Podcasts about Consulting firm

Jesper Rangvid, professor of finance at Copenhagen Business School, explores what leaders should understand about interest rates, inflation, the cost of capital, prioritization, and AI. Rangvid explains why the roughly 40-year decline in interest rates was "a completely unique historical period" and why executives should not assume borrowing will continue to get cheaper. Falling inflation and demographic changes helped drive rates lower, while low rates also contributed to rising house prices and increased borrowing. As he puts it, "lower and lower interest rates are not always good." He discusses the post-pandemic shift toward higher inflation and interest rates, including the growing financing needs of governments and major AI companies. For executives, the key question is how changing financing costs affect investment and strategic decisions. The conversation also explores prioritization and reflection. Rangvid describes scaling back his media commitments because "it simply takes too much time" and using running as "a time of reflection" to think through difficult problems from different angles. Finally, Rangvid shares a cautiously optimistic perspective on AI and argues that technology does not eliminate the value of human judgment. Even when AI can produce an answer in seconds, "facilitating a discussion among executives is still unbelievably useful" because different perspectives help people challenge assumptions and think more deeply. Get Jesper's new book, How Low Interest Rates Change the World, here: https://tinyurl.com/fbjzvwkz Claim your free gift: Free gift #1 McKinsey & BCG winning resume www.FIRMSconsulting.com/resumePDF Free gift #2 Breakthrough Decisions Guide with 25 AI Prompts www.FIRMSconsulting.com/decisions Free gift #3 Five Reasons Why People Ignore Somebody www.FIRMSconsulting.com/owntheroom Free gift #4 Access episode 1 from Build a Consulting Firm, Level 1 www.FIRMSconsulting.com/build Free gift #5 The Overall Approach used in well-managed strategy studies www.FIRMSconsulting.com/OverallApproach Free gift #6 Get a copy of Nine Leaders in Action, a book we co-authored with some of our clients: www.FIRMSconsulting.com/gift

For this episode, let's revisit a strategy skills classic interview with the author of The Illusion of Innovation: Escape "Efficiency" and Unleash Radical Progress, Elliott Parker. The Illusion of Innovation tackles the problem with innovation inside big companies, having activities that feel like innovation but lead to value destruction, not progress. This book explains why meaningful innovation naturally emerges from deliberate inefficiency and how large corporations can harness the power of small teams—startups—to drive radical change through systematic experimentation. Elliott Parker is the founder and CEO of High Alpha Innovation, a venture builder that partners with corporations, universities, and entrepreneurs to co-create startups that solve compelling problems. He built his career in strategy consulting at Innosight, the firm founded by Clayton Christensen, in corporate venturing, and as an entrepreneur bringing new ideas to market. To date, he has launched over 40 venture-backed startups. Originally from California, Elliott currently resides with his family in Indiana. He earned a B.S. in Finance from BYU and an M.B.A. from the UCLA Anderson School of Management. Get Elliott's new book here: https://rb.gy/hkcl2w The Illusion of Innovation: Escape "Efficiency" and Unleash Radical Progress   Claim your free gift: Free gift #1 McKinsey & BCG winning resume www.FIRMSconsulting.com/resumePDF Free gift #2 Breakthrough Decisions Guide with 25 AI Prompts www.FIRMSconsulting.com/decisions Free gift #3 Five Reasons Why People Ignore Somebody www.FIRMSconsulting.com/owntheroom Free gift #4 Access episode 1 from Build a Consulting Firm, Level 1 www.FIRMSconsulting.com/build Free gift #5 The Overall Approach used in well-managed strategy studies www.FIRMSconsulting.com/OverallApproach Free gift #6 Get a copy of Nine Leaders in Action, a book we co-authored with some of our clients: www.FIRMSconsulting.com/gift

Cornelia Choe explains why being right is no longer enough for leaders operating in environments of constant change. She calls the problem "perspective blindness": we may be correct about what we see while still seeing only part of the picture. Drawing on experiences across private equity, government, nonprofits, and leadership advisory, Cornelia argues that information has become increasingly commoditized while context and judgment have become more valuable. AI can broaden our understanding and challenge our thinking, but it can also become "a very easy substitute for judgment" when leaders accept its answers without questioning them. The discussion examines two forms of perspective blindness. Reality blindness occurs when leaders fail to get close enough to different people, ideas, and situations. Projection blindness occurs when they assume others see the world as they do. Both become increasingly consequential when different members of an organization are responding to rapidly changing realities. Cornelia encourages leaders to move "from being an expert to the chief investigator of their company": continually seeking perspectives that challenge their assumptions, listening closely to customers and stakeholders, and questioning whether the value they have historically created still meets what people need today. Her advice for customer conversations is deliberately simple: "just zip it and listen." AI can support the same discipline. Cornelia uses AI personas representing people who see an issue differently from her to expose blind spots and expand the range of possibilities, while continuing to triangulate those perspectives with human judgment. Before an important decision, she recommends asking: "Who sees this differently? Why do they see this differently? What do they see? And which of my assumptions would they change?" The goal, she argues, "is not to eliminate uncertainty," but to take a wider view before making consequential decisions. Get Cornelia's book, The Panoramic Leader, here: https://tinyurl.com/57mkz4dw Claim your free gift: Free gift #1 McKinsey & BCG winning resume www.FIRMSconsulting.com/resumePDF Free gift #2 Breakthrough Decisions Guide with 25 AI Prompts www.FIRMSconsulting.com/decisions Free gift #3 Five Reasons Why People Ignore Somebody www.FIRMSconsulting.com/owntheroom Free gift #4 Access episode 1 from Build a Consulting Firm, Level 1 www.FIRMSconsulting.com/build Free gift #5 The Overall Approach used in well-managed strategy studies www.FIRMSconsulting.com/OverallApproach Free gift #6 Get a copy of Nine Leaders in Action, a book we co-authored with some of our clients: www.FIRMSconsulting.com/gift

Send us Fan MailEvery firm on our new 2027 Top Enterprise AI Consulting Firms ranking wants to hire the same person right now. And none of them can find them. Namaan calls it the unicorn hire: technical enough to deploy AI, business-minded enough to define the problem, and clear enough to explain it to a non-technical client.That's the same skill behind telling deployment from transformation, the mistake costing firms deals right now.The people who can spot that difference are the ones every firm wants, and there aren't enough of them to go around. We cover:The 3 traits that make you the hire firms are struggling to findNamaan's 4-part test for telling real transformation from deploymentWhy most AI pilots stall before production, and what changes when a firm gets it rightResources:Our full breakdown is in the 2027 Top Enterprise AI Consulting Firms ranking – see who made the cut and whyWant your firm's perspective in our next ranking, panel, or research piece? Tell our research teamIf you're trying to become the hire firms can't find, Black Belt is where you build the technical-plus-business skill set they're looking forConnect With Management ConsultedCreate a free MC account or download the MC app (Apple, Android) to start your prep todaySchedule a free 15min consultation with the MC TeamWatch the video version of the podcast on YouTubeFollow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTokJoin an upcoming live event – case interviews demos, expert panels, and more

Glenn Hutchinson, a psychotherapist who developed the personality science behind the assessments used by Match.com, explores one of the most misunderstood aspects of infidelity: why people sometimes violate their own values without fully understanding how they arrived there. The conversation begins with a broader look at human behavior. Glenn explains that much of what drives our decisions happens outside conscious awareness. Using the familiar experience of driving on "autopilot," he argues that our unconscious mind is constantly shaping our judgments, emotions, and interactions long before we recognize it. As he puts it, "subjective experience is very deceiving," and "our behavior is more complicated. It comes from a deeper place than we realize." A central theme is how people interpret situations through mental categories rather than objective reality. Someone may believe they are "just being friendly" instead of crossing emotional boundaries, or see an affair as "a unique situation" rather than recognizing it for what it is. Glenn explains that these unconscious mental frameworks can influence behavior in powerful ways, even for people who genuinely see themselves as honest and faithful. The discussion also challenges the tendency to blame oneself after betrayal. Glenn explains that there is "no evidence" that a partner's infidelity means the betrayed person was lacking. He discusses several research-backed risk factors, including growing up aware of parental infidelity, having many sexual partners before marriage, and an anxious attachment style, while emphasizing that these are risk factors—not predictions—and that greater self-awareness and healthy boundaries matter far more. The conversation concludes with practical guidance for both preventing and recovering from infidelity. Glenn argues that no one is completely immune to temptation, making honest communication and emotional openness essential in long-term relationships. For those healing after betrayal, he advises avoiding rash decisions, finding a trusted person to talk to, and recognizing that recovery takes time. As he says, "The first thing you got to do is become aware of it." Lasting change begins by recognizing the unconscious assumptions that shape behavior and gradually aligning actions with personal values. Get Glenn's book, Unfaithful Minds, here: https://tinyurl.com/ybxtnrcs Claim your free gift: Free gift #1 McKinsey & BCG winning resume www.FIRMSconsulting.com/resumePDF Free gift #2 Breakthrough Decisions Guide with 25 AI Prompts www.FIRMSconsulting.com/decisions Free gift #3 Five Reasons Why People Ignore Somebody www.FIRMSconsulting.com/owntheroom Free gift #4 Access episode 1 from Build a Consulting Firm, Level 1 www.FIRMSconsulting.com/build Free gift #5 The Overall Approach used in well-managed strategy studies www.FIRMSconsulting.com/OverallApproach Free gift #6 Get a copy of Nine Leaders in Action, a book we co-authored with some of our clients: www.FIRMSconsulting.com/gift

Everyone talks about being "data-driven," but many professional services businesses are drowning in data, not actually using it. Rich Brett is back for episode three of our mini-series from inside The Missing Finance Course, the free FinOps course presented by Rich and Harv Nagra built to close the gap between finance and delivery. This episode leans into the delivery side of the business – the day-to-day decisions that end up written into your numbers, whether you meant them to or not.Here's what we dive into:Why utilization and capacity are two sides of the same coin, and why utilization should never be a surprise at month endWhere delivery leads go wrong on scoping, and how a duplicated quote can set a project up to fail before it startsWhy over-servicing to keep clients happy is often a decision nobody actually made, and how to take back controlWhat revenue recognition really means (it's simpler than it sounds), and why doing it once a year isn't good enoughWhat "recovery" actually measures, and why comparing it to an invoice tells you nothingWhat being genuinely data-driven looks like, versus just having a lot of reports nobody readsPlus, Rich and Harv get into why the best businesses are already looking at what's going to happen next month instead of just explaining what happened last month.The Missing Finance Course is free, self-paced, and built for three audiences: leadership, delivery teams, and individual contributors. Head to https://learn.scoro.com to get started.Additional Resources:

Amos Winter, professor of mechanical engineering and director of the K. Lisa Yang Global Engineering and Research Center at MIT, explains how innovators can create high-performance, affordable products for resource-constrained communities and adapt them for global markets. Drawing on Global by Design, co-authored with Vijay Govindarajan, he brings together product design, engineering science, market knowledge, and business strategy. Amos traces this work to a study of wheelchair use in Tanzania. People in rural areas needed a wheelchair that could travel long distances over rough terrain while remaining compact enough for indoor use. Products developed for wealthier countries were often too expensive or insufficiently robust. The resulting Leveraged Freedom Chair later provided the foundation for the Grit Freedom Chair in the United States. The conversation examines three forms of merit that help innovators choose worthwhile problems. Problem merit asks whether solving a challenge would meaningfully benefit a substantial population and support a business opportunity. Innovation merit determines whether the problem genuinely requires innovation rather than adaptation, charity, or another mechanism. Value merit aligns the interests of customers and producers so that adoption can occur at scale. This evaluation should precede the technology. Amos cautions against "creating a hammer and then going and finding a nail." A stronger approach begins by identifying the full set of requirements, then combining market insight with technical analysis. Market knowledge reveals what users and operating environments demand; engineering science explains the limitations of existing products and suggests how a better solution might work. The Leveraged Freedom Chair illustrates how this approach supports expansion across markets. In developing countries, bicycle parts made the chair affordable and locally repairable. American users valued the same lever-powered drivetrain but needed a collapsible frame that could fit inside a car. The core value remained consistent, while selected features changed with local requirements. Amos contrasts the Honda Super Cub with the Tata Nano to show why excellent engineering does not guarantee adoption. Honda combined low cost and reliability with an accessible, aspirational identity. The Nano was an impressive engineering achievement, but positioning it as the world's cheapest car weakened its appeal. Concerns about status and perceived safety further influenced how customers judged it. The discussion also considers AI's role in product development. Amos uses AI to gather and summarize information, generate concepts, write code, and accelerate routine work. Its limitations become more significant when innovation depends on knowledge that has never been recorded, direct interaction with materials and manufacturing processes, an understanding of technical readiness, or rapport with stakeholders. He expects people to remain particularly valuable in work requiring dexterity, perception, ingenuity, interdisciplinary synthesis, and interpersonal understanding. Amos closes with a principle central to the book: "Perspective is the most powerful tool an innovator has because what it does is show you requirements." Innovators must learn to see a problem through other people's eyes while remaining realistic about their own knowledge, capabilities, and resources. He calls this being a "tempered dreamer": pursuing consequential problems with ambition, but applying one's strengths where they can contribute most effectively. Get Amos' book, Global by Design, here: https://tinyurl.com/5asv27jv Claim your free gift: Free gift #1 McKinsey & BCG winning resume www.FIRMSconsulting.com/resumePDF Free gift #2 Breakthrough Decisions Guide with 25 AI Prompts www.FIRMSconsulting.com/decisions Free gift #3 Five Reasons Why People Ignore Somebody www.FIRMSconsulting.com/owntheroom Free gift #4 Access episode 1 from Build a Consulting Firm, Level 1 www.FIRMSconsulting.com/build Free gift #5 The Overall Approach used in well-managed strategy studies www.FIRMSconsulting.com/OverallApproach Free gift #6 Get a copy of Nine Leaders in Action, a book we co-authored with some of our clients: www.FIRMSconsulting.com/gift

Jeremy Pollack, PhD, argues that most workplace conflicts cannot be resolved by negotiating solutions alone. Before people can solve a problem together, they must first feel understood, respected, and heard. As he explains, conflict resolution has "two parts": "There's care, and then there's solution." When organizations skip the first, they often leave the underlying conflict untouched. Much of the conversation focuses on the psychological needs that drive conflict beneath the surface. Promotions, compensation, authority, and recognition are often the visible issues, but Jeremy explains that they are usually attempts to satisfy more fundamental needs for safety, belonging, positive self-concept, autonomy, engaging activities, and purpose. Identifying which need feels threatened helps leaders address the real source of disagreement instead of debating symptoms. The discussion also examines why some destructive workplace behaviors persist despite feedback or mediation. Jeremy explains that power over others is not a universal human need but may reflect deeper unmet needs for significance, belonging, or security. In these cases, conflict resolution alone is often insufficient. Lasting change requires personal insight and sustained psychological work. Jeremy also revisits Maslow's hierarchy of needs. While he agrees with Maslow's description of human needs, he argues that people pursue them simultaneously rather than in sequence. The conversation explores how unmet needs, including the need for challenge or novelty, can quietly influence career decisions, and why recognizing those patterns allows people to satisfy them in healthier, more deliberate ways. A particularly practical section explains why conflict often feels so personal. Jeremy notes that "our brains are predictive processing machines." Rather than responding only to what another person says or does, we respond to predictions shaped by previous experiences. That helps explain why two people can interpret the same conversation or email in completely different ways. The conversation concludes with a practical approach to reconditioning our response to conflict. Instead of automatically associating disagreement with threat, Jeremy argues that people can learn to approach conflict as an opportunity for learning, understanding, and stronger relationships. He also recommends using AI as a private coach to brainstorm ideas, role-play conversations, and explore different approaches while avoiding AI-generated messages that replace authentic communication. Key insights from this discussion include: Address the relationship before the problem. "There's care, and then there's solution." Look beneath stated demands to identify the psychological need driving the conflict. Many workplace conflicts reflect threatened needs for safety, belonging, autonomy, or esteem rather than the issue people are arguing about. Question your first interpretation. Past experiences often shape present reactions more than current events because "our brains are predictive processing machines." Use AI to prepare for difficult conversations, but rely on your own judgment and voice when communicating with others. Jeremy closes with a hopeful reminder that humans are "wired for peace" more than conflict. While we are capable of defending ourselves when necessary, our strongest biological inclination is toward cooperation, trust, and healthy relationships—provided we create the conditions for them. Get Jeremy's book, Wired for Peace, here: https://tinyurl.com/yh3ke5v5 Claim your free gift: Free gift #1 McKinsey & BCG winning resume www.FIRMSconsulting.com/resumePDF Free gift #2 Breakthrough Decisions Guide with 25 AI Prompts www.FIRMSconsulting.com/decisions Free gift #3 Five Reasons Why People Ignore Somebody www.FIRMSconsulting.com/owntheroom Free gift #4 Access episode 1 from Build a Consulting Firm, Level 1 www.FIRMSconsulting.com/build Free gift #5 The Overall Approach used in well-managed strategy studies www.FIRMSconsulting.com/OverallApproach Free gift #6 Get a copy of Nine Leaders in Action, a book we co-authored with some of our clients: www.FIRMSconsulting.com/gift

Vijay Govindarajan, Coxe Distinguished Professor at Dartmouth's Tuck School of Business and co-author of Global by Design, explains how innovations developed for emerging markets can also serve wealthier countries. Building on his earlier work on reverse innovation, he argues that successful innovation requires business strategy and engineering science to be considered together. Vijay places this work within his Three Box Solution, a framework for improving the efficiency of the core business while simultaneously creating new businesses. The central challenge is developing the capabilities to manage efficiency and exploration at the same time. He describes effective innovators as "tempered dreamers." They think ambitiously without becoming detached from what is possible. This requires leaders to understand their current capabilities, determine which capabilities they can acquire, and remain humble enough to learn from others. Innovation should begin with a clear understanding of the customer's problem, independent of any proposed solution. Customers may not be able to articulate what they need, so Vijay recommends ethnographic research, direct observation, and immersion in their lives. Once the problem is understood, teams should divide the solution into components, test the most critical part first, learn, adjust, and proceed. His advice is to run innovation "as a marathon race, as a series of 400 meters," with each stage creating an opportunity to test and pivot. The conversation also addresses AI and the distinction between intelligence and judgment. AI can process extensive data and generate many options, but people must decide which option to pursue, persuade colleagues, and navigate organizational realities. As Vijay says, "AI doesn't substitute thinking. AI doesn't substitute judgment." It should be used to "augment human creativity," not replace independent reasoning. To prevent "cognitive surrender," Vijay asks students to analyze a case independently before consulting AI, compare their reasoning with its response, and refine their conclusions. He reports that this approach has improved the quality of their judgment, while requiring him to reconsider both what he teaches and how he teaches it. Vijay closes by explaining how his collaboration with MIT engineering professor Amos Winter strengthened Global by Design. Their different perspectives produced disagreements, but those disagreements led to a better book because they were examined with rigor and mutual respect. The broader lesson is that complex innovation benefits from multiple disciplines and perspectives, including those of customers, manufacturers, engineers, scientists, and business leaders. Get Vijay's book, Global by Design, here: https://tinyurl.com/5asv27jv Claim your free gift: Free gift #1 McKinsey & BCG winning resume www.FIRMSconsulting.com/resumePDF Free gift #2 Breakthrough Decisions Guide with 25 AI Prompts www.FIRMSconsulting.com/decisions Free gift #3 Five Reasons Why People Ignore Somebody www.FIRMSconsulting.com/owntheroom Free gift #4 Access episode 1 from Build a Consulting Firm, Level 1 www.FIRMSconsulting.com/build Free gift #5 The Overall Approach used in well-managed strategy studies www.FIRMSconsulting.com/OverallApproach Free gift #6 Get a copy of Nine Leaders in Action, a book we co-authored with some of our clients: www.FIRMSconsulting.com/gift

How can a boutique consultancy scale beyond founder-led growth without losing the culture that made it successful?Rob Ferrone is a product data and PLM strategy advisor who founded and led Quick Release, a specialist engineering consultancy focused on product data management and product data flow. In this episode, he explains how the firm grew through referrals before developing a structured, consultative approach to business development and expanding to more than 200 people across the UK, US, Europe and Australia.Rob discusses how technical consultants learned to contribute to sales by diagnosing customer issues, consequences and value rather than relying on conventional sales techniques. He also shares lessons from international expansion, including the importance of repeatable recruitment, cultural ambassadors, clear leadership responsibilities and greater employee autonomy. The conversation examines Quick Release's acquisition by ALTEN, the value of preparing for a sale before a buyer appears, and the operational foundations that can reduce acquisition risk. Rob also introduces his latest startup work, which uses AI to improve employee engagement, insight gathering and communication during transformation programmes.In This Episode You Will Learn:How to move beyond referrals and founder-led sellingWhy consultative sales methods work well for technical teamsHow regular practice improves pitches and objection handlingWhy recruitment and culture become critical during international growthHow clearer leadership responsibilities can reduce scaling frictionChapters:(00:00) Introduction(01:37) Quick Release Origin Story(02:55) From Referrals to Sales(05:12) Scaling Beyond Founders(07:03) Training Technical Sellers(08:39) Practice and Objections(12:03) Growing Pains at Scale(15:07) Culture Across Countries(16:22) Lessons and Mistakes(20:27) Selling to Alton(27:11) Final AdviceResources:Connect with Rob  on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-ferroneLearn more about Quick Release:https://quickrelease.co.uk/Send us Fan MailProf. Joe O'Mahoney helps boutique consultancies scale and exit. Follow Joe on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/joeomahoney/Follow Joe on Twitter:https://twitter.com/joeomahoneyVisit Joe's Website:https://www.equitysherpa.com

In this episode of Building Texas Business, Chris Hanslik sits down with Tim Doll, founder and CEO of Precocity, a boutique technology consulting firm, for a conversation about building a company that has thrived through more than two decades of relentless technological change. Tim shares how his early frustration with corporate bureaucracy became the spark to strike out on his own and build a company where vision could translate directly into action.Tim talks about the firm's origins in the early days of high speed internet and DSL, how the company evolved into a team of software engineers, designers, data architects, and AI engineers, and why he likes to say Precocity was doing AI before it was cool. He reflects candidly on the lessons learned along the way, from the importance of solid contracts and clearly defined expectations to the reality that success is less about a destination and more about always continuing to learn and grow.The conversation takes a thoughtful look at how artificial intelligence is reshaping professional services, including the pressure it puts on the traditional time and materials model, the likely shift toward outcome based pricing, and the deeper challenge of how the next generation gains real experience when AI can handle so many entry level tasks. Tim and Chris also explore why going deep and developing genuine expertise matters more than ever in a world where AI offers breadth but not depth.Tim also opens up about the culture he has worked to build at Precocity, hiring for character, culture, and capability in that order, embracing humility as a core value, and practicing a flat, servant leadership approach where the higher you go, the lower you go. He describes the company's Jedi Tech Council, a biweekly forum where team members share their work, their successes, and their failures, and explains why focusing on people's strengths rather than fixating on weaknesses has kept turnover low and tenure long.If you are a founder, technology leader, or professional service provider trying to understand how AI will reshape your business model, how to build a durable and relational company culture, and why Texas continues to be such a welcoming place for entrepreneurs, this episode offers a grounded and forward looking conversation worth your time.LINKSShow NotesPrevious EpisodesAbout BoyarMillerAbout Precocity

