Client Success Case Studies
Client details are anonymised for privacy reasons
-
A family-run agribusiness needed to formalise its long-standing sustainability practices in line with ESG reporting standards. We helped translate their values into a structured ESG statement, align their reporting with baseline disclosure guidelines, and set realistic improvement targets, without losing the authenticity of their voice.
The Full Story
A second-generation agribusiness, known in its province for ethical farming and employment practices, found itself facing new pressures. Regulatory expectations around ESG reporting were growing and a recent audit had flagged their lack of public disclosures as a risk.
The family didn’t want to look like they were “jumping on the sustainability bandwagon.” They had been living these values for years. But they needed help communicating it, especially with overseas distributors now asking for formal ESG statements.
They approached C-Suite Studio on a referral from a friend who had noticed us on LinkedIn.
The Context
This was not a faceless commercial enterprise. It was a family-run operation with deep community ties and a strong reputation built over time. Most of their sustainability and social impact efforts, from fair employment to responsible water use, were woven into daily life, not found in formal documents.
But without any formal ESG documentation, they risked being overlooked or misunderstood in a shifting regulatory landscape. Buyers wanted clarity. So did potential funders.
They were especially unfamiliar with global ESG reporting frameworks, and unsure about standards like GRI, SASB or King IV guidelines. They needed to start from the ground up, no greenwashing, no jargon, just honest and structured reporting.
The Process
We conducted a Reputation & Risk Communication Audit, identifying where gaps existed between what the business was doing and what it was communicating, particularly around labour practices, water use and land regeneration.
Then we worked with them to develop:
A plain-language ESG Statement grounded in their day-to-day reality (rainwater harvesting, small-scale solar, composting, and on-farm skills development).
A foundational reporting framework aligned with baseline ESG disclosure standards, focusing on material topics relevant to their size and sector.
A short list of achievable, measurable ESG targets, including phased data tracking on energy use and staff training, to help show steady year-on-year improvement.
A family-authored introduction for their annual update, which we helped lightly refine, keeping the tone warm, humble and jargon-free.
Everything was documented in a single annual-style PDF that could grow in depth over time. We also developed a visual version in two languages for community distribution.
The Outcome
Their new ESG statement was well received by both suppliers and local stakeholders.
It was suggested they be nominated for a provincial sustainability recognition award.
Internally, they began formally tracking basic sustainability metrics for the first time, making it easier to update reports and prepare for future audits.
The Transformation
Before, their contribution was solid but was kept behind the scenes. Afterwards, they had the words, visuals and confidence to share their impact with credibility and heart.
The focus was on building baseline ESG record-keeping and committing to clear, achievable targets over time, not spinning a story.
“We’re not good at fancy writing, we just know how to do our work. This helped us put it into words we’re proud of.”
-
She’d scaled a company from R80M to R300M but had no online voice. With guidance, her first post reached over 3,000 people and helped land an investor breakfast spotlight.
The Full Story:
She had the numbers, the strategy and the loyalty of her team.
What she didn’t have? A voice outside the boardroom.
The Context:
This Johannesburg-based CFO had helped scale her company from R80 million to R300 million over four years, navigating market volatility, a merger and two CEO transitions.
Her internal leadership was trusted, but to investors and potential partners, she was a line item in the annual report.
Her CEO asked her to take a more visible role in investor communications. She felt out of her depth.
“I’ve never posted publicly before,” she told us. “What if I say the wrong thing?”
The Process:
Over four sessions, we helped her:
Reframe her expertise into 3 core messaging themes
Build an updated LinkedIn profile that reflected both her analytical edge and her human approach to leadership
Craft and publish her first post - a short reflection on trust and financial storytelling
The Outcome:
Her post quietly reached over 3,000 people. No hashtags, no gimmicks, just credibility.
She was invited to represent the company at an investor breakfast
Two advisory board members reshared her post
Her CEO forwarded it to the EXCO with the subject line: “Nailed it.”
The Transformation:
She no longer sees LinkedIn as risky. She sees it as a strategic asset - one that finally reflects the leadership she’s built behind the scenes.
“This is the first time my public voice feels like it matches the weight of what I do.”
-
A Durban-based founder posted once and converted the attention into a R650,000 project.
