Umalia

What Umalia does

Umalia Inc. is a privately held Montreal-based consulting firm founded in 2012 by Lucie Bourgeois that advises organizations on societal engagement strategy, sustainability, and multi-sector partnership development. The company serves a diversified client base across four continents — North America, Africa, Europe, and Latin America — including Quebec and Canadian SMEs (NTD Apparel, Green Beaver, Papillon MDC, Technologies Ecofixe), large enterprises and multinationals (Decathlon Canada, iA Financial Group, CAE, Fiera Capital, Bonduelle, Garaga, Fyffes, GSK), industry associations (Aéro Montréal), multilateral and NGO organizations (UNDP, Oxfam, Crossroads International), and government and academic institutions (Hydro-Québec, Université Laval, Université Mohammed V). Its service portfolio comprises four core offerings: societal engagement consulting (diagnostic through implementation and impact measurement), multi-sector partnership design and facilitation, impact measurement, and strategic planning for sustainability alignment with business objectives. Beyond fee-for-service advisory, Umalia also initiates its own multi-sector partnership projects — notably the Climat'Eau initiative in Sô-Ava, Benin (2017) funded by Quebec's Green Fund and the Quebec International Climate Cooperation Program, and ongoing work in Senegal and DRC — and produces knowledge content including the Climat'Eau documentary and an Insights/Reflexions publication stream.

The firm operates a sales-led, direct-consulting go-to-market model with no proprietary software platform, API, or disclosed technology stack; revenue is generated entirely through professional services engagements with non-publicly disclosed pricing structures. Distribution is direct: senior advisors engage C-suite and senior management through consultative sales processes, supported by top-of-funnel content marketing (LinkedIn, website blog/Insights), mid-funnel expert reviews and case studies (CAE, Aéro Montréal), and earned media via industry awards. The company is B Corp certified (June 2020, recertified 2023) with a score of 128 points ('outstanding') and received the 2020 Canadian SDG Accelerator Award from Global Compact Network Canada. Headcount, revenue, and ownership structure are not publicly disclosed; the firm is founder-led with no known institutional investment, parent company, or subsidiaries.

Name

Umalia

Legal name

Umalia Inc.

Website

https://umalia.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Umalia is a privately held Montreal-based boutique consulting firm founded in 2012 that advises SMEs, large enterprises, NGOs, and government institutions on societal engagement strategy, sustainability, and multi-sector partnership development across North America, Africa, Europe, and Latin America.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sustainability Consulting

NAICS

Other Management Consulting Services (541618), Management Consulting Services (54161)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAHAJAG

EHS Auditing, Inspections & Assurance

Business & Public Services/Professional Services (Legal, Accounting, Consulting)/Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS) Consulting

SECONDARYBPAHAJAF

EHS Management Systems & ISO Consulting (ISO 14001/45001)

Business & Public Services/Professional Services (Legal, Accounting, Consulting)/Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS) Consulting

Keywords

• Sustainability consulting
• Corporate societal engagement
• Multisector partnership advisory
• ESG strategy consulting
• Impact measurement services

Headquarters

HQ city

Montreal

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Consulting Services: Umalia generates revenue through consulting engagements providing tailored guidance to organizations seeking to develop and implement societal engagement strategies, sustainability frameworks, and multi-sector partnerships. The firm assists leaders in aligning values with business practices, developing strategic planning, and engaging stakeholders.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Umalia is a consulting firm that advises organizations on developing and implementing societal engagement and sustainability strategies, designing and facilitating multi-sector partnerships, and measuring social and environmental impact. Services span diagnostic assessment, strategic planning, partnership governance and implementation, employee engagement, and impact measurement for clients across SMEs, large enterprises, NGOs, and government agencies. The firm combines fee-based consulting with pro-bono engagement work on its own multi-sector partnership projects.

Product overview

Umalia is a consulting firm offering specialized advisory services focused on societal engagement, sustainability strategy, and multisector partnership development. The core service portfolio consists of strategic consulting for sustainability (diagnostic, planning, implementation, and impact measurement), multisector partnership design and facilitation, and stakeholder engagement support. The firm operates as a hybrid organization—combining consulting services for private sector clients with pro-bono and low-bono work for non-profit organizations and communities. Additionally, Umalia produces knowledge content including the Climat'Eau documentary and publishes insights/expert reviews on societal engagement topics. Umalia is B Corp certified (score: 128 points) and has received the 2020 Canadian SDG Accelerators Award.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Societal Engagement Consulting Services Strategic consulting to help organizations develop, implement, and measure their societal engagement (CSR, ESG, sustainability) strategies, from diagnostic assessment through implementation and impact measurement. The service is delivered to SMEs, large enterprises, NGOs, and government agencies seeking to convert sustainability into strategic advantage.
• Multisector Partnership Design and Implementation Design and facilitation of multi-sector partnerships that bring together private sector, civil society, governments, and academia to address sustainability challenges and Sustainable Development Goals. Includes partnership governance, stakeholder alignment, and operational activation.
• Strategic Planning for Sustainability Advisory engagement assisting organizations in developing strategic plans that align sustainability goals with core business objectives, integrating stakeholder engagement and measurable outcomes into corporate strategy.
• Impact Measurement Services Advisory service helping organizations measure and quantify the social and environmental impact of their engagement initiatives and multi-sector partnerships, supporting ESG reporting and impact communication.

