About Us
Here to help you do what you do, better.
Optimo’s founder, Danielle Heward, was determined to establish a new kind of business improvement firm. Disheartened by the damage done by mainstream business, she set about creating a company that would promote positive change by elevating those organisations making a genuine difference in the world.
And that’s precisely what Optimo does today.
We believe that, for businesses and organisations to have an impact, they need to get rid of the headaches that day-to-day operations can bring.
That’s what we’re good at.
Our mission is to create a better world by optimising the operations of every organisation working for environmental and social change. If their overall output increases, we believe their impact will be greater too.
How do we achieve this?
We bring our wealth of experience in project and operational management together with sub-contracting experts in finance, HR, digital solutions, and much more to help change-makers operate in the most effective and efficient way possible.
Unlike traditional business management consultants, we don’t create fancy presentations full of impractical recommendations. Our passionate and friendly team works hand-in-hand with you to identify real-world opportunities to maximise your people, processes, technology, and information.
Our unbiased, pragmatic, results-driven approach gives your leaders the freedom and time to focus on the future. The changes we implement result in tangible innovation, continued growth, and overall success.
Ultimately, we help you do what you do, better.
That’s what floats our boat, lights our fire, and gets us out of bed every morning.
That’s what makes us Optimo.
Our Values
These aren’t sitting on a shelf in an office gathering dust.
Our values are alive because we live them daily. They set our course and guide every interaction with our clients.
Make a Difference
We contribute to building a better world. Whether that’s as big as the planet we live on or making our businesses better for everybody involved. We want to give it our all and make sure what we do is the right thing for everyone involved. We aim to make everything practical and straightforward, as it’s more likely to make a difference when it’s simple.
Aim for Success
We’re always finding the best solutions and opportunities to improve for our clients and ourselves. We believe in what our clients do. So, we push ourselves to aim high, find the best outcomes, and work towards them together. We’re constantly developing ourselves to understand new ways of doing things. We develop young people because the future isn’t just in our learning but also in theirs.
In it Together
Everything is better when it’s done together. We work with our clients to find the best solutions for them. We don’t believe in dictating what we know. We share our skills and knowledge to continually improve. Different perspectives create a whole solution. When everyone is involved, the outcomes are more likely to succeed.
We’re all Human
Humans are all unique, and we celebrate this. We don’t take a one-size-fits-all approach to our work, and we don’t expect our people to fit into a box either. We’re professional; we’re not robots. When we look after those around us, we all flourish. That’s not only helping others to develop but being supportive too. We love what we do and know that we spend a long time at work – so it should be fun and rewarding.
Make a Difference
We contribute to building a better world. Whether that’s as big as the planet we live on or making our businesses better for everybody involved. We want to give it our all and make sure what we do is the right thing for everyone involved. We aim to make everything practical and straightforward, as it’s more likely to make a difference when it’s simple.
Aim for Success
We’re always finding the best solutions and opportunities to improve for our clients and ourselves. We believe in what our clients do. So, we push ourselves to aim high, find the best outcomes, and work towards them together. We’re constantly developing ourselves to understand new ways of doing things. We develop young people because the future isn’t just in our learning but also in theirs.
In it Together
Everything is better when it’s done together. We work with our clients to find the best solutions for them. We don’t believe in dictating what we know. We share our skills and knowledge to continually improve. Different perspectives create a whole solution. When everyone is involved, the outcomes are more likely to succeed.
We’re all Human
Humans are all unique, and we celebrate this. We don’t take a one-size-fits-all approach to our work, and we don’t expect our people to fit into a box either. We’re professional; we’re not robots. When we look after those around us, we all flourish. That’s not only helping others to develop but being supportive too. We love what we do and know that we spend a long time at work – so it should be fun and rewarding.
Our 360˚ Approach
We put our clients at the centre of our universe.
Your organisation’s goals and needs become our entire focus, and we do all we can to help you achieve your purpose.
We’re not traditional, stuffy, robotic business management consultants. We’re down-to-earth, pragmatic, heart-led human beings. Our people genuinely care about supporting your organisation in making the biggest possible positive impact on nature and society.
We’re also not sustainability consultants. However, all the business improvements and operational systems we suggest for our clients are chosen using a “lens” of responsibility. This ensures your general business operations consider people and the planet, as well as profit.
Being a Responsible Business
At Optimo, we have a huge love and appreciation for Earth’s natural environment. We strongly believe that it’s our duty to do everything in our power to protect our planet and work in the best interests of all its people.
We are currently embedding this commitment throughout our business through the B Corp certification process. The specific UN Sustainable Development Goals we have chosen to focus on for this are:
We have already made the following commitments:
Our People
Danielle Heward
Founder & Lead Change-Maker
Danielle founded Optimo (originally DH Professional Solutions) in 2019. Having spent around fifteen years in operations, consultancy, change, and transformation, Danielle understands what’s required to run a successful operation and deliver practical business improvements.
She is passionate about working with organisations that make a difference in the world and understands the need for leaders to focus on what they do best to achieve this.
Initially running the business and delivering most of the services on her own, Danielle has since expanded the company to include two core team members and a handpicked list of trusted expert subcontracting consultants who come on board according to each client’s needs. Danielle’s strengths and passions have formed the basis of our company values and provide a compass for our strategic direction of travel.
When she’s not working, Danielle enjoys open water swimming and quality time with music, food, friends, and family.
Our Awards
We’re proud to have been chosen as a winner of the Theo Paphitis Small Business Sunday Competition and for Danielle to have been selected as one of Insider Media’s 42 Under 42. To have received these awards during what has been such difficult time for the world and the global economy is truly humbling. We continue to strive to be an award-winning business daily.
Kind words from clients
Let’s have a chat.
If your organisation is making a difference to environmental or social issues, then we’d love to help optimise your operations so that you can concentrate on doing what you do best: leading positive change.
Contact us today for a no-obligation chat. Tell us about the operational challenges you’re facing. We’ll explain how we can help resolve them in a way that suits your time, resource, and budget availability