Show Notes:

Christian Hyatt, Founder of Risk3Sixty, discusses the top three or four things that chief information security officers at sub-enterprise firms are most worried about right now.  He explains that these concerns include the business environment, threat actors, cybersecurity regulation, nation-state actors like Russia and China, and phishing campaigns. He also highlights the unique bridge between cybersecurity and information technology coming to a head with the recent CrowdStrike incident.

Advice to Clients on Cybersecurity 

Christian suggests that independent consultants should ask clients questions or warning signs to raise their concerns and consider consulting a cybersecurity expert. He suggests that clients are looking for someone who is a good listener and not operating off fear, uncertainty, and doubt. By listening to clients' needs and concerns, consultants can offer advice on implementing best practices on their existing toolset and spreading security awareness. Christian emphasizes that many big enterprise tools, such as Office 365 and Google Suite, have built-in security, covering many bases. Independent consultants should listen for how well implemented their tools are, listen for business problems they have, and offer security assurance. Offering advice on implementing best practices and spreading security awareness can help firms understand how security is impacting their business and make informed decisions about investing in security measures.

Cybersecurity Due Diligence

In the context of due diligence, Christian states that it is important to consider the company's internal infrastructure, including its cloud-based and on-premises systems. This can help identify potential red flags and ensure the company's sustainability and scalability. For example, if a product company is being acquired, it is crucial to ask about its application security, product security, and scalability. Additionally, understanding the company's mastery of its own product and its ability to scale without the team is essential. Another key factor to consider is the company's internal infrastructure, whether it is cloud-based or on-premises. Integrating with the acquiring firm can impact the cost of the process.

Cybersecurity for Independent Consultants and Boutique Firms 

Independent consultants and boutique firms with a few employees should also take cybersecurity precautions. Some good tools for small businesses include G Suite or Office 365, which have built-in tools for file share sharing, email security, and internal messaging. These tools help protect against cybersecurity attacks that originate from email. Installing antivirus tools like CrowdStrike and Sentinel can help prevent attacks at the endpoint level. Blocking and tackling security processes, such as using file sharing platforms like OneDrive or Dropbox. It's also important to identify areas where money changes hands and take protective measures. Creating an offline backup of key files once a month can help protect against ransomware attacks. Office 365 or G Suite can also be used to store files in the cloud, with tools like spanning for Office 365 creating backup copies of cloud storage. Exploring the full suite of options available to small business owners can help them get coverage for their biggest risks.

Employee Training on Cybersecurity

The conversation turns to the importance of raising employees' awareness of phishing dangers. He recommends using tools that periodically send white hat phishing messages to test employees' skills. Christian suggests that small businesses should focus on creating a culture of awareness and vigilance, letting candidates know about potential scams and asking questions if they feel uncomfortable. There are several tools available for security awareness training, including Curricula. Additionally, he suggests using YouTube videos as part of training, as they can be more effective than expected. By implementing these tools, businesses can create a culture of vigilance and prevent employees from clicking on suspicious links.

The Origins and Growth of Risk 3 Sixty

Christian started his firm as an independent consultant eight years ago, with a trajectory of impressive growth. He initially had one client, a $30,000 one-off engagement, but from there eventually grew the business to 60 clients. Christian shares a few of the tactics behind the growth, including his shift towards cybersecurity.  He focused on a few cybersecurity services that had great demand and packaged them as multi-year deals, and recurring revenue. He also learned that organizations have huge compliance requirements. They built a SaaS platform to help them manage the information. They invested in the SaaS platform and started selling it as a subscription. Today, their services are tech-enabled services, where companies often outsource their entire programs to them due to the need for human labor. Christian made strategic decisions early on, scaling the business around recurring revenue streams, over-delivering, and building a good culture. He centered around those activities that felt risky at the time, saying no to big contracts that didn't fit within his revenue stream. He also explains how a book by Gino Wickman, Traction, and The Entrepreneur Operating System, helped him shift the responsibility for business development off of his shoulders to other members of the firm. 

Recruiting Talent for Risk3Sixty

Christian hired a West Point graduate to become an ops manager. He believed that hiring great people was a risky move but ultimately helped build a sales function and complement the founder's role. The company also hired a strategic partner with Georgia Tech to hire top students. Despite the early hires, the success of the company can be attributed to the smart people who pushed the founder to think more like a leader and helped him see the future. The company's success can be attributed to the excellent people who helped him make decisions that he wouldn't have made on his own. 

The Structure of a Successful Company

Christian's company has 60 employees, and a top-down structure consisting of an Executive Leadership Team (ELT) consisting of six members: the CEO, President, Head of People, the Chief Operating Officer, the Chief Revenue Officer, and the CTO. The CEO focuses on mission and metrics, breaking down the vision into KPIs and measurables, and making sure everyone understands it. He also works on brand equity through social media, podcasts, and speaking events. He also talks about how he approached pay bands and benefits to attract talent and maintain retention. The CEO manages the ELT, ensuring they are motivated and have the same vision. An initiative Review Board was created to address pent up projects or initiatives that were not previously budgeted. This allowed people to request new projects or initiatives outside of budget season, providing a pressure relief valve for strategic initiatives.

A Successful Marketing Philosophy

Christian's marketing philosophy focuses on teaching good concepts and adding value to people, rather than being an influencer. He uses content such as videos and white papers to add value and engage people, leading to more leads and engagement. He initially used LinkedIn outbound to find open job opportunities and reach out to hiring managers, but found that more people would ignore him than respond. Christian shares his teaching methods on LinkedIn, YouTube, and a newsletter. For cybersecurity-focused content, he hosts a weekly cybersecurity executive brief on YouTube. He also has a marketing team that helps with content creation, and practice leaders who produce content regularly, called media properties, on LinkedIn. Each member of the team has a dedicated content pillar, and it's up to them to create content that resonates with the audience. A marketing team supports them with video editing and accountability. Christian initially did it all himself, using a video editor tool and recording videos and writing white papers. 

Timestamps:

03:14: Cybersecurity precautions for independent consultants and small firms

08:10: Cybersecurity awareness training for small businesses

13:51: Growing a consulting firm through strategic decision-making and recurring revenue streams

18:19: Scaling a consulting business by hiring a leadership team

22:24: Leadership decisions and team structure

26:55: Using LinkedIn for business growth and content creation

Links:

• Connect with Christian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christianhyatt/

• Check out his book: https://risk3sixty.com/stos

 

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.

 

Show Notes:

In this panel discussion, Lisa Carlin, director of Future Builders and author of the newsletter Turbocharge Weekly, and strategy execution specialist  introduces the three panelists, who discuss the challenges of traditional strategy development, including volatility, uncertain business environments, and significant digital and AI disruption. The panelists,  Will Bachman, Founder of Umbrex, a global community of independent management consultants,  Alex M.H. Smith, breakthrough strategist and author of No Bullshit Strategy, and Rob McLean, investor, philanthropist and co-author of  two books on strategy, discuss the challenges of traditional approaches to business strategy. 

The Problem of Business Strategy

Rob emphasizes that, previously, strategies were deterministic and assumed certainty in business plans. However, increasingly, there is global uncertainty, and risk and probability should be included in a strategy. He mentions that there are assumptions about uncertainty that don't hold true. He also highlights the fast change and that the cadence of strategy is changing, but despite this, many enterprises are locked into three and five-year plans.  Alex explains why he believes that many businesses lack understanding of effective strategy development and deployment. He emphasizes the importance of making precepts accessible, engaging, interesting, and usable for medium-sized businesses. He believes that traditional strategy is not bullshit but has limited purchase as it doesn't address the needs of small and medium-sized businesses. Will shares his experience with 500 conversations per year with clients seeking consultants, and he shares the main trends in what clients want from consultants and states that it has not changed dramatically over the years, but he also stresses the need for alignment, clarity, and action. Alex identifies the importance of substance and the ability to convert to action. He mentions the difficulty of achieving engagement, encouraging action, and the underemphasis of style in communications. He suggests thinking about strategy as a motivational discipline. Alex suggests that focusing more on sexing up the strategy can make a significant difference in making progress. He suggests that if strategy is viewed as a motivational discipline, it is essential to motivate people to do it. He believes that making the strategy "sexier" will bring stronger results in engaging and motivating buy-in.

