Skip to content

About Us

Who we are

Second Mountain was built from the ground up to be a different kind of firm. A firm we would want to hire ourselves. A firm that listens thoughtfully, puts the needs of clients first without a hidden agenda and builds positive momentum in every interaction. We find our success in working with purpose-driven leaders – people who, like us, seek long-term value and deep relationships.

Our partners are seasoned business owners and builders, C-suite executives and professional service practice leaders. We know what it’s like to live in a world of relentless expectations for immediate performance while investing and building for the future.

With that in mind, we formulated a unique mix of capabilities and approach to deliver significant organizational impact in time frames of weeks and months instead of years. Our process, enabled by high-quality strategic analytics, team coaching and business transformation know-how, creates the conditions for exceptional performance by client teams.

What we believe

We believe that exceptional, sustained growth is achievable. That purpose-driven “virtuous cycles” exist in any industry – business and operating models whose components reinforce each other to keep an organization on a resilient path. With the right recipe and ingredients, 1 + 1 can equal 3.

The genesis of our name – Second Mountain – is about connecting people to purpose, and purpose to value. This is not to displace financial (first mountain) goals and achievements, but rather a symbiotic relationship where the pursuit of one improves the other. When leaders create this link, employees respond with greater productivity, creativity, and resilience, and customers reward firms with market share, premiums and loyalty.

It’s not easy, but it matters. When you get it right, it becomes a source of durable competitive advantage, as well as organizational pride.

Steve Jacobs

Steve Jacobs

Chairman

Driven by purpose, and devoted to developing leaders and organizations toward higher purpose and more positive stakeholder impact. Expert on behavior change and strategic execution. Formerly, Senior Partner at Alula, MA Social Psychology, Harvard University.