Shepherd Advisors

What Shepherd Advisors does

Shepherd Advisors is a privately held, founder-led business consulting firm headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan, founded in 2000 by Loch McCabe. The firm specializes in growth strategy and execution advisory for lower mid-market B2B companies — particularly CEOs and leadership teams targeting revenue doubling or tripling within 3–5 years — with secondary focus on private equity-backed portfolio companies, B2B manufacturers, and multi-generational family businesses. The firm's service portfolio is anchored by the integrated GAMEChange suite (GAMEReady for growth preparation, GAMEPlan for strategic planning, GAMEPlay for execution) and complemented by a modular Strategy Plus+ layer of specialized services (Growth Machine Accelerator assessment, Voice-of-Customer research, PIVOT scenario planning, and Seller Strategy Playbook). Additional proprietary intellectual property includes the SHOT analysis framework (replacing SWOT), Growth Machine Diagnostics (10-function assessment), PIVOT 20/20 scenario planning, and North STAR visioning tool — all branded methodologies delivered through direct consulting engagements.

The firm's underlying technology stack consists entirely of these named strategic frameworks and assessment methodologies rather than any proprietary software platform; delivery is human-led by a small team of approximately 8 members including the founder-CEO, a Senior Associate, an Associate, a Marketing Associate, and 4 advisors with Fortune 100, Tier #1 automotive supplier, and senior marketing leadership backgrounds. Shepherd Advisors monetizes exclusively through custom professional services engagements priced on a quote basis, with no software licensing, subscription, or marketplace revenue streams. GTM is sales-led enterprise field motion targeting CEOs directly, supported by content marketing (Strategy Insights blog, free Growth Machine Accelerator diagnostic hosted on Microsoft Forms, Right Strategy Checklist, PIVOT 20/20 Guidebook), LinkedIn presence, and a documented case-study library of 16+ client engagements spanning diverse industrial, manufacturing, environmental, and consumer-services verticals. No acquisitions, partnerships, funding rounds, or institutional investment have been disclosed; the firm operates as an independent, founder-owned boutique practice with no geographic expansion beyond US/regional Midwest focus.

Name

Shepherd Advisors

Legal name

Shepherd Advisors

Website

https://shepherdadvisors.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Shepherd Advisors is a privately held, founder-led strategy consulting firm in Ann Arbor, MI that delivers growth strategy and execution advisory to lower mid-market B2B company CEOs using its proprietary GAMEChange framework and specialized Strategy Plus+ services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Ann Arbor

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. GAMEChange Suite: Comprehensive growth strategy and execution engagement comprising GAMEReady (preparation), GAMEPlan (strategic planning), and GAMEPlay (execution support). Delivered through structured consulting engagements with leadership teams.
2. Strategy Plus+ Services: Targeted, specialized advisory services including Growth Machine Accelerator assessment, Voice-of-Customer research, PIVOT scenario planning, and Seller Strategy Playbook. Available as standalone or complementary services.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Shepherd Advisors provides business strategy and growth advisory services to CEOs and leadership teams of lower mid-market B2B companies. Its flagship GAMEChange suite delivers integrated strategy development and execution across GAMEReady, GAMEPlan, and GAMEPlay phases, while Strategy Plus+ offers targeted engagements including Growth Machine Accelerator assessments, Voice-of-Customer research, PIVOT scenario planning, and Seller Strategy Playbook services.

Product overview

Shepherd Advisors is a business consulting firm offering a portfolio of strategy and growth advisory services organized around two main offerings: the GAMEChange suite (GAMEReady, GAMEPlan, GAMEPlay) for integrated strategy development and execution, and Strategy Plus+ for specialized targeted engagements including the Growth Machine Accelerator assessment, Voice-of-Customer research, PIVOT scenario planning, and Seller Strategy Playbook. The firm also provides proprietary frameworks including the SHOT strategic analysis methodology and North STAR vision-setting tool. Services are delivered through direct consulting engagements rather than software products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• GAMEChange: Cornerstone suite of methodical, practical, and proven approaches to help CEOs navigate growth. Includes GAMEReady (Preparing for Growth), GAMEPlan (Strategic Planning), and GAMEPlay (Strategy Execution).
• Strategy Plus+
• GAMEReady
• GAMEPlan
• GAMEPlay
• Growth Machine Accelerator (GMA)
• Growth Voice-of-Customer (VOC)
• PIVOT - Future Proof
• Seller Strategy Playbook

Quantifiable outcome

• Companies have achieved doubling of revenues (e.g., Midwest Geothermal, Boll Filter Corporation), fivefold revenue increases (Great Lakes Sound & Vibration, Climate Technologies, KTM Industries)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Bain & Company: Global management consulting firm with deep B2B strategy and growth practice serving clients from mid-market to Fortune 500. Provides integrated strategy and execution advisory similar to Shepherd's GAMEChange suite, but operates at vastly greater scale across all industries and geographies.
• McKinsey & Company: Largest global strategy consultancy with broad B2B growth strategy capabilities across all tiers including mid-market. Provides proprietary strategic frameworks and execution support analogous to Shepherd's GAMEChange and SHOT methodologies, though typically serving larger clients with longer engagements.
• Boston Consulting Group (BCG): Top-tier global strategy consulting firm offering growth strategy, M&A advisory, and transformation services across B2B industries. Comparable to Shepherd in delivering structured growth and execution programs, but with global reach and deeper enterprise relationships.
• Kearney: Global management consultancy (formerly A.T. Kearney) offering strategy, operations, and growth advisory across B2B industries. Comparable service breadth to Shepherd's GAMEChange suite, though serving larger enterprise clients on average.
• Strategy& (PwC): Global strategy consulting arm of PwC serving mid-market to enterprise clients with growth strategy, operations, and functional transformation services. Competes with Shepherd for mid-market B2B engagements, often with stronger digital and tech integration capabilities.
• AlixPartners: Global consulting firm specializing in performance improvement, turnaround, and transformation for B2B companies, frequently engaged by private equity sponsors. Comparable in serving PE-backed mid-market clients on growth and operational priorities.

Direct peers

• Chief Outsiders: Fractional executive firm placing seasoned C-level marketers, strategists, and operations leaders into mid-market companies on a part-time basis. Direct competitor in the same lower mid-market B2B niche, focused on growth acceleration and strategic clarity for companies seeking to scale.
• West Monroe Partners: Management and technology consulting firm focused on mid-market companies across industries, with deep growth strategy and operational transformation practices. Closely aligned to Shepherd's mid-market B2B specialization and PE-backed client orientation.
• SBI (Sales Benchmark Index): B2B sales strategy consulting firm that helps companies build go-to-market strategies, align sales organizations, and accelerate revenue growth in mid-market and enterprise segments. Closely aligned to Shepherd's Voice-of-Customer research, sales redesign, and growth strategy offerings for B2B manufacturers and service companies.
• Decision Strategies International: Boutique strategy and scenario planning consultancy serving mid-market and enterprise clients with proprietary strategic frameworks and decision-making methodologies. Direct peer to Shepherd in the niche of structured, framework-driven strategy work for business leadership teams.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/shepherd-advisors

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Shepherd Advisors