Unleashed - How to Thrive as an Independent Professional
581 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 1 month ago - ★★★★★ - 71 ratingsUnleashed explores how to thrive as an independent professional.
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Episodes
376. Ali Ahmed on Green Strategies
March 11, 2021 10:00 - 49 minutes - 36.7 MBAli Ahmed is the founder and principal of Green Strategies, a company that helps clients discover sustainability opportunities. He is a recognized sustainability and energy management leader who has developed and managed more than 50 global energy and sustainability programs. In today’s episode, we discuss carbon. Key points include: 01:37: An overview of carbon credits 06:27: The companies buying carbon credits 09:02: Carbon credit audits 13:38: Carbon offset interpretations 21...
375. Stacy Sifleet on Customer Value Strategy
March 10, 2021 10:00 - 26 minutes - 19.7 MBStacy Sifleet, an alum of A.T. Kearney, helps manufacturers, distributors and service-based companies improve their profit through targeted price strategy while providing customers with the services or products they want. She is here with me today to explain how she implements and improves customer value strategies. 01:34: How customer value applies to the B2B realm 07:54: Defining groups of customers by profitability 11:39: Communicating the tier status to the customer 16:34: Mai...
374. Tami Lucey on The Benefits of Booking through a Travel Agent
March 09, 2021 21:00 - 32 minutes - 23.3 MBTami Lucey is an independent travel consultant, or as she describes herself, “a worldwide business travel hassle remover.” We talk about her four decades of work as a corporate travel agent, how the industry has changed, and her focus on working with the entertainment industry and individual consultants. 02:06: The benefits of a personalized service 04:57: The limitations of Google search in booking travel 07:47: How Tami structures her fees 11:05: What’s included in Tami’s fees ...
373. How to collect fees on time
March 08, 2021 10:00 - 24 minutes - 21.6 MBLessons learned from collecting payment on over 1,500 invoices: 1. What to include in the contract 2. Questions to ask after the contract is signed 3. What to include on your invoice 4. How to follow up after sending your invoice Unleashed is produced by Umbrex. To learn about our global community of independent management consultants, visit www.umbrex.com
372: Read Later with Instapaper and Pocket
March 07, 2021 10:00 - 2 minutes - 2.4 MBYou get an email with an article you want to read, but you don’t want to be distracted right then. The solution is a “read-later” app. The two most popular are Instapaper and Pocket. 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
371: Why It’s Important to Check Your Email Name
March 06, 2021 10:00 - 4 minutes - 3.77 MBThere are a few reasons why you should check how your email name appears to others, and in this short in-between-isode, I explain how it should be done in G-Suite and Microsoft. Key points include: -The professional impression -Search solutions Check this link to Gmail and Microsoft for more information. Unleashed is produced by Umbrex, which has a mission of connecting independent management consultants with one another, creating opportunities for members to meet, build relations...
370. Divya Agarwal on Transformation Projects
March 05, 2021 10:00 - 34 minutes - 23.8 MBDivya Agarwal recently left McKinsey to become an independent consultant. At McKinsey Divya was an Associate Partner in Organization and Transformation. “Transformation” is a bit of a buzzword that can be hard to pin down. In today’s discussion, Divya explains what McKinsey means by the term, the types of transformation projects, and how to set up a successful transformation office. Key points include: 01:52: What McKinsey thinks of the term ‘transformation” 03:54: Most common types ...
369. Cactus Raazi on Personalized Pricing
March 04, 2021 10:00 - 38 minutes - 28.1 MBCactus Raazi is a former Managing Director at Goldman Sachs who has been a successful entrepreneur in credit trading. He is also the author of the recently published book Price: Maximizing Customer Loyalty Through Personalized Pricing. In today’s episode, Cactus shares his perspective on personalized pricing - and how he got his distinctive first name. Key points include: 06:05: Researching his book 08:30: Examples of personalized pricing 13:03: The value of personalized pricin...
