Climb In Consulting

Harry Gaskell, Chief Innovation Officer for EY UK and Ireland, discusses the future of consulting, skills needed, and EY's use of emerging technology. Topics include fostering a culture of innovation, evolving consulting career paths, building a diverse and innovative consulting firm, embracing AI in businesses, balancing skills development, and transitioning to value-based billing.

Today’s episode is a little different and I’m really excited to be sharing it with you. Instead of my normal interviews where I’m the one asking the questions, today’s interview is taken from an event I attended last month, hosted by my good friend James Mitra at JBM Consulting. For those of you that don’t know, JBM are an executive search firm that place top talent into high growth tech firms, fintechs and consultancies. They are also the talent partners to the Fintech focused Private equity firm Motive Partners which is where this event was held. When James told me who the speaker was going to be I said that we had to record it for the podcast and it certainly didn’t disappoint. I’m a big believer that you can, and should, learn from the best. Regardless of their field. As you’ll hear in today’s interview, there are so many fantastic insights that are equally applicable to Consulting firms, and their clients, as there are to this guest’s specific industry. For those of you listening to this outside of the UK, or for those of you in the UK who may have been living under a rock for the last 10 years, Moonpig are the UK’s largest online card retailer with over 15 million cards sent through their online platform in 2017 alone. Iain was one of the early members of the Moonpig team and over his time as MD grew the business from a team of just 8 people, turning over £2,000,000 in to a team of over 160 turning over £60m a year. This phenomenal growth ultimately led to Moonpig being acquired by Photobox for £120m in 2011 James and Iain cover some really interesting topics in their conversation and the questions that follow including: Iain’s journey to becoming the MD of Moonpig and the unorthodox approach he took to get there. The importance of using data when it comes to Marketing and how this helped Moonpig achieve it’s rapid growth. How Iain and the team ensured they hired the best talent for the business and their unconventional approach for rewarding their team. The sale to Photobox and the steps they took from deciding to sell through to integrating the business with their new owners And the one I know many of you will want to know. How they decided on the name Moonpig and where the jingle came. It was great to meet Iain and I really enjoyed hearing his story and advice for those looking to grow their business as successfully as he did. This episode is brought to you by Create Engage the Digital Marketing agency for the disruptive Management Consultancy.

Through my new Agency, Create Engage, I’ve been speaking to a number of Consulting leaders about how to improve their Digital Marketing and wanted to share the answers to two of the most common questions I get to help you improve your own marketing activity. The two questions I discuss in today’s episode are: Where is the ROI from Digital Marketing? How can you develop effective content that delivers results? Both are great questions and critical to think about before you start investing your Marketing budget and creating content. If you have any questions about what I share in today’s episode and would like to talk about how it applies to your own Digital Marketing activity then drop me an email. I’d love to talk to you. Nick@CreateEngage.co.uk This episode is brought to you by Create Engage the Digital Marketing agency for the disruptive Management Consultancy. Elixirr - https://www.elixirr.com/ 11:FS - https://11fs.com/ 11:FS FinTech Insider Podcast - https://fi.11fs.com/ Nigel Walsh - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nigelwalsh/ David Lancefield - https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidclancefield/ Create Engage Insight Piece on Elixirr’s Digital Marketing Secrets - https://www.createengage.co.uk/insights/ 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing by Al Ries and Jack Trout - http://a.co/d/hEDbIz2 Buzz Sumo - https://buzzsumo.com/

