Who is Black Bear Strategy?

Black Bear Strategy is owned and run by Matt Schaal - a German by birth and a South African by heart. Having spent his youth and early career across various European countries, Matt has made South Africa his home since the mid 2000s.

Matt started his career in management consulting (Germany and Switzerland) and financial analysis (London, United Kingdom), later specialising in strategy consulting and commercial management in Cape Town (South Africa).

During his five years of consulting and ten years in fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) companies, Matt worked as Senior Manager and Head of Department at a top ten global beverage player, Commercial Director of South Africa's biggest craft beer company and Merchandise Director at an international cosmetics player, operating in 140 countries.

Matt holds a Masters degree in Business Management from University of Konstanz (Germany) and has completed post graduate programmes at University of Cape Town (South Africa) and University of Jyväskyla (Finland).

Thanks to Matt’s varied industry experience and his previous tenure in management consulting, Black Bear Strategy has access to large network of subject matter specialists in supply chain management, finance, marketing and IT, to mention a few. These experts assist, formally or informally, to make Black Bear Strategy projects a success and ensure industry leading standards and outcomes.

Why ‘Black Bear’?

Why not? Black bears are fascinating creatures. They have extremely keen senses which help them to navigate complex and unknown environments.

Black bears are calm, determined, forceful and unstoppable in pursuing their quest.

They do not walk the path most travelled, but find their own unique way through the uncertain - and the reason why the Black Bear Strategy logo walks from right to left, instead of the expected opposite. †