Problem-solving, Strategic Intent and Strategic Development

Robs talks problem-solving as a driver of strategic development. The identified problems are  viewed through different lenses to achieve a 360-understanding. He mentions the greater premium on new data, and on trials and experiments, and mentions strategy that includes peeling back layers of uncertainty, putting people in a position where they can make decisions and evolve the strategy. He uses an example from Amazon to illustrate this.  He also points out that strategic intent is often confused with strategy, as strategy is an integrated set of actions that build value and competitive advantage. Rob shares his experience with the concept of continuous development,  and how businesses have changed the timeline on strategic development and clarity on the future. Alex states that medium-sized businesses face a challenge in understanding strategy literature, as it is often constructed to be relevant to large, polar businesses like Amazon. This makes the strategy literature inaccessible for single-brand founders or CEOs, as it is often too broad. This gap in communication between the concerns of large companies and those running small businesses makes it difficult for the latter to effectively develop and communicate their strategies.

Business Strategy in the Context of Technology and Culture

The discussion revolves around the impact of AI on consulting and strategy building. Lisa mentions a top-rated technology podcast, which emphasizes that the number one difference will be strategy and that the most significant impact of AI will be on product managers.  Will builds on the use of AI for strategy consultants. He explains the difference between  skills and services that rise in status and which ones are lower in status and where using AI is applicable. He offers examples on both using an energy storage company as an example.  

Dark Room Consulting

Lisa brings the discussion towards  "dark room" consulting where the consultants and executives operate in private before disclosing the strategy to the company at large. Alex  explains why he prefers this approach, stating that while it may not be politically beneficial, it can provide a sense of involvement and ownership for a radical, meaningful move. However, this approach can also lead to a slightly autocratic approach, as seen with Steve Jobs and Elon Musk, who were both successful business leaders but also tyrants in their own businesses.

Rob talks about the workers' strategy as bifurcating, and he shares an example from McKinsey where they used AI, and that employing "dark room" tactics can work well however working closely with the front line is also important in strategy building. Will shares a story from his days as a submarine officer that clearly demonstrates the benefits and need of front line work a consultant needs to do. This also involves gathering information, and Alex adds how this allows everyone to feel involved, while maintaining the core idea and decision-making  back to the people who lead the company. While this approach may not be as democratic as some may prefer, it is essential for businesses to adapt and evolve to stay competitive in today's competitive market.

Q&A Session

The conversation opens up to questions and panelists are asked to share one recommendation. Rob suggests a problem-solving approach that recognises uncertainty, a tolerance for ambiguity, and taking steps forward feeling the stones beneath the feet. Alex states that, if a change in results is desired, changes to strategy must be made. Will focuses on implementation, stating that strategy implementation, or execution, or transformation is in high-demand and notes that increased resources in these directions are needed to make the change happen. The conversation covers a variety of areas including strong leadership vs. dictatorship, helping people feel comfortable with uncertainty, the need for monitoring and evaluation improvement during implementation, and the importance of measuring the impact of their work, particularly in implementation. And finally, the audience shares their key takeaways from the discussion. 

 Timestamps:

05:43: Strategy development for small to medium-sized businesses

10:11: Strategies for effective communication and implementation in business

17:01: Strategy in a rapidly changing world, with a focus on dealing with uncertainty and ambiguity

25:08: Strategic planning for businesses of varying sizes, with a focus on the challenges of scaling and the importance of industry knowledge

31:04: The impact of AI on strategy development and execution

37:13: Strategy development, emphasizing the importance of gathering insights from frontline employees and changing meaningful aspects of the business to improve results

42:46: How to handle uncertainty in business strategies

47:33: Implementing strategies with uncertain outcomes

Links:

Connect with the other two panelists on LinkedIn: 

Robert McLean:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-mclean-412268ba/

Alex M. H. Smith:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-m-h-smith/

Connect with Lisa Carlin on LinkedIn  Connect on LinkedIn  

For for more like this, please subscribe to Turbocharge Weekly: Fast-track your strategy. 3 tips in 3 minutes from 50+ implementations. Join 8,000 leaders now. https://info.theturbochargers.com/register-turbocharge-weekly

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.

Dr. Ron Razmi discusses his book, AI Doctor: The Rise of Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare, which focuses on the applications of AI in various areas of healthcare. Ron talks about AI as a foundational technology that uses statistical methods to analyze data and understand its meaning. It can be applied to various areas, such as coding and documentation, and can create algorithms to analyze heartbeats and detect abnormal rhythms.

 

AI Use in Diagnostics

In diagnostics, AI can be helpful in analyzing clean structured data, such as radiology files from CAT scans or MRIs. AI can be trained to identify bleeding or abnormalities on these scans, but it must be trained on specific abnormalities. Currently, AI excels in radiology due to the digitized and structured data, but it's not as effective in narrative formats. Ron states that AI's applications in healthcare are vast and deep, and while it's still in its early stages, it has the potential to revolutionize various sectors, including healthcare.

AI Tools in Radiology and Triage

AI is increasingly being used in various fields, including radiology, dermatology, and sound AI. In radiology, AI tools are helping radiologists identify potential issues that might have been missed in traditional workflows. There are applications that read CAT scans for bleeding and stroke in acute settings, allowing radiologists to quickly identify and treat stroke patients. This helps in regaining function and ensuring patient recovery. AI can also aid in triage, prioritizing tasks based on urgency. 

 

AI in Dermatology

In dermatology, AI applications can help diagnose skin lesions. Additionally, sonar technology can be used to monitor people's activity and detect falls. This passive data collection method allows AI to analyze the signals and take action, reducing the need for manual data entry and manual data input. This technology is particularly effective for elderly individuals who may not want to be monitored with cameras, as 50% of falls occur in the bathroom. This technology is particularly useful for those who prefer to stay home but still need constant monitoring, such as those in assisted or independent living facilities. 

 

AI in Cardiology

In cardiology, AI tools can help read EKGs, which are crucial for diagnosing heart conditions. Historically, algorithms have been used to read EKGs, but they were often basic and inaccurate. AI has shown great promise in finding abnormalities on single lead data collection, as it can discern the rhythm of an EKG from a live core or smartphone application. This field-based data collection could significantly reduce the simple analytic and downstream work needed by clinicians in the medical staff. 

 

AI in Therapeutics

AI takes action in therapeutics, such as providing assistance to patients with mental health issues. AI chatbots can interact with patients who need help and provide frontline assistance until they see a mental health professional. Generative AI has improved natural language processing capabilities, which has been a problem area for AI in healthcare due to the heavy use of medical jargon in doctor's notes. This will allow for more efficient interactions with healthcare consumers and better guidance in their care. However, there is still much work to be done in this promising area.

 

Technology and Medication Adherence in Healthcare

The conversation turns to medication adherence, which is a significant problem in healthcare. Long-term studies show that people who have had a heart attack are more likely to stay compliant with their medications, with the refill rate for statins being the highest documented rate. However, most people do not follow their prescription advice. Technology is part of the solution to this problem. AI technology can potentially analyze data and interact with patients at the appropriate moment to ensure they are aware of the needs, issues, and dates of medication use or the lack of, which is crucial in healthcare. 

