Why I'm starting StudioRhys

When Earth Action needed to transform their plastic waste management database, they were facing a classic mission-driven challenge: brilliant vision, complex execution. They knew they wanted to create transparency in plastic waste data, but turning what they had into a scalable product meant navigating technical architecture, stakeholder management, and impact measurement simultaneously.

The solution wasn't just building software - it was redesigning their approach to data collection, creating automated workflows that reduced manual processing, and developing narratives around complex topics that their team and external partners could understand. It required looking at the whole system.

After helping them build that system - and tackling similar challenges at Ubuntu and South Pole and smaller gigs with Forward Inc and Use/Space - I've realised there's a pattern. Mission driven organisations consistently struggle with the same execution gaps, and I want to solve them.

That's why I'm starting StudioRhys.

The execution gap problem

Every impact organisation I've worked with has the same challenge: they know exactly what change they want to create, but struggle with how to deliver it effectively.

At Ubuntu, the challenge I spent the most time thinking about was bringing enterprise-grade Linux to millions of developers on Raspberry Pi without official support. At South Pole, it was building digital climate solutions that could handle complex carbon accounting while remaining simple enough for sustainability consultants. At Earth Action, it was turning plastic waste data into actionable insights for corporations.

Different missions with the same problem - a gap between good intentions and systematic delivery.

This gap exists because complex problems attract specialists - people with deep domain knowledge who are brilliant at what they do. But being an expert environmental scientist doesn't automatically make you expert at managing technical teams. Understanding circular economy principles doesn't mean you know how to build scalable data platforms.

These are the kinds of gaps I fill.

What I bring to the table

I've spent my career between technical product development and impact. In practice:

Technical product leadership - At Earth Action, I managed the rebuild of their plastic waste data platform Plasteax. This meant everything from database architecture decisions to stakeholder workshops with massive companies. The result was a system that increased sales and market potential while improving data accuracy and UX.

Impact measurement that matters - At South Pole, I led the development of digital tools that processed footprint calculations and carbon credit data. The challenge wasn't just handling calculations, but creating systems that sustainability teams could trust and auditors could verify.

Systems thinking that scales - When Ubuntu needed enterprise support for Raspberry Pi, I worked the product strategy with the team that brought professional-grade Linux to the world's most popular development board. This meant coordinating between hardware partnerships, open-source community management, and commercial support infrastructure while maintaining Ubuntu's accessibility principles.

What connects all this work is focus on the end-to-end experience - from initial problem discovery to implementation. I don't just build products - I work on the systems, processes, and KPIs that make them sustainable.

What I'm looking for

I'm seeking 1-6 month product management engagements with mission-driven organisations. Specifically, I work best with teams who are ready to:

Scale sustainably - Who have proven their concept works, but manual processes are becoming bottlenecks. Folks who need systematic approaches to handle growth without losing quality or focus.

Build technical solutions that just work - Who know they need technology to achieve their mission, but technical and commercial teams aren't speaking the same language. Organisations who need someone to translate between worlds.

Measure and communicate impact - Who are having some success but struggle to prove it to stakeholders, investors, or partners. People who need ways of measuring complex impact in ways stakeholders can understand.

Complex stakeholder environments - Who's work involves multiple partners, regulatory requirements, or technical constraints. Teams who need to tell a strategic story that considers all the moving parts for multiple types of people.

My sweet spot is organisations tackling climate, social impact, or systemic change challenges where the solution requires technical sophistication, domain understanding, and clear stakeholder alignment.

My bigger picture

This isn't just about freelancing, in fact I've often been quite vocal about not liking the idea of 'consulting' - I'm also exploring full-time opportunities.

But StudioRhys is my way of trying to understand the impact ecosystem on a lower level by working directly with organisations at different stages of growth.

Whether this leads to starting my own venture, joining a company, or continuing as an independent impact consultant will depend on where I can create the most change. For now, I'm learning by doing.

Let's work together

I'm most effective when working closely with founders, leaders, or programme managers who want to go deep on their challenges. If you're wrestling with scaling, measurement, technical product development, or stakeholder alignment - and you're ready to invest time in systemic solutions - I'd love to explore how I can help.

Check out studio-rhys.com for more details about my approach and let's talk: rhys@studio-rhys.com