142 episodes

As a management consultant myself I’ve always been lucky to have mentors who have guided me through my career.

When I was in house I regularly had quality time with Senior Partners that helped me rapidly accelerate my career and has continued to help since I’ve gone out on my own.

While I had this great resource and knowledge bank to draw on I know many friends in Consulting aren’t as lucky with some only speaking with senior partners on a monthly or quarterly basis.

That’s why I created this podcast.

I wanted to help people like you who want to accelerate their careers in consulting by interviewing leaders in the field to share the advice, tips and strategies that they used to get to the top so that you can to so that you can too.

In each Episode I’ll be interviewing a senior figure in the industry so that you can learn from them. We’ll be going deep in to their background, how they succeeded and what their advice would be for you.

This podcast is brought to you by Create Engage the Digital Marketing agency for the disruptive Management Consultancy.

Digital Marketing has moved forward, but most consulting firms haven’t. Many Consulting firms still see their corporate blog as their sole Digital Marketing channel and find themselves frustrated when these blogs yield little if any results.

To help those of you who want to harness the power of Digital Marketing to grow your Consulting Business but don’t have the knowledge, capacity or in-house capability to do so I launched Create Engage, the first Digital Marketing agency for the Management Consulting Industry.

If you’d like to find out more about how Create Engage can help you use Digital Marketing to take your business to the next level then drop me an email at Nick@CreateEngage.co.uk or go to our website

www.createengage.co.uk where you can download our free case study that breaks down down the Digital Marketing strategies used by one successful Consulting firm to help them grow over 400% in just 3 years and gives you the secrets they used, so that you can apply them in your own firm.

Climb In Consulting Nick Synnott

    • Business
    • 4.9 • 49 Ratings

As a management consultant myself I’ve always been lucky to have mentors who have guided me through my career.

When I was in house I regularly had quality time with Senior Partners that helped me rapidly accelerate my career and has continued to help since I’ve gone out on my own.

While I had this great resource and knowledge bank to draw on I know many friends in Consulting aren’t as lucky with some only speaking with senior partners on a monthly or quarterly basis.

That’s why I created this podcast.

I wanted to help people like you who want to accelerate their careers in consulting by interviewing leaders in the field to share the advice, tips and strategies that they used to get to the top so that you can to so that you can too.

In each Episode I’ll be interviewing a senior figure in the industry so that you can learn from them. We’ll be going deep in to their background, how they succeeded and what their advice would be for you.

This podcast is brought to you by Create Engage the Digital Marketing agency for the disruptive Management Consultancy.

Digital Marketing has moved forward, but most consulting firms haven’t. Many Consulting firms still see their corporate blog as their sole Digital Marketing channel and find themselves frustrated when these blogs yield little if any results.

To help those of you who want to harness the power of Digital Marketing to grow your Consulting Business but don’t have the knowledge, capacity or in-house capability to do so I launched Create Engage, the first Digital Marketing agency for the Management Consulting Industry.

If you’d like to find out more about how Create Engage can help you use Digital Marketing to take your business to the next level then drop me an email at Nick@CreateEngage.co.uk or go to our website

www.createengage.co.uk where you can download our free case study that breaks down down the Digital Marketing strategies used by one successful Consulting firm to help them grow over 400% in just 3 years and gives you the secrets they used, so that you can apply them in your own firm.

    Episode 142: The Art of the Deal: Unlocking M&A Secrets for Consultancies, with David Bailey

    Episode 142: The Art of the Deal: Unlocking M&A Secrets for Consultancies, with David Bailey

    In the consulting industry, we talk a lot about exits, most founders will have had the thought about selling their business and sailing off into the sunset, and many do! But there’s another side that’s often less considered, the acquisition side and who buys those businesses, focussing on scaling their firms to be bigger and better.

    So, to take a deep dive on the less explored buy-side, David Bailey, seasoned advisor, lets us in on his expansive expertise and knowledge. This episode is packed with knowledge to help buyers understand what to look out for when acquiring a firm, and in turn, how to set your business up for sale.

    David joins Nick to discuss a diverse career path that’s taken him from consulting entrepreneur to seasoned M&A advisor. Along the way, he's built, sold, and advised multiple consulting firms, accumulating a wealth of wisdom on specialisation, strategic positioning, and navigating the complex world of acquisitions.

