The Social Studio: Reweaving Strategy

The Social Studio is a Melbourne social enterprise creating education, employment and creative opportunities for people from refugee and new migrant backgrounds. After 15 years of organic growth, the organisation was facing a changing environment: shifting consumer behaviour, rising costs, increased competition and evolving funder expectations. With limited resources and reliance on external funding, the organisation was ready to think more deliberately about its direction.

Brought in as Head of Social Enterprise and Growth, I led a strategic reset focused on aligning business operations with social impact while identifying opportunities for new revenue. I began by building a clear commercial picture of the operation. A deep dive into financials revealed clear insights into margins, operating efficiency and product-level performance across the business. I introduced costing tools in manufacturing, implemented team debriefing processes for continuous improvement and built the organisation's capacity to use data in decision-making. I facilitated strategic planning workshops with the CEO and team to evaluate current performance, sharpen purpose and explore new directions. 

The resulting strategic proposal reoriented manufacturing towards a vertically integrated TSS label and repair business, embedding trainee designers and makers into the product lifecycle and prioritising high-margin, purpose-aligned work. A new Brand and Design Manager role was created to strengthen the in-house label while deepening training outcomes. The TSS Mend repair business was scoped for scale, backed by a clear commercial case. A revitalised digital strategy was designed to extend reach, grow revenue and expand paid opportunities for young people from refugee and new migrant backgrounds. Together, these changes gave The Social Studio a cleaner, more confident path forward - one where commercial sustainability and social purpose were genuinely aligned.

If your social enterprise has been growing on passion and instinct and you're ready to understand the numbers, make clear strategic choices and build a more self-sufficient future, this is the kind of engagement designed to help. I'd be glad to talk it through.