Owen Fitzpatrick has spent years studying propaganda, belief systems, and decision-making in places such as North Korea, Rwanda, Afghanistan, and Iran. In this conversation, he explains why the same psychological mechanisms that shape societies also shape the decisions of executives, leaders, and entrepreneurs. The central insight is that the greatest influence often comes from within. As Owen explains, "What really convinces us is the way in which we convince ourselves." He adds, "Our ability to persuade ourselves of certain things is actually the dominant force that determines whether or not a person will be open to ideas." Owen shares the deeply personal experience that began this journey: at age fourteen, while writing a suicide note, a single question interrupted the story he was telling himself and completely changed the direction of his life. That moment became the foundation of what he now calls inner propaganda—the internal process through which attention, emotion, and identity create certainty. The discussion explores why evidence alone rarely changes minds. Instead, people change when a question shifts how they feel about a belief and how that belief fits their identity. Owen introduces practical tools including the Belief Audit, evaluating whether a belief is useful rather than simply true, and rating certainty on a 0–100 scale instead of treating opinions as absolute facts. He also explains why negative emotions are valuable clues—provided we ask whether they're helping us or harming us in a given situation. One of the most practical moments addresses the belief, "I'm not good enough." Owen argues that the statement is impossible to evaluate because it lacks any clear standard. Rather than judging ourselves, he recommends asking: Where am I now? Where do I want to be? What do I need to do to get there? Turning self-criticism into an action plan is far more productive than chasing an undefined idea of "good enough." The conversation closes with a powerful lesson for leaders. "Being right is not enough." "What really works is changing the way in which people feel." And, "If you want to be able to influence somebody… you have to start with how they feel." This episode offers practical strategies for questioning assumptions, making better decisions, and leading more effectively by understanding the stories we use to persuade ourselves. Get Owen's book, Inner Propaganda, here: https://tinyurl.com/mu96f9ph Claim your free gift: Free gift #1 McKinsey & BCG winning resume www.FIRMSconsulting.com/resumePDF Free gift #2 Breakthrough Decisions Guide with 25 AI Prompts www.FIRMSconsulting.com/decisions Free gift #3 Five Reasons Why People Ignore Somebody www.FIRMSconsulting.com/owntheroom Free gift #4 Access episode 1 from Build a Consulting Firm, Level 1 www.FIRMSconsulting.com/build Free gift #5 The Overall Approach used in well-managed strategy studies www.FIRMSconsulting.com/OverallApproach Free gift #6 Get a copy of Nine Leaders in Action, a book we co-authored with some of our clients: www.FIRMSconsulting.com/gift

Listen and subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/ or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily. I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur. Keep winning! Money Making Conversations Master Class with Rushion McDonald is America's premier entrepreneurship, business leadership, financial literacy, and wealth-building podcast featuring successful entrepreneurs, executives, founders, celebrities, and industry experts sharing actionable insights for professional and financial success. Business Podcast Entrepreneurship Small Business Business Growth Financial Literacy Wealth Building Black Entrepreneurs Minority Business Leadership Executive Leadership Business Funding Marketing Strategies Personal Development Startup Advice Sales Training CEO Interviews Founder Stories Professional Development Economic Empowerment Business Success Networking Brand Building Innovation How to start a business Small business funding Entrepreneur success stories Business leadership podcast Wealth building strategies Black entrepreneur podcast Minority business development Marketing for small businesses Business growth strategies Startup funding opportunities Executive leadership training Financial literacy education Success mindset podcast Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Heather Younger. Founder and CEO of a leading employee engagement and workplace culture consulting firm:

Listen and subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/ or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily. I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur. Keep winning! Money Making Conversations Master Class with Rushion McDonald is America's premier entrepreneurship, business leadership, financial literacy, and wealth-building podcast featuring successful entrepreneurs, executives, founders, celebrities, and industry experts sharing actionable insights for professional and financial success. Business Podcast Entrepreneurship Small Business Business Growth Financial Literacy Wealth Building Black Entrepreneurs Minority Business Leadership Executive Leadership Business Funding Marketing Strategies Personal Development Startup Advice Sales Training CEO Interviews Founder Stories Professional Development Economic Empowerment Business Success Networking Brand Building Innovation How to start a business Small business funding Entrepreneur success stories Business leadership podcast Wealth building strategies Black entrepreneur podcast Minority business development Marketing for small businesses Business growth strategies Startup funding opportunities Executive leadership training Financial literacy education Success mindset podcast Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Heather Younger. Founder and CEO of a leading employee engagement and workplace culture consulting firm:

Most teams don't lose because of poor strategy. They lose because they abandoned the fundamentals. The World Cup proves it — and so does your business or career. In this walking masterclass, we break down why foundational skills are the actual differentiator in football and in business strategy. The three-pronged framework that separates sustainable winners from one-season outliers: economics, strategy, and fundamentals. And we address the most dangerous trap in the AI era — using productivity tools before you've mastered the basics they're supposed to amplify. What you'll learn: - Why teams and organizations that skip fundamentals resort to "pot shots" — low-probability, desperate tactics - The three conditions that determine long-term success in any competitive field - Why AI makes critical thinking skills MORE critical, not less — and what happens when you let it erode your foundational skills - The single rule governing when to use AI: never use it on something you haven't mastered yourself - What the Messi vs. LeBron debate reveals about how we evaluate success in business strategy Claim your free gift: Free gift #1 McKinsey & BCG winning resume www.FIRMSconsulting.com/resumePDF Free gift #2 Breakthrough Decisions Guide with 25 AI Prompts www.FIRMSconsulting.com/decisions Free gift #3 Five Reasons Why People Ignore Somebody www.FIRMSconsulting.com/owntheroom Free gift #4 Access episode 1 from Build a Consulting Firm, Level 1 www.FIRMSconsulting.com/build Free gift #5 The Overall Approach used in well-managed strategy studies www.FIRMSconsulting.com/OverallApproach Free gift #6 Get a copy of Nine Leaders in Action, a book we co-authored with some of our clients: www.FIRMSconsulting.com/gift

For this episode, let's revisit a strategy skills classic interview with the author of MoneyZen: The Secret to Finding Your "Enough", Manisha Thakor. In this book, Manisha shares her candid journey out of the Cult of Never Enough—a painful mindset that tells you the money you earn, accomplishments you achieve, and praise you receive are always insufficient.   Manisha Thakor has worked in financial services for more than thirty years, with an emphasis on women's economic empowerment and financial wellbeing. A nationally recognized thought-leader in this space, Thakor has been featured in a wide range of publications including the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, NPR, PBS, CNN, Real Simple, and Women's Health. Prior to writing MoneyZen, Thakor co-authored two personal finance books for women in their twenties and thirties. Today her work focuses on helping people of all ages to balance financial health and emotional wealth. Thakor earned her MBA from Harvard Business School, her BA from Wellesley College and is both a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and a Certified Financial Planner (CFP). She splits her time between Portland, Oregon and rural Maine. Her website is MoneyZen.com. Get Manisha's Book here: https://rb.gy/od9zz MoneyZen: The Secret to Finding Your "Enough"   Claim your free gift: Free gift #1 McKinsey & BCG winning resume www.FIRMSconsulting.com/resumePDF Free gift #2 Breakthrough Decisions Guide with 25 AI Prompts www.FIRMSconsulting.com/decisions Free gift #3 Five Reasons Why People Ignore Somebody www.FIRMSconsulting.com/owntheroom Free gift #4 Access episode 1 from Build a Consulting Firm, Level 1 www.FIRMSconsulting.com/build Free gift #5 The Overall Approach used in well-managed strategy studies www.FIRMSconsulting.com/OverallApproach Free gift #6 Get a copy of Nine Leaders in Action, a book we co-authored with some of our clients: www.FIRMSconsulting.com/gift

David Leiter learned one of investing's hardest lessons while sitting on a trading desk during the dot-com boom. After watching seemingly everyone around him get rich, he finally gave in to the crowd, bought into the hype, and took a painful loss. The experience shaped a principle that has guided his investing ever since: "avoid big losses." In this conversation, David explains why most investment mistakes are not caused by fraud alone. Many begin with emotion, social proof, fear of missing out, and the assumption that if sophisticated investors or large institutions are participating, an opportunity must be safe. As he puts it, "Wall Street will sell you whatever is popular." Drawing on lessons from his book, Stop Making Stupid Investments, David discusses why successful investors often think differently from the crowd. He shares how contrarian thinking helped him recognize opportunities others ignored, why market euphoria and panic repeatedly create mispriced assets, and how investors can avoid being swept up by speculation. A central theme of the discussion is the distinction between innovation and investment. David believes artificial intelligence will transform the world, but cautions that "the technology is different than the investments." Investors can be right about a trend and still lose money if they pay too much for the underlying asset. Key topics include: • Why "avoid big losses" is the foundation of long-term wealth building. • How investors become vulnerable when they follow popularity, momentum, or fear of missing out. • What Jeff Bezos meant when he said, "the stock is not the company, and the company is not the stock." • Why great businesses can become poor investments when purchased at excessive prices. • How private investment opportunities can fail when decisions are driven by trust, charisma, or social proof instead of analysis and oversight. • The warning signs of scams and bad investments, including urgency, pressure tactics, and emotional manipulation. David also outlines his four-part framework for evaluating opportunities: understand how the business makes money, assess where it is likely to be in five to ten years, evaluate the quality of management, and determine whether the price is reasonable. Even a great business, he argues, can become a money-losing investment if purchased at the wrong valuation. Beyond investing, the conversation explores how AI is reshaping work and why human capabilities may become more valuable as technology advances. David argues that communication, empathy, relationship-building, and the ability to create "win-win situations" will remain powerful differentiators in a world where intelligence becomes increasingly accessible. The episode concludes with a deeply personal reflection on a recent medical misdiagnosis that forced him to confront the possibility that time might be limited. The experience led to a simple but profound realization: stop worrying about what other people think, stop waiting for permission, and focus on the work that matters now. Throughout the discussion, David returns to the same idea: investing, business, and life all improve when decisions are grounded in fundamentals rather than emotion. The challenge is learning to see clearly when everyone else is being pulled by fear, excitement, or the crowd. Get David's book, Stop Making Stupid Investments, here: https://tinyurl.com/nhaje6jt Claim your free gift: Free gift #1 McKinsey & BCG winning resume www.FIRMSconsulting.com/resumePDF Free gift #2 Breakthrough Decisions Guide with 25 AI Prompts www.FIRMSconsulting.com/decisions Free gift #3 Five Reasons Why People Ignore Somebody www.FIRMSconsulting.com/owntheroom Free gift #4 Access episode 1 from Build a Consulting Firm, Level 1 www.FIRMSconsulting.com/build Free gift #5 The Overall Approach used in well-managed strategy studies www.FIRMSconsulting.com/OverallApproach Free gift #6 Get a copy of Nine Leaders in Action, a book we co-authored with some of our clients: www.FIRMSconsulting.com/gift

H4 Consulting built a video studio for business training and cut production time from 2 hours to 12 minutes. That wasn't the goal. That was the result. Heather Hukins, Managing Director of H4 Consulting, spent years flying around Australia to deliver structured training for government organisations. When the setup moved to video, the obstacle wasn't her camera confidence it was bin trucks, flight paths, and take after ruined take. In this conversation with Chris Schwager, Heather shares how installing a soundproof booth with a desktop video studio inside their office changed everything: faster content, on-demand training delivery, and a fortnightly video series that keeps H4 visible with senior government executives who don't respond to advertising but do respond to trust.

