Excellence by Design
Salentis leaders understand that our proven process is nothing without the right people to do the job and do it well. We have been in the bid development space for decades and bring diverse backgrounds and experience which allows the effective selection, training, and management of exceptional talent. We also take special care in creating and communicating a culture that resonates with our associates, clients, and everyone we encounter. Excellence is baked into everything we do and that’s by design.
History
Salentis was founded by Aaron Birkbeck, whose extensive career in the Australian Army provided a solid foundation in logistics and procurement, further developed in the commercial world after he’d completed his military service.
Aaron Birkbeck
Founder, Chairman of the Board of Directors
Having moved to Argentina in 2006, he established Salentis to offer logistics and procurement services to South American organizations. A turning point came when a contact asked for support with writing four UN bids which led to an invitation to develop a logistics and mobilisation plan for a NATO contract. This resulted in a move to the United States, where he spent the next four years crafting proposals and managing bids across multiple countries. It was during this time that he honed his craft—first as a writer, and later as a proposal manager.
Through these experiences, Aaron realized that the secret to winning large, complex bids was a disciplined, structured approach delivered by talented individuals. He recognized an opportunity to bring together the many outstanding freelance writers he had worked with into one cohesive team. This would form the foundation of Salentis’ superior proposal service.
Driven by his fiercely competitive spirit and relentless pursuit of excellence, Aaron developed a company culture focused on winning bids for clients. One early standout success was helping a Canadian client secure a $1.2 billion contract with a proposal crafted in just three weeks by a largely remote Salentis team. This achievement proved that, with the right people and processes in place, you don’t need to be on-site to win.
And so, the Salentis of today was born—a company singularly focused on delivering high-quality proposals for its clients, in any industry and any reputable country, backed by the Salentis System and a team of experts dedicated to helping clients succeed.
The evolution of the Salentis name and logo
Salentis’ roots were in procurement, and the name itself reflects that. The ‘Sal’ in Salentis representing Supply chain and Logistics, forming the core of the company’s initial offering.
Aaron’s experience in West Africa, combined with his interest in languages and symbols, led him to discover the Adinkra symbols—a collection of visual representations of concepts and values. He was particularly inspired by the Nkyinkim symbol, which stands for toughness, versatility, and dynamism, as well as a dedication to service—qualities that embody Salentis’ core values.
The Nkyinkim symbol, with its distinctive shape, also resembles an overlapping double letter “S,” echoing the ‘S’s that bookend the Salentis name. Today, both the name and the logo stand as powerful representations of the company’s values and commitment to excellence and reflect our dedication to helping clients succeed, no matter how complex the challenge.
Salentis Values
Be Honest
We communicate early to avoid surprises; we are open and honest; we don’t shy away from difficult conversations; and we do the right thing by our clients and our team.
Be Humble
We are servant leaders; we respect the best argument and act on it, irrespective of position; we strive for humility; and we seek to work with people who demonstrate the same values.
Enjoy the Journey
Our business is serious, but we bring balance to it where we can; we reduce the pressure by being efficient and do all we can to avoid ‘all-nighters’ and weekend work; and we try to laugh and enjoy the journey.
Pursue Excellence
We relentlessly pursue excellence and have a mindset of continuous improvement; we ask questions to get to the root of the issue; we have a winning mindset in a business where only first place counts.
The Salentis Way®
Salentis International is much more than just helping clients write winning proposals. The Salentis Way means:
Learn moreThe Salentis Way®
Salentis International is much more than just helping clients write winning proposals. The Salentis Way means:
- Successfully making our clients look brilliant
- Doing the right thing for our clients, even when it’s hard
- Putting results at the forefront; we really want to win
- Like-minded, goal-oriented, talented people having fun at work
- Being innately curious and seeking to constantly improve