 

How AI Helps Doctors

AI applications in healthcare can help alleviate the burden of documentation work for physicians and nurses. One example is the use of AI in critical care settings, where doctors often spend time typing notes into the electronic health record, which can lead to missed information and negatively impact the quality of care. AI can also analyze conversations using natural language processing, which can identify the meaning of words and improve communication. For example, AI can listen to conversations and extract key elements that need to be documented, allowing doctors to focus on the patient and generate notes in their preferred format. AI can also perform downstream tasks, such as prescribing medication, making referrals, and creating prior authorization letters. This could save time for medical staff, preventing them from seeing more patients and making them less productive. Another use case could be for AI to assist nurses in creating notes for patients based on interaction with them, reducing the time spent documenting. This could make a significant difference in the quality of care and well-being since it allows medical professionals to focus on the patient instead of taking notes. 

 

Evaluating AI Healthcare Applications

Ron's book goes beyond cheerleading and emphasizes the business and clinical barriers to adoption. He talks about the importance of evaluating the business model of AI products or applications, considering the incentives of buyers and the potential for job loss or revenue reduction. As an investor, he suggests considering the pain points that AI could address, such as staff shortages and burnout, and how AI could help medical centers and pharmaceutical companies improve their clinical trials. Ron also discusses the importance of understanding the value proposition of AI products in medical settings. He shares his experience as an investor in the healthcare AI space, advising companies and funds on identifying great use cases and evaluating barriers. Ron recommends reading sources like healthcare AI digests, health tech news, and interviews with experts to stay informed about trends and the latest AI applications. 

 

Timestamps:

04:00 AI applications in radiology and dermatology, including AI-assisted diagnosis and triage

10:54 Using AI to analyze passive data collection from sonar/radar in indoor environments for health monitoring, including fall detection and heart rate measurement 

15:12 AI in healthcare, particularly in diagnostics and therapeutics

21:22 Using AI technology to improve medication adherence

26:40 AI applications in healthcare, including documentation assistance and quality of care

34:41 AI in healthcare, investment considerations, and product evaluation

39:44 AI in healthcare with a former doctor turned investor

 

Links:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronald-m-razmi-md-2b55b8/

The Book: AI Doctor: The Rise of Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare

 

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.

Justin Nassiri is the founder and CEO of Storybox Inc, a McKinsey alum, and president of Executive Presence, a company that helps executives become thought leaders on LinkedIn. He has a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the Naval Academy, he is a qualified nuclear engineer, and he is a graduate of Stanford University's School of Business. In today's episode, Justin talks about his business and how he helps executives build a following on LinkedIn. You can learn more about Justin's company at ExecutivePresence.io or reach out to him on LinkedIn. 

Key points include:

05:26: Common mistakes executives make

10:06: Social rules on LinkedIn

15:46: A case study

20:21: Content strategies

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.

Brad Schneider ran a data analytics firm for five years before founding Nomad Data in New York City where he is currently CEO. His experience includes but is not limited to HR technology engineer at Goldman Sachs, an equity analyst at Palo Alto Investors and Aragon Global Management, and CEO of the software company Adaptive Management. In today's episode, Brad shares insights on how to find the data you need. You can learn more about Brad's company at Nomad-Data.com.

Key points include:

01:12: How the Nomad Data network works

04:13: The vendors of data - who they are

06:45: The company pricing model

08:35: Surprising data sources

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.

Tushar Shah is currently a Managing Partner at Kinderhook Partners, LLC.  Prior to Kinderhook, Tushar was a Principal at Geocapital Partners, a leading venture capital firm,  a strategy consultant with the Monitor Group, where he led a range of projects in New York, London and Tel Aviv; he is a CFA charterholder and he received a B.A. in Economics from Williams College. In today's episode, Tushar explains the fundamentals of search funds. To learn more about Tushar's company, visit KinderhookPartners.com or reach out to him on LinkedIn.

Key points include:

 

• 00:30: What a search fund is
• 10:51: Who can apply for the fund
• 15:53: Examples of business and services acquired
• 28:12: Assembling a pool of investors

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.

Paul Millerd is a McKinsey alum, modern-day nomad, entrepreneur, and author of The Pathless Path - Imagining a New Story for Work & Life. Paul provides online courses on strategy consulting and freelance consulting. He is also the creator and contributor of the popular website, Boundless, a site that explores how to have a better relationship with work, and a podcast that is designed to help creatives reimagine work. In today's episode, Paul talks about his book. You can order the book and learn more about Paul's programs or sign up for his newsletter at Think-Boundless.com.

Key points include:

02:59: What people believe about work

05:23: Tips on exploring the pathless path

19:43: The results of curiosity conversations

21:41: Disappointments on the pathless path

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.

Celine Teoh is an executive coach who helps senior leaders convert potential into performance by making the soft skills practical. She is a certified Tiny Habits Coach with Stanford's Behavior Design Lab, and a facilitator for Stanford Business School's popular Interpersonal Dynamics course. She is also an ex-McKinsey consultant, business operator, marketing strategist, and investment banker with years of strategy consulting experience with Fortune 500 executives in Asia and the USA. She holds an MBA from Stanford and a BSc from the London School of Economics.

 Agnès Le is an executive coach with a focus on emotional intelligence with 20 years of experience in talent development, a multicultural background, and an MBA from Stanford. She's a leadership coach in the Executive Education and MSx programs at Stanford business school, and a group facilitator for the school's most popular elective, Interpersonal Dynamics, also known as Touchy Feely. She is also an instructor at Stanford Continuing Studies where she teaches the class "Building a Career of Meaning and Impact."

 

Key points include:

• 10:54: The challenges of practicing empathy
• 15:22: Three hacks based on our research and experience
• 25:53: Unpacking status
• 44:38: Understanding the market

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.

Shane Heywood on Go-to-Market Strategy

Shane Heywood is a Bain-trained consultant with 10+ years experience in Marketing, Sales, Operations and Strategy across a variety of industries. He has on the ground experience in 13 countries and currently works in private sector Emerging Market strategy. Shane is passionate about building businesses, delivering impact and helping organisations grow, and in today's episode, he talks about his practice and processes. Shane can be contacted through LinkedIn, and you can learn more about his company at PortlandVenturesInc.com.

 

Key points include:

• 05:44: Steps an organisation can take to make sponsorship happen
• 10:42: Sponsorship and mentorship for independent professionals
• 16:25: What's included in a go-to-market project
• 18:38: A case example from a Sub-Saharan market

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.

Phillip Morgan has helped thousands of consultants use specialization to find a beachhead that leads to greater visibility, profitability, expertise, and success. He has recently published his book, The Positioning Manual for Indie Consultants, and in today's episode, he talks about his expertise incubator, his book, and setting up a thought leadership program. You can learn more from Phillip's book, and the 10-part email course. 

Key points include:

• 03:01: Examples of small scale research
• 06:52: Examples of projects in the program
• 13:02: The platformer advantage
• 21:51: Earning visibility without a platform

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.

McKinsey alum with an MBA from Harvard Business School, Nidhi Chadda has 20+ years of experience as an investment banker, strategic consultant, and investor. She is the Founder and CEO of Enzo Advisors, a global sustainability consulting firm focused on helping companies build best-in-class sustainable business models within an ESG construct. In today's episode, she talks about ESG in business. You can reach out to Nidhi on LinkedIn or visit her website EnzoAdvisors.com. 

Key points include:

• 02:12: ESG and investing in asset management
• 08:20: The Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) factor
• 11:19: ESG and value creation
• 20:32: Trends in ESG

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.

Founder of Aminad Consulting, Lido Ramadan has over 25 years of experience in founding, growing, leading, and sustaining services organizations. Prior to establishing Aminad, Lido founded multiple successful small businesses and led the operations of several rapidly growing consulting firms. In today's episode he talks about serving the federal government. To find out more about Lido's firm or to contact him directly, visit LinkedIn or AminadConsulting.com.