368. 12 Favorite Problems
March 03, 2021 11:00 - 2 minutes - 2.42 MBNobel Prize winner Richard Feynman had a trick of always maintaining a list of his twelve favorite problems. Anything new he learned he tested whether it could be used on any of those twelve, and he attributed his success to this technique. This episode gives a short overview of Feynman’s approach and how you can apply it. I learned of this tip from Tiago Forte's course, Building a Second Brain. Key points include: Richard Feynman’s path to becoming a genius The dormant state of i...
367. Robyn Bolton on developing innovation within the organisation
March 02, 2021 11:00 - 36 minutes - 26.2 MBRobyn Bolton is a leading innovation consultant. A BCG alum, she was a partner at Innosight, a top innovation consulting firm that was founded by Clayton Christensen. She has been an independent consultant focused on innovation since 2018. You can reach out to Robyn or follow her thought leadership blog on her website at milezero.io. Key points include: 01.03 How innovation differs from R&D 04.16 An example of innovation consulting for a sporting goods manufacturer’s business mode...
366. Kyle Sturgeon on turnarounds, bankruptcy, and restructuring
March 01, 2021 11:00 - 51 minutes - 39.7 MBKyle Sturgeon, an alum of Alvarez & Marsal and McKinsey, is a Managing Partner and Co-Founder of MERU. He has led complex transformations and restructurings for companies across industries, with a focus in retail and consumer, healthcare, and materials. Today we discuss what’s involved with guiding a company through bankruptcy or restructuring. To find out more about Kyle’s company visit: wearemeru.com. Key points include: 00:58: The birth of Meru 04:32: Shutting down a $200,...
365. Questions to Ask Clients in First Discussion
February 28, 2021 11:00 - 5 minutes - 4.47 MBIn today’s weekend edition of Unleashed, I share a list of 20-25 questions that David A. Fields and I usually ask our clients during the initial conversation to help engage the client and secure the project. Key points include: Focusing on the client’s needs Understanding the scope of the project Understanding the client’s expected outcomes Insight into the internal team and the stakeholders involved
364. 21 Business Development Ideas
February 27, 2021 11:00 - 11 minutes - 10.6 MBAs independent consultants, we often look for ways on how to grow our business. In today’s episode, you’ll find a round up of 21 business development ideas that can help build your business this year. You’ll also find all the relevant links to Unleashed episodes where we explore these items in more detail. Create a portfolio of sanitized work (Episode 121) Create a project list (Episode 140) Update your LinkedIn profile (Episode 211) Set up a CRM system (Episode 172) Make outbou...
364. 21 Business Development Ideas for 2021
February 27, 2021 11:00 - 11 minutes - 10.6 MBAs independent consultants, we often look for ways on how to grow our business. In today’s episode, you’ll find a round up of 21 business development ideas that can help build your business this year. You’ll also find all the relevant links to Unleashed episodes where we explore these items in more detail. Create a portfolio of sanitized work (Episode 121) Create a project list (Episode 140) Update your LinkedIn profile (Episode 211) Set up a CRM system (Episode 172) Make outbound c...
363. Tekla Back on Nutrition - The Truth behind the Label
February 26, 2021 11:00 - 44 minutes - 32.6 MBIn this week’s episode, I talk to Tekla Back, McKinsey alum, former senior vice president of strategy at PepsiCo., and founder of the snack, Keho. Tekla reveals how she got into nutrition, the truth behind the nutritional labels, and how she developed the Keho snack bar. You can learn more about Tekla’s campaign on nutrition by emailing her at [email protected] or visit her company website at keho.life. Key points include: 03:51: The problem with nutritional labels 05:34: The math behind ...
362. Get bad at something
February 25, 2021 10:00 - 3 minutes - 3.08 MBWhile it's great to pursue excellence, there's a strong argument for getting bad at something. -- Unleashed is produced by Umbrex. To learn about our global community of independent management consultants, visit www.umbrex.com
361. Seth Godin on Best Practices in Content Creation
February 24, 2021 17:00 - 33 minutes - 18.2 MBI was inspired to launch Umbrex after reading Seth Godin’s book, Tribes. So, I am delighted to talk to him today. In this episode, Seth discusses his career trajectory, his books, his daily practices, his view on content marketing, and why he made the decision to avoid social media. I’m also giving away 100 copies of Seth’s new book, The Practice. To receive your free copy of The Practice while supplies last, fill in your name and address info on this form: http://bit.ly/ThePracticeGiveawa...
