunity to learn from and work alongside senior practitioners with years of experience. And, because we believe in the development of the whole person, we want you to pursue what you love outside of work as well. Like skydiving? We want to hear about it. Play in a band? Tell us more. We are characters with character, not consulting automatons.

You will be virtual.Our innovative business model enables us to work virtually around the world, ready to fly to a client whenever the need arises. No relocation necessary means you can live anywhere in the world at any point in your career. Social technologies are our friend. Your fellow Kalypsonians may not sit in a cube beside you but they are always available to help.

You will play hard.We know how to have fun at work and after. Any given week you will find project teams creating new ways to incorporate fun into client service, finding new spots for team dinners, and exploring cities around the world. Not to mention we’ve perfected the art of throwing a party. New Orleans, Chicago, Keystone, Washington D.C. – just a few of the cities we’ve invaded for our annual celebration or frequent retreats.

Pamela Soin: A Character With CharacterAs a child, I wanted to be the change we all wish to see in the world. A world full of colors, light and sparkle. But alas, it’s never easy. Desperate to begin my revolution, I was trapped in places like Beaver, WV and Clemmons, NC. So, I set my sights on Manhattan (my current home). But before I could declare victory in spreading my noble cause, “Live like the world is flat (LLTWiF),” I needed something bigger.

In 2004 I moved to London and lived in a bar. Later through Kalypso, I lived in Amsterdam where the LLTWiF movement was formalized. I’ve walked Thai islands, survived N. Korea/S. Korea conflict in Seoul, wandered Australian rainforests and Indian urban chaos. The success metric for the LLTWiF movement is simple: % Full Passport Pages. I am proud to say after attending a wedding this year in Argentina, I earned the coveted LLTWiF 6th degree quadruple-ninja-hadouken-Level 8 master Jedi Blackbelt. This honor is bestowed once you achieve 100%.

What is your motto?“Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” - Ferris Bueller

What is your greatest fear?Babies on planes.

When was a time you felt the entire world was against you?Calculus III, Thermodynamics and trying to maintain socialite status all in one semester at NCSU.

Which living person do you most admire?Pashauri Lal Jauhar. Also known as my 90 year old grandfather who escaped death and lost everything in the 1940’s in the India/Pakistan war; who still writes poetry and delivers speeches at every event like he is running for office; and who spends 4 hours a day in the gym. Enough said.

If you were an architectural structure, which structure would you be and why?The Eiffel tower, because not only would I get to live in Paris, every night I would get to do a sparkling light show for the people. My people.

“ Being a Kalypsonian means the world is your oyster. You have unlimited opportunity to create and make the biggest mark you possibly desire. ”

– , Senior ManagerPamela Soin

Pamela Soin

A Kalypso Journey: Q&A with Joe Dury, Director

How did you get here?After over 25 years in high tech I joined Kalypso back in early 2006 as a senior consultant to work with and grow the electronics and semiconductor client base. I was excited to help grow Kalypso as a professional services firm, having had years of experience in my corporate career hiring and working with R&D and new product development (NPD) consulting firms. I knew I could provide input on what I liked and didn’t like about those experiences. Since then, Kalypso has helped me to thrive in the areas of innovation I love – working in semiconductors and intellectual property (IP) management. Now almost six years later, being part of the leadership and ownership team at Kalypso, I find it’s critical to reciprocate the mentoring and coaching I received both within Kalypso and with our clients.

What does being a Kalypso director mean to you?I appreciate the opportunity to help shape the firm’s growth plan, both in the clients we serve and in bringing on new people with the values and experience that fuel our ability to serve our clients with results that matter.

What areas will you focus on in your new role?I will continue to lead our semiconductor practice and strive to guide clients with clear advice on innovation. Today’s pressures mean that companies must change, adopt and innovate quickly, or they’ll quickly become irrelevant and probably less profitable. I will help enable our clients to advance their NPD and time to market (TTM) processes and leverage their R&D investment to bring innovative products to market quickly and cost effectively. I will also look to grow our IP practice and expand our capabilities with new and existing clients.

