In a world increasingly defined by the need for both financial success and social responsibility, organizations that can effectively navigate the complexities of the social impact sector are setting the standard for the future. For social enterprises, nonprofits, and corporate social impact units, achieving sustainable growth while making a meaningful difference in society is no easy feat. It requires a deep understanding of strategy, innovation, and the power of partnerships.
Nexus Strategy and Growth Partners, is a strategy management consulting firm, standing at the forefront of guiding organizations through this challenging landscape. By offering customized strategies designed to foster growth, scale, and impact, Nexus has built a reputation for transforming good intentions into measurable, lasting outcomes. With over 25 years of experience in international development, social impact, and strategy management, Nexus blends a wealth of practical experience with a passion for solving global challenges.
From Grassroots to Global Leadership: Gretchen Villegas, the Woman at the Helm
The journey of Nexus Strategy and Growth Partners began with a profound sense of purpose and a commitment to creating positive change in the world. The woman at the helm is Gretchen Villegas, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Nexus Strategy and Growth Partners. Her path to entrepreneurship and social impact leadership began over 25 years ago, when she joined the Peace Corps as a volunteer in Latin America. After 2 years she proceeded to complete a Masters in Intercultural Management from The School for International Training. This academic foundation, combined with the practical lessons learned in the field, gave her the tools to tackle the complex challenges of sustainable development.
She went on to work in the international development sector, managing U.S. government projects aimed at empowering vulnerable communities across Latin America and Africa. Over the next 15 years, she led high-impact initiatives, partnering with a variety of organizations—from multinational corporations to grassroots social enterprises.
Despite the success she achieved in these roles, Gretchen wanted to channel her knowledge and passion into a more direct and dynamic approach with potential to catalyze even more impact at scale; founding Nexus Strategy and Growth Partners made that possible.
The Nexus WIN Revenue Methodology: Transforming Social Impact
The firm’s focus is rooted in “empowering leadership to have a defined strategy and options to catalyze, measure, and achieve growth.”
At the heart of Nexus’s work is the WIN Revenue Methodology, a proven and adaptable framework that drives sustainable revenue and impact. The methodology is broken down into three customizable pillars:
Winning Strategy Foundation (W): Nexus helps organizations clearly define their mission, purpose, values, and desired impacts. This stage also involves the creation of a strategy map and performance metrics to track progress.
Increasing New Business and Impact (I): Nexus works closely with clients to develop actionable revenue plans by working backwards towards calculating the amount of income that will be required. This phase also includes helping clients identify new funding opportunities, negotiate contracts, and expand revenue streams.
New Areas and Expansion (N): The final pillar focuses on helping organizations diversify and scale. Nexus assists in developing plans to replicate successful models in new geographies or sectors while ensuring that the internal structures and processes are optimized for growth.
Nexus is more than just a strategy firm—it also offers execution capabilities, ensuring that clients can implement their strategies with minimal cost and time. This combination of advisory and hands-on execution makes Nexus unique in a crowded market, setting the firm apart from other consultants who simply offer recommendations without the capacity to execute.
Empowering Clients with Tailored Solutions
Unlike many consulting firms, Nexus doesn’t offer a one-size-fits-all approach. The firm understands that each client is unique and thus requires a customized strategy. Nexus’s services include everything from short- and long-term strategy planning to revenue growth execution, proposal development, process assessment, and the creation of scale-up and diversification plans.
The firm’s track record speaks volumes, having worked with a range of clients, including US-based global nonprofits, corporate social impact units, and social enterprises. One standout case study demonstrates Nexus’s ability to win $30 million in new business for a corporate social impact unit in the growth stage by utilizing the firm’s partnership-driven, evidence-based approach.
Innovating for the Future: Data and Partnerships Nexus’s innovative approach doesn’t stop with strategy. The firm is also a pioneer in the use of technology to monitor and measure impact. Through its proprietary PROImpacts™ methodology, Nexus integrates strategy, programming, finance, and impacts into a seamless system that links real-time data collection with immediate decision-making.
In today’s competitive environment, particularly in the realm of social impact, the need for efficiency and evidence-based results is greater than ever. Nexus has recognized that real-time data and the ability to adapt to evolving circumstances are crucial for success. By setting up monitoring systems and leveraging dashboards and remote devices, Nexus empowers its clients to make real-time decisions, pivoting when necessary, and increasing the likelihood of successful outcomes.
Staying Ahead of the Curve: Embracing Innovation
The social impact sector is constantly evolving, and Nexus Strategy and Growth Partners prides itself on staying ahead of industry trends. One of the key trends identified by the firm is the increasing prominence of social enterprises, which are businesses that not only aim to be profitable but also focus on giving back to the community and the planet. Nexus sees this as an opportunity to invest in sustainable businesses that tackle global challenges like climate change, food insecurity, and poverty. Innovation is also at the core of Nexus’s strategy development, and the firm fosters a culture of creative problem-solving and design thinking. This approach encourages clients to embrace new ideas and alternatives, fostering the ability to think outside the box and drive transformational change.
Do not fear innovations as long as they are part of an intentional revenue growth strategy, and you have data and evidence to back it up. Old ideas do not solve current problems, you need innovative ideas to solve current issues. And Nexus is ready to support you in making it happen,