The Full Story:
He ran a lean consultancy, did brilliant work, but hated the idea of “marketing.”
The Context:
This Durban-based design-thinking consultant had built a profitable practice through referrals. His work had saved clients millions in process waste and service delivery failures, but his digital presence didn’t reflect any of it.
“I hate this idea of having to continually find something to post every second day, just to be visible.”
Still, he agreed to a 1-month light-touch storytelling experiment with us.
The Process:
We guided him through:
One low-key profile update focused on real value, not fluff
One single, story-led post about helping a logistics client save nearly R2 million by applying design thinking to a supply chain issue
A comment strategy to engage with peers and potential clients after posting
The Outcome:
The post reached 1,400 views - modest, but meaningful in his niche
A senior exec at a national logistics company saw the post via a connection’s comment
It led to a virtual coffee, which led to a 3-month scoped project worth R650,000
The Transformation:
This founder still posts only once a month, but he now sees each post as a conversation starter, not a broadcast.
“I see now it isn’t about quantity; it’s about posting an interesting story and being seen by the right person at the right time.”
-
Hired to professionalise a R150M firm, this CEO needed visibility fast. One month later, his LinkedIn voice aligned with his boardroom strategy. Now he has a measurable baseline, a present market-facing brand to grow and evolve from.
The Full Story:
Private Equity had just acquired the business. The mandate: professionalise operations, modernise leadership and build a market-facing brand fast.
The Context:
This Cape Town-based CEO was brought in to lead a R150 million mid-sized business through a high-stakes transformation. He had a 9-month window to show traction to the PE firm and key stakeholders.
But there was a problem. No online presence, no narrative, no visibility.
He was known to his board but not to his market.
The Process:
We stepped in with a rapid-response visibility strategy:
Rebuilt his LinkedIn profile in 48 hours to reflect his turnaround expertise and clear leadership intent
Crafted a 4-week post calendar focused on transformation, people and commercial rigour
Wrote two anchor posts that tied internal performance wins to market-relevant insight without breaching confidentiality
The Outcome:
The board took notice, sharing his content internally
Two suppliers reshared his post, helping reframe brand reputation
A B2B industry journalist requested an interview for a leadership column
The Transformation:
“Now, I feel like my boardroom message matches my perception.”
“I knew I needed to be more ‘out there’ and this got me the traction I needed.”
-
From AI-generated noise to authentic traction, this tech founder rewrote her story and landed a podcast spotlight.
The Full Story
A tech founder came to us with consistent LinkedIn activity but no results to show for it. Her posts were regular, AI-polished and technically sound. But no shares, no comments, no direct messages, just polite likes from her inner circle.
The writing wasn't the problem. It was the resonance; she needed a story that stuck.
The Context:
This founder was building a fast-growing platform and knew visibility mattered, especially as she started fundraising. She had already committed to posting weekly, often using generative tools to craft informative updates about product features, growth strategies and startup life.
But despite her effort and discipline, nothing was landing.
Her content sounded just like every other well-behaved founder in her space: professional, technically correct but emotionally sterile. There was no spark, no vulnerability and no texture that made her memorable.
The Process:
We stepped in and started from the inside out.
Clarified her voice: Stripped the buzzwords and softened the robotic tone that AI had introduced
Reframed her founder origin story: From a functional "I built this because I saw a gap" to a grounded, human story about why solving this problem mattered to her
Co-wrote key posts: Including one that paired a personal lesson with a relatable industry pain point
Added narrative tension: Each post now hinted at stakes, decisions and lived experience
Set a tone guide she could continue using with or without AI tools
The Outcome
Three weeks in, the right post landed.
It didn’t go viral; it didn’t need to because it drew in real engagement from the right people in her industry.
The post recorded her highest view count to date, comments came from new voices, not just familiar faces
A podcast host in her space reached out for a guest interview, citing that post specifically
The Transformation
Her content no longer sounds like it was written by AI trained on sterile content.
It sounds like her, a founder with something to say.
She still uses AI to assist her workflow, but now it’s shaped by a real voice and a richer story. One that sticks.
“I didn’t realise how much of my content sounded just so-so, but now I see how boring it was.”