What if we built something that really worked this time?

A woman smiling outdoors in a valley with snow-capped mountains in the background, wearing a red jacket.

Marika Olson Consulting

Efficiency Through Innovation

With nearly two decades of experience across Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East, I’ve learned that good ideas only matter if they actually work. I’ll help you cut through complexity, modernize your systems, and scale what’s already working. It’s about smarter processes, stronger outcomes, and building a solid foundation for success.

Build Something That Works — Together

  • Digital Services

    Let’s make your online world work for you. I build clear, beautiful websites and systems that help you share your work confidently and manage it without the stress. Whether you’re just starting out or ready to grow, we’ll create something that fits your vision.

    No tech jargon. No overwhelm. Just a clear path from idea to launch.

    Build

  • Grant & Proposal Writing

    Let’s take the stress out of securing funding. Together we’ll transform your ideas into clear, persuasive grant applications and donor-ready proposals that meet funder expectations with confidence. We’ll shape materials that speak directly to what reviewers need to see to understand, and support, your vision.

    No confusing jargon. No guessing games. Just a guided, structured path from early ideas to a strong, fundable proposal.

    Fund

  • Startup Support

    From concept to clarity. I help turn messy ideas—whether they’re on sticky notes, scribbled napkins, or half-finished decks—into clear, actionable plans. Together, we’ll shape your vision into a solid strategy and professional framework that’s ready to launch.

    Start where you are. I’ll help you make it real.

    Begin

  • Business Analysis

    Clear strategies for smoother growth. I help you step back, see where things are getting stuck, and turn those friction points into opportunities. Together, we’ll refine your systems so your work flows more smoothly — and your energy goes where it matters most.

    Make your systems flow, so your ideas can too.

    Refine

  • Individualized Services

    Not sure where to start?

    That’s exactly what this space is for. We’ll work together to sort through the noise, uncover what matters most, and chart a clear next step.

    You don’t need a plan to start. That’s what I’m here for.

    Start the Conversation

Expertise That Powers Your Vision

  • Renewable Energy

    Directed $85 million in clean-energy programs to modernize grids, expand solar and wind power, and attract the first U.S. DFC investments in Georgian renewables—560 MW of new production driving national energy independence.

  • Microenterprise Development

    Guided $70 million in post-conflict economic-recovery and small-business programs in Libya and Georgia. Mobilized $45 million in new finance for 3,400+ enterprises and helped create thousands of jobs for women and youth entrepreneurs.

  • Ecotourism & Sustainable Development

    Advanced nature-based tourism initiatives linking conservation, community livelihoods, and private investment. Designed programs that strengthened protected-area management and built local business capacity to capture eco-tourism revenue responsibly.

  • Agriculture & Food Security

    Managed $250 million in export-oriented agriculture programs in Afghanistan and Mali, doubling exports from $115 million to $278 million and building resilient, high-value value chains capable of sustaining rural employment and tax revenue.

  • Workforce Development

    Led industry-driven training programs connecting employers with skilled workers across tourism, service, and creative industries. Oversaw a $24 million workforce initiative that trained 3,600 Georgians and aligned national education systems with market demand.

  • IT & Digital Systems

    Bridged technology and development through data-driven design and digital transformation. Managed multi-million-dollar modernization projects that improved enterprise efficiency, cybersecurity, and analytics across complex programs. Hold multiple IT and AI certifications. Utilize Claude Code and Python-based automations to streamline workflows, enhance decision-making, and translate technical innovation into real-world impact.

  • Public Private Partnerships

    Pioneered whole-of-mission partnerships linking business investment with development goals. Directed 53 public-private collaborations that leveraged $28 million in private capital and integrated private-sector models across $113 million in new programs.

  • Climate Resilience

    Redesigned $85 million in economic-growth initiatives to embed climate adaptation and green finance, aligning national strategies with global climate commitments and positioning partner countries for sustainable growth.

  • International Lens

    Seventeen years of field leadership across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East inform every project I design. I translate complex global contexts into actionable strategies that balance policy goals, private investment, and local realities.

  • Public Sector Leadership

    Bridged policy and implementation by negotiating with governments and state agencies to deliver reform, resilience, and investment — from Libya’s economic reconstruction to Georgia’s energy transition

Professional Certifications

    • IBM Business Analyst

    • IBM Generative AI for Business Analysis

    • COR/AOR II (Contracting/Agreements Officer Representative) - GOR - Project Manager - Since 2008

    • IBM AI Product Manager

    • Google Project Management

    • Native English speaker

    • Proficient in French (FSI 3/3)

    • Basic Hausa (FSI 2+/1)

  • No plan survives first contact with reality

    Helmuth von Moltke the Elder

  • The significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them.

    Albert Einstein

  • The future is already here—it’s just not evenly distributed

    William Gibson

  • If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading.

    Lao Tzu

  • It is not necessary to change. Survival is not mandatory.

    W. Edwards Deming

  • Change is the process by which the future invades our lives.

    Alvin Toffler

  • We shape our tools and thereafter our tools shape us.

    Marshall McLuhan

  • The greatest danger in times of turbulence is not the turbulence — it is to act with yesterday’s logic.

    Peter Drucker

Contact Me

I’d love to hear from you. Whether you’re exploring a new project, seeking strategic guidance, or simply unsure where to begin, reach out and let’s discuss how I can help. I respond personally to all inquiries, typically within two business days.

Consultations available in English and French - Consultations disponibles en anglais et en français