A strategic consultancy for culture, media & heritage.

Sophie Brendel Consulting is a strategic consultancy for culture, media & heritage.

We craft ambitious strategies & deliver brand, audience, digital & commercial transformation - helping organisations grow and navigate change with clarity, confidence & ambition.

Founder Sophie Brendel is a leading strategist who specialises in transformational change.

SBC partners with leaders & organisations facing complex change to strengthen relevance, set clear direction, grow income & audiences, and deliver lasting impact.

With 25 years’ experience at the nexus of media and culture, Sophie brings deep sector experience & first-hand leadership insight - and until 2024, was the V&A’s Director of Audience, Commercial & Digital, spearheading the V&A’s transformation into a family of museums dedicated to the power of creativity.

SBC works with a wide range of global brands including the National Trust, Royal Shakespeare Company, Smithsonian, BBC, V&A, RADA, Guildhall, Fashion Museum & Somerset House.

Services

Strategy & Transformation

Defining purpose, mission, vision, strategic objectives and impact, and shaping 3-5 year strategies for long term growth
Brand, Audience, Digital & Commercial

Integrated strategies to build brand, shape marketing, comms and digital activity, and grow audiences, engagement, impact and income
Creative Projects and Partnerships

Developing new initiatives, leading high-profile launches, & reimagining spaces and programmes
Leadership & Team

Shaping roles, divisions and team structures, defining key skills needed, and finding the best talent

Work

View Work

V&A Transformation: six museums in 10 years

RSC Strategy: defining a new 5-year strategy & plan

V&A East Storehouse Transformation Access

Audience Strategy: shaping an ambitious 10-year plan

Testimonials

Andrew Leveson, Executive Director, RSC

Sophie has been a joyful partner and collaborator. She has brought a tidal wave of energy and enthusiasm to our strategic work, along with a keen intelligence that is clearly rooted in years of experience. She has held space with care, managing to encompass everyone while also driving work forward and swiftly. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend her.
Tristram Hunt, Director V&A

Sophie Brendel was a transformational Director of Audiences, Digital & Commercial at the V&A - helping the museum surge in popularity, connect with new visitors and underserved constituencies, and put us at the forefront of partnerships with creative communities. She brought a winning combination of strategic insight, clear communication and feel for the sector.
Celia Richardson, Director of Communications & Fundraising, National Trust

Sophie has brought clarity, simplicity and energy. She’s convened an internal team and led them to put their focus on the outside world and the people we serve, and start to reframe their thinking. We are delighted with the work they’ve produced with Sophie’s guidance, and it’s helped us focus on the future with renewed confidence.
Sophie McKinlay, Director Fashion Museum

Sophie Brendel brought exceptional sector-leading expertise, infectious energy, and a meticulous approach that was instrumental in shaping a bold and forward-thinking strategy for the Fashion Museum
Jonathan Reekie, Director Somerset House

We really value the work that SBC did for us. It was thorough and thought-provoking, helping open up new ways of thinking about our audiences and membership. I would highly recommend SBC and we would certainly work with them again.
Helen Charman, Director Young V&A

Sophie is a creative powerhouse; an innovator; and a world-class comms strategist with a powerful professional network that can open up new horizons and partnerships. She's also great fun as a colleague and peer, with intellectual verve and an unsurpassed eye for detail.
Lindsey Glen, Director Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration

Sophie has been a terrific source of wisdom, expertise and encouragement, helping us to think strategically, pace, and celebrate our unique personality. She's a good listener and an incredibly quick and creative thinker, spotting and plotting brand, comms & commercial opportunities.
Leonie Bell, Director V&A Dundee

Sophie is fantastic to work with. Full of energy, challenge and ideas, she makes work and planning around audiences, brand, communications and digital feel like holistic storytelling, connected to evidence and emotion.