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Systems for smarter strategy, sharper storytelling, and stronger sales.Systems forSharper storytellingSmarter strategySharper storytellingStronger sales

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Trusted by the world's best

MicrosoftGoogle CloudRakutenAutodeskDeloitteVoltron GlobalXydoInfernoRedLiberty NW Accounting1571 Investments

Steelwork Narrative Systems combine elite industry expertise,proven operational frameworks, and proprietary AI toolsetsto accelerate every stage of the go-to-market pipeline.

Phase 01 / AssessmentBR-15123ReconBrand analysisIdentify messaging and positioning gaps, misalignments, and opportunities for differentiation.1Assesses your site, social, and press footprint2Measures findings against competitors3Delivers the Schematic in under 24 hoursExplore Recon →Phase 02 / ArchitectureNA-3123WayfinderNarrative architectureUnify strategy, positioning, audience definition, and messaging.1Drives organizational consensus and articulates value2Constructs clear strategy with an execution plan3Delivers the Blueprint in under 30 daysExplore Wayfinder →Phase 03 / ActivationEI-3123SignalExecutive intelligenceDrive social footprint and industry thought leadership.1Daily market insights with bespoke posts2Weekly industry pulse, mapped to owned content ideas and earned media pitches3Delivers Cables, executive-level actionable briefsExplore Signal →Phase 03 / ActivationCP-1123ArcPrecision executionRapidly create winning collateral.1Rigorous workflows, workbacks, and role planning2Meticulous daily operations and project communications3Delivers the Payload, an integrated stack of sales and marketing assetsExplore Arc →
“

Ben and his team have been our trusted partner since the earliest days of Rakuten AI. They immersed themselves in our business and the global technology landscape and worked side-by-side with the Rakuten team to clearly articulate our vision for an AI-powered future.

Ting CaiChief AI and Data Officer, Rakuten Group

Systems to help every leader and team succeed

Built for founders →

A story as powerful as your vision

Craft a sellable story for investors, partners, and customers in weeks, not months.

Built for marketing leaders →

Accelerate the customer journey

Go to market with the same system trusted by Microsoft, Google, and Rakuten.

Built for product teams →

Build your products
and stories together

Speed development and improve market readiness.

Built for sales leaders →

Win with decision makers

Sales kits from the team behind Microsoft Industry Solutions' and Google Cloud's biggest deals.

“

Ben and his creative team demonstrated an exceptional ability to translate complex technology into stories that resonate with C-level audiences. They've proven themselves to be invaluable partners in our sales process.

Steve BasraGroup CEO, Petromin. Former Global Head of Automotive, Google Cloud

A history of proven impact

~$2Bin influenced enterprise revenue while at Microsoft.
75+go-to-market motions for Google Cloud.
~$45Min investment secured for our startup clients.
50+products launched with our narrative systems, at Microsoft and beyond.

See the work

Ready.

Let's get to work

Schedule a complimentary strategy session or get a free Recon Schematic.

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© 2026 Steelwork Strategies, LLC·Rathdrum, Idaho

Google CloudRakutenAutodeskVoltronXydoBefore SteelworkMicrosoft
Google Cloud

Creating Google Cloud's AI-for-Industry strategy and sales content

In the hyper-competitive world of enterprise AI, Google Cloud had a problem – how could they establish Gemini as the leading platform on which to build industry solutions? Steelwork solved the problem by creating the AI narratives for Google Cloud's priority industries, then turning those stories into 75 complete field-ready go-to-market kits with vision videos, sales play decks, and training. That content contributed to over $100M in new revenue and appeared in Sundar Pichai's keynote at Next '24.

Systems deployed

WayfinderArc

50:1program ROI.
Sundar Pichai on stage beside a generative AI game demo.
FIG. 1.1 · Next '24 keynote
FIG. 1.2 · Sales deck
A player talks to an AI-driven character in the Living Games demo on Google Cloud.
FIG. 1.3 · Living Games demo
The Rakuten AI ecosystem wheel.
FIG. 2.1 · Rakuten AI
Ting Cai presenting on stage at Rakuten Optimism 2025.
FIG. 2.2 · Chief AI and Data Officer Ting Cai at Rakuten Optimism 2025
Rakuten

Connecting 70 businesses with Rakuten AI

Rakuten, Japan's leading e-commerce platform for nearly 30 years, needed to reinvent itself for the AI age. We served as a strategic partner, unifying C-suite stakeholders around a single vision for AI empowerment, and developing the "Rakuten AI" brand, narrative, and content strategy from the ground up. The Steelwork team co-authored Rakuten's AI Code of Ethics and executes the company's highest-stakes communications moments, including industry keynotes and quarterly earnings.

