Hamish Vallabh
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Discreet international research, design, and innovation advisory for uncommon organisations.

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Previous experience

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De-risk your
innovation efforts

Validate new ideas and offerings to ensure they are desirable, viable, and feasible before committing valuable resources.

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Build things that people wish existed

Design products and experiences that spark desire, build loyalty, and lead your industry in innovation.

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Create culturally relevant brands

Align your brand, storytelling, and offerings with the codes and cultural values of your audiences.

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Hey there, innovator! 👋🏽

Over the last 15 years, I’ve led strategy and innovation engagements for some of the world’s most iconic and demanding brands and businesses—including Apple, Mercedes-Benz, and Boston Consulting Group.

I’ve worn many hats along the way—brand strategist, corporate venture builder, UX researcher, and strategic designer—giving me a rare ability to bridge disciplines and see opportunities others miss.

Living and working in Melbourne, Sydney, London, and Berlin has shaped my global perspective. Each city left its mark, sharpening my ability to decode cultures, trends, and human behaviour.

At the core of my craft is a simple question: What truly matters to people? Whether refining a product, crafting a narrative, or shaping a strategy, I specialise in turning complexity into clarity and ideas into impact.

How I can support you

Research & Sensemaking

I’ll help you uncover what drives your audience—their desires, the details they notice, and the emotions they can’t quite express in words—and translate this raw data into actionable insights.

Facilitation & Coaching

I lead workshops that sharpen ideas and turn ambiguity into clear, actionable strategies. Whether prioritising opportunities or refining ideas, I help teams align, decide, and move forward with confidence.

Venture & Business Building

From zero to one, I help build ventures that solve real problems and resonate with real customers. From refining business models to crafting go-to-market strategies, I’ll help you launch with clarity, speed, and confidence.

Brand Strategy & Storytelling

Vision, myths, beliefs—these represent the soul of your brand. I’ll help you craft strategies and stories that create impact, challenge convention, and make people feel something real.

Product & Experience Innovation

From audacious ideas to industry-shifting innovation. I’ll help you design products, services, and experiences that satisfy user needs, solve real problems, and elevate your brand.

How I work

  • I’m obsessed with two things: what your customers crave and what your business needs to thrive. Get both right, and you’re unstoppable. My job? To dig deep, cut through the noise, and turn those insights into ideas and strategies that deliver.

  • I don’t name-drop, brag, or publish who I work with. Every project I take on is a confidential engagement. Think of me as your discreet co-conspirator—here to help you make bold moves behind the scenes.

  • You’re never just my client, and I’m never just your consultant. I’m your coach, confidant, counsellor, and co-conspirator. Your partner in the chaos, the mess, the breakthroughs, and everything in between.

  • No templates, no cookie-cutter approaches. Every project is customised to your unique challenges, goals, and opportunities.

How to get started


Introductory
Session

60-minute call


A no-strings-attached introductory session to explore your ambitions. We'll get to know each other and identify where research, strategy, and design can make an impact.

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Innovation
Workshop

0.5 - 1 day


An in-person or remote workshop designed to align teams, prioritise challenges, identify opportunities, and generate innovative solutions for specific challenges or focus areas.

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Discovery
Sprint

2 - 6 weeks


An intensive, research-driven sprint to uncover insights about a priority issue or challenge, identify innovation opportunities, and build a foundation for impactful strategies and offerings.

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Validation
Sprint

2 - 6 weeks


Test and validate a product, concept, campaign, or idea with your audience or customers. Designed to provide rapid feedback, refine your offering, and de-risk decisions before launch.


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Big ideas start with honest conversations about difficult problems.

So drop me a line if you’d like to talk about one of yours.

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