Key points include:

• 05:17:Consulting analysis unique to the government
• 09:54: Surprising insights from interviews
• 13:55: An effective strategy
• 20:11: Projects for the SEC

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.

 

Alexei Leonard is a Partner at Golenblock, Eisman, Assor Bell, and  Pescoe where he leads the firm's labor and employment practice.  His practice spans nearly all employment counseling and litigation matters affecting employers today. In today's episode, he talks about the legalities involved with hiring and retaining an employee. To learn more about Alexei's services, visit www.golenblock.com or email him at Alexander@Golenblock.com.

Key points include:

02:00: Key considerations

13:19: Payroll providers

19:06: Background checks

34:09: Non-disclosure agreements

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.

Show Notes:

The Benefits of Somatics

Divya Agarwal, founder of Vivekam, explains what somatics is and what the benefits are. Somatics is a term used to describe ​body-based techniques that can be used with the body to build more body/mind awareness, manage emotions, and respond more effectively. ​T​hese practices involve using ​techniques such as breathing, generating heat, and visualization practices to sense oneself better and improve self-awareness.

 

These practices can help individuals feel more connected to their emotions and be present in various situations, such as negotiations or job evaluations. Mindful presence, which has been emphasized in mainstream literature and coaching, is another way to be present. However, there is a growing trend towards using "embodiment" (the quality of being/feeling the body) as a way to enter presence. Some simply techniques to build embodiment involved breathing exercises, visualization exercises, and body scans.

Divya explains that somatics works at the nervous system level. Over time, these practices rewire the body and teach the nervous system to respond differently, making it easier to come into presence and calmness.

 

Building Embodiment with Somatics

Divya discusses the difference between exercise and somatics. She touches on the concept of embodiment, or being embodied, in relation to exercise. She believes that being in the body allows us to be more present and feel emotions such as anger, joy, anxiety, and fear and to manage those emotions. Divya states that the more we are embodied, the more we can be aware of emotions (since they show up as sensations in the body), and then choose how we respond with those emotions. Body-based techniques like breathing and visualization can help manage these emotions.

 

The science behind starts with some basics of the brain and nervous system. To keep it simply, understand three areas: the amygdala​ (base of brain, often called "the reptilian brain"), the sympathetic nervous system, and the parasympathetic nervous system. The sympathetic nervous system responds to reactive stimuli and triggers the amygdala into action (fight, flight, or freeze), while the parasympathetic nervous system allows us to be calm and relaxed. The goal of body-based techniques is to help us be in the parasympathetic mode more effectively and more easily. 

 

The Parasympathetic Nervous System and Heart Variability Rate

Divya talks about the importance of the parasympathetic nervous system in maintaining a healthy balance and resilience. She mentions heart rate variability, which is a biomarker that reflects the variations in the amount of time between your heartbeats. The more variation your heart has, the higher your HRV. Higher heart rate variability indicates that the heart can have and manage different intervals of time. ​Those in the medical field will discuss how high HRV is good and indicates that there is balance in the nervous system between Sympathetic and Parasympathetic nervous system response. In short, high HRV is an indicator of someone's capacity to have higher resilience​. The nervous system is connected to our whole body as a response mechanism to our outside world.

 

Practices to Improve the Parasympathetic Nervous System

Divya introduces three practices to build embodiment. The first practice involves rubbing hands together, focusing on the lower belly and noticing breath. The second practice is box breathing, which involves inhaling for a count of four, retaining the inhale, exhaling for your own count of four, and retaining at the "bottom of the exhale." Over time, as one develops the capacity for expanded breathing, you may increase this to 4 in / 6 out, 6 in/ 8 out etc. She encourages reflection on what may be noticed during these practices. Divya states that it helps people remember their physical container around the mind and brings awareness of a deeper breath. She also mentions that shallow breathing, which involves inhaling and exhaling at the chest level, is not effective to bringing a parasympathetic response.

Divya also shares a meditation practice, focusing on the bones of the body. 

 

Somatics Coaching Benefits

The conversation turns to the importance of paying attention to the body over time and the parasympathetic nervous system. Divya believes that each person has the right and responsibility to operate from a place of choice or knowing why they're doing what they're doing. This involves understanding and managing emotions, which can be challenging in professional environments. Body-based practices, such as somatics, help her clients slow down, be more present with themselves, and manage their emotions effectively. Divya explains how her coaching practices help her clients in a variety of common business situations. 

Divya's coaching practice focuses on different use cases, such as manager level professionals who have received feedback and are looking to improve their performance. She uses body-based practices and competency-based coaching to help individuals embody and emit a greater sense of calm and clarity. She believes that this calmness can lead to better outcomes, leadership, and communication with team members.

Timestamps:

07:25 Embodiment and body-based techniques for managing emotions and improving nervous system regulation

14:36 Heart rate variability and its connection to resilience, with exercises to improve HRV. 

20:23 Breathing techniques for relaxation and mindfulness

25:43 Mindfulness techniques for executives to manage stress and stay centered

32:23 Body-based practices for self-awareness and emotional management

39:58 Using body-based practices for self-awareness and leadership development

Links:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/divya-agarwal-co/

Read more on the business website: http://vivekam.co/

Learn more from this video on HRV: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KP3Bd7_25Oc

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.

Erik Lautier is an expert in ecommerce, marketing, and digital strategy.  After over two decades in roles dealing with ecommerce and marketing for brands like Lacoste, Bebe, and Francesca's, he founded Erik & Co, an ecommerce and marketing consultancy serving seven and eight-figure DTC brands, retailers, and/or their private equity owners. In today's episode he shares his expertise in ecommerce. Learn more about Erik and his company at www.Erik.co.

Key points include:

07:17: The shift from theatre to ecommerce

10:14: The layers of an ecommerce assessment

12:38: Benchmarks and opportunities

18:26: The choke points in ecommerce

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.

Marshall has over twenty years of experience defining, managing, and growing the world's best-known investing brands. He has been an executive committee leader and CMO for Fortune 250 businesses in North America and the Asia-Pacific region. In today's episode, he talks about how the world of data is revolutionizing marketing, particularly for wealth and investment management firms. You can learn more about the work Marshall does at WellsFargo.com, or reach out to him on LinkedIn. 

Key points include:

00:50: Data in terms of wealth Investment Management

08:39: Lead scoring in practice

20:10: Identifying poor leads

22:53: Identifying customer tiers

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.

Mike is an innovative and entrepreneurial Chief Information Officer (CIO) with over 30 years in executive leadership positions with global technology organizations across multiple industries, including retail, telecommunications, research, and energy. His vast range of experience includes building teams in cybersecurity, application development, cloud services, infrastructure, data centers, software as a service, and more. In today's episode, Mike talks about strategic technology leadership.  Learn more about Mike's company at Stratus Key Advisors or reach out to Mike directly at mike@stratuskey.com.

Key points include:

05:26: Data in the utility industry

14:54: Security of information

21:30: How companies are monetizing energy usage data

24:54: Key areas of focus in the utility and energy industry

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.

Johannes Hoech is a C-level Silicon Valley executive who is experienced in "Growth Architecting". He is an expert analyst and motivational leader with proven skills in general management, strategy, product management, and customer success.  With 25+ years of experience leading technology startups through early stage, high growth, and turnaround phases, he has a strong understanding of the software entrepreneurs and consultants need to organize business operations. In today's episode, he shares his knowledge of an affordable MarTech stack. You can access Johannes' company blog, on Premonio.com,  and the links to the tools discussed on the show are as follows:

patternai.co

goldcast.io

dux-soup

SalesHandy

Pipedrive

Dedupely

Crunchbase

LinkMatch

CrystalKnows

Sharetivity

Hootsuite

Paper.li

apollo.io

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.

