641. Lauri Euren, Operating.app: An AI-powered platform to run a consulting firm from resource planning to month-end close

Show Notes: Lauri Euren, founder of Operating.app, explains that Operating is a tool for consulting firms or professional services that are growing and need help with staffing, internal resourcing, and month-end closes. The tool handles the workflow from time sheets to invoicing, supporting delivery across multiple projects.  Operating.app Explained Lauri emphasizes that Operating is not a CRM system and can integrate with existing CRMs like Salesforce, HubSpot, and Pipedrive. Lauri explains that Operating is not for actual sales execution but for back-end processes like staffing, time sheets, and invoicing. The tool also monitors project health, margins, and financials, providing tracking and insights into project burn rates and utilization. Operating.app Demonstration Lauri demonstrates the main dashboard, which includes tabs for staffing, personal schedules, projects, and reports. Lauri describes the main entities in Operating: projects, people, and positions, and how they intersect to manage staffing and project assignments. Lauri explains the different sections and their functions.   The dashboard includes pinned views for saved and shared views, time sheets for tracking hours, and various reporting options. Lauri highlights the importance of tailoring the use of Operating to different roles within the organization, such as consultants, COOs, and staffing managers. The invoicing feature generates invoices based on the invoicing schedule and billing type of the project. When saved, the invoice saves automatically to the accounting software used.  Lauri explains that projects often come from CRMs like HubSpot or Salesforce and are enriched with metadata using AI tools like Copilot or GPT using the Operating MCP server and AI tools like Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini or Microsoft Copilot. Operating can handle different pricing structures, including per hour and fixed price models, and can model various types of work within the fixed price model.   Planned vs Forecast Revenue Revenue Recognition The tool also includes revenue recognition features, allowing finance teams to track and recognize revenue accurately. Lauri mentions that Operating integrates with accounting tools like QuickBooks or NetSuite for billing and financial management. Clients Operating Serves Lauri discusses the ideal client size for Operating, typically starting from 10 people and scaling up to large firms with hundreds of consultants. The tool replaces spreadsheets and other point solutions for time tracking and resource planning. Lauri explains how Operating handles external consultants, tagging them differently in the system and managing their permissions and utilization. The tool allows for robust customization of permissions, ensuring that each user sees and edits only what they are allowed to. Managing a Project in Operating Lauri explains the end-to-end process of managing a project in Operating, from staffing to invoicing.  The process includes adding a project, allocating team members, setting budgets, and tracking time sheets. Operating provides real-time profitability calculations and margin effects for projects. The tool allows for the creation of invoices based on time entries and integrates with accounting tools for final billing. AI Integration with Operation Lauri highlights the AI integration with tools like Claude, allowing users to query and manage projects using natural language. The MCP server in Operating acts as an AI agent, consuming data and executing queries based on user permissions. Customers can build automated tasks and health checkers using Cloud Code and AI, enhancing efficiency and accuracy. The tool's flexibility and customization options make it suitable for various roles and project management needs. Pricing Model Lauri explains the current pricing model for Operating, which is $22 per person per month for the full module and $11-$13 for individual modules. The tool is designed to be more affordable than enterprise competitors, making it  a scalable solution for growing consulting firms. Lauri provides information on how interested parties can start a free trial or book a demo on the Operating website. Timestamps: 0:02: Introduction and Overview of Operating App  02:44: Features and Functionality of Operating  06:39: Detailed Walkthrough of Operating Dashboard  08:15: Integration with CRMs and AI Tools  13:39: Client Segment and Implementation  18:26: End-to-End Project Management in Operating  26:03: AI Integration and Customization  27:57: Pricing and Availability  Links: Operating Website: https://www.operating.app/ MCP Server (Use directly in Claude, ChatGPT...): https://www.operating.app/blog-posts/ai-consulting-mcp-server Lauri's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eurenl/ This episode on Umbrex:  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. *AI generated timestamps and show notes.  

