State Pension Agency: Securing Multi-Stakeholder Alignment for Modernization
Creating conditions for genuine consensus rather than forced agreement while ensuring stakeholder alignment would sustain through implementation challenges ahead.
The Challenge
A state pension agency needed to modernize aging systems and processes, but faced a common government challenge: multiple stakeholders with different priorities, different timelines, and different views on the path forward. The State Pension Agency, Administrative Oversight bodies, Legislative Fiscal Office, and State CIO each operated from distinct mandates and constraints. Without consensus on analytical approach, investment scope, or funding strategy, the time-sensitive modernization effort risked stalling—jeopardizing the state's fiscal planning cycle and undermining the incoming Agency Modernization Director before they even started.
Approach
Spearheaded executive alignment across the complex stakeholder landscape. We:
Facilitated strategic dialogue across all stakeholder groups, creating space for competing priorities to be heard and addressed
Drove consensus on analytical approach that satisfied legislative oversight requirements while maintaining technical rigor
Defined investment scope that balanced modernization ambition with fiscal realities
Secured funding strategy aligned with state budget cycles and appropriations processes
Navigated political dynamics while maintaining focus on mission: serving pension beneficiaries effectively
Our methodology prioritized transparent communication and evidence-based decision-making—building trust across stakeholder groups that would need to sustain collaboration well beyond our engagement.
The Outcomes
Achieved executive consensus across four major stakeholder groups with historically competing priorities
Defined clear strategic path forward for statewide pension modernization with buy-in from all key decision-makers
Secured high-level agreement on investment scope and funding approach aligned with fiscal planning cycle
Enabled time-sensitive alternative analysis to proceed on schedule
Positioned new Agency Modernization Director for successful onboarding with aligned stakeholder base
Four Principles That Drive Every Engagement
Across sectors and organizational contexts, Fox & Rain brings a consistent approach:
We start with the people, not the technology. Transformation succeeds when organizations build capability, not just implement solutions.
We navigate complexity without creating overwhelm. Our frameworks bring clarity to messy situations.
We build consensus across diverse stakeholders. Alignment is facilitated through transparent dialogue and evidence-based decision-making.
We deliver outcomes that last. Our work creates sustainable change and results that last.
Ready to Write Your Own Success Story?
Whether you're navigating multi-stakeholder complexity, leading enterprise transformation, or building organizational capability for sustained change, Fox & Rain brings 20+ years of experience turning strategic vision into operational reality.