Fractional Advisory. Full strategic impact.
cut through the noise. elevate what matters.
strategic guidance for leaders navigating high-stakes organizational challenges
complexity is inevitable. direction is a decision.
The challenge isn’t managing complexity—it’s deciding how to intervene for meaningful impact.
Clever Tern helps leaders align priorities and teams, reduce organizational friction, and move critical efforts from ideas to action, with integrity and intention.
The result: clearer direction, stronger teams, and sustained progress—even when the stakes are high and the timeline is tight.
who we serve
built for leaders facing complexity
We partner with CHROs, VPs of Talent, department heads, and senior leaders at mid-to-large organizations who are grappling with people and performance challenges that don’t fit neatly into one box. For example:
- You’re implementing new systems, but adoption is stalling because people, process, and culture haven’t been addressed holistically
- Your L&D function is under-resourced, and your employee and leadership development process feels disconnected from real performance
- Your team restructure requires more than new org charts—it needs a complete refresh of what people do and how they work together
- Your transformation initiative needs more than a change plan—it needs someone to clarify risks and build a comprehensive strategy that effectively aligns people, systems, culture, and heart.
You don’t need an instructional designer, a change practitioner, or a team coach.
You need a strategic advisor who sees the whole system—and knows how to connect the pieces.
what we offer
small footprint. big impact.
High performance requires integrated thinking—and the flexibility to engage an experienced advisor when it matters most. That’s why we offer fractional partnerships and project-based consulting: strategic support that flexes to your needs, timeline, and budget, without the overhead of a full-time hire or the markup of a large firm.
Clever Tern brings senior-level perspective across all three domains—learning, change, and team effectiveness—to help you:
untangle complexity
See the interconnected systems—culture, capability, process, leadership—that are blocking progress.
design integrated solutions
Build strategies that address learning, change, and team dynamics together, not in silos.
accelerate execution
Move from insight to action with clarity, ownership, and sustainable results.
our integrated approach
We don’t deliver “learning projects” or “change projects” or “team projects” in isolation. We partner with you to implement reality-based solutions that free performance and accelerate results.
The difference? We see the whole system—learning, change, team design, technology, culture—and connect the pieces others miss.
For example:
- Your system implementation isn’t just a change management challenge—it requires rethinking how teams are structured, how people learn new capabilities, and how culture supports (or resists) adoption.
- Your leadership development initiative isn’t just a training problem—it requires understanding team dynamics, navigating organizational politics, and aligning learning with actual performance challenges.
- Your team restructure isn’t just about new org charts—it requires change strategy, capability building, and redesigning how people collaborate and make decisions.
why fractional?
more capability. less overhead.
When you don’t want a full-time executive or a large consulting firm with layers of junior staff; but you need a strategic partner who can think strategically and guide execution when it matters most—a fractional advisor is the answer.
Clever Tern’s fractional partnerships give you access to 20+ years of senior-level expertise—at a time, pace, and budget that fits your needs.
We’re your strategic thought partner, executive coach, and project collaborator—all rolled into one.
common engagements
strategic advisor for complex initiatives
You’re leading a transformation—new systems, restructuring, culture shift—and the challenge cuts across learning, change, and team dynamics. You need a senior advisor who sees how these pieces connect and can guide the integrated strategy.
performance
problem solver
Your team or function is stuck. The surface issue might look like “poor adoption” or “capability gaps” or “team dysfunction”—but the real problem is systemic. We diagnose what’s actually blocking performance and design solutions that address root causes, not symptoms.
fractional
strategic partner
Your Change Management COE or L&D talent functions are stretched thin navigating multiple high-stakes initiatives. You need steady, senior-level support to think through strategy, spot interdependencies, and execute with efficiency—all without adding headcount.
executive coach & thought partner
You’re facing tough decisions about how to structure teams, build capability, or navigate change—and need an objective partner who understands organizational systems and can help you think through what’s really at stake.
why clever tern®
depth across disciplines. purpose at the core.
Most consultants specialize in one area: Learning & Leadership Development, Organizational Change, or Team Effectiveness. Clever Tern brings rare depth across all three.
We start by getting crystal clear on what success actually looks like—then address what’s really in the way: misaligned capability, unclear team design, poorly managed change, or all three at once.
Our approach is:
- Systems-focused – We see how learning, change, culture, and team dynamics intersect.
- Strategically grounded – We balance big-picture thinking with practical execution.
- Deeply human – We understand organizational politics, culture, and the real constraints leaders face.
The result? Strategies that are built for your organization—not borrowed from someone else’s playbook.
With over 20 years guiding Fortune 100 companies and mission-driven organizations, we bring the strategic depth, systems thinking, and human empathy that transforms complexity into clarity and sustainable results.
our clients
chosen by leaders across industriesOur work is industry agnostic, spanning Fortune 100 companies, national nonprofits, and mission-driven teams.
Industry leaders such as Allstate Insurance Co., Astellas Pharmaceutical, CNA, Cushman & Wakefield, HCSC (BCBS), and TransUnion have trusted us to guide their most critical initiatives.
meet Heather
All engagements are led by Heather Jencks, a strategic advisor with more than two decades of experience guiding Fortune 100s, nonprofits, and mission-driven teams. Heather brings sharp insight, systems thinking, and a deeply human approach to every engagement.
When scale is needed, Heather taps into a trusted network of senior consultants who share her values and rigor.
our promise
You won’t be handed off to junior staff. We stay close to the work—and the people it affects.
“I have worked with Heather Jencks for over 15 years. She is one of the best consultants I have worked with. She truly cares about the organization she works with and does a deep dive into how the company works, its strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities and then outlines a detailed plan on how to make your company better…”
~Al S. Senior Mgr resp. for Allstate’s National Sales Education Program
explore the possibilities
clever turns for bold results
Whether you’re launching a transformation, redesigning teams, or strengthening how your people learn and lead—let’s work together to make your ideas happen.