About
I’m Apostolos
(Leo) Bolkas.
I work with founders and operators to fix what’s slowing growth. Before they invest in doing more.
I bring strategy, performance, and automation together, so the next decision has a clear reason behind it.
- Based in
- Sofia, working across Europe and beyond.
- The work
- Strategy, performance, and automation.
The short version
Most growth problems aren’t caused by execution. They come from decisions no one wants to question.
A belief I keep returning to
James Clear
Atomic Habits
“You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.”
The work begins below the campaign layer: with priorities, choices, and the operating system beneath them.
Background
20+ years. Athens, London, Sofia.
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Where it started
Born in the analogue era, I watched digital marketing grow up firsthand, from its early days to today’s automation.
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Agencies and brands
At agencies in Athens, London, and Sofia, I managed the digital presence of IKEA, Unilever, McDonald’s, and Johnson & Johnson across local and regional markets.
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The pattern
Across all of it, one thing kept repeating: some work moves the number, and a lot doesn’t. The job was making marketing accountable, connecting activity to outcomes and cutting what didn’t move the number.
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Independent since 2019
I went independent to focus on one thing: helping teams build systems that compound, instead of campaigns that reset every quarter.
What I’ve learned
Growth stalls when three things fall out of sync.
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Strategy
Strategy loses its direction.
Everyone is moving, but nothing is aligned. Too many initiatives compete for attention, and the important choices get buried under activity.
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Performance
Activity continues without proof it’s working.
Metrics exist, reports arrive, and dashboards grow, yet none of them changes the next action. If the data doesn’t change decisions, it’s just reporting.
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Automation
Automation gets built on a process that was never quite right.
Tools are live, but the logic underneath is weak, so automation moves confusion faster. It should scale what works, not hide what doesn’t.
When those three are aligned, everything gets easier.
View all proofHow I work
Independent, not an agency.
- Who gets the most value
- The team is capable, there is budget, and things are moving, but growth feels harder than it should. Usually the positioning is off, or the way demand connects to conversion, or both.
- How the work runs
- You work with me, not a layer of account management. Engagements are focused and direct, with no layers between the thinking and the execution.
- What I won’t sell
- One-off posting, cheap lead generation, brand-only creative with no commercial goal, or quick hacks without a strategy behind them.
Outside the work
Curiosity is the common thread.
I spend time experimenting with Linux and open-source tools, reading across literature and science fiction, and finding new cycling routes.
Different subjects. Same instinct: understand how the parts fit together.
Common questions
Frequently asked.
Clear answers on how I work, who I partner with, and what to expect from an engagement.
What do you specialise in?
I help you clarify your positioning, plan and lead campaigns, connect marketing with sales follow-up, and measure what works. The focus is on making progress you can repeat.
Who do you work with?
I work with founders and marketing teams across sectors who want clearer priorities and a more consistent approach to marketing. Often, they have plenty of activity but need help turning it into sales conversations.
What does an engagement look like?
Most engagements start with a free Growth Audit: a written diagnosis of what is working, what is not, and what to fix first, delivered within five business days. If it surfaces bigger strategic questions, the next step is a Strategy Blueprint, a structured review of positioning, audience, funnel, and channels that produces a prioritised 12-month roadmap. Some teams then choose a Performance Roadmap, where I lead the campaigns their team runs in 90-day cycles, with the scope and fee agreed before each cycle begins, and Automation Systems to make what works repeatable, usually in four to six weeks.
How long have you been doing this?
Over twenty years working across agencies and as an independent consultant. Independent since 2019, with experience across technology, higher education, and consumer brands.
A useful place to start
Before you do more, find what slows growth.
A written diagnosis of what’s working, what isn’t, and what to fix first. No pitch deck disguised as advice.
What happens next
- You share your website, work email, and any context.
- I review your website, messaging, and enquiry journey myself.
- Within five business days, I email you three prioritised improvements. No sales call is required.