Unleashed - How To Thrive As An Independent Professional

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

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.

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.

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 independ

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 w

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

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.umb

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 m

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

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 a

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