Strategic clarity under decision pressure.

For founders and senior leaders who need to move quickly and get it right.

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I’m Ben Brooks-Dutton.

I’m brought in when the next decision will shape the direction of the business.

If you’ve landed here, you’re probably looking for clarity and pace.

Here are the ten things you need to know.

  1. I work with founders and senior leaders at the start of significant moves, from new business briefs to repositioning.

  2. I identify the real problem before teams invest time and energy in the wrong one.

  3. I diagnose drift, sharpen thinking and steady direction.

  4. I use AI where it speeds up analysis, and RI (Rapid Instinct) where experience is required.

  5. I built The RI System™ to create consistently clear strategy through modular, disciplined thinking.

  6. You work directly with me. There is no junior team behind the scenes.

  7. I bring 25+ years in strategy, leadership and writing, so I can say what others are avoiding.

  8. Most of my work comes through referral.

  9. Clients usually start with a Sprint to test the thinking before committing further.

  10. Every Sprint ends with clear direction and a set of decisions you can act on immediately.

The clearest picture of the work comes from the people who use it in real situations.

These are reflections from founders, leaders and agency teams who have worked with me in short sprints, and from those who involve me more steadily as direction needs to hold over time.

What clients say.

“Ben came in at a moment where we knew something needed to shift. What he brought was calm, rigorous thinking and a way of cutting through complexity that helped us make real decisions quickly. The work was grounded in the reality of our business and gave us clarity we could actually use, strengthening how we think and act at a critical point for the agency.”

Jo Grierson. CEO, One Green Bean

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“Ben delivers some of the fastest, smartest strategic thinking I’ve seen, while working seamlessly across senior teams.”

Myreete Stanforth. Head of Growth & Marketing, Global Markets, Ketchum

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“Ben quickly distilled a complex brief into something sharp and focused, delivering smart, client-ready work that landed immediately”

Anna Carter. Managing Partner, Ogilvy UK

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“Ben asks the right questions and has a rare ability to articulate what’s already there but as yet unformed. You come away not just with strong work, but clearer thinking too.”

Asad Dhunna. CEO, The Unmistakables

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“Ben has the judgement and empathy to speak in the voice of senior leaders. He helps turn complex thinking into strategies, messages and announcements that land with real authority.”

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Frankie Cory. Co-founder, Hello Tomorrow

“Working with Ben unlocked real, tangible strategy I started using within days. He cuts straight through the noise to what actually matters, resulting in crystal-clear strategy and sharp, usable messaging.”

Sarah Dembitz. Founder, SD Wellbeing

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“Ben grasps a brief quickly without sacrificing depth. His work is intelligent, practical and genuinely useful for driving new business.”

Laura Burch. Founder, Work & Class

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“Ben quickly understands complex challenges and crafts clearer, better solutions than anyone else I know.”

Mitchell Kaye. CEO, The Academy

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“Ben helped us translate a clear vision into a compelling, distinctive brand strategy. The result is direction we can stand behind and use with confidence as the business grows”, better solutions than anyone else I know.”

Antoine Trépant. Founder, Vivre

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How to get in touch.

If you would like to talk something through, you can reach me at ben@luckystart.uk or on 07545 933 682.

I keep space in my week for conversations that help people get clear on what they need, so feel free to get in touch.