Stan is a senior executive with deep expertise in digital and traditional media with a focus on food & beverage and hospitality-related businesses. As a food industry consultant, he has worked with a diverse range of global clients including Sony Pictures International; BBC Worldwide; and India Today Group. In today's episode, he talks about his strategic consulting service in the entertainment and media space, food and hospitality, and the intersection of the two. You can reach out to Stan at ssagner@gmail.com.

Key points include:

05:52: Types of projects

10:53: Menu insights - pricing and items

18:27: Working with developers

25:17: Room service issues

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.

Belinda Li was a  senior advisor at McKinsey before she founded CiTTA, a company that focuses on promoting and facilitating the growth of the social enterprise business model and economy. Belinda has a passion for combining the power of business with the promise of social impact, and in today's show, she talks about how her company helps foster growth in that direction. Visit the website to learn more about CiTTA or reach out to Belinda on LinkedIn.

Key points include:

02:00: An overview of work with social enterprises

07:49: ROI to shareholders

17:41: A working example of a social enterprise

24:29: Consulting skills for social enterprises

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.

Sam Lee has held numerous prestigious positions: he was a consultant at the World Bank, the chief of staff, Executive Office Division at Goldman Sachs, and the head of business planning and operations at AOL. He is now the founder and  CEO at IndeCollective, a company that offers expert guidance to the most seasoned professionals, and that is what he is going to talk about on today's episode. You can learn more about the program at IndeCollective.co.

Key points include:

02:45: What IndeCollective offers members

04:36: The 10-week experience

21:30: Authentic ways to stay top-of-mind

31:18: Sales conversations

 

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.

Josh Spector is the founder of the For The Interested newsletter; a weekly newsletter featuring ideas "to help you learn, do, and become." He is also an audience growth strategist and a digital marketing consultant. But in this episode, he shares his expertise on newsletters. To sign up for Josh's newsletter visit, https://fortheinterested.com/, and to learn more about Josh's newsletter tips visit, https://joshspector.com/.

Key points include:

03:51: Newsletters created

06:40: Josh's consulting strategy

12:46: Newsletter tips on technology, design, sign-ups, and frequency

40:27: Curating content

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.

Will Bachman hosts a panel discussion on hiring your first associate. The panel includes top-tier consultants  J. Andrew McKee, David Burnie of The Burnie Group, and Belinda Li.

Key points include:

04:32: Deciding to hire your first employee

07:45: The pros and cons of having employees

11:20: The right time to add additional employees

17:17: Recruiting through LinkedIn

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.

Joe has been a successful start-up CEO and operating executive at high-growth tech companies. He was named Entrepreneur of the Year in 2012 by Crain's New York Business and was #9 on Business Insider's 2013 "Silicon Alley 100" list. Joe is the Founder & CEO of ExecThread, a VC-backed crowdsourcing platform and premium job-sharing network that enables professionals to access the "hidden job market". ExecThread is the largest global aggregator of unpublished executive-level job opportunities, and this is what he talks about in today's episode. You can learn more about Execthread at www.ExecThread.com.

 

Key points include:

 

• 02:15: How ExecThread works
• 09:18: The ExecThread vetting process
• 14:49: Advice to people looking for executive roles
• 20:44: Advice for employers

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.

 

Kathy Hines, former Chief Marketing Officer at brands like Dickies and Vice President at brands like North Face and Kipling ,shares her experiences. She started her career in career management consulting at Bain and later went on to Nike, where she gained foundational experience in lifestyle and sports marketing. At Kipling, she led marketing strategy and E-commerce. She then led marketing and strategy for the North Face in Europe. After a four-year stint in VF Europe, she returned to the US and took on the role of global chief marketing officer for Dickies in Texas, where she was also responsible for licensing. Her experience at VF has given her a broad range of skills and experiences.

Developing a Professional Marketing Plan

Using a sports and lifestyles brand as an example, Kathy shares her process for developing a professional marketing plan. She begins by identifying the brand's aligned corporate strategy and working closely with the leadership team to understand financials and operational opportunities. The team then collectively develops long-term objectives, such as being the leader in performance and lifestyle apparel across key markets.

For example, strategic choices include improving gross to net profits, targeting specific geographies, such as the UK, China, and the US, or focusing on elevating iconic products to consumers. The latter approach allows the brand to ensure it is the best in the world at that product. The marketing strategy should align with these strategic objectives and align with the brand foundations, which include the purpose of the brand, brand values, and brand personality.

The Importance of Brand Foundations

The brand foundations are essential for the marketing team to align on who they are and why they exist. These foundations include the brand purpose, the brand values, which define the brand, and the brand personality, which guides the direction of the brand in terms of the brand and design guidelines which are visual manifestations of the brand, while the tone document informs global communications, PR, and social media. The marketing plan should also include a clear vision for the brand, a clear mission statement, and a clear communication strategy. By focusing on these areas, the marketing team can create a comprehensive and effective marketing plan that aligns with the brand's long-term objectives and strategic choices.

Examples of Brand Purpose and Its Place in the Marketing Plan

Kathy shares several examples of brand purposes, including Kipling's brand purpose of making happy, and Napapijri's brand purpose of Unlimit the Future. These examples demonstrate the power of brand purpose in shaping a company's identity and strategy. A marketing plan can be a singular page or a series of sub-chapters, with the brand purpose at the top. The purpose is the pinnacle of the brand, defining its values, personnel, and personality. Sub-chapters can include marketing-related details and strategic choices to align the brand foundations with corporate strategy. If the brand purpose is a one-page manifestation, subsequent pages can further explore the brand purpose, values, personality, and how these factors inform communications in PR, social media, and ecommerce. These drill-downs are crucial for ensuring alignment with the brand's overall vision and strategy.

Segmentation in Marketing

Kathy discusses the importance of segmentation in marketing, stating that while it is important to understand a brand's core consumer base, it is also crucial to consider the potential of the audience and the growth of that audience. For example, if a brand is rooted in an extreme sport, and the core consumer is an extreme athlete, branching out from there to less extreme athletes who do not compete, or a consumer who is inspired by the sport can help unlock and grow the brand by connecting the core consumer to concentric circles that ripple out from the center. 

Price Strategies in Marketing

Price strategy is another important aspect of marketing, often set by the product team.  However, when a brand has a multi-geographic product, it can lead to price and brand differences as well disruption to brand cohesion. To address this issue, a cross-functional team from product design, merchandising, marketing, and leadership teams should conduct a full pricing study to understand the brand's potential. In ecommerce, it is essential to be cautious about discounting the product to maintain a healthy, profitable business. Ecommerce growth often drives top line sales through occasional sales, but if the product is discounted, the rest of the market will follow, making the brand less profitable and less desirable. Full price sell-through is another key metric for identifying a strong brand. This indicates that a significant percentage of the product is selling through at full price without any discounts, which is a strong indication of brand health and helps avoid market degradation.

The Importance of Monitoring Metrics 

Kathy emphasizes the importance of clear tracking of KPIs and simple KPIs and to collect data that can be informative. One favorite metric for brands is Google brand interest, which is an intuitive index measuring search volume for the brand. By tracking this consistently, businesses can see whether interest is increasing or decreasing, which is important for understanding brand health. Additionally, tracking global brand interest allows for a more accurate understanding of geographic differences. A regression analysis from Google suggests that increased consistent increase in Google brand interest is directly tied to increased sales for the brand. Brand engagement is also important in social channels, as high engagement indicates people are interested in the content being posted. Full price sell-through is another key indicator of a brand's success. Lastly, tracking direct-to-consumer offerings through ecommerce or retail can help determine if the customer base is growing or if there is a growing number of opt-ins to communication. By focusing on net new people, businesses can ensure their total pie of customers grows each month. Kathy mentions that the degree to which a marketing technology stack is included in a marketing plan depends on the brand's unique circumstances and the technology partner team.