Today's guest is Michael Zipursky. Michael is the co-founder of ConsultingSuccess.com which provides training, guidance and mentoring to those looking to launch and scale their Consulting businesses. Through their support Consulting Success has helped 1,000s of Consulting entrepreneurs grow their businesses - some by 6 and 7 figures - and Michael shares a number of these secrets in today's episode. Prior to launching Consulting Success Michael founded, grew and sold a number of Consulting business learning first hand what works and what doesn't. This led him to launch Consulting Success, initially as a blog to share his own experience, before demand for his insight and advice led him to turn it in to a business. Michael has also written a number of books on how to grow a successful consulting business including the best seller The Elite Consulting Mind and his most recent book Consulting Success: the Proven Guide to Start, Run and Grow a Successful Consulting Business Michael was a great guest and we discuss some really interesting topics in today's conversation including: How Michael successfully grew his Consulting firm's Japanese office from a standing start and his advice for others looking to expand internationally. The biggest barriers that stop people scaling their Consulting businesses and how to overcome them. Michael's advice to those thinking about launching their own Consulting business and what you should consider before you do and why it's critical to get out from behind your laptop when growing your business and the common mistakes many people make in doing this. I really enjoyed this conversation and it was great to get Michaels perspective from both his experience of running and growing his own businesses as well as his insights from having coached 1,000s of Consultants to achieve their own success. You can find out more about Michael on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/zipursky/ You can find out more about Consulting Success at https://www.consultingsuccess.com/ Specific things we discuss in the show: Eat That Frog by Brian Tracey - http://amzn.eu/d/370DEjj The Elite Consulting Mind by Michael Zipursky - http://amzn.eu/d/cCAdzbm Consulting Success by Michael Zipursky - http://amzn.eu/d/cwgze9g Straight Line Leadership by Dusan Djukich - http://amzn.eu/d/hQlOVxg Living The 80/20 Way by Richard Koch - http://amzn.eu/d/7INSq0M Michael’s Consulting Blueprint - https://www.consultingsuccess.com/consultants-success-blueprint

Today’s guest is Seb Chamber Managing Partner of CIL Management Consultants. Seb was introduced to me by a previous guest of mine, Dom Moorhouse, as someone I must get on the show and Seb certainly didn’t disappoint. Seb’s route to Managing Partner is a really interesting story and one that while uncommon, gives an insight in to a lesser travelled route that I know many of you will be fascinated by. Instead of climbing the ladder to Partner Seb bought in to CIL, something that we discuss in detail in today’s episode, and grew the firm from there. Before you think ‘well that’s okay if you have plenty of cash’, Seb didn’t and there’s a lot you can learn from Seb’s approach here for those of you with aspirations to buy in to a business yourselves. But this is only part of Seb’s story and we cover a range of topics in addition to this including: Growing a Consulting firm where the head office is based outside of London and why Seb sees their Froom head office (a town 30 minutes outside of Bath) as an asset to the firm. Seb’s advice to those looking to climb the Consulting career ladder as well as those with aspirations to build a career at the top of their firms for as long as he has. The CIL meme wall, yes you heard me right, meme wall - the first I’ve seen in any consulting office – what this says about CILs culture and why culture is critical when starting and growing a business. I really enjoyed this wide ranging conversation with Seb and it was great to dig in to topics that I’d not discussed with any other guest before. Whether you’re just starting out in Consulting, looking to climb to Partner in your firm or you have aspirations to buy in to a firm and be a part of growing a business there’s something in here for everyone. You can find out more about Seb on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sebastian-chambers-3ba205a/ Or drop him an email at schambers@cilconsultants.com If you’re interested in finding out more about CIL you can check out their website - http://www.cilconsultants.com/ This episode is brought to you by Create Engage the Digital Marketing agency for the disruptive Management Consultancy. Specific things we discuss in the show: Bounce by Mathew Syed - http://amzn.eu/d/9LTUgvI Ted Talks - https://www.ted.com/talks Elyn Saks TED Talk – A tale of mental illness – From the Inside - https://www.ted.com/talks/elyn_saks_seeing_mental_illness?language=en

Today’s guest is Gian Power. Gian is the Founder of TLC Lions and Unwind London. Having started out in Consulting, Gian’s life was turned upside down in 2015 when his father was murdered while on a business trip to India. Following the 3 month investigation to find out what happened to his father, a period that Gian says was ‘the most difficult time of his life’ he returned to Consulting but found it just wasn’t the same for him. That’s when he set out to do something different and that decision ultimately led him to found TLC Lions. Since launching TLC Lions, A collection of motivational speakers who share their inspiring stories to help organisations improve employee engagement and well-being, the business has gone from strength to strength, working with clients such as Deloitte, BDO, Amazon and Just Eat to name but a few. We cover some really interesting topics in this interview, a number of which I haven’t discussed with any other guests before including: The story of how Gian founded TLC Lions and his advice to others thinking of launching their own business outside of Consulting. Why being busy is just an excuse and what you should be asking yourself instead. How Gian makes decisions and the importance of trusting your gut when deciding whether something’s right for you. The importance of mental health or wellbeing as Gian calls it and Gian advice for both individuals and corporates on ensuring their wellbeing or that of their employees is as good as it can be. and much much more! I really enjoyed speaking with Gian and hearing how he’s managed to come back from such a terrible tragedy to create a successful business and happy life for himself and I’m sure you’ll get a lot from what he has to say! You can find out more about Gian on his LinkedIn profile - https://www.linkedin.com/in/giansinghpower/ If you want to find out more about TLC Lions and Unwind you can do so at the links below: TLC Lions - https://www.tlclions.com/ Unwind London - https://www.unwindlondon.com/ Specific things we discuss in the show: Tools of Titans by Tim Ferriss - http://amzn.eu/d/ftLXivO Derek Sivers - https://sivers.org/ Anything You Wnat by Derek Sivers - http://amzn.eu/d/9YZqQiD Paul Obershnider - https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-oberschneider-61694a59 Dr Kamel Hothi OBE - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamel_Hothi Calm app - https://www.calm.com/ Mo Gawdat - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mo_Gawdat Solve for Happy by Mo Gawdat - http://amzn.eu/d/2NMXTVf Mental Health First Aid Course - https://mhfaengland.org/