Show Notes: Raman Julka is the founder and CEO of ValueChaser AI Labs and a former McKinsey Partner, where he served clients on operations, procurement, and digital topics and was a leader in McKinsey's procurement analytics practice. ValueChaser.ai is an AI-powered strategy and diagnostic platform that transforms raw business data into consulting-grade insights in under 10 minutes — work that typically takes analysts and consultants 1–3 weeks. Unlike generic AI tools, ValueChaser produces structured, benchmarked, auditable outputs: full diagnostic reports with health scoring, value levers, implementation steps, and action plans. It does not produce summaries or chat responses. It produces deliverables (pdf reports, excel models and csv files) your team can review, present, and act on. ValueChaser.ai Homepage ValueChaser.ai Demonstration In this episode, Raman gives Will a live demonstration of two products: • Company Diagnostics — upload a 10-K, annual report, or financial statements and receive a full business diagnostic with peer benchmarks, health scoring across functions, a value creation roadmap, and a detailed Excel model. Powered by a curated library of thousands of functional levers across industries and sub-industries. • Procurement Insights — upload transactional AP or spend data and receive category savings analysis, supplier intelligence, negotiation playbooks, and a prioritized action plan mapped to industry-specific procurement taxonomies. Includes a full categorized CSV of every transaction with confidence levels. Tested on datasets up to 1 million rows across 45 sub-industries. Value Chaser vs ChatGPT Raman explains how ValueChaser differs from simply prompting ChatGPT: deterministic and auditable outputs (not probabilistic), multi-model orchestration (Gemini for large data, Claude for narrative and reporting, Perplexity for market research), and enterprise-grade data security. Pricing and Subscription The platform is priced at $900 per report with subscription and white-label options available. It publicly launches on April 8, 2026. Subscribers get their own space, access to historical reports, and the option to white-label the platform. The tool is currently in private beta, with a few consulting companies, private equity funds, and independent advisors piloting it. Raman highlights ongoing developments, such as a module for sim and data room analytics for PE. The platform is also building a proposal development and client intelligence module for consulting engagements. The tool is designed to evolve based on client feedback and real-world testing. Interested listeners can reach out to Will directly for an exclusive discount on their first report. Products covered: Company Diagnostics, Procurement Categorization, Procurement Insights. Coming soon: CIM & Data Room Analytics for PE, Proposal Development & Client Intelligence. Source of Data ValueChaser.ai relies on uploaded data rather than searching the web. Raman explains that the tool uses three sources of information: uploaded data, information shared by the user, and curated knowledge from experts. The platform includes standard functional levers and taxonomies for different industries and sub-industries. Raman highlights the importance of curated knowledge in providing comprehensive outputs. The tool's hypothesis is that analytics expertise can be drawn from models with proper calibration and control.   Example of a Diagnostic Report Raman shows the diagnostic report for a healthcare company, which includes an executive summary, financial performance, and areas of opportunity. The report highlights financials, extended financials, and specific levers for the business, with detailed calculations and implementation steps.The health score tracks the business across functions, using benchmarks built from publicly available sources. The market intelligence section provides an overview of the company's market position and growth drivers. Example of a Procurement Insights Report Raman demonstrates the procurement insights report for a software company with transactional spend data. The platform categorizes spend to industry-specific taxonomies and maps against intelligence playbooks to provide levers and actions. The report includes a high-level spend overview, maturity score, quick wins, and detailed recommendations. The tool provides a detailed CSV file listing transactions with categorization and confidence levels. Timestamps: 02:03: Homepage and Product Overview  03:03: Data Upload and Validation  05:59: Multi-Source Information and Knowledge Base  08:48: Company Diagnostics Report  20:11: Procurement Insights Report  26:44: Comparison with ChatGPT  27:04: Pricing and Customer Set  29:09: Future Developments and Use Cases Links: Raman's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ramanjulka  Website: www.valuechaser.ai   Company LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/valuechaser-ai-labs-inc/about   Example reports — Downloadable reports based on examples for all products: https://eu.valuechaser.ai/case-examples    This episode on Umbrex: https://umbrex.com/unleashed/episode-640-the-ai-platform-turning-raw-business-data-into-consulting-grade-insights-in-under-10-minutes/ 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. *AI generated timestamps and show notes.  

