MĀKIA CONSULTING
Our Expertise: Forged through extensive, real-world executive experience at world-class organizations, Mākia Consulting goes far beyond theoretical models to offer solutions that are both feasible and boundary-pushing. Consulting with each other over dinners and on dog walks for a quarter century has deepened our multi-industry insights and our understanding of what truly drives meaningful, enterprise-wide change.
Our Philosophy: We believe that making courageous and insight-based decisions yields sustained success even in the most dynamic environments. We also believe that one-off workshops and fragmented initiatives can't deliver organization-wide impact. Instead, we partner with you to identify what matters most for your future and craft a bespoke path that resonates with your unique culture and capabilities.
Our Approach: We foster an environment of trust and candor to build upon shared values while embracing different perspectives. Our focus is to confidentially expand your capacity for meaningful, future-forward change. Together we turn complexity into clarity that drives courageous decisions and delivers lasting value.
Nelly Kennedy
Born in Athens, Greece, and later raised in Vienna, Austria, Nelly's adventurous spirit and open-minded approach were shaped by living and working across six countries and two continents. She has a proven track record of driving profound change, from legacy industries to future-shaping powerhouses, and enjoys navigating complexity, even teaching Crisis Communications for CEOs.
Alongside other leading brands including WIRED and VOGUE, Nelly dedicated over two decades of her career as a global executive at adidas and Google, leading critical pillars of strategic evolution for both organizations. Prior to founding Mākia Consulting, she spearheaded a substantial strategic and organizational brand transformation in her role as the Global CMO for Volkswagen.
Nelly's deep understanding of behavioral science is central to her leadership philosophy. She recognizes that sustained high performance requires a deliberate balance between fast-paced, multi-dimensional work and periods of deep focus that accelerate innovation and strengthen resilience.
Her own practice of firing up more neurons usually takes place in nature—during vivacious dog walks or tranquil moments with her horse—where she values the direct feedback and heightened self-awareness animals provide.
Nelly finds it most rewarding when she can inspire organizations and individuals to find the courage to lead the way and drive meaningful change.
Tom Kennedy
Merging a Midwestern and Hawaiian upbringing, Tom’s professional experiences have moved him to the USA’s east and west coast as well as different European countries. Much of his career was spent leading new initiatives and functions at adidas, Google, Bowers & Wilkins and the University of California. Prior to founding Mākia Consulting, he was the Senior Director of Strategic Communication at the University of California-San Francisco, and earned a certificate from the MIT Sloan School of Management for the Impact of AI on Business Strategy.
His favorite work experiences include living in a Kenyan running camp, establishing a non-profit that supported young adults in conflict areas through sports, working on-site at both the Olympics and World Cup, and producing a podcast about the search for a sickle cell disease cure.
Outside the office, Tom's hobbies shape his approach to challenges. As a 2:31 marathoner, he's keenly aware that all success is incremental. As an emergency response volunteer, he knows aligned objectives and clear structure are critical for efficacy during uncertainty. And as a former journalist, he understands that asking the right questions can shift perspectives and help make sense of complexity.
His interests range from 120 feet below sea level as a certified rescue scuba diver to the clouds as a private pilot, and most things in between.