    In this episode, David and Nick cover a wide range of topics, including:
    - Why being a generalist is the quickest way for consultancies to repel potential buyers, and why offering 30 different services is probably 29 too many.
    - How to navigate the M&A maze, from maximising your firm's value and finding the right buyer, to making the right exit for you.
    - What your employees’ LinkedIn profiles could be revealing to would-be buyers
    - How David crafted a successful advisory career – and why building credibility and defining your unique value proposition are essential steps if you aspire to follow in his footsteps.

    Whether you're a firm owner contemplating an exit strategy, an aspiring buyer seeking growth opportunities, or simply fascinated by the dynamics of deal-making, this episode is packed with invaluable insights.

    Whether you're a consultancy owner contemplating an exit strategy, n aspiring buyer seeking growth opportunities or wanting to expand your knowledge on the art of deal-making, this episode is packed with invaluable insights.

    We hope you enjoy the show!

    Reach out to David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidbailey47/

    • 1 hr 22 min
    Episode 141: Beyond the bandwagon: How to carve a unique path to success, with Graeme Freeman

    Episode 141: Beyond the bandwagon: How to carve a unique path to success, with Graeme Freeman

    We’re all told that ‘land and expand’ is the only way to grow a consultancy. But what if we told you that you could grow a successful firm by doing the opposite, by providing fractional support to clients that will never need a huge team to help them deliver their goals.

    Today’s guest has proven that it can be done, and in this episode we dive into how you can grow a substantial advisory business doing just that.

    Graeme Freeman is Co-founder of Freeman Clarke, the largest & most experienced team of fractional IT leaders for the mid-market.

    Having run IT services businesses, built commercial software products, and been a corporate CIO and non-executive director, Graeme had deep experience in IT. But stepping out into his own portfolio career, he saw the opportunity for something more. After considering various options and ideas, it was the chance meeting with Steve Clarke that led to launching Freeman Clarke. And the rest, as they say, is history.

    By focusing on a niche market, fostering genuine client relationships, and taking a hands-on approach to delivery, Freeman Clarke has carved their own path to success that’s helped the business to scale, on both sides of the pond.

    In this episode, Graeme and Nick dive in to the unorthodox path that Freeman Clarke has taken, and share many of the foundations that have led to their success, including:
    - Why Freeman Clarke focuses on the mid-market and the benefits to working with clients of this size.
    - How Freeman Clarke have built their marketing machine and the long term view they take that’s helped them turn trickles of leads into a volcano of new business.
    - And how Freeman Clarke have been able to grow their business so successfully, by being laser focused on client satisfaction and staying true to their core service proposition.

    This interview is a fantastic reminder that there’s always ways to do things differently in consulting and that there’s often hidden benefits from taking the path less travelled.

    We hope you enjoy the show!

    Reach out to Graeme: https://www.linkedin.com/in/freemangraeme?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base_contact_details%3BKM8CblTiSZubazXv%2Bl36sw%3D%3D

    Books, magazines, and websites mentioned in the show:
    The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro
    Edward de Bono's series of books on thinking

    • 1 hr 28 min
    Episode 140: Unlocking Growth: Proven Strategies for Scaling Your Consulting Firm with Marc Jantzen

    Episode 140: Unlocking Growth: Proven Strategies for Scaling Your Consulting Firm with Marc Jantzen

    There are countless paths to achieving a successful consulting career, and on Climb In Consulting, we thought we’d heard them all. But who knew the secrets to scaling successful consulting firms could be learned while managing a fast-food franchise?

    Marc Jantzen’s unique journey to becoming the consulting expert he is today, is a masterclass in reinvention and resilience. Get ready to dig your teeth into Marc’s story, which proves that sometimes, it’s the most unexpected paths that can lead to the most exciting careers.

    After deciding the world of bean-counting wasn't his cup of tea, Chartered Accountant Marc took a radical leap into hospitality, taking on the role of managing a whole region of restaurants.

    Having gained extensive management experience in that role, Marc joined his sister's firm, Blue Sky, and together they navigated the ever-changing landscape of the consulting industry for 17 years. Their journey culminated in a major coup – selling the firm to Capita, a testament to their strategic savvy and entrepreneurial spirit.