Show Notes: Learn Directly from Authors on LearningFrontier.ai Fred Brouillet, founder of LearningFrontier.ai, explains how the platform works and how it helps users. Fred describes the current version of Learning Frontier.ai as an AI tool that allows users to interact with AI clones or avatars of famous authors in the Lean space. Users can also access avatars of great thinkers from the past, including Freud, Nietzsche etc. The platform aims to transform static knowledge from books into dynamic, interactive experiences, enhancing coaching and implementation. Fred highlights the scalability advantage of AI avatars over real-life experts, enabling simultaneous interaction with multiple users. The tool enhances changes the coaching space by providing readers access to experts that is cost-effective and immediate.  Build your own book library on LearningFrontier.ai A LearningFrontier.ai Demonstration Fred shares his screen to demonstrate the LearningFrontier.ai platform. The platform features a library where users can buy and read books, similar to Apple Books or Kindle. Users can chat with their books, similar to using ChatGPT, but with LearningFrontier.ai, users can access private knowledge and receive citations for answers, whereas ChatGPT only has access to public knowledge. Fred demonstrates chatting with his own book, Frontier Lean, and explains how the platform provides detailed citations and passages. Currently, there are 100 new and classic authors connected to the platform.  Fred introduces the AI avatar feature, where users can interact with an AI version of the author. Introducing the LearningFrontier.ai Avatar The AI avatar, created from a picture or video recording, can guide users through the implementation of the book's concepts. Fred explains that the AI avatar can ask questions to understand the user's context, similar to a consultant. The AI avatar can also provide ground knowledge beyond the book's content, making it a versatile coaching tool. Fred demonstrates how the avatar works when asked questions and explains how it can deliver information via text or voice, or video call depending on the user's requirements. He explains how easy it is to add questions to a previous query and how LearningFrontier.ai stores information to access and re-engage with a previous discussion. Chat with your books and understand better their concepts Dynamic Coaching with LearningFrontier.ai  Fred demonstrates the coaching mode, where the AI avatar asks clarifying questions to understand the user's problem. The platform includes specific modes for problem-solving, such as the Toyota Kata approach. Users can build a value stream map in real-time during the coaching session, enhancing the learning experience. Fred explains how the platform updates the value stream map as the conversation progresses, providing a dynamic learning tool. Speak with an AI Avatar Digital Twin of the author   Learning Frontier.AI comes with a number of Agentic functionalities to build VSM, A3 and Toyota Kata style coaching, etc...  How Authors List Books on LearningFrontier.ai When asked about the process for authors to list their books on the platform, Fred explains that authors can reach out to him directly on LinkedIn or through the Learning Frontier.ai website. The platform offers a monthly subscription of £20, providing access to close to 100 books, including classic authors and new authors. Users can purchase individual books for a one-time cost, which grants lifetime access to the book and its associated AI avatar. Timestamps: 02:56: Demonstration of Learning Frontier.ai Platform  05:29: Interaction with AI Avatars  12:28: Coaching and Problem-Solving Modes 16:55: Subscription and Book Purchase Details  Links: Website: https://learningfrontier.ai/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/frederic-brouillet-consulting/   This episode on Umbrex: https://umbrex.com/unleashed/episode-639-fred-brouillet-learningfrontier-ai-turning-books-into-ai-avatar-consultants/ 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. *AI generated timestamps and show notes.  

Show Notes: Nir Eyal, author of Hooked and Indistractable, talks about his new book Beyond Belief. Nir explains the inspiration for writing the book and the book's purpose: to help people process information and put it into practice. Nir shares his motivation for writing the book, focusing on the psychology of motivation and the importance of perseverance and adaptability. He talks about the missing component in moving from belief to action, and discusses the concept of motivation as a triangle, emphasizing the role of belief in sustaining motivation.  Beliefs Affecting Perception The conversation turns to stories from the book about beliefs affecting perception, such as the Toyota vs. GM prism and the expensive vs. cheap glass of wine experiments that proved the participants actually believed to be truths based on the information received over the facts. Nir explains how beliefs can literally change what we see, citing examples like people on diets seeing food as larger and people with a fear of heights perceiving distances as further. He discusses how brands and luxury goods affect perception. Nir emphasizes that our beliefs shape what we see, feel, and do, and that understanding this can help us improve our lives. Limiting vs Liberating Beliefs When asked how to identify and change limiting beliefs, Nir explains that beliefs are tools, not truths, and that understanding this can help us improve our lives. Applying this approach to relationships to illustrate how it works, he shares a personal story about a conflict with his mother and how he used the Work of Byron Katie to question his beliefs. Nir outlines the four questions from "The Work" that help identify and change limiting beliefs: Is it true? Is it absolutely true? Who am I when I hold this belief? Who would I be without this belief? Magical Thinking vs Mental Contrasting Nir talks about how to apply the belief inventory to other areas of life, such as business and company culture. He explains that beliefs are the operating system of our minds and that understanding this can help us improve our relationships and business practices. He discusses the concept of mental contrasting, which involves visualizing both the desired outcome and the obstacles to achieving it. Nir emphasizes that magical thinking, such as positive thinking without action, can be harmful and that mental contrasting is a more effective approach. Prayer for the Unfaithful On the chapter about prayer in the book, Nir explains that prayer has benefits even without faith, citing a study where people who prayed, even without faith, had better pain tolerance. He shares his experience of interviewing five faith leaders to learn how to pray when uncertain about God. Nir discusses the benefits of prayer, such as longer life, more life satisfaction, and less depression, and how he has incorporated prayer into his life. Setting Failure Goals When questioned about the concept of failure goals, Nir explains that failure goals involve setting goals for how many times you try, rather than focusing solely on success. He discusses the importance of celebrating the process and the journey, rather than just the outcome. Discipline in Practice Nir shares that he has incorporated prayer and improved his relationships through new practices. He discusses the concept of daily mantras, such as "we are all working with the tools we have" and "love is measured by the benefit of the doubt," to help shed limiting beliefs. Nir emphasizes the importance of these practices in improving his psychological well-being and relationships. Timestamps: 04:30: Beliefs Shaping Perception  09:09: Identifying and Changing Beliefs 22:05: Practical Applications of Belief Inventory  26:44: The Power of Prayer Without Faith  36:42: Failure Goals and Embracing Discomfort  41:56: Daily Practices and Mantras Links: The Book: geni.us/beyondbelief Bonus content and the 30-Day Belief Transformation Journal: nirandfar.com/beyond-belief Website: http://nirandfar.com Instagram - http://instagram.com/neyal99 LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nireyal/ Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/user/nirandfar Twitter - https://twitter.com/nireyal Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/nirandfar/   This episode on Umbrex: https://umbrex.com/unleashed/episode-638-nir-eyal-author-of-beyond-belief/ 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. *AI generated timestamps and show notes.  

