The key to real transformation in 2026: Bringing strategy, people and data together

The key to real transformation in 2026: bringing strategy, people and data together

An interview with Wim Van der Meersch, Managing Partner at Select Advisory

Select Advisory was officially launched in October, bringing together the expertise of Arch, Beyond Data, Select Beople, and Fly under one integrated advisory model. We sat down with Wim Van der Meersch, Managing Partner of Select Advisory, to reflect on the first weeks after launch, the collaboration, and what lies ahead in 2026.

Wim, Select Advisory was officially launched in October. How would you describe the first weeks after the launch?

The first reactions have been very positive. What we hear most from clients, is that they appreciate the access to senior sparring partners who are active in the field, have worked at C-level, and understand what it takes to turn complex challenges into concrete results. They also appreciate our ability to solve issues end-to-end and to be a sounding board to discuss their concerns.

Why was now the right moment to bring Arch, Beyond Data, Select Beople, and Fly together?

All four businesses were performing strongly and growing year after year. At the same time, we noticed a clear shift in the questions coming from clients. More organisations were asking for end-to-end support, tailored to their needs rather than to the standard offer of a single provider. Their challenges were rarely confined to just one domain. Issues around leadership, organisation, culture, strategy, and data were deeply interconnected.

By joining forces, we can respond to those realities far better. Combining our strengths allows us to offer integrated, more effective solutions that reflect how organisations actually operate.

What gap did you see in the market that Select Advisory aims to fill?

There is a clear lack of advisory firms that combine three things: seniority, pragmatism, and true end-to-end delivery via integrated solutions.

Many organisations are tired of receiving decks of strategic slides without real implementation power. They need experienced consultants who understand their real pain points, know how decisions are made at executive level, and can stay involved until results are delivered.

Select Advisory was created to fill exactly that gap: tailored advice, grounded in experience, with the capability to implement and make change stick.

Why is an integrated approach across strategy, people, and data so important today?

The challenges organisations face today are diverse: strategic shifts, mergers, digital transformations, AI readiness, or major technology implementations. But what they all have in common is that they never succeed by focusing on just one dimension.

Successful transformation requires work across leadership, organisational structure, culture, governance, project delivery, and data. Data is essential to make better decisions and to track whether changes actually deliver the intended benefits.

If one of these dimensions is overlooked, the risk of failure increases significantly. That’s why combining strategy, people, and data is not a “nice to have”, but a prerequisite for sustainable change.

What makes Select Advisory different from traditional consulting firms?

First and foremost, it’s our people. We work with senior experts who combine experience in leadership, change, and data. Secondly, we don’t stop at advice. Implementation is a core part of our DNA. We stay engaged to ensure that strategies are translated into action and results.

Looking ahead: what are the priorities for Select Advisory in 2026?

Our focus for 2026 is threefold. We want to continue building the Select Advisory brand and convince the customers that we can serve them best with our integrated solutions. At the same time, we will keep investing in our people, because their expertise and engagement are our biggest asset.

And of course, we remain fully committed to our clients: supporting both existing and new organisations with the same level of care, quality, and partnership.

If clients should remember one thing about Select Advisory, what should it be?

That they can trust us. Trust us to understand their challenges, to work alongside them as true partners, and to help bring their organisation to the next level.