Futurista is an independent strategy, growth and innovation consultancy led by Romina Puno.

We work across business strategy, brand, marketing, business development, partnerships, commercialization, technology and AI to help organizations identify opportunities, solve growth challenges and turn ideas into action.

The simplest answer: we help businesses figure out what’s next—and how to build it.

No.

Marketing is part of our expertise, but it isn't where every problem begins—or where every answer ends.

We look at the broader business opportunity. Sometimes marketing is the answer. Other times it may be positioning, business development, a new market, a partnership, a better sales system, technology or a different business model altogether.

Futurista is best suited to ambitious organizations navigating growth, change or opportunity.

That can include established businesses entering a new stage, founders commercializing ideas, leadership teams exploring new markets, organizations repositioning themselves, or companies trying to make better use of technology and AI.

Romina's experience spans technology, digital media, manufacturing, construction, real estate, consumer products, training & development, and professional services, including commercialization and international business development.

No. In fact, sometimes figuring that out is the first piece of work.

You can come with a defined project, but you can also come with a problem, an opportunity, an idea or simply a question.

We don't start by prescribing a service. We start by understanding what you're trying to change.

There isn't one.

Depending on the challenge, Futurista can work through a focused strategy engagement, provide ongoing advisory support, help build and implement an initiative, or operate as embedded fractional leadership.

The right structure follows the problem—not the other way around.

Both.

Futurista was built around the belief that strategy becomes valuable when something happens because of it.

Depending on the engagement, that can mean moving from research and strategy into positioning, systems, go-to-market programs, partnerships, business development, technology implementation or coordination with specialist partners.

Strategy → action → learning → growth.

Yes, when it's the right solution.

Futurista can provide embedded senior leadership across marketing, growth, business development and strategic initiatives without requiring a full-time executive hire.

But fractional leadership is an engagement model, not the entirety of what Futurista does.

Absolutely.

We don't need to replace the people already doing good work.

Futurista can work alongside leadership, internal marketing and sales teams, agencies, designers, developers, technology partners and other specialists—providing strategic direction and helping connect the pieces.

We see AI as a business capability, not a service to sell for its own sake.

The question isn't, “Where can we add AI?”

It's: Where could technology meaningfully improve how this business works, competes, learns or grows?

Sometimes AI is part of the answer. Sometimes it isn't.

Yes. And a new market doesn’t have to mean another country.

It could be a new geography, customer segment, industry, channel or adjacent business opportunity. Futurista helps identify where the opportunity is, whether it’s worth pursuing, and how to enter with purpose.

Romina brings a unique perspective to market development. She has led international expansion across the U.S., Europe, Latin America and Asia-Pacific, while her tenure at one of Canada’s largest community media groups gave her deep experience in hyperlocal market growth through new ventures, partnerships and acquisitions.

From global expansion to the community next door, the principle is the same:

Understand the market. Find the opportunity. Build the right way in.

Futurista is based in Metro Vancouver, Canada, with the ability to work with organizations remotely across markets.

For engagements where being in the room matters—strategy sessions, workshops, relationship development or market work—the structure can be determined around the project.

It depends on the problem, scope and level of involvement.

A focused strategy engagement is very different from ongoing advisory or embedded fractional leadership, so Futurista doesn't force every challenge into a predetermined package.

After an initial conversation, we'll recommend an appropriate scope and engagement structure before any work begins.

Yes.

Futurista is intentionally principal-led. Romina leads the strategic work and client relationship.

Where a project requires additional specialist expertise, Futurista can collaborate with the appropriate creative, technical or subject-matter partners rather than pretending one person should do everything.

We'll start by understanding the question behind the inquiry—what's changing, what you're trying to accomplish and why it matters now.

If there's a strong fit, we'll determine the right next step. That might be a deeper working session, a defined strategy engagement, ongoing advisory support or another approach.

And if Futurista isn't the right fit, we'll say so.