Systems deployed

WayfinderSignalArc

70+businesses united by a single AI vision, brand, and narrative.
Speaker cards from the 2024 Autodesk University Theater lineup.
FIG. 3.1 · AU Theater lineup
Autodesk

Industry thought leadership at scale

We led strategy and production for the voice-of-the-customer program at Autodesk University. Supporting 34 expert, C-level speakers, we guided them from discovery to delivery with completed scripts, fully designed presentations, and executive presence coaching.

Systems deployed

Arc

34keynotes delivered to thousands of AU attendees.
The Voltron website.
FIG. 4.1 · Voltron website
Voltron Global Media investment fund, executive summary.Pangaea content factory page.Content factory speed and scale page.Pangaea Studio Atlanta campus page.
FIG. 4.2 · Select stills from the investor deck
Voltron Global

The story and the strategy behind a $30M raise

Voltron Global has breakthrough products in low-latency, high-performance edge compute, distributed mesh networks, and simulators and entertainment technology. But to reach their potential, they needed a story to match their breadth. Steelwork worked directly with Voltron's founders to define their company and cross-product story, and created the materials that were instrumental in closing over $30M in early-stage investment.

Systems deployed

ReconWayfinderArc

$30Min early-stage investment our work helped close.
The Xydo Manifesto: Own the frontier.
FIG. 5.1 · Xydo Manifesto
Xydo

A new name and narrative, in under a month

In under 30 days, we created Xydo's end-to-end story, redesigned their brand identity, and crafted decks and digital destinations for customers, partners, and investors.

Systems deployed

ReconWayfinder

<30days from kickoff to completion.
Microsoft

The strategists behind Microsoft's biggest brands

Our senior team built and launched consumer and commercial products used by billions around the world.

  • Windows 10Launched at retail in 85+ countries.
  • Windows PhoneDrove worldwide experiential marketing and advertising.
  • Office 365Led the channel shift from purchased product to subscription service.
  • SurfaceLaunched Surface Pro 3, Surface Book, and Surface Laptop.
  • Xbox OneLed worldwide retail launch and pioneered interactive livestreams.
  • MSNDrove worldwide reach to 750M MAU across 190+ countries. Founded Microsoft News Labs.

Worldwide Channel

50,000stores
85+countries
$13.5Bin channel sales

Oversaw all aspects of Microsoft's digital and physical presence across its consumer and commercial channel ecosystem.

Industry Solutions

$100B+a year in revenue
16,000people in sales and delivery

Led brand & content strategy, strategic account marketing, industry thought leadership, and worldwide communications.

Steelwork Narrative Systems are trusted by the world's best

MicrosoftGoogle CloudRakutenAutodeskDeloitteVoltron GlobalXydoInfernoRedLiberty NW Accounting1571 Investments

Ready.

Let's get to work

Schedule a complimentary strategy session or get a free Recon Schematic.

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© 2026 Steelwork Strategies, LLC·Rathdrum, Idaho

FIG. 1
ReconSchematic
WayfinderBlueprint
SignalCables
ArcPayload

Systems to unify strategy, storytelling, and sales

PHASE 1AssessmentPHASE 2ArchitecturePHASE 3ActivationUPPER FUNNELUPPER AND LOWER FUNNELReconBR-15ReconBrand analysisThe Schematic1.1SchematicAssessment documentWayfinderNA-3WayfinderNarrative architectureThe Blueprint2.1BlueprintSingle source ofbrand truthSignalEI-3SignalExecutive intelligenceThe Cable3.2CablesActionable briefingreportsArcCP-1ArcPrecision executionThe Payload3.1PayloadIntegrated marketing& sales assetsmakesfeedsmakesfeedsmakesmakesfeedsPHASE 1AssessmentReconBR-15ReconBrand analysismakesThe Schematic1.1SchematicAssessment documentPHASE 2ArchitecturefeedsWayfinderNA-3WayfinderNarrative architecturemakesThe Blueprint2.1BlueprintSingle source ofbrand truthPHASE 3ActivationfeedsUPPER FUNNELUPPER + LOWERSignalEI-3SignalExecutive intelligenceArcCP-1ArcPrecision executionmakesmakesThe Cable3.2CablesActionable briefingreportsThe Payload3.1PayloadIntegrated marketing& sales assets
FIG. 1 · Narrative Systems workflow
Phase 01 / Assessment

BR-15Brand analysis

Recon

The industry's fastest messaging and positioning SWOT analysis system.

