Unexpected Gems
Rubicon Consulting is a strategy and marketing consultancy designed specifically for the needs of tech companies, from today’s global giants to tomorrow’s.
We’ve lived through the rise and fall of numerous paradigms, from the PC era to the graphical OS wars, e-commerce, Web 1.0, Web 2.0, and the rise of mobility. We’ve been in your shoes through industry, whole product and market lifecycles more times than we can count. We know where high-tech companies get stuck, and we know how to unstick them. And we keep our heads above the battle, scouting out the business trends and technologies you must know about to be competitive. Rubicon’s got the ability to think way outside the box, while staying grounded in the realities of the business. It’s a blend that often surprises people and until they’ve experienced it, they think it’s just not possible. Much like an artichoke beholds an unexpected treasure, you won’t believe our value until you’ve experienced it.
When you want to win markets, think Rubicon. We give you the intellectual rigor and wisdom you’d expect from a giant consulting firm, with the savvy and hands-on focus of veterans from some of Silicon Valley’s best companies. Our principals stay involved with every project, and our team shares a “murderboard” process to make sure the results are built on the best ideas. With us, you always get the A team; there is no B team.
Our Team
Nilofer Merchant
Nilofer Merchant founded Rubicon in 1999 after gaining 15 years of operational experience in key leadership positions at notable technology firms such as Apple, Autodesk, and GoLive (later acquired by Adobe). Time and time again she has used her sharp expertise to design industry-leading go-to-market programs, winning notable awards from CRN, VAR Business and Marketing Association in the fields of marketing and channel development. Through her many successes (and even her losses), Nilofer has honed her multidisciplinary approach for assessing a business situation clearly, applying critical wisdom, and defining a strategic direction.
Don Frischmann
Don brings 30+ years of management experience in enterprise organizations to Rubicon Consulting. An expert in corporate communication, his interdisciplinary background includes the development of differentiated corporate and product brands, comprehensive corporate image marketing, investor relations programs, M&A-related product and sales integration programs, position and launch of consumer, SMB and enterprise products and services, and reputation and corporate image repair.
Marsha Keeffer
Marsha has a 12+ year background in high tech. In her operations role at Rubicon, she is responsible for client and vendor relations, project management, the company physical plant and systems, and is a senior member of the HR and finance committees. As a communications professional, she directs Rubicon’s internal and external publishing efforts, develops speaking opportunities and manages special events.
Bruce La Fetra
Bruce, who joined Rubicon in 2002, applies 20 years of high-tech marketing experience to client projects with an analytical focus that invariably gets to the root of the problem. Bruce brings Rubicon’s clients real-world experience honed in a variety of high-tech industries and roles, ranging from hardware to financial services, and product management to strategic marketing. He frequently writes about business models. Like the rest of the Rubicon team, Bruce is not a career consultant, but brings real-world experience from a variety of industries and marketing disciplines. Bruce holds an MBA from the Amos Tuck School at Dartmouth College and a BA in Economics from Claremont McKenna College.
Michael Mace
Michael is a 20-year veteran of some of the tech industry’s toughest battles. He was Vice-President of Strategic Marketing at PalmSource, where he helped handset companies and wireless carriers plan new smartphone products and wireless services. He was Chief Competitive Officer and Vice-President of Product Planning at Palm Inc, where he led the design of the new product planning process, and led the creation of the company’s long-term product road map.
Harry Max
The most recent associate to join the Rubicon ensemble, Harry is a seasoned Web strategist. He combines broad high-tech business experience with an unusual set of strengths. His working knowledge spans UI, customer engagement models, systems design and strategic problem…