Strategic Partnerships in Marketing

Strategic partnerships can manifest in various ways, such as collaborations with emerging designers, faster go-to-market processes, agency partners, and effective partnerships with wholesale retailers. Agency partners, if treated as an authentic member of the team, can be magical. By addressing these partnerships in a comprehensive and effective manner, brands can create unique and valuable products and experiences.

Blu Moon Marketing

Kathy's company focuses on three areas: private equity portfolio companies, consulting companies, and public and private companies. She assists in due diligence, diagnostic phase, and client work for private equity funds. Her company also provides additional support to consulting companies by assisting with pitches and client work. They also offer project-based support for public and private companies, focusing on business strategy, marketing strategy, segmentation, go-to-market strategy, budget analysis, and design. 

Timestamps:

04:01 Business strategy and marketing plan development

08:58 Brand purpose, values, and personality for various companies

13:28 Brand segmentation and its importance in growing a brand

20:17 Pricing strategies and metrics for brand health

25:25 Tracking KPIs for brands using Google brand interest, social media engagement, full price sell through, and customer base growth

30:09 Marketing strategies and partnerships

Links:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathy-hines-1194851/?originalSubdomain=uk

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.

Gaurav was a consultant with McKinsey and a leader in their Organization Practice in North America. Before McKinsey, he worked in marketing for Pepsi Cola International and Procter & Gamble in Europe, the Middle East, and India, and he has counselled and coached hundreds of senior leaders as they lead their organizations through transformation, with a special focus on coaching them on personal mastery, difficult conversations, and strategic thinking.

Mark is an engineer by training, he began his career as a Navy officer and member of the US Naval Construction Battalion. He is also a McKinsey alum and has worked across multiple industries, including financial services, high tech, biotech manufacturing, IT services, and governmental offices. Read more about their book at https://unfearbook.com/.

Key points include:

• 05:24: Gaurav's work in cultural transformation
• 08:32: The art and science of achieving standing breakthrough results
• 13:27: Identifying and moving through fear
• 26:16: Freeing the angel in the stone

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.

Kay Formanek is a global speaker on Diversity and Inclusion. Kay has also worked for leading global professional services organizations for over 20 years as Partner and Managing Director. Her proven approach to leading diversity strategically draws on extensive research and advisory work with over 50 organizations; she is now an author, and her book,  Beyond DNI: leading diversity with purpose and inclusiveness, is coming out this month. In today's episode, Kay talks about the benefits of diversity and inclusion.

For more information, you can visit Kay's website at beyonddiversityandinclusion.com

 

Key points include:

01:14: Kay's background, and the inspiration behind her book

06:24: How she helps CEOs reach their aspired level of diversity

11:25: The dimensions of diversity

15:19: Implementing diversity initiatives

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.

Adam Anderson is a graduate of Stanford Business School, a McKinsey alum, and he is now a strategy consultant and project manager. He has led and participated in over one hundred projects for clients from startups to multinationals, and in this episode, he shares case studies on driving bottom-line results. Adam can be reached through his LinkedIn profile, or emailed at aanderson@pa-bs.com.

Key points include:

00:47: A case study on Lotek, chemical manufacturer: 20 production facilities, five countries

09:59: A case study on a small business in healthcare

20:22: Creating a competitive advantage in healthcare

25:38: Health clinics and the customer experience

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.

David Edelman spent 30 years as a Chief Marketing Officer (at Aetna/CVS), and consultant to executives on Digital and Marketing Transformation with McKinsey, Digitas, and the Boston Consulting Group. He is now a senior lecturer at Harvard Business School and serves as an advisor to top executives in start-up, Private Equity, and larger enterprises. In today's episode, David talks about the use of AI in marketing. You can reach David through his LinkedIn profile or email him at dedelman@hbs.edu.

Key points include:

03:44: The different aspects of marketing

08:38: How AI can be used in marketing

15:50: The prerequisites a company needs to employ AI

21:16: Measuring the ROI on AI-driven tools

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.

Michael Katz is the author of four books, an award-winning humorist, and the founder of Blue Penguin, a company that helps professional service firms and solos talk and write about their work in a clear and compelling way. He has an MBA from Boston University and a BA in Psychology from McGill University in Montreal. In today's episode, Michael talks about how he helps his clients. Learn more about Michael's business at www.bluepenguindevelopment.com. 

Key points include:

02:15:  Business newsletter best practices

13:41: Results that can be achieved through a newsletter 

15:27: Building an email list

18:46: Newsletter management software comparison

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.

Sven Beiker has a PhD. in Mechanical Engineering and Vehicle Dynamics; he is a technology expert in the field of automotive and high-tech topics with a strong interest in consumer products with a holistic view regarding the impact on the environment, society, business, and policy. His special focus is in autonomous, connected, electric, shared vehicles, which is what we explore in this episode. You can learn more about ACES at www.siliconvalleymobility.com, or reach out to Sven on LinkedIn.

 

Key points include:

12:47: The issue of charging electric vehicles

18:33: Electric vehicle charging infrastructure

23:52: Shared mobility

26:54: Micro mobility

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.

Peter Costa is the founder and leader of Capman LLC, a company that provides Executive Coaching and Organizational Consulting. Peter draws on his experience leading public and private international businesses, in addition to extensive study and training in coaching, leadership, and organizational effectiveness. In today's episode, he talks about his business' best practices. You can listen to Peter's Leading Excellence podcast on 

Spotify or Apple, learn more about his company at www.capmanllc.com, or email him at peter.costa@capmanllc.com.

 

Key points include:

02:05: Coaching executives and rising talent

06:07: Exercises to change behaviors

12:54: The best leadership development programs

19:12: Building the client list and developing the practice

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.

Melisa is a former corporate tech executive turned management consultant and coach. She built and led a global professional services organization for a SaaS startup, before establishing her own coaching business where she helps consulting business owners increase their revenue. 

In today's episode, she talks about identifying potential clients, pursuing leads, and the Independent Consultant's Toolkit. 

You can learn more about Melisa's services from her website, www.melisaliberman.com, tune in to her podcast at www.melisaliberman/podcast, check out The Independent Consultant's (IC) Toolkit, and connect with her on LinkedIn.

Key points include:

05.59: Marketing content headlines

10:22: How Melisa works with her clients

16:48: Aligning business methods

21:32: Ways to stay top of mind

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.

Michael is a McKinsey alum and executive coach. He is a former Green Beret, where he was a team medic, serving in Afghanistan. In this episode, Michael he talks about his transition from military service to McKinsey, how he healed from trauma, and how that shaped his coaching practice. To learn more about Michael's coaching practice visit www.wsdmcoaching.com or connect through LinkedIn.

Key points include:

04:10: His experiences as a Green Beret

07:20: The transition to coaching and managing PTSD

10:38: His experience with psychedelics

18:39: Finding his purpose through the healing 

20:31: Michael's clients and how he serves them

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.

Vijay is a former digital and technology leader at KKR leader and a founding member of  McKinsey Digital Labs in South East Asia. He is a highly accomplished expert consultant and Interim Chief Information Officer, and he currently serves Fortune 500 enterprises and companies invested in by the PEI 300. In this episode, he talks about a case example that illustrates the Agile methodology play in real life. Vijay can be reached through LinkedIn or Umbrex.

 

Key points include:

03:08: Case example: a legacy bank in S.E. Asia going digital

08:48: Getting people to participate in hackathons

18:15: The concept of the sprint delivery cycle

22:38: The Agile process from having the business and making it a working product

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.

Show Notes:

Dimitris Samouris discusses the development of a tool called Junior, an SaaS tool built on large language models and speech to text models. It leverages AI to help process primary research workstreams, particularly in the due diligence process, especially for primary interviews.