360. Rudra Chatterjee on Business in India
February 23, 2021 11:00 - 43 minutes - 24 MBRudra’s family has been growing tea for over 100 years. They have tea estates in Darjeeling and Assam in India, and in Rwanda. They also manufacture handmade carpets and furniture. He is also an adjunct professor in International Management Institute in Calcutta, and writes for several publications on history and business. Rudra can be reached through his website, RudraChatterjee.com. To find out more about his businesses, go to Luxmi Tea and Obeetee.com. Key points include: 06:51: Top ...
359. James Carbary - B2B Podcast Best Practices
February 22, 2021 11:00 - 39 minutes - 27.3 MBJames Carbary is the founder, executive producer, and co-host of Sweet Fish Media, a company that produces podcasts for B2B brands. Today, he shares his expertise on creating, distributing, and getting the most mileage out of your podcast. Key points include: 01:28: Tips on how to create a great B2B podcast 07:07: The naming philosophy of a podcast 10:33: Common mistakes people make when setting up a B2B podcast 14:37: How to make it a memorable experience for the guest 16:59: Sou...
358. Create a target list of employers or clients
February 21, 2021 11:00 - 5 minutes - 4.76 MBIn this short episode of Unleashed, I share a process that I use in my consulting practice and have found to be hugely valuable for both myself and my clients. Key points include: Creating categories of companies The power of the list Identifying the missing gems
357. Identify Your Core Network
February 20, 2021 11:00 - 8 minutes - 7.7 MBIn this short episode of Unleashed, I share a few valuable ideas taken from David A. Fields and his book, The Irresistible Consultants' Guide to Winning Clients, which I highly recommend, to help identify your core group. Key points include: Creating a master list Segmenting groups Identifying the weak ties
356. Daryl Tulimieri on Recruiting and Team Building
February 19, 2021 11:00 - 37 minutes - 30.5 MBDaryl Tulimieri is a McKinsey alum. He has been at Owens Corning, and GLG, where he helped create and grow a group. Darryl is currently an independent consultant and Umbrex member, and he advises on M&A. But today Daryl is sharing his experience in recruiting and building a team in different contexts. Daryl can be contacted at [email protected] or through LinkedIn. You can visit his website at LigerAdvisors.com. Key points include: 02:56: What it's like to participate in recrui...
355. J.Andrew McKee on How to Get Better at What You Do
February 18, 2021 11:00 - 46 minutes - 34.2 MBIn a weekly email to Unleashed subscribers in the fall of 2019, I asked, "What you are doing this fall to get better at what you do?" Umbrex member J. Andrew McKee sent me the following extraordinary response, and I asked him to be a guest on the show to discuss. To learn more about Andrew's consulting practice (which we don't discuss), visit: HeadlandStrategy.com. Here is Andrew's answer on what he is doing to get better at what he does: New: Resumed saxophone practice 2-4 times a w...
354. Philipp Humm on Ethos. Pathos. Logos. The foundations of a good story
February 17, 2021 11:00 - 20 minutes - 11.9 MBPhilipp Humm is a storytelling coach who teaches how to apply the fundamentals of storytelling to sales, marketing, management and connecting with your business audience. Philipp on LinkedIn or learn more from his website, power-of-storytelling.com Key points include: 03:41: Why storytelling matters to consultants 06:03: What makes a compelling story 07:24: Six elements of story 13:33: Who approaches Andrew and how he helps them 15:27: Situations where storytelling can help 16...
353. Jonah Gruda on Choosing the Right Entity Type for Your Practice
February 16, 2021 11:00 - 58 minutes - 42.7 MBA common question independent consultants ask is what type of entity they should use to establish their practice. In this episode, Jonah Gruda reviews the most relevant aspects of the five types of entities that are most commonly considered: Sole proprietorship Partnership Limited Liability Company S-Corporation C-Corporation For each entity type, Jonah reviews: Formation requirements Liability Exposure Taxation at the entity level Tax rates Tax reporting ...
