Merconsults — Strategy for Founders

Sharp Strategy for
Founders Who Mean Business

You're building something real. Merconsults gives you the strategic edge to move with confidence — from AI advisory and brand positioning to the tools, expert connections, and hands-on support that actually make a difference.

Work With Me Read My Insights

Brands I've driven strategy for

Google American Express L'Oréal USPS Bristol Myers Squibb P&G ExxonMobil Hulu Four Seasons

What I Do

How I Help Founders Win

Built primarily for founders running teams of fewer than 100 — but the strategies work for any size organization. You don't need a full-time CMO — yet. What you need is a sharp, experienced strategist in your corner — one who knows when to advise, when to connect, and when to roll up her sleeves.

01

AI Advisory

AI is reshaping every business. Get clear on what's worth your attention, which tools actually fit your workflow, and how to use AI to work smarter — not just faster. I cut through the noise so you don't have to.

02

Brand Strategy

Your brand is your first impression and your lasting reputation. I help you define it with precision — positioning, messaging, and narrative that attract the right clients and create recognition that compounds over time.

03

Engagement & Channel Strategy

Showing up everywhere isn't the answer. I build strategies around the right channels, the right message, and the right cadence — creating real connection with your audience and results you can measure.

04

Marketing & Communications

When you need hands-on support, I step in. From campaign strategy to content and communications, I bring senior-level execution to your most important moments — without the overhead of a full agency.

05

Founder Launchpad

Just getting started? I'll help you build the foundation right — the tools, the resources, the go-to-market roadmap, and the expert connections to fill the gaps. You focus on your vision; I'll help you build the engine.

Our belief: Tactics without strategy is just expensive experimentation. Every offering below is built around clarity first — so you build the right thing, not just something.

AI Marketing Builder Toolkit

Stop building the wrong thing.
Start with the right plan.

Choose your starting point. Whether you're just getting clarity or ready to move fast, there's a right entry point for you.

Offer 01

The AI Agent Blueprint

The two documents every founder needs before talking to a developer, hiring a vendor, or writing a single prompt. Get clear on what you're building — and why — before spending a dollar.

$97 one-time · instant download
  • AI Agent Requirement Document — fillable 8-page strategic brief covering goals, workflows, vendor questions, red flags & a readiness scorecard
  • AI Marketing Strategy Prompt Library — 32 expert-level prompts across 8 categories with 3 complete prompt-chaining workflows

This is for you if…

You're exploring AI for your business and want a structured foundation — without spending 20 hours on a scope doc or $5K figuring out you built the wrong thing.

Get the Blueprint →

Offer 02

The Full AI Planning Suite

Every strategic document your team needs to plan, evaluate vendors, and build your AI workflow — without starting over three times.

$247 one-time · instant download
  • Everything in Offer 01 — the full strategic foundation
  • AI Use Case Prioritization Matrix — score 15 AI use cases, built-in formulas tell you exactly which to build first
  • AI Vendor Comparison Template — compare up to 5 vendors with auto-calculated scores + a Red Flag Answer guide
  • AI Workflow Planner — map your full build with error handling, a pre-launch checklist & post-launch KPI sheet

This is for you if…

You're serious about implementation and want your whole team — plus vendors — aligned before a single build begins. This prevents scope creep, bad hires, and "we have to redo this" moments.

Get the Full Suite →
Most Popular

Offer 03

The AI Fast-Track

The full planning suite, plus a private 1-hour strategy session with Myrlene to pressure-test your thinking and kickstart the documents together so your team hits the ground running.

$497 one-time · docs + session $650+ value
  • All 5 planning documents — the complete suite, ready to customize
  • 1-Hour Strategy Session with Myrlene — bring your team, walk through your situation, begin populating the documents together
  • Post-session summary + action plan — decisions documented and clear next steps delivered within 24 hours
  • 7-day priority email access — follow-up questions answered within one business day

This is for you if…

You don't want to figure this out alone. You want an expert to validate your direction, flag what you're missing, and help your team move fast with confidence.

Book Your Fast-Track →
💡

Not sure which to choose? If you're just exploring, start with Offer 01. If your team is actively planning a build in the next 90 days, go straight to Offer 02 or 03. The jump from Offer 02 to 03 is Myrlene's time — if you want your first session done right and your team aligned before you build anything, Offer 03 pays for itself.

Why these documents exist

Most teams don't fail at AI because the technology doesn't work. They fail because they didn't define success, didn't vet their vendor, and started building before they understood what they were actually solving for.

These tools were built in the field — shaped by real founder decisions, real vendor conversations, and real build projects. Every section answers a question you didn't know you needed to ask yet.

🎯

Strategy before tactics

Every document forces the "why" before the "what." The Prompt Library is included in every offer because thinking clearly is the first tool.

🚩

Red flags built in

The Vendor Comparison includes 20 red flag answers. The Agent Requirement Doc includes a Scope Change Protocol. You're protected before the problems start.

⚡

Built for momentum

These aren't academic frameworks. They're working documents your team fills in together — designed to create alignment and move fast.