Show Notes: Erin-Michael Gill, founder of Genaesis, shares his upbringing in Middletown, Maryland, and his education at Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas, where he studied astronomy and physics. He describes working at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office while pursuing graduate studies at Johns Hopkins University in applied physics, and later earning an MBA from MIT. Erin-Michael explains how his early exposure to patentability analysis shaped his view that intellectual property strategy often matters as much as the underlying technology. Working as a Patent Examiner Erin-Michael discusses his role as a patent examiner at the USPTO, evaluating applications for novelty and non-obviousness. He describes how examiners assess claims against prior art and why learning to identify the "one sentence" value proposition behind an invention became a durable skill for building and valuing companies. Intellectual Property Strategy at DuPont Erin-Michael describes moving from the USPTO into IP strategy at DuPont (Kevlar/Nomex), where he helped inventors protect and position new technologies. He recounts identifying a promising commercialization path for a new material, writing a business case, and being given the opportunity to help lead the effort to market. Improving PTO Operations Erin-Michael shares his experience advising during the Obama administration transition, contributing ideas to improve USPTO operations and reduce processing delays by addressing internal bottlenecks, incentives, and tools. Patent Portfolio Analysis and the "Patent Wars" Erin-Michael discusses later work analyzing patent portfolios and helping investors understand the strategic value of IP, including the dynamics behind major technology litigation that followed the rise of social platforms and smartphones. Founding Genaesis: GovCon M&A Erin-Michael explains how he entered the world of federal government contracting (GovCon) and why small-business set-aside programs create unique deal dynamics. He describes founding Genaesis to advise buyers and sellers of GovCon firms, with a focus on valuation, deal structuring, and growth through acquisition. Advising on Trade Agreements and IP Erin-Michael discusses his service on an industry advisory committee focused on intellectual property in trade, advising on complex trade issues across multiple administrations and highlighting why predictability and stability matter for investment and innovation.   Timestamps: 01:53: Role at the Patent Office 04:52: Transition to IP Strategy 09:36: Involvement in the Obama Administration 12:06: Career in IP and Government Contracting 21:09: Founding Genaesis and Government Contracting 44:03: Service on Federal Advisory Boards 48:46: Impact of Trade Agreements on IP   Links: Website: www.Genaesis.com Website Bio: https://www.genaesis.com/erin-michael    This episode on Umbrex: https://umbrex.com/unleashed/episode-637-erin-michael-gill-founder-of-genaesis-on-govcon-ma/ 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. *AI generated timestamps and show notes.  