352. Jeffery Perry on Building an Independent Practice after Retirement
February 15, 2021 11:00 - 37 minutes - 28.4 MBAfter years of professional work experience, how do you leverage your knowledge and put it to good use? After a 30-year career as a global strategic business advisor, including 20-years combined as partner at Ernst & Young (EY) and A.T. Kearney, Jeffery Perry decided to found Lead Mandates where, as an independent advisor, he helps organizations improve business and leadership performance. Today, he shares how his experience helped him reach out, connect, and communicate when starting his in...
351. Kian Beyzavi on Digital Health: What it is and why it matters
February 12, 2021 10:00 - 36 minutes - 24.9 MBKian Beyzavi, a Venture Partner at Cota Capital, is a seasoned leader in the life sciences. After several years of consulting at McKinsey & Company, a couple of stints as a venture investor and a software entrepreneur, she worked in senior leadership positions at medical device and pharma companies for 10 years. Her recent consulting work is mainly focused on innovation in life sciences, leveraging digital health, patient engagement, services, devices, and diagnostics. Kian holds a PhD in ...
350. Daniel Tunkelang - In-depth Insight into Search Relevance & Query
February 11, 2021 18:08 - 51 minutes - 38.4 MBDaniel Tunkelang, one of the top search relevance consultants in the United States. He is a data science and engineering executive who has built and led some of the strongest teams in the software industry, including Google. Daniel was a founding employee and chief scientist of Endeca, a search pioneer that Oracle acquired for $1.1B. He was also director of data science and engineering at LinkedIn, and he studied computer science and math at MIT and has a PhD in computer science from CMU. So...
349. Richard Steel on the New ESG Business Paradigm
February 10, 2021 10:00 - 30 minutes - 22 MBRichard Steel is an entrepreneur, investor, and the author of Elevated Economics, How Conscious Consumers will Fuel the Future of Business. He explains how corporations are moving forward with socially responsible business strategies to meet the demands of stakeholders, with a specific focus on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues. Key Points Include: 0:40 - The tectonic shift in investing 02:52 - The total value of ESG assets 03:50 – The next generation of wealth migra...
348. Mike Sarraille on how great organizations win on talent
February 09, 2021 10:00 - 31 minutes - 22.8 MBMike Sarraille is a former Recon Marine and retired US Navy SEAL officer with twenty years of experience in Special Operations, including the elite Joint Special Operations Command. He is also the co-author of The Talent War: How Special Operations and Great Organizations Win on Talent. Today, Mike Sarraille is the CEO and founder of of EF Overwatch, an executive search and talent advisory firm, and Talent War Group, a leadership and business management group. In this episode Mike shar...
347. How to accept payment by credit card
February 05, 2021 23:13 - 6 minutes - 6.03 MBGenerally you probably prefer to get paid via ACH or wire transfer, but some clients want to pay using a credit card. Today was my first time accepting a payment for consulting services by credit card, and in this episode I walk you through my experience. I used Stripe to actually collect the payment. To learn about how Umbrex can help connect you with other independent management consultants, visit www.umbrex.com
346. Formal communications as practiced in the Nuclear Navy
January 20, 2021 10:00 - 5 minutes - 4.34 MBHave you ever asked someone to do a task, and they agree, only later to find that they didn't understand exactly what you were asking for? In this short episode, I share how the Nuclear Navy uses formal communications to ensure that orders don't get garbled. Unleashed is produced by Umbrex. To learn about how we can help your firm find the right independent management consultant for your project needs, visit www.umbrex.com
345. Setting the strategy for your podcast or blog
January 19, 2021 10:00 - 10 minutes - 8.99 MBIf you are setting up a podcast or blog, here are strategic questions to consider. Question 1 is discussed in Episode 344, and Questions 2-5 discussed in this episode. 1. What is my objective? (Covered in Episode 344) 2. Who is my target audience? 3. What content does that audience want? 4. What will be the format of my podcast or blog? 5. What should I name my podcast or blog?
