A founding team that came back – with three more members.
One question: how do we grow without every decision passing through the same four people? A strategic programme on the Una in 2025, a follow-up in the Bay of Kotor in 2026.
The challenge
A small advisory firm with large clients. The founders are experienced, each with their own expertise and way of working. Such companies grow fast and reach the same limit: growth depends on a few people. What was needed was a structured step out of the office that produces decisions, not just a good conversation.
The programme
- 2025, Una (11 participants): the dajak boat on the river, workshops – the starting picture and the first decisions.
- 2026, Bay of Kotor (14 participants): sea kayaking and a via ferrata above Kotor, workshops – a review of what had been done and the next step.
- The rule: physical activity comes before strategic work. After effort, participants speak more briefly and more directly.
The method: three questions – What? (the situation today) · So what? (which system produces it) · Now what? (what we stop, keep, build). The reverse question “how do we make sure we ruin the company?” produced the starting picture in ten minutes.
What stayed
- One sentence about how the company grows – and why that model is not sustainable.
- Three filter questions for decisions about new projects and people.
- Partner commitments, each with an owner and a review date.
- The strongest indicator: they came back a year later, with a bigger team.
Gallery
Bay of Kotor, 2026
Una, 2025 · the first programme
In their words
Marjan · Co-founder, Climate Lens Advisors · Bay of Kotor 2026
“The best part was seeing that the team can work and connect without the CLA partners in the room. … There is really no question: this was money well invested by our company. We got a lot back – people came home happy and connected. All I can say is: see you next year.”
Ed, Climate Lens Advisors · Bay of Kotor 2026
“The time with people helped our relationships within a team that otherwise does everything remotely. Here we had space to relax, think and talk.”
Luka, Climate Lens Advisors · Bay of Kotor 2026
“I am from here, from Kotor. I have been to many places – and it turned out Dopamine had to come for me to discover what was right under my nose. Even as a local, I would not have found those places on my own.”