📐

Formulas do the thinking

The Prioritization Matrix and Vendor Comparison have weighted scoring built in. Enter your scores — the tools surface the right answer.

Engagement & Channel Strategy Toolkit: Stop showing up everywhere. Start showing up right.

Engagement & Channel Strategy

Right channels. Right message.
Real results.

A complete strategy system built for founders with teams of fewer than 100 who are ready to build real audience connection — on the right channels, with the right message, at the right cadence. The frameworks scale to any size organization.

5 ready-to-use strategy documents Built for founders with teams under 100 No fluff. No tactics without strategy.

Starter

Foundation Pack

Two tools to answer the two hardest questions: where do I show up and what do I say?

$97 one-time · instant download
  • Channel Selection Matrix — score & tier up to 16 channels with weighted criteria so you stop spreading yourself thin
  • Message Architecture Framework — core positioning, brand voice, content pillars & guardrails in one source of truth

You'll walk away able to

Score every channel against your actual goals, eliminate the ones draining your time, and define your brand voice for every platform you use.

Get the Foundation Pack →
Most Popular

Complete System

Full Strategy Toolkit

Every document you need to build, run, and measure an engagement strategy — start to finish.

$247 one-time · instant download
  • Channel Selection Matrix — score & tier up to 16 channels
  • Message Architecture Framework — positioning, voice, pillars & guardrails
  • Audience Engagement Blueprint — Connection Ladder, 10 templates, community tactics
  • Content Cadence Planner — 90-day grid, batch system, content mix calculator
  • Engagement Performance Dashboard — weekly KPI tracker & benchmark guide

You'll walk away able to

Run a full channel audit, brief your team with zero ambiguity, plan content 90 days ahead, and track only the metrics that actually signal growth.

Get the Full Toolkit →

Done-With-You

Strategy Review

You fill out the templates, then we review your strategy together in a live 1:1 session. Myrlene walks through what's working, what needs adjusting, and recaps your priority next steps.

$497 one-time · includes 1:1 review session
  • All 5 strategy documents — the complete toolkit, yours to keep
  • You fill them out — your real strategy, your real choices
  • Myrlene reviews before your session — she reads every document and assesses whether your strategy holds up
  • Live 1:1 review call — walk through your strategy together and get real-time feedback
  • Myrlene recaps next steps — what's strong, what to adjust, and exactly what to tackle first

This is for you if…

You want to do the thinking yourself, but want a strategist to validate the work live — so you leave the call with clarity and a clear plan of action.

Book Your Strategy Review →

What's inside the toolkit

Five documents. One complete operating system for audience engagement.

01

Channel Selection Matrix

Score up to 16 channels across 6 weighted criteria. Auto-tiers into Primary, Secondary, and Skip — so you stop spreading yourself thin.

02

Message Architecture Framework

Your core positioning, brand promise, content pillars, channel voice by platform, proof points, and what you'll never say. One source of truth.

03

Audience Engagement Blueprint

The Connection Ladder from Aware → Advocate, channel-specific engagement triggers, 10 conversation starter templates, and community tactics that work.

04

Content Cadence Planner

90-day planning grid, channel-by-channel cadence map, a 70/20/10 content mix calculator, and a weekly batch creation system.

05

Engagement Performance Dashboard

Signal vs. Noise guide, 8-week rolling KPI tracker across Instagram, LinkedIn & Email, and monthly benchmarks so you know what "good" actually looks like.

"Showing up everywhere isn't the answer. The brands that win aren't the loudest ones — they're the most consistent ones, in the right places, saying the right things."
— Myrlene, Merconsults

Work Directly With Myrlene

Ready to go deeper?

Sometimes you need more than a toolkit. Bring your question, your challenge, or your strategy — and let's work through it together.

🎯

1:1 Strategy Call

Bring any topic — AI tools, brand direction, channel strategy, a decision you're stuck on, or anything else on your plate. You set the agenda. We get to work.

$250 / hour · book instantly
  • 60 minutes, 1-on-1 with Myrlene
  • You bring the topic — no agenda required from us
  • AI, brand, marketing, strategy, or anything in between
  • Actionable next steps before you leave the call
  • Follow-up notes sent within 24 hours
Book Your Session →
🤝

Retainer Partnership

For founders who want a trusted strategist in their corner on an ongoing basis — available, informed, and ready to move when you need to.

Custom limited spots available
  • Ongoing strategic support tailored to your business
  • Priority access and faster response times
  • AI advisory, brand, marketing & comms — all in scope
  • Monthly check-ins + ad-hoc support as needed
  • Built around your goals, not a fixed package

Limited retainer spots available. Reach out to start a conversation about fit, scope, and availability.

Inquire About a Retainer →
Myrlene Laroche
10+
Years in Strategy
F500
Client Experience
2x
University Professor
MS
Columbia University

About Myrlene

The Strategist Behind Merconsults

I'm Myrlene Laroche — a high-impact strategist, educator, and agency leader who has spent over a decade helping Fortune 500 brands navigate complexity with clarity, creativity, and care.