Quantifiable outcome

• B Corp certification score of 128 points (80 required for certification, 55 average)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Climat'Eau Partnership (Bénin, Sô-Ava)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Multi-sector partnership in Sô-Ava, Benin focused on climate change adaptation and water management. Partners include: Collectif des Organismes de la Société Civile de Sô-Ava, Mairie de Sô-Ava, Technologies Ecofixe, Université Laval, Union Communale des Producteurs, Université d'Abomey Calavi, INRAB (Institut National de Recherche en Agriculture du Bénin), and multiple Benin government ministries (Agriculture, Environment, Health). Funded by the Green Fund of Quebec (Fonds Vert Québec) and the International Climate Cooperation Program of Quebec. The partnership resulted in a documentary produced in collaboration with Montreal screenwriter/director Olivier Côté.
• Senegal Soap-Making Women's PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 March 2016Partnership developed by Umalia connecting Crossroads International (Canadian NGO) with private sector companies Green Beaver and Papillon MDC to increase productive capacity and incomes for women-run soap making business in Senegal.
• Shared Value Lab PartnershipminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 February 2016Umalia and Cohesion Strategies (brand strategy consulting firm) jointly held the first Shared Value Lab in Montreal to demonstrate the shared value approach. Fifteen executives from five Canadian firms participated (Industrial Alliance, Jefo, Saputo, Shire Canada, Ubisoft) along with international experts from the Conference Board of Canada and Shared Value Initiative.
• DRC Rural Communities Development PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 December 2013Partnership launched December 18, 2013 in South Kivu, DRC to support rural communities in developing employment opportunities by strengthening entrepreneurial capacities. Partners include UNDP (United Nations Development Programme), Airtel, Rawbank, and the provincial government - a first-of-its-kind collaboration in the province.
• Cohesion StrategiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerExpert consulting firm in brand strategy that collaborated with Umalia on the Shared Value Lab initiative, demonstrating the essence of shared value creation through partnerships.
• Papillon MDCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeadership development firm and ongoing partner in multiple initiatives including the Senegal partnership and shared value programs. Papillon MDC develops leadership in individuals through programs utilizing employee skills to impact society positively.
• Green BeavercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSustainable consumer products company partnering with Umalia and Crossroads International to support 15,000+ women soap producers in Senegal, combining sustainability business model with international development impact.
• Crossroads InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCanadian NGO focused on international development that partners with Umalia and private sector companies (Green Beaver, Papillon MDC) to create development initiatives with commercial components.
• Technologies EcofixecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental technology company committed to treating waters of rivers used by communities in Benin to reduce pollution and contribute to climate resilience. Key partner in the Climat'Eau initiative.
• Université LavalcoreOthersAcademic partner in the Climat'Eau partnership in Benin, contributing research and expertise to the multi-sector climate adaptation initiative.
• UNDP (United Nations Development Programme)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey partner in the DRC South Kivu rural development initiative alongside Airtel, Rawbank, and provincial government. Umalia's president supported the partnership launch in 2013.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Shared Value Initiative: Shared Value Initiative is a global platform that Umalia explicitly partnered with on its 2016 Montreal Shared Value Lab. A peer organization in the shared-value/societal engagement ecosystem rather than a direct competitor.

Direct peers

• FSG (Foundation Strategy Group): FSG pioneered the shared value consulting approach that Umalia's Shared Value Lab drew upon. FSG advises enterprises and foundations on creating social value through core business strategy — directly overlapping with Umalia's societal engagement and partnership focus.
• BSR (Business for Social Responsibility): BSR is a global sustainability advisory network that helps enterprises develop CSR/ESG strategies and multi-stakeholder partnerships. Highly comparable to Umalia in mission (corporate societal engagement) and consulting methodology, though larger and more globally distributed.
• GlobeScan: GlobeScan is a sustainability insights and strategy advisory firm working with global brands on stakeholder engagement, materiality, and purpose-driven strategy. Comparable to Umalia in serving enterprise clients with sustainability research and stakeholder consultation work.
• Cohesion Strategies: Cohesion Strategies is a Montreal-based brand strategy consultancy that partnered with Umalia on the Shared Value Lab. Comparable as a boutique Quebec-based consulting firm working on purpose-driven strategy and partnerships.

Emerging players

• Watershed: Watershed is a software-enabled sustainability platform that helps enterprises measure and reduce carbon emissions and run ESG reporting. Represents the technology-enabled competitive threat to traditional sustainability consultants like Umalia.

Broad incumbents

• Sustainalytics: Sustainalytics (now part of Morningstar) is a major ESG research and advisory firm serving institutional investors and corporations. Comparable to Umalia's ESG advisory offering but at much greater scale, with technology-enabled analytics and global reach.
• ERM (Environmental Resources Management): ERM is a global environmental, health, safety, and sustainability consulting powerhouse. Overlaps with Umalia on sustainability strategy and impact measurement but serves much larger enterprise clients with a global delivery network.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks3 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/UmaliaInc
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC8P1hR5fo7D2dc-m53xIqqA
• Facebookfacebook.com/UmaliaInc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/umalia

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Umalia