Céline Bak

Céline is an executive who offers 18 years of experience working in management consulting and venture operations in Canada, the US, the UK, and EMEA.

Most recently, as a management consultant to Series A and B financed ventures, she has achieved the following results:

Technology Companies

  • Lead author of The 2009 OCETA-SDTC Clean Technology Growth and Go-to-Market Report, which distils the strongest sales and marketing practices of high-growth clean technology companies.
  • Defined a governance strategy and transition process to enable a global nature conservation charity to convert an ad hoc organization into a going concern whose intellectual property is protected and commercially leveraged.
  • Developed the foundational economic value-added pricing model for the VP Marketing of a global mobile 3G network software company. Céline positioned the client to negotiate eight-figure contracts with leading mobile operators worldwide.
  • Developed a B-series business plan and investor materials for a geographic locator aggregation company whose technology enables geographically targeted advertising on mobile phones.
  • Defined the value proposition, market drivers, original market models, and key market sectors, — for a pharmaceutical company whose product addresses antibiotic-resistant bacteria and nosocomial infections.
  • Authored the marketing strategy, financial value proposition, and go-to-market materials for an enterprise software company targeting Fortune 500 process manufacturers. Also defined target customers and implemented a lead-generation process.
  • Assessed operating risks of hosting infrastructure and processes for a hosted service provider of broadband services.
  • Assessed strategies to move to an electronic version of a paper-based gaming product for a serious games product company whose products are used by hundreds of school boards around the world.

Investors

  • Validated partner and strategic alternatives scenarios for investors in a new pharmaceutical company. Correctly predicted the evolution of a potential strategic partnership.
  • Validated the opportunity for value in a well-established value chain for lead investors considering investing in the commercialization of a food safety company.
  • Conducted due diligence on the market, competitive landscape, channel strategy, and management team for lead investors considering follow-on investment in a graphics software company. Recommended the investment and defined key management deliverables to reduce investment and business risk.
  • Conducted M&A and financing evaluations for potential investors in a telecom equipment manufacturer and distributor.
  • Assessed global market and pricing drivers, as well as the public policy requirements of profitable operations, for investors in a bio-diesel distribution company.
  • Completed due diligence recommendations for lead investors considering follow-on investment in a mobile telecom software company. Included assessment of handset, carrier and competitor markets, network standards, and customer adoption of broadband over wireless applications.

Background

Following completion of her MBA in England, Céline began her career as a management consultant to British Airways, assessing the revenue-generating potential of the company’s largest incoming call centre.

Then based in Toronto and later Madrid, and working throughout the US and Europe, she joined billion-dollar global management consulting firm, A.T. Kearney. In her ten years at A.T. Kearney, she delivered North American and European consulting engagements for Fortune 500 companies in new market strategies, business risk management, cost reduction, organizational structure, and business process design and implementation. She received awards for her work and was selected to develop methodologies that became the basis of global management consulting practices.

She later took responsibility for EMEA professional services and business management for the Solect Technology Group, a global carrier grade internet telecom software company. Based in London and Madrid, she drove quarterly sales from $500,000 to $4 million over 8 quarters, surpassing revenue and cash targets, and was personally responsible for the British Telecoms account—the company’s largest account. Solect was later acquired by Amdocs, a $2 billion telecoms billing software company. At Amdocs, Céline was ranked in the top 4% of executives.

In Ottawa, at Bridgewater Systems, Céline led the product and partnerships strategy and designed scalable processes to drive a 50% increase in tier 1 telecom revenues. The products developed under her tenure led to new accounts in Europe and expanded existing tier 1 wireless carrier accounts in North America for mobile and broadband data services. She also led the initiation and development of strategic partnerships with broadband OEM partners.

Industries
  • Telecom and wireless
  • Enterprise software
  • Cleantech
  • Media
  • Pharmaceutical
Positions
  • Managing consultant
  • GM
  • VP Products
  • Office of CEO
Clients
  • World Wildlife Fund
  • Mobidia
  • KnowledgeWhere
  • pVelocity
  • Gangagen Lifesciences
  • Bridgewater Systems
  • Solect/Amdocs
  • BDC
Experience
  • Private and public company experience
  • Mergers and acquisitions
Education
  • Hon. Bachelor of Commerce, Guelph University
  • Masters of Business Administration, University of Bath
  • Full scholarship graduate of Lester B. Pearson United World College of the Pacific
  • Alumna of International Rotary Graduate Scholarship Program