Maya Ellison
Founder & managing partnerBuilt and sold a regional logistics company. Leads growth strategy work.
Our story
In 2011, Maya Ellison sold the logistics company she had spent fourteen years building. Within a month, three other business owners had asked her to look at their companies. Northstar grew from those conversations.
We have stayed deliberately small. Every consultant has run a business or a major part of one, and every client works directly with a partner.
Our office is in downtown Austin, but our clients include dental groups in Denver, contractors in Ohio and restaurants across Texas.
“If a plan needs a consultant in the room to work, it isn’t finished yet.”How we judge our own work
The team
Four partners and directors lead every engagement, supported by eight specialist consultants.
Daniel Okafor
Partner, financeFormer CFO at two family-owned manufacturers. Leads financial planning.
Sofia Marchetti
Partner, operationsSpent 12 years scaling multi-site restaurants and clinics.
James Whitaker
Director, marketingRan marketing for a 40-location home services brand.
How we work
Three principles we hold ourselves to on every project.
Numbers first
We start with your data, not a template. Recommendations are tied to figures you can check.
Plain language
No jargon, no 80-slide decks. You get a plan your front-line team can read and act on.
Leave it better
We train your people as we go, so the improvements continue after we leave.