For this episode, let's revisit a strategy skills classic interview with an experienced founder, leader, and thinker across a variety of domains, Rick Walker. In this episode, Rick walks us through his leadership journey, how he built his first company in his 20's, the lessons he learned across multiple domains, and how he was able to do multiple things successfully, simultaneously. He also shared his views about fear, pride, faith, religion, and ethics in relation to leadership and business. Rick Walker scaled his first company to 400 employees when he was 26, and simultaneously, as Chairman, scaled a 53-country international nonprofit from 800 to 2,100 team members, simultaneously while helping his hometown of Houston attract over $5 Billion in job-creation investments. Rick's volunteer service also includes stints as a Director of a college in the middle east and Chairman of a $250 Million charitable foundation. His 3:30 AM wake-up call helps fit everything in.  Rick hosts a podcast to help multi-domain leaders learn well - and has interviewed friends, who also happen to be world-class leaders, such as billionaires, musicians, members of the President's Cabinet, US Senate, US Congress, and great thinkers. The podcast is hosted inside a 13,000-square-foot mansion, which was the former party mansion of a Fortune 500 CEO, which Rick restored and uses for his family office, charitable events, and podcasts.  Rick lives in Houston with his wife and 3 girls, where he spends much of his time serving alongside the best team members in his commercial real estate private equity firm.  Claim your free gift: Free gift #1 McKinsey & BCG winning resume www.FIRMSconsulting.com/resumePDF Free gift #2 Breakthrough Decisions Guide with 25 AI Prompts www.FIRMSconsulting.com/decisions Free gift #3 Five Reasons Why People Ignore Somebody www.FIRMSconsulting.com/owntheroom Free gift #4 Access episode 1 from Build a Consulting Firm, Level 1 www.FIRMSconsulting.com/build Free gift #5 The Overall Approach used in well-managed strategy studies www.FIRMSconsulting.com/OverallApproach Free gift #6 Get a copy of Nine Leaders in Action, a book we co-authored with some of our clients: www.FIRMSconsulting.com/gift

People will save for four years, eat less, and travel across the world to watch their team play. Kris and Michael walk through Berlin during the World Cup and ask what that spending really buys. This is the first episode of the Walking Masterclass. Filmed in Berlin a few hours from the Switzerland and Canada match, the conversation moves from the cost of the World Cup to the experience economy, tribal economics, and the human need to belong. Kris and Michael discuss why people spend to be part of a tribe, why travel often works as an escape from the life you built, and why the two most important decisions you make are whether you marry and whom you marry. Claim your free gift: Free gift #1 McKinsey & BCG winning resume www.FIRMSconsulting.com/resumePDF Free gift #2 Breakthrough Decisions Guide with 25 AI Prompts www.FIRMSconsulting.com/decisions Free gift #3 Five Reasons Why People Ignore Somebody www.FIRMSconsulting.com/owntheroom Free gift #4 Access episode 1 from Build a Consulting Firm, Level 1 www.FIRMSconsulting.com/build Free gift #5 The Overall Approach used in well-managed strategy studies www.FIRMSconsulting.com/OverallApproach Free gift #6 Get a copy of Nine Leaders in Action, a book we co-authored with some of our clients: www.FIRMSconsulting.com/gift

For this episode, let's revisit a strategy skills classic interview with the author of Job Therapy: Finding Work That Works for You, Dr. Tessa West. In her book, Dr. Tessa West helps you figure out the real reason you're unhappy and shows you how to find a new position in which you'll thrive, whether in a different role, company, or new industry altogether. Dr. Tessa West is Professor of Psychology at New York University, where she is a leading expert on the science of social relationships. Her academic research and writing for the media focuses on how to improve communication between employees, bosses, and hiring professionals across workplace settings.  She has over 100 academic publications and is a regular contributor to the Wall Street Journal. Her work has been covered by Scientific American, the New York Times, Financial Times, The Guardian, CNN, CNBC, ABC World News, TIME, Bloomberg, HBR, Fast Company, and the US Supreme Court. Her first book Jerks at Work published to rave reviews. Get Dr. Tessa's book here: https://rb.gy/e1iwmg Claim your free gift: Free gift #1 McKinsey & BCG winning resume www.FIRMSconsulting.com/resumePDF Free gift #2 Breakthrough Decisions Guide with 25 AI Prompts www.FIRMSconsulting.com/decisions Free gift #3 Five Reasons Why People Ignore Somebody www.FIRMSconsulting.com/owntheroom Free gift #4 Access episode 1 from Build a Consulting Firm, Level 1 www.FIRMSconsulting.com/build Free gift #5 The Overall Approach used in well-managed strategy studies www.FIRMSconsulting.com/OverallApproach Free gift #6 Get a copy of Nine Leaders in Action, a book we co-authored with some of our clients: www.FIRMSconsulting.com/gift

For this episode, let's revisit a strategy skills classic interview with the author of Uptime: A Practical Guide to Personal Productivity and Wellbeing, Laura Mae Martin. In her book, Laura shows how to thrive no matter where you're working, giving concrete steps that help you focus on your priorities and keep good systems, routines, and tactics in place. Uptime explains how to make technology work for you and make "feeling on top of it" your new normal. It's a blueprint for operating at the highest levels of productivity while enhancing your own personal well-being. Laura Mae Martin is the Executive Productivity Advisor in the Office of the CEO at Google. She coaches Google's top executives on the best ways to manage their time and energy and sends out a weekly productivity newsletter that reaches tens of thousands of employees. During her 13-year tenure at Google, she has worked in sales, product operations, event planning, and now executive coaching. Laura holds a Bachelor of Science in business administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and lives in Charlotte, NC, with her husband and three children. Get Laura's book, Uptime: A Practical Guide to Personal Productivity and Wellbeing, here: https://rb.gy/nu5qr6 Claim your free gift: Free gift #1 McKinsey & BCG winning resume www.FIRMSconsulting.com/resumePDF Free gift #2 Breakthrough Decisions Guide with 25 AI Prompts www.FIRMSconsulting.com/decisions Free gift #3 Five Reasons Why People Ignore Somebody www.FIRMSconsulting.com/owntheroom Free gift #4 Access episode 1 from Build a Consulting Firm, Level 1 www.FIRMSconsulting.com/build Free gift #5 The Overall Approach used in well-managed strategy studies www.FIRMSconsulting.com/OverallApproach Free gift #6 Get a copy of Nine Leaders in Action, a book we co-authored with some of our clients: www.FIRMSconsulting.com/gift

For this episode, let's revisit a strategy skills classic interview with the co-author of Persuade: The 4-Step Process to Influence People and Decisions, Andres Lares. This book delivers a concise and insightful take on how to transform your ability to persuade others regardless of the setting. Persuade is perfect for executives, managers, entrepreneurs, and other business leaders who negotiate or influence regularly. It is an invaluable resource for anyone seeking to improve their persuasion or deal-making abilities. Andres Lares is the Managing Partner at Shapiro Negotiations Institute. Lares' expertise ranges from coaching live negotiations for sports clients, including the Cleveland Browns, Brooklyn Nets, and more, to developing online content for facilitating real estate, advisory, media, banking, and pharmaceutical programs. He is a guest lecturer on negotiation and influencing at various universities, including Ohio University, and annually teaches a sports negotiation course at Johns Hopkins University. Lares is a recognized contributor to numerous national media outlets, including Forbes, Entrepreneur, Selling Power, Sales and Marketing Management, Training Mag, and many more. He is quoted in Forbes, Business Insider, Fast Company, MarketWatch, and Huffington Post.  Get Andres's book, Persuade: The 4-Step Process to Influence People and Decisions, here: https://www.shapironegotiations.com/resources/books/persuade/ Claim your free gift: Free gift #1 McKinsey & BCG winning resume www.FIRMSconsulting.com/resumePDF Free gift #2 Breakthrough Decisions Guide with 25 AI Prompts www.FIRMSconsulting.com/decisions Free gift #3 Five Reasons Why People Ignore Somebody www.FIRMSconsulting.com/owntheroom Free gift #4 Access episode 1 from Build a Consulting Firm, Level 1 www.FIRMSconsulting.com/build Free gift #5 The Overall Approach used in well-managed strategy studies www.FIRMSconsulting.com/OverallApproach Free gift #6 Get a copy of Nine Leaders in Action, a book we co-authored with some of our clients: www.FIRMSconsulting.com/gift

For this episode, let's revisit a strategy skills classic interview with the author of Survive, Reset, Thrive: Leading Breakthrough Growth Strategy in Volatile Times, Dr. Rebecca Homkes. Survive, Reset, Thrive is a playbook for leaders derived from the author's first-hand experience working with executive teams across industries from software, technology, retail, fashion, and construction through to manufacturing. Drawing from over a decade of rich real-world experience, the author illustrates how to navigate the most complex strategic situations with a simple, executable approach. Rebecca Homkes explains how proactively to stabilize your business to withstand and grow through market shocks, reset your strategy to take account of new realities and thrive through uncertainty. Rebecca Homkes is a high-growth strategy specialist and CEO and executive advisor. She is a Lecturer at  The London Business School, Faculty at Duke Corporate Executive Education, Advisor and Faculty at the Boston Consulting Group focused on AI and Climate and Sustainability, and a former fellow at the London School of Economics Centre for Economic Performance. A global keynote speaker and recognized thought leader, she is also the global Faculty Director of the Active Learning Program with the Young Presidents Organization (YPO), leads several fintech accelerators, and serves on the boards of many high-growth companies. She earned her doctorate at the London School of Economics as a Marshall Scholar and is now based in Miami, the Bay Area, and London, UK. Get Rebecca's book here: https://rb.gy/aq85ee Survive, Reset, Thrive: Leading Breakthrough Growth Strategy in Volatile Times Claim your free gift: Free gift #1 McKinsey & BCG winning resume www.FIRMSconsulting.com/resumePDF Free gift #2 Breakthrough Decisions Guide with 25 AI Prompts www.FIRMSconsulting.com/decisions Free gift #3 Five Reasons Why People Ignore Somebody www.FIRMSconsulting.com/owntheroom Free gift #4 Access episode 1 from Build a Consulting Firm, Level 1 www.FIRMSconsulting.com/build Free gift #5 The Overall Approach used in well-managed strategy studies www.FIRMSconsulting.com/OverallApproach Free gift #6 Get a copy of Nine Leaders in Action, a book we co-authored with some of our clients: www.FIRMSconsulting.com/gift

For this episode, let's revisit a strategy skills classic interview with the coauthor of the book Personalized: Customer Strategy in the Age of AI, Mark Abraham. In this episode, we explore the rise of personalization through digital tools and AI, and how companies and organizations are leveraging it to build connections and engage with their customers. We discuss companies that excel in this area, such as Starbucks with its personalization engine, and Spotify with its tailored music recommendations. Personalization is not just about data; it's also about responding effectively to customer insights, enhancing customer experiences, and driving growth. Mark Abraham is a senior partner at BCG and the founder of the firm's Personalization business, which he has built into a global team of more than 1,000 agile marketers, data scientists, engineers, and martech experts. He and his team have accelerated the personalization efforts of more than a hundred iconic brands (including Starbucks, The Home Depot, and Google) and built some of BCG's largest ventures and AI platforms, including Fabriq by BCG for personalization. Currently, Mark leads BCG's North American Marketing, Sales & Pricing practice and is reenergizing the growth and development of talent in what is one of the firm's largest regional practices. Get Mark's book here: https://shorturl.at/Qj6Ys Personalized: Customer Strategy in the Age of AI Claim your free gift: Free gift #1 McKinsey & BCG winning resume www.FIRMSconsulting.com/resumePDF Free gift #2 Breakthrough Decisions Guide with 25 AI Prompts www.FIRMSconsulting.com/decisions Free gift #3 Five Reasons Why People Ignore Somebody www.FIRMSconsulting.com/owntheroom Free gift #4 Access episode 1 from Build a Consulting Firm, Level 1 www.FIRMSconsulting.com/build Free gift #5 The Overall Approach used in well-managed strategy studies www.FIRMSconsulting.com/OverallApproach Free gift #6 Get a copy of Nine Leaders in Action, a book we co-authored with some of our clients: www.FIRMSconsulting.com/gift

Listen and subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/ or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily. I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur. Keep winning! Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Heather Younger. Founder and CEO of a leading employee engagement and workplace culture consulting firm:

What happens when a 15-year-old kid skips high school, walks into a Michelin-starred kitchen, and decides that excellence is the only option? You get Chef Franck Desplechin — 25+ years of high-pressure kitchens, luxury hotel brands, and hard-won leadership lessons that most executives will never learn.