344. Identify the reasons why you are creating content
January 18, 2021 10:00 - 10 minutes - 8.75 MBIf you are planning to create content on a regular basis, it is worth your time to get explicit - at least with yourself - on your objectives. Are you trying to learn about a topic? Build relationships? Build an audience? Unleashed is produced by Umbrex. To learn more about how Umbrex connects independent management consultants with one another, visit www.umbrex.com
343. Agnes Kunkel on 2023
January 13, 2021 10:00 - 45 minutes - 31.3 MBAfter COVID started, Umbrex member Dr. Agnes Kunkel started the 2023 Podcast, interviewing experts for their take on what life will be like in the year 2023. Check out all the episodes of the 2023 Podcast at: https://20-23.earth/ Dr. Kunkel is an expert in negotiations. To learn about her consulting and training practice, visit: https://dr-kunkel.com/ Unleashed is produced by Umbrex. To learn more about how Umbrex can help your firm find the right independent management consultant, v...
342. Robert Lachenauer on family-owned businesses
January 12, 2021 10:00 - 41 minutes - 30.9 MBRob Lachenaur is the co-author of The Harvard Business Review Family Business Handbook: How to Build and Sustain a Successful, Enduring Enterprise (Amazon) Rob is a former BCG Partner and the CEO of Banyan Global, a consulting firm focused on serving family-owned businesses. Learn more about Banyan Global at: https://banyan.global/ Unleashed is produced by Umbrex. To learn how Umbrex can connect you with the right independent management consultant for your project visit: www.umbrex.com
341. Tom Libelt on how to promote an online course
January 11, 2021 15:14 - 53 minutes - 40.1 MBTom Libelt runs Smart Brand Marketing, and one of their main services is helping creators to promote their online courses. In this episode, Tom shares tips on how to create a marketing funnel to sell your course, and also shares advice on which platforms to use to create your course. Learn more about Tom's firm at: https://smartbrandmarketing.com/ Unleashed is produced by Umbrex. To learn more about how Umbrex can help your organization find the right independent management consultan...
340. Helio Fred Garcia on crisis management
November 09, 2020 20:17 - 42 minutes - 29.7 MBHelio Fred Garcia is a writer, speaker, educator, and consultant on the topic of crisis communications and crisis management. Fred will be leading a live, interactive training session as part of the Umbrex Presents series, November 12, 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. EST. Register free here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEqf-qoqzkvGdVyug7Z8KScb8wDRIil51vc After November 12, email [email protected] to get a link to a recording of the webinar. Fred leads Logos Consulting Group....
339. Joe McCann on tools for healthcare market research
October 30, 2020 09:00 - 38 minutes - 29.1 MBJoe McCann is the CEO and Co-Founder of Slingshot Insights, a healthcare-focused research firm with an interesting model: they allow you to interview leading experts by splitting the cost with others. Joe also runs Truth on Call, a firm that conducts custom surveys of physicians and other healthcare providers. Learn more at: https://slingshotinsights.com/ https://www.truthoncall.com/ Unleashed is produced by Umbrex. Learn more at: www.umbrex.com
338. Mark Newsom focuses on managed care
October 29, 2020 09:00 - 46 minutes - 34.8 MBMark Newsom is the Founder of Health Evaluations, LLC, which focuses on business strategy, operations, and policy in the government health programs space. Mark brings a powerful set of experiences to his practice. 1) Executive branch: Mark has served two stints at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services 2) Legislative branch: Mark worked in the Congressional Research Service, serving as a senior health policy advisor during the passage of the Affordable Care Act 3) Industry exp...