My career has been built inside the world's leading global agencies — Accenture Song, Le Truc (Publicis Groupe), FCB, and TBWA — where I've led multimillion-dollar engagements and delivered strategy for some of the most recognized brands on the planet: Google, American Express, ExxonMobil, USPS, L'Oréal, and Bristol Myers Squibb.

Today, I bring that same caliber of thinking directly to founders and growing businesses — without the agency overhead. I also serve as an Adjunct Professor at Columbia University and Queens College, judge the Effie Awards, and write about AI, strategy, and the future of work.

Education & Recognition

M.S. Information & Knowledge Strategy Columbia University
Certificate in Entrepreneurship Cornell University
B.S. Business Management St. John's University
Effie Awards Judge Marketing Effectiveness Recognition
Adjunct Professor Columbia University & Queens College
Work With Me →

The People Behind the Work

Meet the Team

Small team. Sharp focus. Every person here is hands-on in the work.

Myrlene Laroche
Myrlene Laroche
Founder & Lead Strategist

Strategy, AI advisory, brand direction, and every decision that shapes how Merconsults shows up for founders.

Sara Blue
Sara Blue
Creative Content Assistant

Sara brings warmth and precision to everything she touches — supporting creative and digital content execution across social and marketing touchpoints.

Valerie Laroche
Valerie LaRoche
Executive Assistant

Valerie keeps things running smoothly behind the scenes — bringing care, organization, and a steady hand to the day-to-day operations that keep the team moving forward.

Insights & Ideas

Thinking Out Loud

I write about AI, marketing strategy, and the future of work for founders and business leaders who want to stay ahead.

AI & Work

Drawing Back the Curtain: AI Work

A candid look at how AI is actually changing the way we work — beyond the hype, into the real shifts happening in strategy, creativity, and everyday business operations.

Published on Substack Read Article →
Strategy & Craft

The Lost Art of the Brief

AI didn't replace strategy. It exposed bad briefs. A sharp look at why the brief is the most overlooked strategic tool in business — and what it costs you when it's missing.

Published on Substack Read Article →
Read all insights on Substack

Got Questions?

Frequently Asked Questions

Whether you're deciding between toolkits or figuring out if a retainer is right for you — here are the questions we hear most often.

General

Who is Merconsults built for?

Founders running teams of fewer than 100 people who need real strategic support without the overhead of a full agency or in-house CMO. That said, the frameworks and approaches work well for organizations of any size — clarity and strategy aren't exclusive to small teams.

General

Where do I start if I'm not sure which offering is right for me?

Everything is live! The AI Marketing Builder Toolkit, Engagement Toolkit (Foundation Pack, Full Strategy Toolkit, and Strategy Review), 1:1 Strategy Call, and Retainer Partnership are all available now. Start with a toolkit for instant access, book a 1:1 call via Calendly, or email assistant@merconsults.com to inquire about a retainer.

AI Marketing Builder Toolkit

Do I need both AI toolkit offers, or just one?

Offer 01 (The AI Agent Blueprint) gives you the core foundation — ideal if you're just getting started with AI planning. Offer 02 (The Full AI Planning Suite) includes everything in Offer 01 plus vendor comparison and workflow planning tools. Start with what fits your current stage.

Engagement & Channel Strategy Toolkit

Who is the Engagement Toolkit built for?

Founders who are past the "post and hope" phase and ready to build a real audience strategy. If you've been showing up inconsistently or aren't sure which channels to prioritize, this toolkit gives you a structured system to fix that. It works for both product and service businesses.

Engagement & Channel Strategy Toolkit

How long does it take to complete the strategy documents?

Most founders complete the full toolkit in 3–4 focused hours. Every template is designed so nothing asks you a question you haven't already thought about — it just organizes the thinking you've already done into a clear, actionable system.

Strategy Review

How does the Strategy Review work?

You receive all five Engagement Toolkit documents, fill them out at your own pace, then book your 1:1 session with Myrlene directly via Calendly. She reviews everything before your call and recaps your priority next steps — so you leave with a clear plan of action.

1:1 Strategy Call

What can I bring to a 1:1 Strategy Call?

Anything on your strategic plate — AI tools, brand direction, channel strategy, a decision you're stuck on, a launch you're planning, or a challenge you haven't been able to crack. You set the agenda. The call is 60 minutes, 1-on-1 with Myrlene, and you leave with actionable next steps. Book directly via Calendly — link on the site.

Retainer Partnership

How does the retainer work, and how do I know if I'm a fit?

Retainer partnerships are custom — built around your goals, timeline, and the kind of support you need on an ongoing basis. Spots are limited. Email assistant@merconsults.com to start a conversation about fit, scope, and availability.

Get In Touch

Ready to Work Smarter?

Whether you're launching, growing, or figuring out your next move — you deserve a strategist who has been in the room. Have questions before booking? Reach out and let's start the conversation.

Book a Consultation