Strategy Simplified S21E29: Consulting Unpacked | Consulting Explained in 5 Minutes: What It Is + Why Companies Hire Consultants
Jan 9, 2026
Consulting can be confusing, but it boils down to expertise in various fields. Companies hire consultants for reasons like speed, sensitivity, and specialized knowledge. Jenny Rae highlights the differences between professional consultants and 'single-shingle' ones, emphasizing the strategic roles consultants play. She outlines three core consulting types: strategy, tech, and operations. To succeed in consulting, you need strong problem-solving skills, enthusiasm for business, and a passion for data analytics. It's a fascinating field with evolving dynamics!
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What Single-Shingle Consultants Do
- Jenny Rae describes 'single-shingle' consultants as specialists who repeatedly execute a narrow service like SEO or media.
- These providers act more like contractors with execution responsibilities despite using strategic diagnostics.
Consulting Is Timeboxed Strategy
- Professional consultants deliver timeboxed strategic answers rather than becoming a company's execution arm.
- Consulting focuses on diagnosing a problem and creating an implementation plan, not running ongoing operations.
Why Companies Pay For Consultants
- Firms hire consultants for four core reasons: expertise, speed, sensitivity, and capacity.
- These reasons map to different business needs like rapid analysis, confidential tasks, and temporary staffing gaps.