YQ: A New Strategic Advisory Firm
Former Publicis (WPP) executive Nikki Stone has unveiled YQ, a strategic advisory firm aimed at assisting founders and C-suite teams in creating resilient, value-driven companies tailored for sustainable growth.
Navigating the Paradox of Growth
With organizations facing heightened competitive pressures, economic uncertainties, and the rapid pace of digital transformation, YQ seeks to address what Stone identifies as the Paradox of Growth—the delicate balance between swift expansion and enduring resilience.
"YQ partners with founders and executive leaders to foster not just high-growth companies but also innovative and resilient organizations," stated Stone. "We aim to embed resilience and architect sustainable scalability into their operational frameworks."
Beyond Advisory Services
In addition to launching YQ, Stone plans to create strategic content and tools, including a leadership-focused podcast series, a thought-leadership platform, and a foundational book, offering founders and business leaders a broader ecosystem beyond the advisory firm.
YQ collaborates intimately with founders, CEOs, boards, and executive teams to instill clarity, leadership alignment, and disciplined execution at the core of their operations. Stone's extensive experience in executive leadership within global holding companies has informed her approach, enabling enterprises to transform, scale, and modernize their integrated growth strategies.
Advisory Roles and Innovations
Stone has served as an advisor to various organizations, including Vertiqal Studios, where she is a Board Member, contributing to leadership alignment and long-term strategic development.
In her advisory capacity, she is also engaging with the Vertical Impression team, aiming to unlock the potential of their cutting-edge real-time analytics platform—technology that measures consumer attention and engagement across out-of-home and short-form video, turning every impression into actionable insights for brands.
The YQ Framework
Developed from Stone's rich background in senior leadership roles across several organizations, the YQ Framework focuses on two core components that together form the YQ leadership operating system, which supports innovation while safeguarding long-term resilience.
Before launching YQ, Stone held the position of Chief Commerce Officer at GroupM Canada, part of WPP, where she spearheaded national growth initiatives and enhanced integrated commerce capabilities across media, creative, and performance disciplines.
Her career also includes leadership roles at Zenith Media and Publicis Groupe, where she oversaw digital transformation, enterprise restructuring, and management of large-scale P&Ls.
Throughout her career, Stone has served on several boards, providing guidance on governance, growth strategy, and organizational performance. YQ aims to partner with founders, CEOs, and executive leadership teams across North America to architect innovative, resilient organizations poised for sustainable growth.
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