Show Notes: Sarah Pomeranz, founder of Consultants for Impact, provides an overview of the organization. Sarah explains that Consultants for Impact was born out of her own struggle as an early-career consultant at Accenture during the COVID-19 pandemic. She felt a dissonance between the problems she solved at work and broader societal issues, leading her to explore how her skill set could address global challenges like pandemics, climate crises, and democracy preservation. Sarah took a one-year leave of absence from Accenture to explore opportunities for high-impact work and decided to help other consultants build careers in the public interest.  What Consultants for Impact Does The organization offers a peer-to-peer advising approach and matches former corporate consultants with social impact roles. They provide resources like career check-in templates and Career Conversations to help consultants identify their core values and find impactful roles. The process involves self-paced reflection prompts, one-on-one conversations with an advisor, and access to a network of consultants and high-impact organizations. The Advising Process Sarah describes the first step in the process: applying for a Career Conversation on their website. Applicants are matched with advisors, who are all former consultants, and are given curated resources based on their interests and background. The Career Conversation involves reflection prompts on values, problem areas, and previous roles, followed by a one-on-one discussion to address uncertainties and challenges. Participants join the Consultants for Impact community, gaining access to opportunities, events, and resources. Career Guidance for Consultants Sarah explains that the career guidance is personalized, depending on the individual's starting point and career goals. She uses the example of an independent consultant curious about impact to illustrate the process, emphasizing the importance of career as a tool for making the world better. The organization encourages consultants to think critically about where their skills can have the most impact, using the SELF framework (Significance, Efficacy, Leverage, Fit) to evaluate opportunities. The goal is to find roles that offer high impact, credible interventions, and opportunities for outsized effect. Job Search in the Impact Sector Sarah emphasizes the importance of thinking critically about problem areas and interventions, rather than just focusing on personal interests. She discusses the concept of Value Over Replacement Player (VORP) to highlight the importance of choosing roles where you provide more value than the next-best candidate.. The organization encourages consultants to consider unusual organizations and problem areas where their skills can have a significant impact. Roles for Consultants Sarah outlines various roles that consultants can transition into, including entrepreneurship, chief of staff roles, policy positions, product management, and grantmaking. She provides examples of successful transitions and the range of compensation levels, from bare-bones salaries to high six-figure earnings. The discussion includes the trade-offs between income and impact, with Sarah sharing her own experience of sacrificing future income increases for a more meaningful career. The organization helps consultants navigate these trade-offs and find roles that align with their non-negotiable values. Applying to the Impact Sector The conversation turns to preparing resumes and LinkedIn profiles for the impact sector. Sarah advises being thoughtful about solving core problems for resource-constrained clients and avoiding a salesy approach. She emphasizes the importance of demonstrating impact with metrics and specific examples. The organization coaches consultants on how to portray their experience in a way that builds trust and credibility in the impact sector. Building Relationships with NonProfits Sarah discusses how Consultants for Impact has built relationships with nonprofits and foundations around the world and created a reputation for providing high-quality referrals. Early efforts focused on building personal relationships and attending conferences in relevant cause areas. The organization now receives more referrals than they can handle, thanks to their reputation for curating top candidates. They also partner with other ecosystems like Umbrex to reach more consultants and build awareness of their services. Evaluating the Impact of Nonprofits Sarah advises evaluating the impact of nonprofits by focusing on the significance of the problem they address and the neglected nature of the issue. She recommends looking for organizations with external evaluators and focusing on real impact metrics rather than vanity metrics. Consultants for Impact works with third-party evaluators and foundations to assess the efficacy of nonprofits and ensure they are having a significant impact. They also provide resources and recommendations for high-impact organizations, helping consultants make informed decisions about their career paths. Promotion of Services Sarah explains how Consultants for Impact promotes their services through ads on LinkedIn, Meta, and Reddit, targeting consultants who are interested in self-discovery and career change. They also participate in workshops and events to raise awareness and connect with potential clients. The organization is committed to finding product-market fit and continuously improving their services based on feedback and referrals. Sarah invites listeners to visit their website and attend upcoming workshops to learn more about their offerings and connect with the community. Timestamps: 02:12: Consultants for Impact's Mission and Services 03:26: The Career Conversation Process 08:01: Personalized Career Guidance and Impact Framework 10:30: Sophisticated Job Search Strategies 15:05: Roles and Compensation in the Impact Sector 22:19: Preparing Collateral for the Impact Sector 24:39: Reaching Out to Nonprofits and Building Reputation 31:14: Evaluating the Impact of Nonprofits 36:17: Promoting Consultants for Impact and Future Plans Links: Consultants for Impact's website Application for free 1:1 career advising Consultants for Impact Career Check-In Template  Understanding your Value Over Replacement Player (VORP): School for Moral AmbitionConsultants for Impact LinkedIn Refresh Guide Sign up for the Consultants for Impact newsletter, including 10 high-impact jobs every other week This episode on Umbrex: 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. *AI generated timestamps and show notes.    