Send us Fan MailSelecting the right ERP system begins long before software demonstrations or vendor evaluations—it starts with selecting the right advisor. While many consulting firms position themselves as independent, their implementation partnerships, reseller agreements, or vendor incentives often shape recommendations behind the scenes, leading organizations toward shoehorned solutions, vendor lock-in, and architectural decisions driven more by commercial alignment than operational fit. This webinar explains why true independence is critical during ERP readiness and selection initiatives, particularly as enterprise environments become more composable and category-specific. It explores what genuine vendor-agnostic consulting should look like in practice, including defining the target operating model before technology selection, aligning enterprise software categories without forcing everything into a monolithic ERP framework, and evaluating process maturity, data governance, and organizational readiness before narrowing vendor options. In contrast, many advisory firms rely heavily on familiarity bias, implementation convenience, or preconfigured solution stacks that quietly restrict strategic flexibility and increase long-term transformation risk.Video: https://www.elevatiq.com/events-and-webinars/how-to-select-an-independent-erp-consulting-firm-the-process-explained/Questions for Panelists?

We've got 3 upcoming events over the next two weeks – including a live webinar, a breakfast in Toronto, and a conference in NYC. Which one can you attend?Online Webinar – Tuesday 23rd June, 12pm UK Find out how a global, multi-entity consultancy went from spreadsheets, silos and missing timesheets to a 33% uplift in project profitability and 20% uplift in staff utilisation – all within 7 months. Free to attend, register here: https://bit.ly/DGA-webinarThe Handbook: Breakfast Sessions – Toronto, Thursday 25th June Harv is joining Galen Low from The Digital Project Manager to discuss the delicate balance between project pressures and profitability. For ops, finance and delivery folks. Free to attend, register here: https://bit.ly/BreakfastToronto Agency Hackers Operations Conference – NYC, Tuesday 30th June We're gathering in NYC to try to answer the question: what does a more efficient, more profitable, AI-enabled agency actually look like operationally? And more importantly – how are other agencies already starting to make that shift? An excellent line-up including the brilliant Karl Sakas.  More info: https://www.agencyhackers.com/events/nyc/DM Harv for free tickets: https://www.linkedin.com/in/harvnagraHope to see you at one of the above! 

Listen and subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/ or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily. I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur. Keep winning! Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Heather Younger. Founder and CEO of a leading employee engagement and workplace culture consulting firm:

Listen and subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/ or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily. I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur. Keep winning! Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Heather Younger. Founder and CEO of a leading employee engagement and workplace culture consulting firm:

Listen and subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/ or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily. I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur. Keep winning! Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Heather Younger. Founder and CEO of a leading employee engagement and workplace culture consulting firm:

Elizabeth Svoboda, award-winning science writer and author of The Art of Pacing, examines a question that sits at the center of many successful careers: how to sustain high performance without exhausting the very resources that make meaningful work possible. Drawing on research, conversations with elite athletes, and her own experience, Svoboda argues that pacing is not about doing less. It is about managing energy with the same discipline and intentionality that top performers bring to training and competition. The discussion explores why many professionals develop an unhealthy relationship with work early in life, often equating constant effort with virtue and personal worth. Svoboda explains how this mindset can lead to burnout, diminished judgment, and a narrowing of long-term possibilities. Several practical lessons emerge from the conversation: Elite performers treat recovery as a strategic requirement, not a reward. Olympic athletes deliberately build rest, recovery, and tapering periods into their schedules to ensure they can perform when it matters most. Self-knowledge is a critical leadership skill. The ability to recognize personal limits, monitor energy reserves, and adjust effort accordingly often determines long-term effectiveness more than raw ambition. Mentors, coaches, and managers play an important role in helping people pace themselves. A trusted third-party perspective can identify patterns and risks that are difficult to see from within. Burnout rarely appears without warning. Changes in sleep, sustained physiological stress, declining motivation, and persistent exhaustion often signal the need to reduce commitments before deeper problems emerge. Recovery requires more than rest. Extended breaks can create the space needed to reconsider priorities, reassess career direction, and reconnect work with personal meaning. The conversation also examines the relationship between identity and achievement. Svoboda challenges the tendency to define self-worth through productivity, status, or professional success alone. She argues that identities rooted in character, contribution, and relationships are more resilient when careers encounter setbacks or unexpected change. A particularly practical section focuses on helping professionals reconnect with their own priorities. Svoboda discusses a reflective exercise designed to clarify purpose, identify meaningful goals, and distinguish personal aspirations from expectations inherited from employers, mentors, or social norms. The episode concludes with a thoughtful discussion about artificial intelligence. While acknowledging its practical uses, Svoboda argues that human relevance will increasingly depend on qualities machines cannot replicate: lived experience, judgment shaped by struggle, authentic perspective, and the ability to connect deeply with others. She also raises important questions about consent, compensation, and fairness in the development of AI systems. For senior professionals navigating demanding careers, this conversation offers a disciplined framework for thinking about performance, recovery, identity, and the conditions required to sustain meaningful work over the long term. Get Elizabeth's book, The Art of Pacing, here: https://tinyurl.com/u8tfy5c8 Claim your free gift: Free gift #1 McKinsey & BCG winning resume www.FIRMSconsulting.com/resumePDF Free gift #2 Breakthrough Decisions Guide with 25 AI Prompts www.FIRMSconsulting.com/decisions Free gift #3 Five Reasons Why People Ignore Somebody www.FIRMSconsulting.com/owntheroom Free gift #4 Access episode 1 from Build a Consulting Firm, Level 1 www.FIRMSconsulting.com/build Free gift #5 The Overall Approach used in well-managed strategy studies www.FIRMSconsulting.com/OverallApproach Free gift #6 Get a copy of Nine Leaders in Action, a book we co-authored with some of our clients: www.FIRMSconsulting.com/gift

How do you scale a consulting business from £2M to £30M without losing culture, customer focus, or entrepreneurial energy?In this episode, Joe O'Mahoney speaks with Stuart Packham, Group CEO of Alchemist Group, about scaling professional services businesses through a combination of organic growth, acquisitions, operational rigor, and people-first leadership. Stuart shares lessons from building a private equity-backed buy-and-build platform across leadership development, sales training, and experiential learning.The conversation explores the realities of integrating acquired firms, managing founders during M&A transitions, and balancing infrastructure with entrepreneurial culture. Stuart also discusses how consulting firms should think about AI, both as a customer-facing capability and as an internal scalability lever, while avoiding “technology for technology's sake.” The discussion also covers private equity partnerships, the importance of financial discipline and operational infrastructure, and why culture and sales enablement become critical as firms grow internationally.Chapters:(00:00) Introduction(03:20) Building a Buy-and-Build Consulting Platform(07:50) AI's Impact on Consulting and Sales Training(15:50) Scaling from £2M to £30M Revenue(19:40) Infrastructure, Systems, and Operational Control(26:00) What Private Equity Really Changes(33:20) Culture, Retention, and Integration in M&A(39:30) Common Sales Mistakes in Boutique ConsultanciesFollow Stuart on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/stuartpackham Alchemist Group Website:https://thisisalchemist.com RAIN Group Website:https://www.rainsalestraining.com Send us Fan MailProf. Joe O'Mahoney helps boutique consultancies scale and exit. Follow Joe on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/joeomahoney/Follow Joe on Twitter:https://twitter.com/joeomahoneyVisit Joe's Website:https://www.equitysherpa.com

George Barrios spent more than three decades moving between strategy, finance, operations, and general management before helping lead the evolution of WWE from a North American live-event business into a global media company. In this conversation, he reflects on the principles that shaped that career and the lessons learned while leading large-scale change under intense scrutiny. A central theme is systems thinking. Barrios explains why effective leaders develop a deep understanding of how customers, markets, functions, incentives, and decisions interact rather than viewing problems through a single functional lens. He argues that better decisions often come from understanding second- and third-order consequences rather than focusing only on immediate outcomes. The discussion also explores where conviction comes from. Barrios rejects the idea that confidence is primarily a personality trait. Instead, he argues that conviction is built through preparation, rigorous analysis, and a willingness to develop a clear point of view. For leaders pursuing ambitious initiatives, this foundation becomes essential when facing skepticism, criticism, and uncertainty. Several practical lessons emerge: Strong leaders seek to understand the entire business, not just their area of expertise. Writing remains one of the most effective ways to sharpen thinking because it exposes gaps, inconsistencies, and unsupported assumptions. Courage is not the absence of fear. The fear associated with difficult decisions rarely disappears, but action reduces its influence. Storytelling is a leadership skill, not a communication accessory. People commit to difficult work when they understand the larger purpose behind it and can see their role within it. Significant achievements often require enduring what Barrios describes as the "swamp of despair," the period when progress is unclear, criticism is high, and abandoning the effort appears rational. The conversation also examines the implications of artificial intelligence. Barrios believes professionals should move beyond simply using AI tools and instead learn how to integrate them deeply into their workflows. At the same time, he emphasizes that AI cannot replace the value of an informed point of view developed through reading, writing, experience, and independent thinking. Drawing on his experience in media and sports, Barrios discusses why the economics of content creation are changing rapidly. As the cost of producing content approaches zero, differentiation increasingly depends on authenticity, trusted expertise, strong brands, and proprietary experiences that cannot be replicated by algorithms. He also explains why successful content organizations should think less about producing individual hits and more about building data-driven systems that consistently create, test, and refine content at scale. This is a conversation about leadership, judgment, resilience, and the discipline required to pursue difficult ideas when evidence is incomplete and consensus is absent. Get George's new book, Sometimes Wrong but Never in Doubt, here: https://tinyurl.com/4557tfpb Claim your free gift: Free gift #1 McKinsey & BCG winning resume www.FIRMSconsulting.com/resumePDF Free gift #2 Breakthrough Decisions Guide with 25 AI Prompts www.FIRMSconsulting.com/decisions Free gift #3 Five Reasons Why People Ignore Somebody www.FIRMSconsulting.com/owntheroom Free gift #4 Access episode 1 from Build a Consulting Firm, Level 1 www.FIRMSconsulting.com/build Free gift #5 The Overall Approach used in well-managed strategy studies www.FIRMSconsulting.com/OverallApproach Free gift #6 Get a copy of Nine Leaders in Action, a book we co-authored with some of our clients: www.FIRMSconsulting.com/gift

