Global repatriation campaign
Guided 101,000+ Americans home during global COVID shutdowns
Built and ran the digital communications operation across six continents under crisis conditions.
High-stakes decisions
When the decision matters, we help you get it right.
Hayloft Advisors helps executives navigate high-stakes decisions across policy, organizational alignment, and execution under pressure where data is incomplete, time is short, and the cost of being wrong is high.
We're typically called when:
- A decision carries reputational, political, or financial risk
- AI and data are reshaping how the organization operates
- Leadership alignment is breaking down under pressure
- The stakes are high and the path forward isn't clear
Trusted by leaders from the White House, the Air Force, the U.S. State Department, Fortune 50 companies, global philanthropies, and national campaigns.
Selected Impact
High-stakes work across government, global crises, Fortune 50 brands, and behavior change at scale.
The cost of solving the wrong problem isn't cosmetic. It's measured in billions of dollars and millions of lives.
Federal bureau consolidation
Merged four federal bureaus without public or internal fallout
Change management and organizational alignment held 500+ employees together in a politically sensitive environment.
Consumer trust crisis
Rebuilt trust for a national restaurant chain under pressure
Shifted the credibility signal from corporate messaging to peer-to-peer proof.
Material innovation launch
Turned a high-risk vehicle relaunch into a sell-out moment
Reframed the story to align with audience values and media dynamics.
Behavior change at scale
Improved cessation outcomes by reframing the real barrier
Redesigned audience and message strategy for pregnant smokers based on behavioral insight.
Migration dissuasion
Changed intent among migration-ready populations
Designed and tested empathetic messaging grounded in real decision drivers.
Media measurement
Connected paid and earned media directly to retail sales
Piloted a methodology for a Fortune 50 company to quantify business impact.
Agricultural repositioning
Reintroduced a heritage product line without losing authenticity
Balanced modern relevance with legacy brand equity.
How We Work
We don't start with communications. We start with the decision that drives the outcome.
Most advisory firms start with the message. We start with the decision that drives the outcome.
Our work is designed to help leadership teams move from ambiguity to clarity, quickly and with confidence.
Step 1
Diagnose the Decision
We assess what is actually driving the outcome across business model, stakeholder incentives, and available data.
- What's truly at stake
- Where alignment is breaking down
- What assumptions may be wrong
Step 2
Frame the Options
We structure the decision clearly, defining viable paths, tradeoffs, and second-order consequences.
- What each path really means
- Where the risks sit
- What success looks like
Step 3
Execute with Precision
We support execution so the decision holds under pressure across teams, stakeholders, and operations.
- Messaging and positioning
- Internal alignment
- Real-time adjustment as conditions change
Engagements typically include
- Rapid diagnostic (2-3 weeks)
- Strategic build (6-12 weeks)
- Ongoing advisory for critical decisions
Behind the system
Senior judgment, intentionally small.
Hayloft Advisors is led by Luke Peterson. He has built and run technology, research, analytics, and creative teams at top agencies including Burson and Golin, and inside the U.S. government. At the State Department, he worked on public affairs and public diplomacy strategy, international information programs, counter-disinformation, and organizational design, including the redesign of the Global Public Affairs function and bureau.
The firm is intentionally small. Every engagement is led by senior judgment. There are no junior teams executing templates.
Thinking
Read the latest writing
Ideas, diagnostics, and field notes that sharpen the way leaders read what is really happening.
Go to SubstackStart with a Decision
If you're facing a high-stakes decision and the path isn't clear, we can help you move forward with confidence.
Used by leaders navigating moments where getting the decision right matters.
Schedule a decision session →Typically a focused 60-90 minute working session to clarify the problem, define options, and identify next steps.
support@hayloftadvisors.com