Unleashed - How to Thrive as an Independent Professional

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.

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.

Pankaj is an entrepreneur, SaaS Executive, investor, and the creator of Bord, a collaborative workspace, designed by a management consultant for management consultants, where teams can brainstorm, problem-solve, and storyboard. He began his career writing code for consumer electronics, before moving on to work at Herman Miller and McKinsey where he developed capabilities in design thinking and analytical problem-solving. He holds a Bachelor of Engineering, a Master of Science in Manufacturing Systems Engineering, and an MBA in Marketing and Finance. In this episode, he walks viewers through the capabilities of Bord. Access the free version at www.bord.com, and you can reach out to Pankaj@bord.com. Key points include: 01:41: Collaborating on Bord 04:36: The different capabilities of Bord compared to similar products 07:31: How to use the free model 08:15: A user demonstration of Bord 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.