Kerry Thompson | Founder | Akeno Ltd
Kerry Thompson is the founder of Akeno Ltd, a business transformation consultancy that helps ambition-rich, time-poor businesses implement impactful strategies. Growing up in a modest working-class family shaped her resilience and strong work ethic. She built her business from scratch, winning multiple industry awards and working with top-tier clients. Passionate about turning challenges into opportunities, she is dedicated to creating sustainable, high-performing businesses. At EliteX, we are proud to have Kerry Thompson as part of the edition: Prominent Businesswomen in UK, 2025.
Her journey into entrepreneurship was driven by a clear gap in the market. Many businesses struggle not with ideas but with execution. She was frustrated by companies spending money on transformation efforts that didn’t create real impact. This led her to develop a pragmatic, results-driven approach, which became the foundation of Akeno’s “3, 2, 1 strategy” model. She strongly believes that strategy succeeds when employees are engaged, and processes are well-structured.
“Progress beats perfection every time.”
As a woman in the business world, she has faced challenges, particularly around confidence. Coming from a working-class background, she sometimes felt out of place in certain business environments. However, she overcame this by focusing on the value she brings—her expertise and impact matter more than her background. In male-dominated industries like automotive, she learned to own her space and built credibility by delivering tangible business results rather than just discussing change.
Success in business transformation requires a mix of critical skills and traits. Resilience is essential since transformation work is tough and setbacks are inevitable. Clarity and communication are vital for making complex strategies simple and actionable. Adaptability ensures longevity in an ever-changing business landscape. Empathy and leadership are also key, as transformation works best when people are engaged rather than simply dictated to. Rather than being influenced by a single role model, her career has been shaped by strong, practical leaders. Her parents were her biggest cheerleaders, teaching her the value of hard work. She admires business leaders who challenge the status quo and prioritize action over empty talk. While mentors have helped shape her thinking, she believes real learning comes from doing.
Akeno Ltd stands out in the market because of its speed and effectiveness. The company’s ‘3, 2, 1 strategy’ delivers clear, prioritized plans in just three days. The approach is pragmatic, focusing on real-world execution rather than theoretical strategies. With an ethical, people-first mindset, the company ensures transformation succeeds by engaging and empowering teams. Additionally, Akeno operates with independence and honesty, telling businesses what they need to hear rather than just what they want to hear.
Balancing work and personal life is a dynamic process. She sets clear boundaries to separate work and downtime and prioritizes quality over quantity in both areas. Delegation plays a crucial role in managing responsibilities, ensuring that she doesn’t have to do everything herself. She acknowledges that sometimes work takes precedence while at other times, personal life does. Collaboration is key—working with great people, both professionally and personally, including a supportive husband who shares responsibilities at home.
Staying ahead in a competitive environment requires continuous learning, strong networks, and an innovation mindset. She remains informed about industry trends and new methodologies. Connecting with leaders across industries helps her anticipate and adapt to changes. Constantly questioning, refining, and improving processes allows for agility, ensuring the business can pivot when needed.
One of her early career mistakes was underestimating the importance of client fit. Taking on work that didn’t align with her values led to challenges. She learned that saying ‘no’ to the wrong opportunities creates space for the right ones. This experience reinforced the importance of alignment between business values and client relationships. Supporting other women in business is a priority. She believes in encouragement and honesty, being candid about the realities of business. She actively creates opportunities, bringing women into spaces they might not have access to otherwise. Sharing insights from her own experiences and advocating for women in leadership helps ensure they are seen and heard.
Innovation is crucial in her industry but must be executed effectively. Many businesses chase new technology without embedding it properly. At Akeno, the focus is on practical innovation—ideas that create measurable impact. Encouraging a culture where teams continuously question, test, and refine ideas ensures meaningful progress. For young women aspiring to follow in her footsteps, her advice is clear. Confidence grows through action, so it’s important to back oneself. Not all advice is worth listening to, and being selective about guidance is crucial. Saying ‘yes’ before feeling fully ready is often the best approach, as learning happens through experience. Building a strong support network of mentors, peers, and allies makes a significant difference in career growth.
During tough times, she stays motivated by remembering her ‘why’—helping businesses transform makes a real difference. Reflecting on wins, even small ones, helps maintain perspective. Leaning on her network provides support, and taking action creates momentum and solutions.
Looking ahead, her goals include scaling Akeno and expanding its impact across industries. She is focused on further developing the TRi (Transformation Readiness Index) and other tools to make them essential resources for business transformation. Thought leadership is also on the horizon, contributing to industry conversations and influencing positive change. Ultimately, she aims to empower more businesses by creating high-impact strategies that drive measurable success. Her desired legacy as a business leader is one of integrity, innovation, and impact. She wants to be known for helping businesses achieve real, lasting change. Advocating for people-first transformation, rather than tech-first solutions, is a core belief. She hopes to create a business culture where leaders feel confident challenging the norm.
A common misconception about business transformation that she challenges is the belief that it’s just about technology. Real transformation starts with people and processes. Another misconception is that transformation takes years, when in reality, the right approach—such as Akeno’s 3, 2, 1 strategy—can drive meaningful change quickly. Additionally, transformation doesn’t always require big changes; often, small, well-executed shifts create the biggest impact.
One of the best pieces of business advice she has received is that influence comes from credibility and results, not volume. Being the loudest in the room isn’t necessary to be the most influential. Another important lesson is that success is about alignment, not just effort—working on the right things matters more than working hard on the wrong things. She also believes that waiting for perfect conditions to start is a mistake; progress is more important than perfection. Something people might not know about her is that she didn’t always see herself as a leader. Leadership was something she learned by stepping up when there was a gap. She thrives in high-stakes environments, where she can turn complex challenges into simple, actionable solutions. Despite her strong business focus, her decisions are deeply values-driven, guided by ethics and integrity.
“Transformation succeeds when people are engaged, not just dictated to.”
If she could change one thing about her industry, it would be to bring more honesty into strategy. Too many businesses focus on big visions without addressing execution challenges. She also believes in focusing on sustainable success—businesses should invest in people and processes as much as they do in technology. Reducing wasted investment in transformation efforts by ensuring foundational work is done first is another priority.
The future excites her because of the shift toward ethical, values-driven leadership. More businesses are recognizing that profit and purpose can coexist. The acceleration of practical innovation, where technology is used in meaningful ways, is another promising trend. She is particularly enthusiastic about the opportunity to influence and mentor more future leaders, as seeing others grow is one of the most rewarding aspects of leadership.