Brooke Taylor spent more than a decade inside high-performance environments, including leadership roles at Google, before turning her attention to a question that many accomplished professionals quietly wrestle with: why does achievement so often fail to produce a lasting sense of fulfillment? In this conversation, she examines what she calls the "success wound" — the tendency to attach self-worth to performance, recognition, and external measures of success. Drawing from her own experience with burnout, addiction recovery, career advancement, and entrepreneurship, she explains how these patterns develop and why they continue to shape behavior long after professional success has been achieved. Among the key insights discussed: The root cause of many workplace struggles is not a lack of capability but an unhealthy relationship between achievement and identity. When self-worth becomes dependent on performance, even meaningful accomplishments can feel insufficient. Many high achievers operate from a small set of recurring beliefs, including "I have to prove my value through productivity," "If I fail, I am a failure," or "I am only as valuable as other people's opinions." These beliefs often drive behaviors such as overwork, perfectionism, people-pleasing, procrastination, and chronic dissatisfaction. Sustainable fulfillment comes more from how work is approached than from the specific role, title, or employer. Taylor argues that changing working habits and thought patterns frequently produces greater satisfaction than changing jobs. Emotional regulation begins with recognizing how stress, fear, and inadequacy are experienced physically. Rather than suppressing difficult emotions, she outlines a practical process for identifying them, understanding what they are communicating, and responding with curiosity rather than avoidance. Lasting behavioral change requires action, not insight alone. Taylor explains why taking deliberate "opposite actions" can be more effective than endless analysis when attempting to break entrenched habits. The discussion also explores addiction recovery, the role identity plays in sustaining behavior change, the hidden cost of codependency in professional life, and why many forms of burnout stem from carrying responsibilities that do not belong to us. Throughout the conversation, Taylor offers a thoughtful perspective on ambition, personal growth, and leadership. Her central argument is that professional success becomes more sustainable when it is no longer asked to answer questions of worth, belonging, or identity. For leaders navigating demanding careers, the episode provides a practical framework for examining the assumptions that drive performance and for building a healthier relationship with achievement itself. Get Brooke's book, Healing the Success Wound, here: https://tinyurl.com/4kfx8p9k Claim your free gift: Free gift #1 McKinsey & BCG winning resume www.FIRMSconsulting.com/resumePDF Free gift #2 Breakthrough Decisions Guide with 25 AI Prompts www.FIRMSconsulting.com/decisions Free gift #3 Five Reasons Why People Ignore Somebody www.FIRMSconsulting.com/owntheroom Free gift #4 Access episode 1 from Build a Consulting Firm, Level 1 www.FIRMSconsulting.com/build Free gift #5 The Overall Approach used in well-managed strategy studies www.FIRMSconsulting.com/OverallApproach Free gift #6 Get a copy of Nine Leaders in Action, a book we co-authored with some of our clients: www.FIRMSconsulting.com/gift

Bruce Cleveland has operated at the center of several major shifts in enterprise technology: Oracle's early growth, the creation of enterprise CRM at Siebel Systems, the rise of SaaS through investments like Marketo and Workday, and now the restructuring of software markets through AI. This conversation focuses on a core idea behind those experiences: strong products alone rarely create market leaders. Cleveland argues that "product engineering is table stakes." The differentiator is what he calls market engineering: category design, positioning, messaging, storytelling, and thought leadership working together as a disciplined operating model led by the CEO, not just marketing. The discussion explores why companies struggle when they compete inside someone else's category, why distinctive language matters in gaining investor and customer attention, and why storytelling remains a strategic capability in technology businesses. Several practical themes emerge: Why category leaders capture a disproportionate share of market economics How positioning determines whether a company fits naturally into a customer's technology stack Why many firms waste capital on demand generation before establishing market relevance Which non-revenue signals executives should monitor before scaling go-to-market spending How AI is changing search, customer discovery, and software economics Why expertise and judgment remain valuable even as technical capabilities become easier to replicate Cleveland also explains why senior professionals should not underestimate the value of their experience in an AI-driven environment. His view is that the advantage increasingly comes from the ability to guide systems intelligently, not simply operate tools. For founders, executives, investors, and strategy leaders, this episode offers a practical framework for understanding how markets are defined, how companies earn durable differentiation, and why strategic narrative now matters as much as technology itself. Get Bruce's book, Market Engineering, here: https://tinyurl.com/4etpknu9 Claim your free gift: Free gift #1 McKinsey & BCG winning resume www.FIRMSconsulting.com/resumePDF Free gift #2 Breakthrough Decisions Guide with 25 AI Prompts www.FIRMSconsulting.com/decisions Free gift #3 Five Reasons Why People Ignore Somebody www.FIRMSconsulting.com/owntheroom Free gift #4 Access episode 1 from Build a Consulting Firm, Level 1 www.FIRMSconsulting.com/build Free gift #5 The Overall Approach used in well-managed strategy studies www.FIRMSconsulting.com/OverallApproach Free gift #6 Get a copy of Nine Leaders in Action, a book we co-authored with some of our clients: www.FIRMSconsulting.com/gift

In this conversation with Cheryl Strauss Einhorn, the discussion examines what happens to judgment and critical thinking as AI becomes embedded in daily decision-making. Drawing on her background as an investigative journalist at Barron's, Einhorn explains how questioning assumptions and searching for disconfirming evidence shaped the development of her AREA Method for decision-making. She argues that AI should not be treated as an authority, but as a tool that requires active scrutiny and human judgment. Several points throughout the discussion: Use AI to challenge assumptions, not simply confirm them Ask for opposing viewpoints and missing evidence when using AI Verify citations and sources carefully, as hallucinations remain common Build expertise deeply enough to recognize flawed outputs Clarify the problem and your priorities before using the tool Treat discomfort in decision-making as part of serious thinking, not something to avoid The conversation also explores the growing risk of overreliance on AI, particularly among professionals who may begin outsourcing too much of their reasoning process. Einhorn argues that decision-making, contextual judgment, stakeholder awareness, and critical thinking will become more valuable as AI systems grow more capable. At its core, the episode is less about technology than about preserving independent thought. The central question is not whether AI will become more powerful, but whether people will continue exercising the skills required to think clearly, question effectively, and make decisions with conviction. Get Cheryl's book, The Human Edge, here: https://tinyurl.com/3h6k5wre Claim your free gift: Free gift #1 McKinsey & BCG winning resume www.FIRMSconsulting.com/resumePDF Free gift #2 Breakthrough Decisions Guide with 25 AI Prompts www.FIRMSconsulting.com/decisions Free gift #3 Five Reasons Why People Ignore Somebody www.FIRMSconsulting.com/owntheroom Free gift #4 Access episode 1 from Build a Consulting Firm, Level 1 www.FIRMSconsulting.com/build Free gift #5 The Overall Approach used in well-managed strategy studies www.FIRMSconsulting.com/OverallApproach Free gift #6 Get a copy of Nine Leaders in Action, a book we co-authored with some of our clients: www.FIRMSconsulting.com/gift

Fredric Marshall spent decades helping companies including Apple, Pfizer, and Genentech solve problems in sales effectiveness, product launches, and organizational change. In this discussion, he explains why he views sales and leadership primarily as change management challenges: helping people move from where they are to where they want to be. The conversation centers on several practical ideas that shape long-term performance. Marshall argues that strong systems reduce stress because "the system is carrying the load, not you as a person or the team." He explains why high-performing people consistently invest in infrastructure, technology, and environments that remove friction and preserve attention for higher-value work. The episode also explores Marshall's "Super Eight" framework, which includes the neural net, biological health, relationships, systems, assets, and contribution. One of the central themes is that attention shapes outcomes. "Whatever you feed [neural nets], they get better at," he explains, arguing for greater discipline around information intake, habits, and social environments. Other insights from the discussion include: • Why emotionally intelligent and externally focused people often elevate entire organizations • How successful professionals balance initiative with responsiveness rather than operating in constant reaction mode • Why many entrepreneurs underestimate the value of their own time and capabilities • How journaling, repetition, and evidence gathering can gradually replace limiting beliefs • Why wealth creation often depends on investing simultaneously in productive assets and personal capability Marshall also shares research from his work studying top performers, identifying three recurring characteristics: action orientation, external focus, and the ability to question assumptions others accept too easily. The discussion is ultimately about building a life and career intentionally: curating what enters your attention, surrounding yourself with the right people, and constructing systems that support the future you are trying to create. Get Fredric's book, Thrive: The Antidote to Future Shock, here: https://tinyurl.com/smn4u5ts Claim your free gift: Free gift #1 McKinsey & BCG winning resume www.FIRMSconsulting.com/resumePDF Free gift #2 Breakthrough Decisions Guide with 25 AI Prompts www.FIRMSconsulting.com/decisions Free gift #3 Five Reasons Why People Ignore Somebody www.FIRMSconsulting.com/owntheroom Free gift #4 Access episode 1 from Build a Consulting Firm, Level 1 www.FIRMSconsulting.com/build Free gift #5 The Overall Approach used in well-managed strategy studies www.FIRMSconsulting.com/OverallApproach Free gift #6 Get a copy of Nine Leaders in Action, a book we co-authored with some of our clients: www.FIRMSconsulting.com/gift

Most professional services firms are generating revenue. But somewhere between producing a quote and issuing the final invoice, profit gets eroded. And more often than not, the root cause runs deeper than you'd expect – it's that nobody in the business ever properly understood the numbers in the first place.In this special episode, Harv is joined by FinOps expert Rich Brett to introduce The Missing Finance Course – a completely free resource built for everyone in your firm, from the leadership team, to delivery teams, right down to individual contributors. This conversation, taken straight from inside the course, sets the scene for why financial understanding isn't just a finance team problem. It's everyone's problem.Here's what they get into:Why most firms don't bother with financial education – and why that's a mistakeHow finance and operations working in silos creates blind spots that erode profitWhy storytelling, not spreadsheets, is the real skill your finance team needsHow commercial awareness at every level – yes, including junior staff – changes the way a business performsWhy understanding the numbers is one of the fastest ways to accelerate your career in professional servicesThe Missing Finance Course is free, self-paced, and built for three audiences: leadership, delivery teams, and individual contributors. Head to https://learn.scoro.com to get started.Additional Resources:

Kristy Ellmer has spent her career leading large-scale transformations across industries, countries, and operating environments. In this conversation, she explains why most change efforts fail — not because of bad strategy, but because organizations underestimate the human side of execution. A central idea from the discussion is the imbalance between the "what" and the "how" of transformation. Leaders spend enormous energy defining strategy, targets, and operating levers, but far less time on the behaviors and systems required for adoption. As Ellmer explains, "transformations or change are failing… on the elements of the how. It's not because there was bad strategy." She argues that many executives rush from alignment into execution before the organization is ready. One of the most counterintuitive lessons from her work is the need to pause after agreement is reached: "You need to take… up to two months to get organized." Without the right operating structure, early momentum eventually stalls. The conversation also explores why momentum must be designed intentionally. Discussing transformation work at Aetna, Ellmer explains the importance of visible early wins and helping employees understand "what's in it for you." She emphasizes that leaders are "responsible for momentum," not just strategy. Another major theme is resistance to change. Early in her career, Ellmer believed that "everybody will just get on board because things are right." Experience taught her otherwise. Different groups respond to different incentives, fears, and motivations. Her advice: "Be curious" about why people resist rather than assuming they are unwilling to change. She also challenges traditional views of change management, arguing that communication plans and training sessions alone are insufficient. "There is real science now out there on how humans really change," she says, and organizations that ignore that science struggle to achieve lasting adoption. The discussion also covers: why long transformations create fatigue when organizations never create "endings" how senior leaders should think about AI adoption versus AI hype why most companies are integrating AI as a workflow tool rather than fully replacing human work what separates successful consulting partners from those who simply "tick boxes" why career growth often comes from "leaning into uncertainty" Throughout the episode, Ellmer returns to one principle: organizations execute change more effectively when they treat employees with the same intentionality they would apply to external customers. "It's your job to sell the change," she says — not simply announce it. Kristy Ellmer is a Managing Director and Senior Partner at BCG and a former Chief Transformation Officer, with decades of experience leading multiyear transformations inside global organizations. She is a coauthor of the book, How Change Really Works. Get Kristy's book, How Change Really Works, here: https://tinyurl.com/2zb4p63d Claim your free gift: Free gift #1 McKinsey & BCG winning resume www.FIRMSconsulting.com/resumePDF Free gift #2 Breakthrough Decisions Guide with 25 AI Prompts www.FIRMSconsulting.com/decisions Free gift #3 Five Reasons Why People Ignore Somebody www.FIRMSconsulting.com/owntheroom Free gift #4 Access episode 1 from Build a Consulting Firm, Level 1 www.FIRMSconsulting.com/build Free gift #5 The Overall Approach used in well-managed strategy studies www.FIRMSconsulting.com/OverallApproach Free gift #6 Get a copy of Nine Leaders in Action, a book we co-authored with some of our clients: www.FIRMSconsulting.com/gift  

Philip Jameson discusses why most organizational transformations fail despite strong strategic intent, significant investment, and broad awareness that change is necessary. Drawing on his work at Boston Consulting Group and the research behind How Change Really Works, Jameson argues that the core problem is often not strategy itself, but a poor understanding of "how humans behave during periods of change." The conversation begins with Jameson's unusual path into consulting through classical music and leadership at the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. He reflects on the orchestra's temporary departure from the Sydney Opera House during its renovation and why the experience fundamentally shaped his thinking about institutional change. "It was an experience that I had had of really a change gone right," he explains, "and it made me passionate about giving the gift of great change to as many people in my life as I could." A major focus of the discussion is what Jameson calls "false alignment" — situations where leadership teams behave "as if you're more agreed than you really are." He argues that many transformations fail because executives believe they share a common vision until operational specifics expose deep disagreements. The episode also explores why leaders often avoid disagreement altogether. Citing behavioral research from Julia Minson, Jameson explains that people routinely overestimate how damaging disagreement will feel in practice. "It is much worse to imagine having a disagreement with someone than it is to actually have a disagreement with someone," he says. Another major theme is agency. Jameson draws on the "IKEA effect," the tendency for people to value outcomes they helped create themselves. In successful transformations, employees feel they have "their thumbprint on the design of the change." "Change really works," he argues, "when the people affected by that change… feel that they have contributed meaningfully to it in some way." The conversation also examines why organizations frequently underestimate barriers to adoption. Jameson outlines seven common reasons employees resist new tools, systems, or behaviors — including skill gaps, lack of time, lack of perceived benefit, and fear of losing status or value inside the organization. Rather than treating resistance as irrational, he argues leaders should approach adoption with "deep empathy" and structured thinking about human behavior. Another important thread concerns rituals and operating cadence during transformation. Jameson describes successful change efforts as highly disciplined systems with consistent decision-making rhythms, clear forums, and predictable escalation paths. "In great changes," he says, "there's a very consistent drumbeat." The episode also explores storytelling as a strategic tool during periods of uncertainty. Jameson outlines three recurring narratives used in successful transformations: the threat story, the fitness story, and the destiny story. The strongest organizations, he argues, usually commit to one clear narrative rather than mixing several competing explanations. The latter part of the discussion turns to AI and organizational adaptation. Jameson views AI transformations primarily as behavioral transformations rather than purely technical ones. "Maybe you think of it as an AI change," he says, "but really it's about human beings." Throughout the conversation, Jameson returns to one central idea: organizations rarely fail because they lack intelligence or ambition. They fail because leaders underestimate how difficult it is for groups of people to change behavior collectively and sustain that change over time. For executives, operators, and transformation leaders, the episode offers a practical framework grounded not only in strategy, but in the behavioral science of how change actually happens. Get Philip's new book, How Change Really Works, here: https://tinyurl.com/2zb4p63d Claim your free gift: Free gift #1 McKinsey & BCG winning resume www.FIRMSconsulting.com/resumePDF Free gift #2 Breakthrough Decisions Guide with 25 AI Prompts www.FIRMSconsulting.com/decisions Free gift #3 Five Reasons Why People Ignore Somebody www.FIRMSconsulting.com/owntheroom Free gift #4 Access episode 1 from Build a Consulting Firm, Level 1 www.FIRMSconsulting.com/build Free gift #5 The Overall Approach used in well-managed strategy studies www.FIRMSconsulting.com/OverallApproach Free gift #6 Get a copy of Nine Leaders in Action, a book we co-authored with some of our clients: www.FIRMSconsulting.com/gift

Management advisor and author Joe Pine explores a question that sits beneath most business strategy discussions but is rarely addressed directly: what business is ultimately for. Drawing on decades of work spanning mass customization, the experience economy, and his latest research on transformation, Pine argues that many companies misunderstand the real value customers seek and therefore stop too early in how they create value. The conversation begins with the progression from goods and services to experiences and transformations. Pine explains that transformations differ from experiences in one critical way: they must endure through time. "Memories of experiences fade over time," he says, "but transformations have to be sustained through time, or you did not in fact transform." A central idea throughout the episode is that "all transformation is identity change." Pine argues that meaningful transformation is not simply behavioral improvement, but a shift in how people understand themselves, whether through enhancement, expansion, cultivation, or complete metamorphosis. The discussion also explores where aspirations come from. One of Pine's deeper observations is that many aspirations emerge after disruption, trauma, illness, divorce, loss, or failure. The traumatic event changes a person immediately; the transformation comes afterward in the effort to become whole again. Pine is careful to distinguish between what companies can and cannot do. "You don't transform people as a company," he explains. "They transform themselves. You create the conditions under which" transformation becomes possible. Another major theme concerns how businesses price value. Pine argues that companies often reveal what business they are truly in through what they charge for. Commodities are priced as undifferentiated inputs, services as activities, experiences as time, and transformations as outcomes. "You are what you charge for," he says repeatedly throughout the discussion. The conversation ultimately expands into a broader philosophy of business itself. Pine argues that the true purpose of business is not profit maximization alone, but "to foster human flourishing", helping people become "more of who they are meant to be." In this framework, profit is not the purpose of business, but the result of creating genuine human value over time. The episode also examines resistance to identity change, sustaining long-term transformation, coaching and guidance, the future role of AI, and why Pine believes artificial intelligence will function primarily as a tool that helps people live and work more effectively rather than replacing human purpose altogether. For executives, consultants, educators, coaches, and operators, the conversation offers a deeper framework for understanding differentiation, customer value, and the growing shift from selling products and services to guiding lasting human transformation. Get The Transformation Economy here: https://tinyurl.com/5663jcjj Claim your free gift: Free gift #1 McKinsey & BCG winning resume www.FIRMSconsulting.com/resumePDF Free gift #2 Breakthrough Decisions Guide with 25 AI Prompts www.FIRMSconsulting.com/decisions Free gift #3 Five Reasons Why People Ignore Somebody www.FIRMSconsulting.com/owntheroom Free gift #4 Access episode 1 from Build a Consulting Firm, Level 1 www.FIRMSconsulting.com/build Free gift #5 The Overall Approach used in well-managed strategy studies www.FIRMSconsulting.com/OverallApproach Free gift #6 Get a copy of Nine Leaders in Action, a book we co-authored with some of our clients: www.FIRMSconsulting.com/gift

Professor Mordecai Kurz argues that rising inequality is not simply the result of markets, but the combined effect of "technology, culture and policy" operating together over decades. Drawing on his forthcoming book, Private Power and Democracy's Decline, Kurz explains why he believes free market capitalism, left entirely unregulated, eventually concentrates both economic and political power. His central concern is not wealth alone, but the long-term erosion of democratic agency when monopoly power becomes permanent through patents, acquisitions, and technological dominance. A major focus of the conversation is artificial intelligence and the future of work. Kurz distinguishes between technologies that increase human productivity and technologies designed primarily to replace labor altogether. "The key," he argues, "was creating a situation of increasing the productivity of people rather than replacing them." The discussion also explores job displacement, democratic control over technology, monopoly formation, and the responsibility societies have to preserve human dignity amid rapid technological change. "We can have democracy and we can have free market capitalism," Kurz says, "but… we cannot have them both." For leaders navigating the implications of AI, automation, and economic concentration, the episode offers a rigorous framework for thinking beyond short-term efficiency gains and toward the long-term relationship between innovation, power, and democracy. Mordecai Kurz is a Professor of Economics Emeritus at Stanford University. He is the author of Private Power and Democracy's Decline: How to Make Capitalism Support Democracy. Get Mordecai's book, Private Power and Democracy's Decline, here: https://tinyurl.com/4ftzph7a Claim your free gift: Free gift #1 McKinsey & BCG winning resume www.FIRMSconsulting.com/resumePDF Free gift #2 Breakthrough Decisions Guide with 25 AI Prompts www.FIRMSconsulting.com/decisions Free gift #3 Five Reasons Why People Ignore Somebody www.FIRMSconsulting.com/owntheroom Free gift #4 Access episode 1 from Build a Consulting Firm, Level 1 www.FIRMSconsulting.com/build Free gift #5 The Overall Approach used in well-managed strategy studies www.FIRMSconsulting.com/OverallApproach Free gift #6 Get a copy of Nine Leaders in Action, a book we co-authored with some of our clients: www.FIRMSconsulting.com/gift

Attia Qureshi examines negotiation not simply as a business skill, but as a core leadership capability that shapes influence, alignment, and decision-making. Drawing on experience across consulting, startups, academia, and international development, she explains why many capable professionals struggle in negotiations despite strong analytical skills. The discussion explores several practical themes: why preparation is often undervalued, how fear and emotional reactions affect judgment under pressure, and why negotiation should be treated as a skill built through repetition rather than theory alone. Qureshi also distinguishes influence from manipulation, emphasizing that durable cooperation is built through trust, reciprocity, and understanding shared interests. The episode covers organizational alignment, stakeholder management, rejection, and emotional resilience, including lessons from work in Colombia helping farming communities transition away from coca production. Throughout the conversation, Qureshi argues that effective negotiators are not necessarily the most aggressive or persuasive, but the ones who can stay disciplined, build trust, and navigate difficult conversations with clarity and composure. This episode offers practical insights for leaders seeking to improve negotiation, relationship management, and organizational effectiveness in both professional and personal settings. Attia Qureshi is an adjunct at the Ford School of Public Policy and previously at MIT's Sloan School of Management and Ross School of Business. The founder of Attia Qureshi Consulting, where she supports companies through negotiation, conflict resolution, and organizational strategy. Get Attia's book, Never Settle, here: https://tinyurl.com/2fyjhb5m Claim your free gift: Free gift #1 McKinsey & BCG winning resume www.FIRMSconsulting.com/resumePDF Free gift #2 Breakthrough Decisions Guide with 25 AI Prompts www.FIRMSconsulting.com/decisions Free gift #3 Five Reasons Why People Ignore Somebody www.FIRMSconsulting.com/owntheroom Free gift #4 Access episode 1 from Build a Consulting Firm, Level 1 www.FIRMSconsulting.com/build Free gift #5 The Overall Approach used in well-managed strategy studies www.FIRMSconsulting.com/OverallApproach Free gift #6 Get a copy of Nine Leaders in Action, a book we co-authored with some of our clients: www.FIRMSconsulting.com/gift