Show Notes:  Richard Millington talks about his Substack and consulting practice, Fever B. Richard shares his journey of starting his consultancy practice in 2009 or 2010, focusing on building online communities. During the pandemic, Richard received many requests for advice on becoming a consultant, leading him to start his Substack in April 2023. Richard explains how his Substack has become a side hustle, allowing him to reflect on his experiences and share valuable insights with his audience. Defining Community Consulting Richard defines community consulting, which involves building communities for customers in the technology space. He explains that community consulting helps companies save money by allowing customers to answer each other's questions, reducing the need for customer support. Richard emphasizes the importance of understanding psychology, incentive structures, and legal considerations when building communities, and he highlights the need for companies to hire the right team and have the right strategy, technology, and processes in place. How to Motivate Community Participants When asked how to motivate people to answer questions in online communities, Richard explains that people often help others for the intrinsic reward of feeling useful and making an impact. He discusses the importance of creating a sense of community and recognition for top contributors, such as unique roles and status within the community. Richard notes that financial incentives can sometimes backfire, as people may focus more on the money than on helping others. Surprising Insights on Substack Richard mentions that his most popular post, "The goal of your consulting website is to display as many trust signals as possible," received a lot of attention. He shares other popular posts, such as "Consulting is not selling your expertise" and "You only need to engage 50 people to be a success." Richard discusses his less popular but personally impactful posts, like those on contract structure and niche selection, which he found important for his audience. A Successful Approach to Content Creation Richard talks about his process for creating Substack posts. He  explains that he has a routine of dedicating the first hour of his day to generating ideas and writing posts. He reflects on his past experiences and common themes among his coaching clients to create relevant content. Richard mentions that he is moving towards having a theme for a few months, leading into a program he is running, to provide a clear point of focus for his content. Examples of Consulting Projects Richard describes a recent project with a client in Las Vegas, where he helped launch a community from scratch. He explains the importance of strategy, internal buy-in, technology setup, and training for community success. Richard also discusses projects focused on improving existing communities, such as increasing engagement and proving return on investment. Courses and Coaching for Consultants Richard shares his experience with creating courses, starting with his first course in 2011, and the success of his video courses. He explains the benefits of cohort-based courses, which have higher completion rates compared to on-demand courses. Richard discusses his coaching programs, which help independent consultants select the right niche, market themselves, and attract clients. Strategies to Attract Clients Richard outlines six ways to attract clients: search engine optimization, algorithms, referrals, networking, advertising, and cold outreach. He emphasizes the importance of selecting the right acquisition channel and committing to it. Richard shares his personal experience with using social ads to grow his Substack audience and the costs involved. Pricing Advice for Consultants Richard discusses the importance of strategic pricing and the pitfalls of advice like "just raise your rates." He explains the need for a balanced approach to pricing, considering the type of client, the project's complexity, and the competition. Richard shares his approach to naming fees and the benefits of using a broad range to align with the client's expectations. Access more of Richard's advice on Indispensable Consulting And to learn more about the core foundations of a sustainable consultancy: "a clear niche, strong positioning, and well-defined offers that clients understand and are willing to pay for." join the Consulting Foundations Program Timestamps: 03:00: Defining Community Consulting  05:30: Motivating Community Participants  08:36: Popular Substack Posts and Surprising Insights 25:38: Richard's Approach to Content Creation  30:23: Consulting Practice and Client Projects 34:58: Courses and Coaching for Independent Consultants 47:15: Challenges and Strategies in Attracting Clients 47:35: Consulting Advice and Pricing  Links: Personal Website: https://www.richardmillington.com/ Company Website: https://www.feverbee.com/   This episode on Umbrex: https://umbrex.com/?post_type=unleashed&p=244024&preview=true 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. *AI generated timestamps and show notes.    

Show Notes: Angie Lu highlights her background as a McKinsey alum and founder of CasewithAI. Angie explains that CasewithAI is an AI-powered platform designed to help with case interviews, providing practice cases and drills. The platform offers objective feedback to improve case performance. Angie mentions starting a YouTube channel during COVID-19, which led to a high demand for consulting tips and coaching. The Development of CasewithAI Angie discusses the inspiration behind CasewithAI, including the success of Chat PRD, an AI tool for product managers. She explains the decision to build an AI-assisted platform to help more people and learn more about AI. Angie emphasizes her passion for building products and combining it with her curiosity about AI. The conversation turns to the success of Angie's YouTube channel, mentioning specific videos with high view counts. Demonstration of CasewithAI Angie walks through the homepage of CasewithAI, explaining its features and benefits. Angie describes the key challenges of case interviews, such as finding the right case partners and consistent feedback. The platform offers affordable quality coaching and allows users to practice at any time. Angie demonstrates the user interface, showing how to start a free practice session and select specific drills. Market Size and Pricing Market Sizing Drill Practice Angie explains the market sizing drill, describing it as a mini case that requires creating an approach, calculations, and insights.She discusses the pricing options, including pay-as-you-go credits and monthly subscriptions. Angie highlights the affordability of the platform, comparing it to the high cost of hiring a private coach. The platform offers a free trial with three case examples