Frequently asked questions
Straight answers about what Black Knight Strategy Group does, who it helps, what it costs, and how to start.
What does Black Knight Strategy Group do?
Black Knight Strategy Group is an Austin, Texas strategy and operations firm that helps founders, visionaries, integrators, and leadership teams work on the business. It installs clear values and vision, the right people in the right seats, and a weekly-to-annual operating cadence so execution stays aligned with vision.
Who does Black Knight Strategy Group work with?
Founders, Visionaries, Integrators, COOs, and leadership teams, including owners and operating partners going through growth, an acquisition, or an integration.
Where is Black Knight Strategy Group located?
Black Knight Strategy Group LLC is based in Austin, Texas, and serves clients nationwide. It was founded in 2024 and is a Disabled Veteran-Owned Business.
Who is Will Dahlstrom?
Will Dahlstrom is the Founder & Principal of Black Knight Strategy Group. He is an Integrator and Lean Six Sigma Black Belt with two decades of leadership, including COO roles in roofing, legal, and media and printing, and a 2024 private equity exit and integration.
What does an Integrator coach do?
An Integrator coach works one-on-one with the person in the Integrator seat (often the COO, president, or GM) to strengthen how they run the operating cadence, set and track priorities, hold the leadership team accountable, and partner with the Visionary.
What is the difference between a Visionary and an Integrator?
The Visionary, often the founder, generates ideas, sets long-term direction, and guards the culture. The Integrator turns that vision into day-to-day execution, runs the leadership team, and owns the operating cadence.
How do I fix the Visionary-Integrator relationship?
Write down who owns which decisions, agree on one shared vision and set of priorities, set rules for how new ideas are introduced, and hold a recurring meeting between just the two of you to resolve issues before they reach the team. Black Knight's Visionary/Integrator Relationship Coaching walks you through each step.
What is an operating cadence?
An operating cadence is the fixed rhythm of meetings (weekly, quarterly, and annual) through which a leadership team sets priorities, tracks progress, and solves issues. It turns strategy into consistent follow-through.
What does "right people in the right seats" mean?
Right people share the company's core values. Right seats are roles each person understands, wants, and has the capacity to perform. You design the structure first, then place people in it.
How much does Black Knight Strategy Group charge?
$500 per hour, $2,500 per half day, and $5,000 per full day. Larger engagements, an Operating System Build-out, an Ongoing Integration Partner retainer, or Fractional Operating Leadership, are quoted per scope.
How much does a fractional COO cost in Austin?
At Black Knight Strategy Group, Fractional Operating Leadership is quoted per engagement based on term, time commitment, and outcomes. Discrete work runs $500 per hour, $2,500 per half day, or $5,000 per full day.
What is a fractional COO, and when do I need one?
A fractional COO is a seasoned operator who works part-time for a defined term. Consider one when the founder is still the bottleneck, growth has outpaced your systems, a key operator has left, or you need integration leadership after a deal.
What is included in an Operating System Build-out?
It is a 60 to 90 day, fixed-scope, fixed-fee project that establishes values and vision, builds the org structure with a Right People, Right Seats assessment, designs the business and functional meeting cadence, and facilitates your first quarterly session.
What is the Ongoing Integration Partner retainer?
A monthly retainer with set hours that covers Integrator and Visionary coaching, weekly cadence support, facilitated quarterly and annual sessions, and on-call strategic counsel.
Do you only work with companies that run EOS?
No. Black Knight uses an EOS-style operating cadence because it works, but it tailors the approach to each business. Companies already running EOS can bring Black Knight in to support their Integrator, Visionary, and meetings.
What industries does Black Knight Strategy Group work in?
Legal, manufacturing, construction, trades and field services, media, marketing and creative, medical and healthcare, fintech, and non-profits. Best-in-class practices from each are carried into the others to find opex multipliers.
Can you help integrate a company after a private equity acquisition?
Yes. Will Dahlstrom led a National Top 100 roofing company's 2024 private equity exit and integration and has led M&A in the cryogenics space. Integration work covers shared values and vision, one org structure, and one operating cadence across the combined company.
What happens in a quarterly planning session?
The leadership team reviews the last 90 days, revisits the vision and annual goals, sets a short list of owned priorities for the next quarter, and solves its biggest open issues. Black Knight facilitates so the Visionary and Integrator can participate fully.
How do I get started?
Fill out the Book a Call form at bkstrategy.com/book-a-call and Will will reach out to set up a 30-minute intro call. Prefer to talk now? Call 512-773-7795, or email will@bkstrategy.com. You'll leave the call with a straight read on what to fix first.