Get a free Schematic

Recon reads your site, social, press, and analyst coverage to fully understand your story, then stacks it against your competitors. Get AI-driven, strategist-verified insights on what's critical to fix, where the gaps are inside your own digital estate, and what to build on, packaged in an easy-to-read Schematic – in under 24 hours.

Phase 1
Assessment
Deliverable
Schematic
Feeds
Wayfinder

Deliverable: Schematic

FIG. 2.2 · Schematic
A sample Schematic for Meridiem: what we read, what you say, competition, findings and our assessment.

Every source, on the record

A complete, traceable ledger of everything we read, watched, and listened to, from your site and social to press and analyst coverage. Every finding that follows traces back to an entry on this list.

Your story, summarized

A topline view of your story and terminology, and a read on what's working and what's not, synthesized from our research.

You vs. the world

We compare your top line with the competition – if we put your line on your competitor's page, would anyone notice? If the answer is no, it isn't really yours.

Core assessment

A deep dive into your story that uncovers where it's strong, where it's weak, and where it's inconsistent. Every insight is stack-ranked and actionable.

What to do

Our perspective on how to refine (or rebuild) your story for maximum impact.

“

Steelwork helped us build a brand and story that makes it easy for customers to understand who we are, and why we care, just as much as what we do.

Ken AtwoodOwner, Liberty NW Accounting
Phase 02 / Architecture

NA-3Narrative architecture

Wayfinder

The fastest path from strategy to sales assets.

Wayfinder is a modern, AI-augmented version of the methodology our team used to drive go-to-market for dozens of Microsoft products, including Windows 10, Xbox One, and Office 365. It aligns teams, crystallizes product value, and builds messaging that sellers and marketers can deploy across the entire customer journey.

Phase 2
Architecture
Deliverable
Blueprint
Feeds
Signal and Arc

Deliverable: Blueprint

The single source of truth for your strategy, positioning, and messaging.

FIG. 3.2 · Blueprint1 / 9
meridiemStrategic framework · V1

Positioning & messaging

The
Blueprint

One source of truth for how Meridiem shows up in the world.

ConfidentialBy Steelwork

01 · Topline

Topline assessment

p. 2

Key insight

"Prevent the 2am phone call" is the core thesis.

Sections drafted by AI6
Strategist edits14
Priorities reshuffled2
Ready for conversationsYes

Message priorities

1Operator-first differentiationNone of the rivals speaks to the shift supervisor.
2Proof point amplificationACME, $2.1M saved in Q3.
3Plain-language alertsVersus dashboard theater.
4Integration-native deploymentSAP, Oracle, Dynamics.

02 · Alignment

Alignment heat map

p. 4

PriyaCEOMarcusCRODavidVP SalesMayaMarketingWhyPrevent disruption, serve operatorsReal ROI for mid-marketPrevent the 2am phone callOperator empowermentWhatPlatform for operations leadersEnterprise visibility toolFor the plant floor, not HQModern supply chain platformHowPredictive, operator-centricAI-first, platform breadthPlain-language, integration-nativeModern, empowering, accessible

AgreePartialConflict

Strategist calls

WhyPrevent the 2am phone call.Adopt David's framing. It's what customers feel.
WhatBuilt for operators, not spreadsheets.Remove "enterprise visibility."
HowFour differentiators.Operator-first, predictive, plain-language, integration-native. Remove "AI-first."

03 · Strategy

Strategy on a Page

p. 6

Why

Meridiem helps operators prevent the 2am phone call.

Operator-firstRadical transparencyProven ROIHuman-led AI

What

The supply chain intelligence platform built for operators, not spreadsheets.

Predictive alertsOperator consoleIntegration grid

Result: supply chain chaos, resolved before it reaches the line.

How

Operator-first intelligence. For the shift floor, not the boardroom.

Predictive precision. 72-hour advance warning, not post-mortem.

Plain-language alerts. Actionable tasks, not risk scores.

Integration-native. 30-day deployment.

Locked · edited and approved by Casey Stokes, Sr. Strategist

04 · Value propositions

Value propositions

p. 8

VP 01

Built for the plant floor

Mobile-first alerts a shift supervisor can act on.

VP 02

Predictive, not reactive

Disruptions caught 72 hours before the line knows.

VP 03

Plain-language alerts

No risk scores. Actionable tasks, not theater.

VP 04

Integration-native

SAP, Oracle, Dynamics. 30-day deployment.

05 · Audiences

Audience impact map

p. 16

Segment A

Audience 1 of 4: Plant operators

Shift supervisors and floor managers who run the line. They live in the moment: the next shift, not the next quarter.

