Vision to Scale.
Full-Spectrum Advisory.
Strategic Advisor — Product · Strategy · Operations
Fractional product + creative leadership for Seed–Series B startups and innovation teams—aligning product strategy, execution, brand, and go-to-market into one operating engine so you ship faster, cleaner, and with less risk.
Trusted by Nintendo · Tim Hortons · Box (NYSE: BOX)
Trusted by leading brands
About
Aaron McLean
Product innovator and advisor with 20+ years guiding purpose-driven products, ventures, and leaders toward measurable, lasting impact.
I bridge Creative, Product Innovation & R&D, Business Strategy, Operations, Production, and Marketing—aligning teams and turning vision into engagement-driven products, experiences, and communities.
I'm fluent in modern AI development environments, with a focus on decision quality, evaluation, and adoption—so speed turns into reliable outcomes.
Since 2017, I've built Seed Interactive and Illumination Games and led engagement-first innovation across seven sectors: Gaming, Interactive Entertainment, Wellness Tech & Products, Brand Marketing & Activation, Education & Edutainment, Museums & Heritage, and Hospitality. I've delivered award-winning games, AR campaigns, and digital platforms with Nintendo, Tim Hortons, and the Ingenium Museum Corporation—reaching 2.4 million players across 182 countries. I've also navigated the collapse of a business I spent ten years building—and the rebuilding that followed. That full arc is what I bring to every engagement.
My toolkit spans AI, AR/VR, biofeedback, gamification, 3D/WebGL, and digital therapeutics—informed by deep R&D work and projects involving NSERC, AMD, and SIRT. As Product Manager at Verold, I owned product direction and helped scale a pioneering 3D collaboration platform through acquisition by Box (NYSE: BOX). Alongside product leadership, I bring 15+ years of high-performance coaching, team development, and community wellness work—expanded in recent years into founder and executive coaching focused on alignment, leadership, and execution under pressure.
Services
Product leadership is the entry point. The impact spans the entire business.
Product & Platform Strategy
From product strategy and roadmapping to UX and creative direction, I help you define what to build, why it wins, and what "done" looks like—so teams ship with clarity and quality. I bring the eye of a creative director and the mind of a product strategist, with technical fluency across SaaS, AI, immersive tech, and digital health.
- Product Strategy & Roadmapping
- UX & Creative Direction
- Design–Engineering Workflows
- Technical Oversight & Quality Standards
- AI-Accelerated Delivery (evaluation + quality gates)
Business Model & Growth Strategy
I help founders build the strategic and financial foundation that turns a product into a durable business—business model, pricing, revenue strategy, and the go-to-market path to growth.
- Business Model & Pricing Strategy
- Revenue Strategy, Forecasting & Runway
- Go-to-Market & Growth Strategy
- Partnerships & Business Development
- Sales Enablement & Collateral Systems
Operating Systems & Team Alignment
I design the operating system behind execution—cross-functional coordination, decision rights, and team rhythms that keep the company aligned as it scales. The goal: faster execution without chaos, and a founder who isn’t the bottleneck.
- Cross-Functional Coordination
- Operating Rhythms & Team Alignment
- Decision Rights, Ownership & Accountability
- Execution Systems (cadence, handoffs, quality checks)
- Founder & Executive Coaching (as needed)
Positioning & Market Strategy
I bridge technical innovation with market clarity—turning what you’ve built into positioning, messaging, and launch strategy the market understands and responds to.
- Brand Strategy & Identity
- Market Positioning & Messaging
- Content & Channel Strategy
- Launch Strategy & Communications
Engagement Model
Aligned Partnership
I work on a paid advisory model—typically a cash retainer with clear scope and deliverables. In select partnerships where long-term fit is obvious, equity alignment may also be included.
Enterprise Innovation Teams
Established companies launching new products or entering new markets.
Funded Startups
Seed to Series B companies needing fractional product leadership.
Studios & Agencies
Creative studios seeking strategic product guidance.
Solutions
A selection of projects that demonstrate my range across product strategy, creative direction, and business building.
Interested in working together?
30-minute strategy call — no commitment required.
Sectors of Expertise
Why Work With Me
Full-Spectrum Integration
One integrated relationship across strategy, creative direction, and leadership—so you don't need three consultants.
Aligned Partnership
Advisory retainer with clear scope; in select long-term fits, equity alignment may be included.
The Human Side of Execution
15+ years in high-performance coaching and team development—helping teams align fast and lead through growth stages.
Most advisors have built things. Fewer have lost them. I've done both — and the second experience taught me as much as the first.
Let's Build Something
Ready to turn vision
into results?
Whether you're launching a new product, scaling an existing one, or navigating the challenges of leadership — I'm here to help you move forward with clarity.
I work on a paid advisory model—typically a cash retainer with clear scope and deliverables. In select partnerships where long-term fit is obvious, equity alignment may also be included.
30-minute strategy call · No commitment