Today’s guest is Nigel Walsh. Nigel is a Partner in Deloitte Digital and leads the firms proposition for InsurTech disruptors and how they engage across the insurance sector. Nigel is a respected industry commentator and influencer and is regularly featured in industry trade news sharing his take on the latest trends in innovation and InsurTech. He is the co-host of his own podcast, InsurTech Insider, where he shares the latest news, insight and debate within the InsurTech space. If that wasn’t enough he is also co-author of the recently launched InsurTech book sharing a chapter on ‘frictionless insurance in a land of utility’ which focuses on the intersection between customer experience and the rise of the sharing economy.  We cover some really interesting topics in this conversation including: What successful innovation looks like and how corporates should be approaching innovation to deliver results. What really matters when it comes to selecting your insurer and why there’s more to think about then a toy Oleg. Disruption in the Consulting industry and what changes our own industry is facing. Collaboration in Consulting and the story behind Nigel’s industry leading podcast which he co-hosts with another Consulting firm. And much much more! It was great fun speaking to Nigel and getting his perspective on innovation within the Insurance industry and beyond. If you’re looking to move in to the start up space or want to understand how you can work with innovative tech businesses as a Consultant then this episode is a must listen! You can find out more about Nigel here: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nigelwalsh/?originalSubdomain=uk   Twitter - www.twitter.com/nigelwalsh And get in touch with him at ndwalsh@deloitte.co.uk   Specific things we discuss in the show: The InsurTech insider podcast -  https://ii.11fs.com/   The INSURTECH book - https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1119362210/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_U_x_4NZXBbJ3Q14W5    Pocket app - https://getpocket.com/   'InsurTech top 50 influencers' - https://InsurTechnews.com/influencers   Denim Labs - https://denimlabs.com/   Bold Penguin - https://www.boldpenguin.com/   Chris Cheatham - https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrischeatham/

Today’s guests are Karina Brown and Jim Stichbury.s Co founders of GroHappy. GroHappy is a B2B software business that helps companies to give their employees the career development that they crave. GroHappy's tools and technologies help employees to get clear on their career aspirations, have better conversations about it and discover recommended steps (from podcasts, to courses, to events) to move towards their goals. I was introduced to Karina in the very early days of GroHappy and I have had the privilege of watching as Karina and Jim take GroHappy from an idea that they worked on in evenings and weekends to a successful, investor backed, tech start up with a growing professional services client base. I had a great time speaking with Karina and Jim and we cover some really interesting topics in this conversation including: How Karina and Jim came up with the idea of GroHappy and how they managed the earlier phase of the business to turn it from a side project in to their full time focus. Karina and Jim’s top tips for prioritisation and productivity when growing a start up. The importance of advisors when growing an early stage start up and how Karina and Jim identified their gaps and then found advisors to fill them. The lessons from their recent funding round and their advice for those looking to do the same. Any much much more! If you are planning on starting your own business, you have an idea that you’d like to give a go but aren’t sure how to do it or you want to learn how to apply successful start-up principles in your own Consulting career then this episode is a must listen! You can find out more about Karina and Jim on their LinkedIn Karina – https://www.linkedin.com/in/karinabrown01 Jim – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesstichbury If you want to find out more about GroHappy you can check out their website -  http://www.grohappy.co.uk Specific things we discuss in the show: Zero to one by Peter Thiel and Blake Masters - http://amzn.eu/d/4aIRRuT Harry Gaskell - https://www.linkedin.com/in/harry-gaskell-ab94271/?originalSubdomain=uk   London and partners growth programme - https://business.london/business-growth-programme   The Design Sprint by Google - http://www.gv.com/sprint/   The Agile Manifesto - http://agilemanifesto.org/   Deep Work by Cal Newport - https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0349411905/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_U_x_O0JUBbCPADQ23   The Alliance by Reid Hoffman - https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1625275773/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_U_x_E1JUBb8938SZ6   The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver - https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0571339794/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_U_x_J3JUBbFFGRDQ2   Homo Deus by Yuval Noah Harari - https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1784703931/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_U_x_-3JUBb3VKXC34    Exponential Organisations by Salim Ismail et al - https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1626814236/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_U_x_C4JUBb48HC81D    Reinventing Organisations by Frederic Laloux - https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/2960133501/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_U_x_m5JUBb86N2TZ4    The Lean Start Up by Eric Ries - https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0670921602/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_U_x_65JUBbT0ND3J1