How Junior Works - A SaaS Tool to Clean Transcripts

Junior helps automate a significant portion of the administrative tasks associated with research execution, allowing users to focus more on the big picture answer rather than the execution side of things. The tool provides a highly accurate transcript of each call, including the name, segment, company, customer size, date and time of the interview, call status, and review status. The call tracker is a knowledge repository that displays the names, segments, job title, company, customer size, country, date and time of the interview, call status, and review status. The call screen is a customizable project management tool for running the call workstream. Junior has three parts: a call drawer, which has three parts: verbatim transcript, clean transcript, and audio file backup. The first step is to chunking the verbatim transcript into relevant question and answer pairs, then cleaning those pairs for colloquialisms and repetition interruptions. This process typically strips out about half of the text in the verbatim transcript, making it more digestible.

The Benefits of Using Junior - Workflow Tools for Consultants

Junior allows users to create a clean transcript of a call and then convert it into a call summary. The tool has two components: a stats box that extracts every numerical data point referenced in the call and stores it in one place for review after the call, and a set of key takeaways that are AI-generated summaries of the key points of the call. The tool leverages information from the beginning of a project, such as a scope document or interview guide, to help guide the summary. The tool also offers workflow tools specifically designed for the consulting industry to help get to the slide output faster. One of the main features is Ctrl. F. This feature helps users find relevant quotes and questions related to the topic, such as contract structure, pricing, implementation, and renewal processes. This feature is particularly useful for human consultants who may struggle to trace quotes due to sanitization or paraphrasing issues. An AI native spreadsheet table automates data input for questions that need to be tracked systematically across research or used in market models. It allows users to set up questions and track transcripts, with the source information attached for verification. The data is exportable into Excel for further analysis. Junior also has a chatbot that handles transcripts for consulting and investment research use cases. It produces structured answers with evidence attached to each argument, providing a comprehensive data access and customization tool. 

Pricing and Signup for Junior

The presentation also touches on the pricing and signup process for clients, including six of the top 10 consulting firms, boutiques, and private equity funds. The pricing is $100 per transcript, which typically gets billed back to the client as part of the research expenditure along with the extra networks used to source calls. Overall, the presentation emphasizes the importance of auditability and traceability when using Gen AI tools in procurement research. Junior saves time on analysis and synthesis for clients who are already paying for interviews on big alpha sites or GLG. The tool is priced at an extra 100 dollars per interview, but it can be refunded back to the client. The signup process involves reaching out to the company, who spin up a new instance for each user due to data security concerns. The platform can be set up within a day of reaching out. 

Timestamps:

01:02 Using AI to automate due diligence process, including transcription and summarization of calls. 

05:53 Using AI to summarize and analyze audio calls for consulting industry research

09:02 Ctrl F functions

12:57 AI-powered tool for analyzing audio interviews and providing structured insights

14:26: SWOT analysis capabilities

Links:

Email: Dimitris@myjunior.ai

Website: https://www.myjunior.ai/

 

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.

David A. Fields is the co-founder of Ascendant Consulting and is the author of the #1 most recommended book on Amazon.com for consultants interested in building a practice, The Irresistible Consultant's Guide to Winning Clients, and the Executive's Guide to Consultants. David is well-known throughout North America for his expertise in the consulting arena, and in today's episode, he shares valuable insights and advice on planning strategies.

Key points include:

02:47: Planning 90 minutes each week for eight weeks

08:08: Focusing on data and lessons learned

11:32: Revisiting your mission, vision, and values

31:27: Budgets and resources

To learn more about the 8-week planning process, visit 8 Weeks to Get Juiced. To learn more about the focus wheel, visit Use This Unique Tool to Focus Your Consulting Firm, and to subscribe to David's weekly articles where you will find a plethora of valuable insights, visit www.davidafields.com/blog.

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.

Tony is the co-founder and managing director at InsurTechNY, an organization that helps startups, carriers/brokers, investors, and enablers in the New York region and beyond through hosting InsurTechNY community events, startup competitions, and accelerator. He is a BCG Alum, and his background includes product leadership at Alibaba, Gartner & NBC, an MBA from NYU Stern MBA, and a Bachelor of Sciences from Carnegie Mellon. In this episode, Tony talks about his business model. Learn more about the organization at www.insurtechny.com.

Key points include:

• 00:53: What InsurTechNY is and who it serves
• 13:57: Embedded insurance plays
• 17:14: Blockchain in InsurTechNY
• 26:04: Setting up the first InsurTechNY event

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.

Maureen is the founder and managing partner at Acacia Growth & Impact Consulting. She brings 15 years of product management, marketing, and growth experience across the private, non-profit, and public sectors. Data, customer-centricity, and a focus on impact are at the core of the business. Today, she talks about the full range of services her company offers.  If you'd like to learn more about Acacia Growth and Impact Consulting you can reach out to Maureen on LinkedIn and watch out for the launch of her website, www.acaciaimpact.com, or get on the email list at  https://sunny-v2.netlify.app/.

To learn more about topics discussed in today's episode, visit https://nexleaf.org/ and/or 

Key points include:

03:01: Case studies on product development and product management

06:29: The role of the product manager

15:39: How to gain user insights

23:00: Helping to build a design or product design organization.

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.

James Richardson is the founder of Premium Growth Solutions, a strategic planning consultancy for early-stage consumer packaged goods brands. As a professionally trained cultural anthropologist turned business strategist, he has helped nearly 100 CPG brands with their strategic planning, including brands owned by Coca-Cola Venturing and emerging brands, The Hershey Company, General Mills, and Frito-Lay, Once Upon a Farm, Dr. Squatch Soap, and more. James is the author of Ramping Your Brand: How to Ride the Killer CPG Growth Curve, a #1 Best-seller in business consulting on Amazon. He also hosts his podcast—Startup Confidential. In this episode, he talks about his transition from anthropology to marketing and how they connect. 

Learn more about his services at www.premiumgrowthsolutions.com.

Key points include:

• 01:56: The connection between anthropology and marketing
• 08:58: How anthropological research tactics are applied to marketing
• 18:08: New symbols and how a marginal product is processed to be accepted by social groups
• 25:20: The difference between growth pace and the pace to scale

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.

Jay Altizer has worked at Bain and Company, PepsiCo, PricewaterhouseCoopers, and Deloitte Consulting. His extensive experience includes driving transformations and high-stakes change in a variety of industries such as CPG/FMCG, manufacturing, distribution, airlines, technology, and B2B products/services, but in this episode, he shares his knowledge and experience of the food industry. To learn more about Jay's firm visit https://www.fallingbranchadvisorsllc.com/, and he can be reached at jay.altizer@fallingbranchadvisorsllc.com. 

Key points include:

01:49: The multiple roles in the value chain

10:40: The different types of companies in mid-market food space

13:00: Issues facing food companies in the $20-500 million range

18:39: Trade spending and discounting in the food industry

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.

Craig Beal grew up in the safari planning business. His parents were the owners/operators of Travel Beyond, a company that planned luxury safaris in Africa.  After attending the US Naval Academy and serving as a US Navy Submarine Officer, Craig and his wife Kay purchased Travel Beyond in 2005. In this episode, he talks about getting into the travel business. To learn more about Craig's business, visit travelbeyond.com. 

Key points include:

05:12: What the upscale Safari tour operator offers

09:36: His business and marketing approach

24:25: The $50,000 clients

25:50: What people do on a nine-day safari

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.

Rob Ristagno is a Harvard and McKinsey alum, he has shared expertise on digital media and e-commerce with CBS, Forbes, Adweek, and Fox. He is now the CEO of Sterling Woods where Rob and his team developed a data-enabled service, Scout X, that has created over $500 million in Enterprise Value for middle-market clients. Learn more about Rob's company at sterlingwoods.com.