to allow users to fully experience the product before purchasing. The Feedback Features Angie demonstrates the detailed feedback provided by the platform, explaining the rating system and criteria. The feedback includes strengths, areas for improvement, and specific recommendations for each question. Angie introduces the progressive feedback mode, which is perfect for beginners and provides guided practice. The platform offers a real-life interview simulation mode, where users can practice with an AI interviewer. AI Interviewer The Building Process Angie shares the process of building the platform, starting with a simple MVP and quickly iterating based on user feedback. The small, nimble team used AI tools to prototype and improve the platform quickly. Angie emphasizes the importance of training the AI model to provide accurate and detailed feedback. The platform's success is attributed to a combination of product development and effective marketing strategies. Promoting CasewithAI Online Angie discusses the various marketing channels used to promote CasewithAI, including YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and Chinese social media sites. The platform also engages with users on Reddit and through university partnerships. Angie highlights the importance of marketing in making users aware of the product and its benefits. The platform's visibility on search engines like Google and AI-powered answer engines contributes to its lead generation. Future Applications of CasewithAI Angie talks about the potential of AI tools like CasewithAI in various professional development areas. Angie sees the platform's application beyond consulting, including tech, operations, and product management roles. The tool could also be used for training frontline managers and employees in other industries. Angie emphasizes the importance of AI in encoding tacit knowledge and providing detailed feedback for continuous improvement. Timestamps: 02:13: Development of CasewithAI  04:54: Demo of CasewithAI Platform  07:10: Market Sizing Drill and Pricing  12:29: Detailed Feedback and Progressive Feedback Mode  21:53: Building and Iterating the Platform  23:57: Marketing and User Engagement  24:31: Future of AI in Education and Professional Development  Links: Website: CasewithAI.com This episode on Umbrex: https://umbrex.com/?post_type=unleashed&p=243677&preview=true 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. *AI generated timestamps and show notes.  

Show Notes Tarek Matar, founder of Scalar AI, explains the tool's purpose. He describes Scalar AI as an AI engine designed for consultants to build McKinsey level, end-to-end slides and presentations. The tool is differentiated from general AI tools like ChatGPT and GPT-3 by focusing on consulting-grade presentations. The founders include a research scientist from Google Brain and two other experienced professionals. Features and Functionality of Scalar AI Scalar AI automates the entire research, analysis, structure, and visualization process for consultants. The tool can create single slides or entire decks based on user prompts.It offers various modes: AI generation, text to slide, and sketch to slide, allowing flexibility in input methods. The tool includes a custom brand identity feature, allowing users to upload and customize their firm's PowerPoint templates. A Scalar.AI Demonstration Tarek demonstrates the tool by creating a slide and a deck.  Adding Prompts   Adding custom brand identity Tarek creates a waterfall slide showing the top five countries by international tourist arrivals.  Detailed data and insights The tool generates a visually appealing slide with detailed data and insights. Tarek explains the process of editing and refining the generated slides to meet specific needs. The Text to Slide Mode Tarek demonstrates the text to slide mode by pasting a long text about key success factors for post-merger integration in banking.  Data generation  The tool summarizes the text into a concise slide with bullet points and icons. They also show the sketch to slide mode by uploading a hand-drawn image, which the tool converts into a PowerPoint slide. The tool supports various image formats, including JPEG, PNG, and PDF. The Custom Brand Identity Feature Tarek explains the custom brand identity feature, which allows users to upload their firm's PowerPoint templates. The tool can save and apply custom colors, fonts, and slide masters. A prompting guide and video tutorials are available to help users effectively use the tool. Tarek mentions the importance of proper prompting to get the best results from the AI. Pricing and Subscription Details Tarek talks about the pricing and mentions discounts available for annual subscriptions and partnerships. The tool is designed for B2B clients, including consulting firms and independent consultants. Tarek discusses the possibility of working with freelancers and organizations like Umbrex to offer special pricing. The tool is integrated with PowerPoint, making it easy for users to access and use. Security and Data Privacy Tarek addresses concerns about data security and privacy when using Scalar AI. The tool uses enterprise LLMs and follows strict data retention policies, ensuring data is encrypted and anonymized. The tool generates slides on the user's device, not on Scalar AI's servers, maintaining data privacy. Tarek mentions that the tool is compliant with GDPR and can meet the security requirements of government entities. The Genesis Story of Scalar.AI Tarek shares the background of Scalar AI, including his experience as a consultant and his co-founders' technical expertise. The idea for the tool came from the need to automate workflows and create professional slides for consulting clients. The founders spent a significant amount of time in stealth mode, refining and testing the product. The tool is now entering the commercialization stage, with plans to expand its user base and features. Scalar.AI and the Consulting Industry Tarek discusses the potential impact of Scalar AI on the consulting industry. Tarek emphasizes the tool's ability to save time and improve productivity for consultants. They plan to continue refining the tool and exploring partnerships with organizations like Umbrex. Timestamps: 02:21: Features and Functionality of Scalar AI  02:37: Demonstration of Scalar AI's Capabilities  04:11: Text to Slide and Sketch to Slide Modes  22:15: Custom Brand Identity and Prompting Guide  22:36: Pricing and Subscription Details 31:08: Security and Data Privacy  36:14: Backstory and Development of Scalar AI  Links: Website: getscalar.ai  This episode on Umbrex: https://umbrex.com/wp-admin/post-new.php?post_type=unleashed#:~:text=https%3A//umbrex.com/unleashed/240677/   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. *AI generated timestamps and show notes.  

