Relationship-Driven Business Development
We believe reaching out to another business requires just as much warmth and courtesy as it does acute business knowledge and clear communication. We have the unique ability think on our feet, handle tough questions and align pain points to potential solutions in real time. It's our extra emphasis on the art of conversation that allows us to create a great first impression, which puts you at an advantage when you go in to close the deal.
The Art of Conversation
Developing a superior product with a clearly communicated value proposition is only half the battle. Engaging with your customers in an authentic and human way is equally important. Our approach to prospecting is centered around building trust, rather than blindly chasing a desired outcome. Through active listening and thoughtful engagement, we create an environment where real and meaningful business relationships can thrive.
Business is Personal
Low-Volume, High-Quality
Prospecting is not just a numbers game - it's about the quality of each interaction. The leads we generate will not be cold or transactional. They will be warm, fostered, and built on mutual respect. They will be built the old fashioned way, with time and listening and understanding. By the time a prospect is ready to meet, they will be well-primed and in a position to take the next step.
Why KJ + Co.?
Where experience, humanity and quick wit meet.
Founded in 2008, KJ + Co. is a boutique business development & matchmaking company based in Kitchener, ON.
We take a research-based, relationship-driven approach to the work. We take the time to clearly understand the specific objectives of each project, including: target sector, target audience, company size, annual revenue and we develop indicators for a high-value or low-value meeting, to ensure we are consistently delivering high-value. When communicating with business leaders, we always aim to strike the right balance between knowledgeable, relatable and respectful. We are not pushy, tactic-driven salespeople. Instead, we focus on having meaningful conversations that lead to real opportunities. We have the ability to navigate unpredictable conversations, think on our feet, and detect subtleties which can inform whether or not a prospect is truly engaged. At the end of the day, if a meeting is scheduled, it’s because both the prospect and our team have collectively decided that there would be value in taking the conversation to the next level.
Over the last 16 years, we have worked with Provincial economic development agencies, and a diverse range of clients across various industries, including: IT services, software development, SaaS, engineering, consulting, eLearning, executive development, AI/ML, emerging tech, IoT, agriculture, seafood, consumer products, market research, etc. Our offering and approach is industry-agnostic - we feel confident representing any B2B business that’s looking to generate high-value results.
Kailey 'KJ' Johnstone
President
(she/her)
What Our Clients
Say About Us
I've had the opportunity to work with KJ for several years. She has the rare ability to quickly understand complex concepts (AI in Manufacturing, for example), and then convert them into compelling communication that gets people's attention and elicits a response. That's a critically important skill in a very noisy social selling market. She is effective at dealing with ambiguity, functioning across teams spanning technical and sales resources, but most of all at focusing on the objective and delivering value. Excellent person to have on a high functioning team.
Paul Boris, CRO, Prameo
"KJ and her team are always professional, and always deliver on-time and on-budget. Most impressive is the level of proactivity we get from KJ + Co, they go out of their way to advise of potential issues, head them off at the pass, and then report back when a resolution is achieved."
Mark Healy, President, Healy Strategy
I have worked with KJ for a number of years and I find her to be very professional, resilient, and "one-of-a-kind". She has a secret-sauce that allows her to get strategic high-level meetings with prospects. I trust her to engage prospects and am very comfortable knowing that she represents me and the company with utmost professionalism. She is highly-valued and highly productive. I have no hesitation in endorsing her skills and services to any company. She is a ROCK STAR!
Raj Sharma, Sales Director, Deep 6 AI
I started working with KJ in 2012. We were looking for someone tenacious, yet fiercely intelligent, who could think and react quickly when pitching C level and V level executives. KJ fit the bill perfectly and has been incredibly successful in achieving the targets I set before her over the course of the year. We have had more sales leads in 2013 than in the past 5 years combined. KJ is the real deal!!!
Michael Lavigne, SVP, Accreon
I worked closely with Kailey for approximately 18 months. During our first discussion I was so impressed by her professionalism, quick wit, and ability to ask great questions. I had many conversations with her on the phone in preparation for our work together and I genuinely relied on her insight and suggestions on how to structure my sales process. She really knows lead generation and understands what works and what doesn't. The best part was when I would go in to meet a new prospect, they would spend the first few minutes of the meeting raving about their interaction with her. This really sets a great tone when you are in the process of developing new business relationships. I highly recommend her to anyone looking to build their business.
Christine Laperriere, President, Leader in Motion
KJ has delivered outstanding work and value to Torque. She is a real 'get it done' type of person who achieves her client goals, and works with her clients to find the best solutions. She is easy to work with, and a great communicator as well. I would not hesitate to recommend KJ to anyone.
Mark Binns, Partner, Torque Customer Strategy
