Case Study

Scaling talent across borders:

How FT Strategies expanded in APAC

The background

FT Strategies, the consulting arm of the Financial Times, set out to scale its operations in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region. As they ventured into this dynamic market, they faced a dual challenge: maintaining their high consulting standards while sourcing local expertise to meet diverse client needs. To address these demands, they sought a flexible and reliable talent partner who could provide timely and specialised support.

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The challenge: Navigating new terrain in the APAC Region

FT Strategies was expanding its business and establishing a presence in the APAC region. This uncharted territory presented unique challenges and opportunities for growth.

What we encountered:

Entering an unfamiliar market:

As a newcomer to the region, FT Strategies faced the uncertainty of talent demand in a growing yet lean team. This required flexible talent solutions to support business expansion without prematurely committing to full-time hires.

Localised expertise requirements:

Clients in APAC sought consultants with specialised, in-depth regional knowledge in order to ensure quality delivery of projects, ie. local language delivery in Taiwanese Mandarin or Australian market knowledge.

Timing and precision in talent acquisition:

Success hinged on finding the right talent at the right time to deliver impactful outcomes in a competitive and diverse market.

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***“Outsized’s transparency and alignment with our needs made approvals seamless. They felt more like a partner than a vendor.”***

Sabrina Daryanani, Head of Asia-Pacific for FT Strategies

The solution

A flexible talent solution was essential to addressing their regional challenges, from identifying niche skills to ensuring cultural alignment with their consulting standards.

Meeting local needs

We worked closely with Sabrina from FT Strategies to understand her needs and ensure she had the support she needed to test this new market while taking care of the needs of her clients. She was able to leverage our agile approach as needs arose in the business. For example:

Australia

FT Strategies needed a consultant with a strong strategy background and in-depth knowledge of the Australian market. The candidate needed to have the ability to:

Build client relationships from the outset
Provide actionable insights into the local market
Deliver high-quality work aligned with FT Strategies’ high standards

“The contributions have been game-changing, blending strategy consulting expertise with a deep understanding of local nuances.”

Sabrina Daryanani, Head of Asia-Pacific for FT Strategies

Taiwan

Another project required fluency in Taiwanese Mandarin, a rare skill that was crucial for localised deliverables. The consultant’s expertise ensured the client’s needs were addressed effectively, demonstrating the importance of precision in matching talent to project demands.

“Access to regional talent has supercharged our quality of work with local expertise, allowing us to meet client needs and ensure quality delivery.”

Sabrina Daryanani, Head of Asia-Pacific for FT Strategies

A trusted partner for the future

FT Strategies continues to prioritise partnerships that enable them to meet client demands while planning for sustainable growth. By accessing specialised local expertise, they can focus on delivering exceptional results in a rapidly evolving market. We are proud to partner with leaders like Sabrina as they trailblase new market opportunities.

“Humans connect through shared understanding, and this approach has helped us achieve that relatability with our clients.”

Sabrina Daryanani, Head of Asia-Pacific for FT Strategies

If your organisation is navigating talent challenges in dynamic markets, flexible solutions can unlock new opportunities while keeping you focused on your mission.

Get in touch to discuss how we can help build and implement your flexible workforce needs

Please let us know any questions you have, or if you would like to set up a discussion on how we can support you building and executing an agile talent model.