00:43: Five common flaws in customer segmentation

12:39: The process of B2B segementation

15:53: The three main categories of customer behavior

29:04: Developing the survey

36:13: Building the segments

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.

Paul spent ~9 years with McKinsey & Company, where he was a Partner based in Washington D.C. Within the firm's Global Public and Social Sector Practice, Paul led the Go to Market (GTM) team, which spanned 23 countries.

Prior to McKinsey, Paul held roles General Dynamics Information Technology, Johnson & Johnson, Ariba (now part of SAP) and Andersen Consulting (now Accenture), and is a former U.S. Army officer. Paul has particular expertise in Public Sector Go to Market strategy and operating models, as both an advisor and practitioner. You can visit Paul's company website at pathfinderconsultingllc.com, and he can be reached at paul.harrington@pathfinderconsultingllc.com

Key points include:

03:18: Doing business development in the public sector

09:41: How the decision process works

14:04: RFPs and the procurement process

21:17: Work from the federal government for independent professionals

28:20: Paul's work as an advisor on procuring government contracts

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.

Sharath Jeevan is a leading global motivation expert helping organisations and individuals reignite inner-drive. Sharath has addressed large global audiences at the Royal Festival Hall in London, Lego Ideas Festival in Denmark, WISE Summit in Qatar, Draper Richards Kaplan Convening in San Francisco, Varkey GEMS Conference in Dubai, and the Lemann Conference in Sao Paulo. He is also the author of Intrinsic: a manifesto to reignite our inner drive. In this episode, he talks about his book and some common misconceptions he has encountered in the business world. You can learn more about Sharath and his book at https://www.intrinsic-labs.com/.

Key points include:

03:56: Purpose, autonomy, and mastery

11:27: A framework for purpose

18:47: Motivation tips for parents

23:57: Intrinsic relationships

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.

John has 25 years of consulting experience consulting in Manufacturing, Supply Chain Management, Sourcing, plant and business unit transformation, revenue enhancement, growth strategies and turnarounds. He has launched many multi-year corporate transformations which have delivered over $1.5 billion in annual value. He has advised senior executives and business unit leaders in a broad range of industries including oil and gas, chemicals, basic materials, industrials, automotive, engineered products and aerospace. John's company website is Lionstutz.com and he can be reached at JohnVanLeeuwen@Lionstutz.com.

01:50: Terminology of the oil and gas industry

07:30: Drill holes and piping

10:14: How they keep the oil and gas moving

13:17: The ecosystem of the industry

20:15: Labor in the industry

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.

In this episode of Unleashed, Ran Harpaz, founder of Lettuce, discusses the importance of an automated tax and accounting system for businesses and that Lettuce is entirely focused on independent consultants. Independent consultants who make over $100,000 per year often overpay their taxes by $10,000 or more. Lettuce is a FinTech software company that helps these professionals incorporate their business into the right S corporation with the IRS, open a business bank account, run bookkeeping, run accounting, predict and file taxes, all done automatically through software. The company offers two levels: Pro (300 dollars a month) and Premium (700 dollars a month). The service includes accounting, bookkeeping, tax preparation, and tax preparation. 

Tax Strategies for the Independent Consultants 

Ran explains how many independent consultants are often double taxed as sole proprietors due to the IRS's coordination on annual tax returns. He offers an example to demonstrate how this works. Ran also discusses the concept of an S Corp and its implications for tax calculations. 

He mentions that Lettuce exists as a software solution that does this daily on every dollar, as income fluctuates throughout the year. This automated solution monitors every payment, calculates and withholds the right amount automatically, and keeps the balance to the IRS constantly close to zero. The S Corp also offers more advanced tax strategies, such as retirement matching, qualified business income deductions, and better healthcare premium payments. Once an S Corp is established, it can unlock all the tax strategies typically available to corporations. The tax system and everything around it are well optimized for corporations, and larger organizations have a finance department, FEMA, and tax experts. While the savings on Social Security and Medicare may be capped, other benefits like retirement and healthcare premium payments open up once an S Corp is established.

Using Retirement Plans as a Tax Strategy

Ran discusses the advantages of using retirement plans as a tax strategy for individuals, particularly those with limited liability companies (LLCs). They mention that having an SEP IRA or a defined benefit plan can provide tax-free income, but it also comes with higher limits. The speaker emphasizes that this becomes a multivariable optimization problem, as individuals may want to save more through retirement, allocate more to Social Security, optimize for salary distribution, maximize expenses, and consider factors like business use of home and mileage.

He suggests that these tax strategies should be solved by software products rather than human efforts. He explains that Lettuce is a replacement for QuickBooks accounting bookkeeping packages. Instead of having multiple software solutions, Lettuce provides a single solution that includes incorporating LLCs, making S corp elections, running books, opening a dedicated bank account, and managing payroll processing.

How Lettuce Offers Tax Accounting Solutions 

Ran also mentions that Lettuce can handle payroll for individuals who hire employees. They focus on serving businesses of one owner, as they are the essence of the business. The free business bank account is provided by TransPecos Bank, a Texas bank, FDIC insured, and provides the infrastructure for keeping money safe.The company is offering accounting and bookkeeping software that helps with automating quarterly taxes, which are a requirement for people. The software handles complex tasks such as forecasting, withholding the right amount, filing, and payment. It also handles complex transactions like multiple jurisdictions or income from Canada. The company has partnered with a CPA company to serve their specific market segment, offering additional services when needed. This includes offshore investments and rollovers from past investments. The company is also working on rolling out an AI accountant to answer customers' questions 24/7. They are training and fine-tuning the AI engine on specific tax code areas, providing answers as good as human but faster. The AI will be released in the next couple of months, and the company expects to receive positive feedback from users who want guidance and information without having to call a CPA.

Timestamps:

03:45 Tax savings for independent consultants

09:39 Tax strategies for small business owners

17:44 Financial management and accounting software for independent professionals

 

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.

 

Andrew has over 15 years of experience in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, and other healthcare sectors. His team specializes in growth strategy projects pertaining to cutting-edge medical technologies. Since 2012, his team has conducted over 100 projects for executives in the C suite, commercial franchises, corporate development, and R&D, and spanning nearly every therapeutic area undergoing innovation. 

In this episode, he gives an in-depth view of the biotech industry. Andrew can be reached through LinkedIn or you can email him at Andrew@headlandstrategy.com. And you can listen to more from Andrew on Episode 355.

Key points include:

01:09:  A quick explanation of biotech, agricultural biotech, and industrial biotech

08:09: The difference between pharma and biotech

12:28: Drugs that fall into the biotech category

18:45: Differences in delivery methodologies between small molecule and more complex molecules

24:31: The different roles and functions at biotech and pharma companies

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.

On her podcast, Fearless Growth, Amanda Setili interviews Mitali Chopra, UK Coach of the Year for best client results. They talk about her business and also about the karma equation for World abundance and why giving is such an important part of living. She talks about the nonprofit that she founded to help kids learn entrepreneurship by playing games. Amanda's podcast can be found here http://bitly.bz/G5cKA.

Key points include:

06:58: Overcoming fear

15:51: How company culture can hold a company back

23:32: Transitioning to other cultures

26:58: The importance of continuous growth

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.

Sam Saperstein has an MBA in Marketing and Strategy from Wharton, she is a McKinsey alum, and is now a managing director at JPMorgan Chase. In this episode, Sam talks about the Women on the Move program and how it helps women thrive professionally and start businesses. You can learn more about the program on the podcast, Women on the Move.

Key points include:

09:07: Resources for women who want to start a business

11:56: Gaps in financial health and financial education for women.

17:55: Encouraging the careers of women at JPMorgan Chase

22:27: Negotiation skills for women

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.