Think

"This finally speaks my language."

Feel

In control, not behind.

Say

"Meridiem caught the bolt delay before we did."

Do

Open the app every shift.

Strategist note

David said operators demo the product back to their VPs. Bottom-up expansion is real here, which is why Plant Ops is a priority play even though they don't hold budget.

Next: VP Operations · CFO and finance · CIO and IT

06 · Matrix

Messaging matrix

p. 26

Plant opsVP OpsCFOCIOPlant floorAlerts the shift. No dashboard.Operators use it every shift.Adoption-driven ROI.Mobile, role-based.Predictive72-hour lead time.Prevent, not report. 4.1× payback.Payback math, not promises.Your edge, not ours.Plain-lang."Line stops Thursday."94% action rate.Alerts that drive dollars.No ML literacy required.IntegrationIn the tools they use.30 days to deploy.Cost is predictable.SAP, Oracle, Dynamics. 30 days.

07 · Horizon 1

Horizon 1 tactics

p. 40

01VP Ops × PredictiveHighest payback. 4.1× avg.AI 94
02CIO × Integration-nativeRemoves deal-blocker.AI 91
03Plant Ops × Plain-languageBottom-up adoption.AI 87
04CFO × PredictiveApproval gate. Converts skeptic.AI 83
05VP Ops × Plant floorDifferentiator vs. dashboard-first rivals.AI 78

08 · The Manifesto · Meridiem

Every plant has a 2am phone call.A line stops. A supplier slips.Someone finds out last.Meridiem sees it 72 hours out,in plain language,built for operators, not spreadsheets.So you prevent the callinstead of taking it.

p. 44

One document. Your whole story.

The Blueprint is the manual for your go-to-market strategy. It's a field-ready guide that gives teams a clear picture of why the company and its products exist, how they're differentiated in a hyper-competitive market, and what they offer to customers – all backed by deep industry research and expert insights.

Where you are, and where you need to go

Built from Recon's Schematic, it's our no-holds-barred commentary on where your story stands and how to make it better. It drives the questions we ask your leaders in the next phase.

Where your leaders agree, and where they don't

We interview your leaders one on one. AI lays their answers side by side and shows where they agree and where they conflict. Strategists make the call on every conflict, so the SOAP starts from one story.

Why, how, what

Forged from the Recon Schematic and leader interviews, the SOAP is your strategy boiled down to its most essential elements – why you matter, how you're unique, and what customers can count on. Its brevity and clarity drive cross-team alignment and expedite execution.

Claims you can prove

Strategists synthesize your "hows" and "whats" into unique selling points. Our bespoke AI agents validate each claim against your competitors and the market to ensure that they're unique, provable, and maximally impactful.

Who you're for, and who you're not for

The audience impact map has two components – clearly defined audiences extracted from research and interviews, and what we want each to think, feel, say, and do when each encounters key messaging.

The right play for every room

At the intersection of audiences and value props lie sales plays – unique offerings that you can bring to buyers. Each is backed by a full copy library that's ready for use by marketers and sellers.

Priority plays

In partnership with custom AI agents, strategists stack-rank sales plays to give you an actionable plan that's optimized for speed and impact.

Your story, brought to life

The Manifesto is your story in narrative format, synthesized from sales play messaging. It's designed to be both an inspirational beacon for marketing and a ready-made pitch for sellers.

“

Steelwork is our go-to partner for go-to-market. Their systems quickly locked in a strategy and story that's resonating with customers, connecting with partners, and securing investors.

Trevin VaughnFounder and CEO, Xydo
Phase 03 / Activation

EI-3Executive intelligence

Signal

Drive the conversation. Set the agenda.

Signal analyzes what's happening in the market, identifies what matters most, and turns it into a daily cadence of owned and earned social, media, and content opportunities. It's all delivered each morning in actionable, interactive briefing documents called Cables.

Phase 3
Activation
Deliverable
Cables
Runs on
The Blueprint

Deliverable: Cables

Executive-level actionable briefs.

FIG. 4.2 · Cables1 / 4

Understand what matters before your first meeting

Every morning, Signal assesses the market and distills the top five things you need to know, with background on how each connects to your story and strategy.

Posts in your executive's voice

A custom AI agent crafts short and long-form social posts for each item in your leader's voice. Posts are hand-edited and proofread by senior strategists before delivery.

Lead the conversation

Every week, Signal zooms out from the daily chatter to analyze what the market is talking about at a macro level and identifies angles for executive thought leadership. Each is presented with a unique content idea, like long-form social posts, a video, or an interview.