337. Gresham Harkless Jr on building his media agency
October 28, 2020 09:00 - 30 minutes - 21.5 MBGresham Harkless Jr is the founder of Blue 16 Media, which provides website design, social media, SEO services for entrepreneurs, startups and business owners. He's also the Founder of CEO Blog Nation and a podcast host. Learn more about all of his ventures at: https://iamgresh.com/ Unleashed is produced by Umbrex. Learn more at: www.umbrex.com
336. Betsy Seals on the managed care industry
October 20, 2020 09:00 - 23 minutes - 17.2 MBBetsy Seals is a recognized leader in the managed care industry. She is the Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Rebellis Group, where the members have decades of experience in health plan, pharmacy benefit manager, and goverment consulting experience. In this episode, Betsy provides an overview of the managed care universe in the U.S. Learn more about Rebellis Group at https://www.rebellisgroup.com/ Unleashed is produced by Umbrex which connects top-tier independent professiona...
335. Dan Biederman rethinks urban environments
October 14, 2020 09:00 - 44 minutes - 34.7 MBDan Biederman was the driving force behind the redevelopment of Bryant Park in New York City and the creation of the 34th Street Partnership and Grand Central Partnership. Millions of New York City residents and visitors have visited from his efforts to rethink the urban environment. In this episode, Dan shares stories of what it took to make the Bryan Park Redevelopment a reality. We also discuss the work that his firm does in other cities across the country. To learn more about Dan...
334. Jason Sanders, top executive recruiter, shares career tips for consultants
October 13, 2020 09:00 - 42 minutes - 33.5 MBJason Sanders is the Managing Director of Flycast, which provides experienced talent to specialty consulting practices and top global firms. To learn more about Flycast, visit: http://www.flycastllc.com/
333. David Goldstein demonstrates the power of Mekko Graphics
October 12, 2020 09:00 - 25 minutes - 85.4 MB VideoDavid Goldstein is the founder of Mekko Graphics, a plug-in to PowerPoint that gives you charting superpowers. Mekko Graphics is a popular tool among many management consultants, particularly at Bain. In this video episode, David shows the range of charts that Mekko can create and demonstrates how to use the tool. To learn more visit: https://www.mekkographics.com/ Mekko Graphics was acquired by insightsoftware in 2020.
332. John Joseph on robotic process automation for SMBs
September 28, 2020 09:00 - 25 minutes - 20 MBJohn Joseph is a Co-Founder of White Swan Automation, a firm that helps small and medium business implement robotic process automation. Learn more at: https://www.whiteswanautomation.com/ Unleashed is produced by Umbrex. To learn more visit www.umbrex.com
331. Susan Harte on how corporate site selection works
September 27, 2020 09:00 - 44 minutes - 32.5 MBSusan Harte has deep experience as a site selection consultant, helping companies choose where to place their next headquarters, contact center, distribution facility, or factory. In this episode, Susan shares an insider's view of the site selection process. Connect with Susan on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-harte-esq-mcr-2002a04/ Unleashed is hosted by Will Bachman and produced by Umbrex. Learn more at www.umbrex.com
24. Droning insects in Palm Springs, CA
September 26, 2020 12:20We rented a house in Palm Springs for three weeks. These insects produce a trancelike droning through the hot afternoons. In the background in a few spots, you can hear us playing Marco Polo in the pool on the other side of the house.
330. Robert Glazer on how to build your capacity
September 26, 2020 09:00 - 37 minutes - 29.7 MBRobert Glazer has an incredible portfolio career: Founder and CEO of Acceleration Partners, a leading affiliate marketing agency Keynote speaker Best-selling author Find out more at https://www.robertglazer.com/ In this episode we discuss Glazer's latest ways to build four areas of your capacity: Spiritual Capacity, Physical Capacity, Intellectual Capacity, and Emotional Capacity. Our discussion centers around his latest book: Friday Forward: Inspiration & Motivation to End Yo...
329. Jeffrey Fidelman on serving the lower mid-market on strategy and operations
September 23, 2020 09:00 - 38 minutes - 28.9 MBJeffrey Fidelman started as a solo consultant in 2015. He had more demand than he could handle, so he hired a couple freelancers, and then saw more demand, and engaged more support. Fast forward to 2020, and Fidelman & Company has 30 employees. Fidelman & Co. serves primarily lower-mid-market firms, i.e., those with revenues in the $1 - 100 million range. In this episode, Jeffrey discusses three of his core service lines: - Outbound growth - Supporting fundraising - Documenting...