ABOUT.
THE FOUNDER STORY
After two decades in the Champions League of companies (Unilever, Heineken, Red Bull) Marlies Tousain saw a clear pattern. There's a defining difference between companies that dominate and those that do't.
It's alignment between strategy and identity.
Winning companies use their identity - who they are and why they matter - as their competitive edge. Identity is not soft. It's strategic. Impossible to copy and essential to lead.
At Red Bull, as Marketing Director, Marlies saw this firsthand. The brand's impact came from culture, not campaigns. Authenticity was the operating system. But having worked with 50+ companies, she also saw the opposite. Organizations that had lost that alignment. Less clarity, less energy, mixed messages, less impact. As a board member, you need someone on the outside who isn't afraid to speak up.
That's why Marlies founded Impact Companions.
The outside voice that helps leaders to level up. Combining top marketing expertise, strategic advisory and executive coaching, with the ability to quickly get under the skin of any organization.
Impact Companions helps leaders walk their talk. Bringing strategy and story to life.
WHY WORKING
WITH US?
Built for board-
level impact
Impact Companions is your
c-level strategic sidekick. Your trusted advisor for critical decisions. We don't do storytelling - we create business-critical story development.
Authentic competitive
advantage
Strategic clarity that makes every future decision easier. We combine strategic insight with narrative expertise to create stories that are business assets, not marketing fluff.
Distinctive
approach
Strategic conversations,
not creative workshops.
Business narratives that
drive growth and attract investment.
Results
that matter
Impact Companions has driven meaningful change for 50+ companies, from listed multinationals
to emerging brands.
PROVEN IMPACT
Proven impact
MEET US
Meet our companions: You get us. Just us.
We walk with you, inspire you, challenge you. Our companions are frontrunners with proven track records who make genuine connections. Like sidekicks do.
MEET US
You get us. Just us.
We walk with you, inspire you, challenge you. Our companions are frontrunners with proven track records who make genuine connections. Like sidekicks do.
A handpicked network of specialists. Every assignment gets the right team — tailored to your challenge, committed to your impact.
Tailored. Always.