Show Notes: Jason Baumgarten is a partner at Spencer Stuart where he is also the global head and CEO of board practice. He assists businesses in all sectors to identify and evaluate CEOs who motivate senior leadership teams to reach their full potential. Additionally, he assists boards with CEO succession planning, director recruitment, and identifying future leaders.  How to Join a For-profit Board Jason talks about the range of roles on a board and the specific roles a board might be looking to fill. He explains that the specificity of board roles varies based on the scale and maturity of the organization, using a real example of a board search he is currently involved in. Jason discusses how sophisticated boards often have specific requirements for board members, such as industry experience, geographic expertise, and specific skill sets. Identifying and Defining Board Roles When asked about the various categories of board roles, such as finance, data analytics, and HR, Jason explains that the most common request is for recently or actively retired CEOs, followed by CFOs with specific finance experience. He  highlights the importance of understanding the nature and type of business the company is in, such as regulated industries, capital-light businesses, or capital-heavy businesses. Board Member Etiquette Jason outlines the main drivers for wanting to be on a board: prestige and the desire to be helpful. He explains the concept of "noses in, fingers out" in governance, emphasizing the importance of board members being helpful but not overly involved. He also discusses the range of compensation for board members, from stipends to significant annual fees, and advises against depending on board compensation as a primary source of income.  He stresses the importance of being willing to fire oneself from a board to provide objective advice to the CEO. The Reality of Joining a Board for Management Consultants Jason advises not to limit aspirations and suggests using a simple litmus test: "if the company wouldn't hire you as a top executive, they probably won't consider you for a board role." He explains the importance of nonprofit boards, both fundraising and operating boards, and how they can provide valuable experience and networking opportunities. Jason discusses the potential for board roles in small private companies, large private companies, and public companies, emphasizing the importance of regional connections and unique experiences. The Role of Executive Search Firms in Board Recruitment Jason explains that search firms are often involved in board searches for public or pre-IPO companies and large private equity firms. He advises building relationships with search firms and being responsive and helpful when they reach out for market intelligence or advisory work. Jason also shares the importance of having a network of firms that work in your industry or location and how advisory work can lead to board opportunities. How Boards Vet Prospective Members The conversation turns to the process of being vetted and evaluated for a board role, including interviews, background checks, and social media history. Jason explains that some  boards generally recruit with a lighter touch than other roles, but private equity and regulated boards may conduct more thorough diligence. He advises candidates to ask about the board's process, including the last board member hired and the steps involved in the recruitment process. He also emphasizes the importance of meeting all board members and ensuring a good fit in terms of personality and interests. The Commitment Reality of Being on the Board Jason talks about the typical time commitment for board members, including meetings, committee calls, and ad hoc time with the CEO. He explains the importance of understanding the size of board decks and the amount of preparation required for each meeting. Jason also advises candidates to be patient and persistent, as the process of getting on a board can take years and is often unpredictable. Identifying Risks to Board Members When asked about the risks involved in accepting a board position and the importance of D&O insurance, Jason recommends consulting with a D&O insurance broker to understand the market and ensure appropriate coverage. He advises candidates to be aware of any litigation or regulatory risks associated with the board and to seek legal advice if necessary. Jason also emphasizes the importance of understanding the board's D&O policy and ensuring that board members are covered appropriately. Final Thoughts and Advice Jason reiterates the importance of understanding the time commitment and potential disruptions that can arise. He advises candidates to be patient and persistent, as the process of getting on a board can take years. Jason shares a story about a former CISO who became a sought-after board member, illustrating the unpredictability of the process and the importance of perseverance. Timestamps: 02:18: Types of Board Roles and Common Requests 05:29: Benefits of Being on a Board  08:08: Levels of Boards and Aspirations  15:24: Search Firms and Board Recruitment Processes  32:38: The Board Recruitment Process 39:41: Time Commitment and Potential Disruptions  42:50: Risk and Insurance Considerations  47:16: Final Thoughts and Advice  Links: Website: getscalar.ai   This episode on Umbrex: https://umbrex.com/unleashed/episode-632-jason-baumgarten-how-to-position-yourself-for-board-roles/ 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. *AI generated timestamps and show notes.