Discovery and prioritisation
- Where should we focus first?
- Which improvements will have the greatest impact?
- Do we have a clear picture of our current capability?
Can Did | Business development
Where better
outcomes begin.
Can Did BD works with professional services firms to identify and deliver the changes that matter most to work-winning performance.
Get in touchWhat we do
Strengthening work-winning performance, at scale
Professional services firms make significant investments in business development and pitching, across people, processes and supporting technology. The challenge is focusing those investments where they will have the greatest impact.
Can Did BD helps firms understand what is driving work-winning performance, identify opportunities for improvement and prioritise change across business development operations, pitching, content, data, technology and skills.
Drawing on more than twenty years of practical experience, we provide independent advice and ongoing support to help firms improve the return on their investment in work-winning activities.
How we can help
The questions we can help you answer
Every firm is different, but many face similar challenges when trying to improve work-winning performance. The questions below highlight some of the areas where Can Did BD can help.
Content strategy and improvement
- How do we ensure content is easily accessible, useful, and up to date?
Technology and adoption
- How do we get value from technology investments, including AI?
- What steps do we need to take to encourage adoption and consistent use?
Data and reporting
- How do we improve visibility of pipeline and performance?
Capability and skills development
- Do our people have the skills needed to support work-winning success?
- What capability uplift will be needed to support our ambitions?
Ongoing advisory support
- How do we ensure we have access to experienced and independent judgement and advice as plans progress?
Track record
Real-world experience across every aspect of work-winning
The examples below provide a snapshot of experience gained across business development, pitching, technology and transformation initiatives within Global Elite and Magic Circle law firms.
Designing a global pitching operating model
Designed the global pitching operating model for a US headquartered global law firm, bringing clarity to how opportunities should be qualified, supported and managed.
Established roles, responsibilities, governance and content ownership across business development, specialist pitch teams and shared services, covering both live opportunities and the infrastructure that supports them.
Outcome
A consistent and scalable approach to pitching, providing the foundation for a broader programme of transformation and improvement.
Creating greater visibility of pipeline and performance
Improved a global law firm's approach to recording and reporting pipeline activity, creating greater visibility of pipeline value, contribution, team workload and performance. This involved system enhancements, standards setting, training, communications and leadership accountability to drive behavioural change and improve data quality.
Outcome
More timely visibility of opportunities and a clearer view of the portfolio of work being supported, helping ensure key opportunities received the appropriate support and expertise.
Transforming global pitch capability
Led a major transformation of pitching operations within a Magic Circle law firm, reshaping how the global business development function supported opportunities.
This included operating model redesign, a global overhaul of pitch content and credentials, implementation of new pitching technology, and a significant capability uplift across teams.
Outcome
A more consistent and scalable approach to pitching, providing the infrastructure, content and skills needed to support opportunities more effectively across the firm.
Improving adoption of business development technology
Led a programme of improvements to a pitch automation tool to improve adoption across the BD function. This included system enhancements and simplification designed to improve the user experience, supported by interactive e-learning and training to build user capability and encourage consistent use.
Outcome
Greater adoption of the platform, improved brand compliance and a simpler, more sustainable approach to system administration.
Meet the founder
Chloe Donovan
Founder
Chloe founded Can Did BD after more than twenty years helping organisations win work. Having built her career across business development, sales and account management, she understands both the commercial realities of winning new business and the challenges of improving the systems that support it.
After holding senior positions in several global law firms, she now helps professional services firms identify where investment will have the greatest impact and provides practical advice, independent judgment and ongoing support as they turn plans into action.
Contact
Let's have a conversation
Looking to improve your firm's work-winning performance?