Where is the most interesting town/city you’ve been for a client project?I’d say returning to the New England area; I love the distinct four seasons of the greater Boston area, where my wife and I lived for 20 years prior to relocating to North Carolina (both of our sons continue to live there). There’s always something to do near Boston as it’s the “Athens” of the US with all of its college towns and the ever-exciting Red Sox. But I also enjoy the San Francisco Bay area since it’s the heartbeat of high tech.

What is your favorite Kalypso value?Actually there are two favorites. The first is leaders behind the leaders, as we’re responsible for ensuring our clients’ success. At Kalypso we understand it’s about the client and not about us. This is so valued by those we serve, and there’s nothing like seeing the leaders we advise step up and get all of the credit! The other value is characters with character which, simply put, keeps Kalypso unique and weird. Where else could you find such a diversity of innovators?!

Why is working in innovation exciting to you?Innovation requires collaboration which fuels the energy needed to make that idea, project or product materialize from where it first begins as part of an ideation process, to the tradeoffs and dialogues needed as it matures through engineering development. Innovation requires both good management and excellent leadership - focusing on the business results and R&D processes, while ensuring the right people on the team can deliver results using these processes. Helping clients channel their teams’ energy to get their desired results is really fun!

In what ways have you grown professionally and/or personally at Kalypso?The values of Kalypso are great; they’re truly part of the DNA of our organization. As part of this, the feedback we give and receive from one another creates a “culture of candor.”

Personally, I have valued hearing feedback from both our team and client what we are doing well and what needs to improve. This method of continuous improvement allows us to build and remodel the house we want to live in. It’s stretched me to make Kalypso even better by developing myself and mentoring others on the team to do the same. All of this helps us our clients to meet their expectations and deliver on the promise of innovation!

Joe Dury

“ As part of our values system, the feedback we give to and receive from one another creates a culture of candor. This method of continuous improvement allows us to build and remodel the house we want to live in.

”– , DirectorJoe Dury

Delivering on the Promise of CommunityAt Kalypso, we believe that innovation combined with action can change the world for the better.

We believe in devoting the same level of service excellence that we give to our clients to our own communities in which we live, work, and play. A sampling of the organizations that Kalypsonians are active within include:

Stelos Alliance

Susan G. Komen

Dress for Success

Lance Armstrong Foundation

Children’s Tumor Foundation

The Humane Society

Stand Up To Cancer

The American Cancer Society

The Summit House

Wipe Out Kids’ Cancer

Kendall County Women’s Shelter

A Path in the Woods Foundation

American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA)

FAQs

What does Kalypso do?Kalypso is a management consulting firm focusing on innovation, new product development and product lifecycle management (PLM).

Where is Kalypso located?We are wherever our clients need us to be. Kalypso is headquartered in Beachwood, Ohio but we are global, with offices across the US, the Netherlands, South Korea, and the Philippines.

When was Kalypso founded?Kalypso was founded in 2004 by George Young and Bill Poston.

What software solutions do you sell?Kalypso is not a software reseller. We provide comprehensive management consulting and objective technical implementation services for leading PLM and product innovation software solutions.

What software solution providers do you work with?Kalypso has extensive knowledge of and implementation experience with all of the leading PLM and product innovation software providers including ideation, product portfolio, product data, and pricing management systems.

Is Kalypso a public or private company?Kalypso is a private partnership that is 100% owned by the partners and directors of the firm. We have no outside investors or shareholders.

What industries does Kalypso work with?Kalypso offers services in industry sectors including consumer goods, retail, food and beverage, high technology, semiconductor, manufacturing, medical device, life sciences, chemicals, energy, automotive, and aerospace and defense.

What is PLM?PLM stands for Product Lifecycle Management. PLM is the process of managing the entire lifecycle of a product, from conception through end-of-life. PLM integrates people, data, processes, and enterprise information systems that enable product development capabilities.

careers.kalypso.com

careers.kalypso.com