Today’s episode was prompted by my recent interview with Andrew Denton from Alfa Systems where we discuss the importance of Mentoring. Mentorship, advice and guidance from senior colleagues and other successful people has been a huge part of my career development and this podcast wouldn’t exist without it. I’m a big believer in the power of mentorship and as Tony Robbins says “If you want to be successful, find someone who has achieved the results you want and copy what they do and you'll achieve the same results.” Identifying, reaching out to and learning from Mentors is something that I’ve received lots of questions about so I wanted to do a short episode to share my advice for those of you looking to find and learn from mentors, both inside and outside of your firm. I hope you find this episode useful. If there’s any other topics that you’d like me to do an episode on just drop me an email Nick@climbinconsulting.com

Today’s guest is Andrew Denton. Andrew is Chief Executive Officer of Alfa Systems, the leading international asset finance and leasing software company. Having joined the company in 1995 he successfully worked his way up, becoming a member of the Board in 2003 as Sales and Marketing Director. He was made Chief Operating Officer in 2010 and became CEO in September 2016. In addition to his role at Alfa He is also Director and joint founder of the Leasing Foundation, an organisation that supports the leasing and asset finance industry through charitable activities, research and development. Andrew was recommended to me by two close friends of mine as someone I must get on the podcast and he certainly didn’t disappoint. The advice and insights he shares throughout this interview are fantastic and I had a great time interviewing him. We cover so much ground in this conversation including: Andrew’s path to CEO and his advice to those looking to do the same. The importance of developing sales skills regardless of your role if you’re looking to climb in your company. What he learnt from Alfa’s IPO and his advice to others who may be considering doing the same. The importance of finding and building relationships with Mentors to help you accelerate your career. As my first guest from a listed software and services business it was great to get his unique perspective on the market and advice for others looking to emulate his and Alfa’s success. You can find out more about Andrew and connect with him through his LinkedIn profile - https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewwdenton/ You can find out more about Alfa Systems at https://www.alfasystems.com   Specific Things We Discuss: The blokes guide to pregnancy by Jon Smith  - http://amzn.eu/d/9OF2V2d The sixty minute father by Rob Parsons - http://amzn.eu/d/girxojz The Jersey: The All Blacks: The Secrets Behind the World's Most Successful Team by Peter Bills - http://amzn.eu/d/iFCvidm The Real McCaw: Richie McCaw: The Autobiography by Richie McCaw - http://amzn.eu/d/gBs2iG3 Numis - https://www.numiscorp.com/x/default.html Barclays - https://www.investmentbank.barclays.com/ Tulchan - http://www.tulchangroup.com/ Whitecase - https://www.whitecase.com/ Alfa’s Non Executive Directors  - https://investors.alfasystems.com/media/board-of-directors Tim Cook - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Cook Bill Mcdermott - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_McDermott Nile Rodgers - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nile_Rodgers Madonna - https://www.madonna.com/ Bill Gates - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Gates The Gates Foundation - https://www.gatesfoundation.org/ TED interview with Elon Musk - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQtMqdYgFH0 Flipboard - https://flipboard.com/ You can find out more about Andrew on his Linkedin page - https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewwdenton/ You can find out more about Alfa at https://www.alfasystems.com/eu/