Where, when, and who to pitch

Each week, Signal looks across hundreds of podcasts, press, events, and analysts, understands what they're talking about, stack-ranks the opportunities for relevance and timeliness, and drafts pitches.

Phase 03 / Activation

CP-1Precision execution

Arc

Collateral that's built to win, and built for everywhere.

Arc delivers more compelling content, faster. Using a prescriptive, field-proven creative workflow, backed by unmatched operational rigor and communications frameworks, it's the straightest line from a compelling product to the Payload – sales, marketing, and thought leadership assets proven to win customer hearts and minds.

Phase 3
Activation
Deliverable
Payload
Runs on
The Blueprint

Deliverable: Payload

An integrated stack of sales and marketing assets.

FIG. 5.2 · Payload1 / 5

A complete collateral package

The Payload is a kit of assets that includes everything sellers and marketers need to win – "art of the possible" vision videos that convey real-world potential, a prescriptive sales deck built with the same flow Microsoft's elite sellers use to close deals, social and digital short-form content, and comprehensive training and readiness.

A formula proven with C-suite decision makers

Built on insights from working on Microsoft and Google Cloud's biggest deals, Payload sales decks take a prescriptive approach proven to advance strategic conversations with senior leaders.

Illuminate the art of the possible

Cinematic vision videos land your story at an inspirational and aspirational level by clearly conveying how your products and services can transform customer businesses and industries. Each video is delivered in multiple formats to maximize impact – a full film for use online and as a meeting pre-send, a shorter silent cut for keynotes, and cutdowns and GIFs for social and the web.

Comprehensive readiness

Great assets mean nothing if your team can't land them. That's why each Payload comes with a complete readiness package that includes training, scripts, and asset guides.

Unmatched operational precision

Each project runs on a sophisticated system that combines focused workflows, precise workbacks, defined roles & responsibilities, and clear communications frameworks to maximize speed and accountability.

“

Our industry moves fast, and we need to move even faster. Ben's team was instrumental in rapidly shaping our story and our go-to-market plan, then building the content and collateral we needed to secure investments, close deals, and drive strategic alliances.

Sean LudickPresident and COO, Voltron Global

How we work

Experienced professionals, proven methodologies and custom AI tools. Steelwork is where they overlap.ExperiencedProfessionalsTrust &ReliabilityBetterInsightsProvenMethodologiesEnhancedWorkflowsCustomAI Tools
FIG. 6 · Steelwork working model

People

Elite talent

Staffed by senior leaders from Microsoft and Autodesk.

Process

Proven methodology

Built at Microsoft, proven with Fortune 100 brands.

Technology

Bespoke AI

Cutting-edge tools speed up research and analysis.

Steelwork Narrative Systems are trusted by the world's best

MicrosoftGoogle CloudRakutenAutodeskDeloitteVoltron GlobalXydoInfernoRedLiberty NW Accounting1571 Investments

Ready.

Let's get to work

Schedule a complimentary strategy session or get a free Recon Schematic.

Email usLinkedIn

SystemsWorkAboutContact

© 2026 Steelwork Strategies, LLC·Rathdrum, Idaho

About

Ben Rudolph, founder and CEO of Steelwork
Name
Ben Rudolph
Title
Founder and CEO
Contact
ben@steelwork.ioLinkedIn

I started Steelwork as an agency in 2023 with a simple goal: use what I learned over 15 years as a senior leader at Microsoft to help companies connect with customers.

We've done that at scale from day 1, helping Google Cloud bring AI to market for key industries, leading Rakuten's transformation from e-commerce giant to global AI leader, creating dozens of C-suite keynotes for Autodesk, and helping startups like Xydo, Voltron Global, and InfernoRed raise capital and drive growth.

Today, Steelwork Narrative Systems builds on that success by combining our expert, elite talent and our proven, battle-tested methodologies with custom agentic AI tools that speed research, augment analysis, and accelerate production.

If you have a story that needs to be told, a brand that needs to be built, a product or service that needs to be brought to market, or a deal that needs to be closed, we've built a system to help.

Ben Rudolph signature
“

Ben has been a strategic partner for nearly 20 years, first at Microsoft and later at Google Cloud. He's a master storyteller who knows how to turn consumers into authentic fans, and help enterprise buyers envision the art of the possible.

Brian HallCMO, Mistral AIFormer CVP, Microsoft, and VP, Google Cloud

Ready.

Let's get to work

Schedule a complimentary strategy session or get a free Recon Schematic.

Email usLinkedIn

SystemsWorkAboutContact

© 2026 Steelwork Strategies, LLC·Rathdrum, Idaho