This discussion explores climate change through the lens of leadership, human behavior, and systems design, drawing on Dr. Katharine K. Wilkinson's experience across academia, consulting, and nonprofit leadership. Rather than revisiting scientific consensus, the conversation focuses on a more practical question: why progress remains uneven despite clear evidence and available solutions. A central theme is the structural disconnect between natural systems and modern economic models. As Wilkinson observes, "that is not how nature functions… everything in nature is cycles. There is no such thing as waste." Yet many industries continue to operate on linear, extractive models—creating tension between how systems work and how they are designed. Her experience in consulting reinforces that execution challenges are rarely technical alone. "Often they were about people… leadership and culture," with outcomes shaped by alignment, values, and clarity of purpose rather than strategy in isolation. The discussion also reframes climate as a broader systems risk. Wilkinson highlights that "we are actively outstripping seven of nine planetary boundaries," underscoring that the issue extends beyond emissions into the stability of core systems that support economic and social life. At the same time, there is a critical perception gap. "89% of people around the world want to see more climate action… it's just that they think they're in the minority." This misalignment between private concern and perceived consensus limits coordinated action, particularly within institutions. On engagement, the conversation challenges the assumption that more data drives change. "It is not a shortage of good, robust science… but it's now kind of wound up in people's identity." More effective entry points are often values, lived experiences, and areas of shared interest. Importantly, contribution does not require wholesale career shifts. Wilkinson emphasizes embedding action into existing decisions: "we don't need to be taking on whole new things… we can find footholds… woven right into our days," from capital allocation to operational choices. The concept of climate wayfinding anchors the discussion. Leadership in this context is less about certainty and more about navigation: "the future is not yet written… the future lives between us." Progress comes from moving from isolation to collective action, and from concern to contribution. Two broader principles emerge. First, relationships are foundational: "who we get to do it with… has everything to do with whether that work actually feels good." Second, better outcomes depend on better questions—recognizing that "the questions are companions… invitations into exploration and discovery." The result is a grounded perspective on addressing complex, system-level challenges—focused less on abstract solutions and more on how individuals and institutions can act within the realities they already inhabit. Get Dr. Katharine's new book, Climate Wayfinding, here: https://tinyurl.com/ypssavcn Claim your free gift: Free gift #1 McKinsey & BCG winning resume www.FIRMSconsulting.com/resumePDF Free gift #2 Breakthrough Decisions Guide with 25 AI Prompts www.FIRMSconsulting.com/decisions Free gift #3 Five Reasons Why People Ignore Somebody www.FIRMSconsulting.com/owntheroom Free gift #4 Access episode 1 from Build a Consulting Firm, Level 1 www.FIRMSconsulting.com/build Free gift #5 The Overall Approach used in well-managed strategy studies www.FIRMSconsulting.com/OverallApproach Free gift #6 Get a copy of Nine Leaders in Action, a book we co-authored with some of our clients: www.FIRMSconsulting.com/gift

Arun Gupta challenges conventional notions of career stability, arguing that "you should be seeking meaning… in meaning, you'll find your stability." As institutions become less reliable anchors, purpose—not title or employer—becomes the more durable foundation: "the constant will be why you're doing what you're doing." He rejects the idea that clarity must precede action. In fast-changing environments, "start acting… the action will bring you clarity," as waiting for certainty often leaves decisions outdated. Mission, in this framing, is iterative: "you don't wake up one day… here's your mission… you have to go find it." The discussion introduces a broader way to evaluate careers beyond compensation, emphasizing forms of capital that compound over time: trust, experience, learning, health, and mission. This supports a shift toward nonlinear careers, where phases of learning, earning, and contributing are integrated rather than sequential. On AI, Gupta emphasizes practical fluency over technical depth: "people [will be] replaced by people that use AI." At the same time, human capabilities: judgment, relationships, and diverse experience, become more valuable. The overarching message is measured optimism. Risk is often misjudged: "we over index on downside and underestimate upside." In this context, purposeful experimentation and long-term investment in multiple forms of capital offer a more resilient path. Arun Gupta is CEO of the NobleReach Foundation, a venture capitalist, lecturer at Stanford University, and adjunct entrepreneurship professor at Georgetown University, and a bestselling author of Venture Meets Mission and The Mission Generation. As a partner at Columbia Capital, Arun's investment career spanned eighteen years including initiating the firm's Cybersecurity and Government technology investments with a focus on national security, AI, and SaaS/cloud infrastructure sectors. Get Arun's new book, The Mission Generation, here: https://tinyurl.com/ytmkcnmz Claim your free gift: Free gift #1 McKinsey & BCG winning resume www.FIRMSconsulting.com/resumePDF Free gift #2 Breakthrough Decisions Guide with 25 AI Prompts www.FIRMSconsulting.com/decisions Free gift #3 Five Reasons Why People Ignore Somebody www.FIRMSconsulting.com/owntheroom Free gift #4 Access episode 1 from Build a Consulting Firm, Level 1 www.FIRMSconsulting.com/build Free gift #5 The Overall Approach used in well-managed strategy studies www.FIRMSconsulting.com/OverallApproach Free gift #6 Get a copy of Nine Leaders in Action, a book we co-authored with some of our clients: www.FIRMSconsulting.com/gift

For this episode, let's revisit a Strategy Skills classic featuring an interview with the author of The Problem with Change: And the Essential Nature of Human Performance, Ashley Goodall. Drawing on two decades spent leading HR organizations at Deloitte and Cisco, Ashley Goodall reveals in his book why change is not the same as improvement, and how, by prioritizing team cohesion (instead of reshuffling teams at will), by using real words (rather than corporate-speak), by sharing secrets (not mission statements), by fixing only the things that are truly broken (instead of moving fast and breaking everything in sight, and more, leaders at every level can create the stability that people need to thrive. Ashley Goodall is a leadership expert who has spent his career exploring large organizations from the inside, most recently as an executive at Cisco. He is the co-author of Nine Lies About Work, which was selected as the best management book of 2019 by Strategy + Business and as one of Amazon's best business and leadership books of 2019. Prior to Cisco, he spent fourteen years at Deloitte as a consultant and as the Chief Learning Officer for Leadership and Professional development. Get Ashley's book, The Problem with Change, here: https://rb.gy/sa4fe2 Claim your free gift: Free gift #1 McKinsey & BCG winning resume www.FIRMSconsulting.com/resumePDF Free gift #2 Breakthrough Decisions Guide with 25 AI Prompts www.FIRMSconsulting.com/decisions Free gift #3 Five Reasons Why People Ignore Somebody www.FIRMSconsulting.com/owntheroom Free gift #4 Access episode 1 from Build a Consulting Firm, Level 1 www.FIRMSconsulting.com/build Free gift #5 The Overall Approach used in well-managed strategy studies www.FIRMSconsulting.com/OverallApproach Free gift #6 Get a copy of Nine Leaders in Action, a book we co-authored with some of our clients: www.FIRMSconsulting.com/gift

Show Notes: Lauri Euren, founder of Operating.app, explains that Operating is a tool for consulting firms or professional services that are growing and need help with staffing, internal resourcing, and month-end closes. The tool handles the workflow from time sheets to invoicing, supporting delivery across multiple projects.  Operating.app Explained Lauri emphasizes that Operating is not a CRM system and can integrate with existing CRMs like Salesforce, HubSpot, and Pipedrive. Lauri explains that Operating is not for actual sales execution but for back-end processes like staffing, time sheets, and invoicing. The tool also monitors project health, margins, and financials, providing tracking and insights into project burn rates and utilization. Operating.app Demonstration Lauri demonstrates the main dashboard, which includes tabs for staffing, personal schedules, projects, and reports. Lauri describes the main entities in Operating: projects, people, and positions, and how they intersect to manage staffing and project assignments. Lauri explains the different sections and their functions.   The dashboard includes pinned views for saved and shared views, time sheets for tracking hours, and various reporting options. Lauri highlights the importance of tailoring the use of Operating to different roles within the organization, such as consultants, COOs, and staffing managers. The invoicing feature generates invoices based on the invoicing schedule and billing type of the project. When saved, the invoice saves automatically to the accounting software used.  Lauri explains that projects often come from CRMs like HubSpot or Salesforce and are enriched with metadata using AI tools like Copilot or GPT using the Operating MCP server and AI tools like Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini or Microsoft Copilot. Operating can handle different pricing structures, including per hour and fixed price models, and can model various types of work within the fixed price model.   Planned vs Forecast Revenue Revenue Recognition The tool also includes revenue recognition features, allowing finance teams to track and recognize revenue accurately. Lauri mentions that Operating integrates with accounting tools like QuickBooks or NetSuite for billing and financial management. Clients Operating Serves Lauri discusses the ideal client size for Operating, typically starting from 10 people and scaling up to large firms with hundreds of consultants. The tool replaces spreadsheets and other point solutions for time tracking and resource planning. Lauri explains how Operating handles external consultants, tagging them differently in the system and managing their permissions and utilization. The tool allows for robust customization of permissions, ensuring that each user sees and edits only what they are allowed to. Managing a Project in Operating Lauri explains the end-to-end process of managing a project in Operating, from staffing to invoicing.  The process includes adding a project, allocating team members, setting budgets, and tracking time sheets. Operating provides real-time profitability calculations and margin effects for projects. The tool allows for the creation of invoices based on time entries and integrates with accounting tools for final billing. AI Integration with Operation Lauri highlights the AI integration with tools like Claude, allowing users to query and manage projects using natural language. The MCP server in Operating acts as an AI agent, consuming data and executing queries based on user permissions. Customers can build automated tasks and health checkers using Cloud Code and AI, enhancing efficiency and accuracy. The tool's flexibility and customization options make it suitable for various roles and project management needs. Pricing Model Lauri explains the current pricing model for Operating, which is $22 per person per month for the full module and $11-$13 for individual modules. The tool is designed to be more affordable than enterprise competitors, making it  a scalable solution for growing consulting firms. Lauri provides information on how interested parties can start a free trial or book a demo on the Operating website. Timestamps: 0:02: Introduction and Overview of Operating App  02:44: Features and Functionality of Operating  06:39: Detailed Walkthrough of Operating Dashboard  08:15: Integration with CRMs and AI Tools  13:39: Client Segment and Implementation  18:26: End-to-End Project Management in Operating  26:03: AI Integration and Customization  27:57: Pricing and Availability  Links: Operating Website: https://www.operating.app/ MCP Server (Use directly in Claude, ChatGPT...): https://www.operating.app/blog-posts/ai-consulting-mcp-server Lauri's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eurenl/ This episode on Umbrex:  Unleashed is produced by Umbrex, which has a mission of connecting independent management consultants with one another, creating opportunities for members to meet, build relationships, and share lessons learned. Learn more at www.umbrex.com. *AI generated timestamps and show notes.