Ruth spent two weeks with us and found three things we had been arguing about for two years. She named them clearly, told us which one to fix first, and we did. It worked.
Marcus Oyelaran
Founder, logistics firm
Our products
Why clients come back
One person, full attention
You work with Ruth directly, start to finish. No bait-and-switch where the senior partner disappears after the pitch and a junior takes over.
Diagnosis before prescription
The first thing we do is listen. A lot. Most problems that look like strategy problems turn out to be process problems, and vice versa. We find out which before we suggest anything.
Deliverables you can actually use
Reports are written for the person who has to act on them, not for the person who commissioned them. Plain language, clear next steps, realistic timelines.
News & Announcements
News & Announcements
2026-07-12
When does a small business actually need a consultant?
The question Ruth gets asked most often, usually by people who are already half-convinced they need help, is whether they actually need a consultant at all. It is a fair question. The honest answer is: sometimes yes, sometimes no, and the difference is worth understanding before you spend money finding out.
Read more →2026-06-22
How to run a strategy day that produces real decisions
Ruth has facilitated a lot of strategy days. The ones that work and the ones that do not have very little to do with the venue, the catering, or the quality of the slides. They have almost everything to do with how the day is structured and what the group is actually trying to decide.
Read more →2026-05-24
Process mapping for small businesses: where to start
The phrase 'process mapping' tends to make small business owners think of large corporations with dedicated operations teams and expensive software. In practice, the version that is useful for a business of ten to fifty people is much simpler than that, and the value it produces is disproportionate to the effort involved.
Read more →Our products
Selected items
Every engagement starts with a free 30-minute call to make sure we are a good fit. Fees are fixed and agreed upfront. The list below covers the most common types of work. If your situation does not fit neatly into one of these, get in touch and we will figure out what makes sense.
Business Diagnostic
A two-week structured review covering operations, team dynamics, and finances. Delivered as a written report with a prioritised action list. Ruth conducts interviews with up to six people inside your business and maps your current processes before writing a single word of the report.
From ¥456,000
Strategy Sprint
Two days of intensive working sessions, in person or remote, to define or reset your direction. Output is a one-page strategy and a 90-day action plan. The 'stop doing' list is often the most useful part.
¥342,000
Process Redesign
Full mapping of your current workflows, identification of bottlenecks and redundancies, and a redesigned process delivered as a visual map plus a plain-English implementation guide. Typically takes three to four weeks.
From ¥608,000
Interim Advisory
Two 90-minute calls per month plus async messaging between sessions. A standing brief is maintained and updated as your business evolves. Minimum three-month commitment.
¥180,500/month
Workshop Facilitation
Half-day or full-day workshops for leadership teams. Ruth designs the session structure, facilitates on the day, and sends a written summary of decisions and actions within 48 hours.
From ¥266,000/day
7+
Years running
1
Business day to reply
3Weeks
Typical diagnostic turnaround
4
Active clients at any one time
About the place
"Ruth Fairbank spent a decade inside large consultancies, mostly fixing problems that the consultancies themselves had created. She left in 2019 after one too many 80-slide decks that nobody read, and set up Rapid Badger to do the opposite: short engagements, honest diagnosis, and recommendations that fit on a single page if they need to. Before going independent she led operational turnarounds for a regional logistics firm and a mid-size retail chain, both of which she prefers not to name but will happily describe over coffee. Outside work she runs half-marathons at a pace she describes as "determined rather than fast" and keeps a very opinionated sourdough starter on her kitchen counter."
— Ruth Fairbank
Founder, Established since 2019
FAQ
Common questions
Q01
How do I pay, and when?
A 50% deposit is due when we agree scope, and the remaining 50% on delivery of the final output. Bank transfer only. For monthly advisory work, invoices go out on the first of each month. Ruth does not accept payment by card currently, though this may change.
Q02
Can I reschedule or cancel a Strategy Sprint after booking?
You can reschedule with at least five working days' notice at no charge. Cancellations within five working days forfeit the deposit. If Ruth needs to reschedule for any reason, you get a full refund of any deposit paid, no questions asked.
Eco-consciousHand-finishedReply within 24h