    But instead of relaxing on a beach with a piña colada, as many others might have done, Marc embarked on the next stage of his adventure, advising other consulting firms on how they could achieve the growth that he and Blue Sky had.

    That’s when he noticed a recurring pattern – common business challenges that were specific to the consulting world. And thus, The Consultancy Growth Network was born. Something Marc and Nick talk all about in this episode.

    In this wisdom-packed interview, Marc shares his decades of knowledge on how to build a successful consulting firm, including:

    Why working for KFC head office inspired him to pursue his own consultancy.
    - The common challenges he sees consulting firms facing, time and time again – and how to overcome them
    - Why defining, and refining, your value proposition might be the most important thing you do
    - And how Blue Sky went from £30,000 profit one year to over £800,000 the next, and the lessons you can apply to enable your firm to do the same

    If you’re currently planning how to scale your consultancy over 2024 and want to know the critical steps you can take to rapidly grow your firm, then this interview is a must listen.

    We hope you enjoy the show!

    Reach out to Marc: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thebusinessgrowthspecialist/
    Learn more about The Consultancy Growth Network: https://hubs.la/Q02kQTTc0

    Books, magazines, and websites mentioned in the show:

    Beyond Performance by Scott Keller and Colin Price
    SuperCoach by Michael Neal
    Untethered Soul by Michael Singer

    • 1 hr 30 min
    Episode 139: No Partners, No Promotions: The unorthodox path to consulting success with Simon Dixon

    Episode 139: No Partners, No Promotions: The unorthodox path to consulting success with Simon Dixon

    There are countless organisations out there claiming to do business differently. So much so, that ‘disruptive’ has become a permanent fixture in games of buzzword bingo. But very few organisations are actually breaking the mould, and only the rarest exceptions can truly back up their claim of disrupting the way traditional business is done.

    Our guest on the latest episode of Climb in Consulting is one such exception. Simon Dixon is Founder and CEO of Hatmill, the UK’s largest logistics consultancy, and no.1 in the Great Place To Work® list of the UK’s best small workplaces.

    The 60-strong consultancy, established in 2009, delivers end-to-end supply chain and logistics support to deliver improvements across warehousing, transport, forecasting and inventory.

    Hatmill was always going to be different. It arose from Simon’s dissatisfaction with the employee experience in conventional consultancies – the hierarchical structures, grades, pressure to achieve KPIs and targets, and the assumption that everyone wants to climb the greasy ladder to make partner.

    With Hatmill, Simon stripped all of that away. There are no grades, no managers, no sales targets and no KPIs. And while this approach may sound counterintuitive, it’s helped them build a successful consultancy that’s also recognised as one of the best places to work in Europe. In fact, in its 2023 survey, 100% of its employees said it was a great place to work.

    In this episode, Nick and Simon cover a lot of ground, delving into the details of how Hatmill has grown, and how it’s managed (or rather, self-managed) on a day-to-day basis. You’ll find out:

    - How Hatmill have built a self managed team and the key tenets that underpin their unique business model.

    - The reason Hatmill doesn’t have grades or promotions, and why this has been a huge contributor to their success.

    - Why Hatmill eschews the traditional, corporate appraisal model – and why their only measures are whether employees are living Hatmill’s values, and performance against other people’s expectations

    - The reason Hatmill doesn’t have traditional HR policies, and why, in an ideal world, Simon would prefer there to be no CEO at all.

    If you’re looking for a fresh approach to running your consultancy, this could be just what you need!

    We hope you enjoy the show!

    Reach out to Simon: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simon-dixon-hatmill/?originalSubdomain=uk

    Learn more about Hatmill: https://hatmill.com/

    Books, magazines, and websites mentioned in the show:

    Reinventing Organizations: A Guide to Creating Organizations Inspired by the Next Stage of Human Consciousness, by Frédéric Laloux

    The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don't Work and What to Do About It, by Michael E. Gerber

    Never Split the Difference: Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On It, by Chris Voss

    • 2 hrs
    Episode 138: The Power of Action: The Unconventional Path to Consulting Success with Assad Ahmed

    Episode 138: The Power of Action: The Unconventional Path to Consulting Success with Assad Ahmed

    In the latest episode of Climb in Consulting, we welcomed Assad Ahmed, Founder and CEO of Phase 3, the Manchester-based consultancy that provides professional and managed services across HR, payroll, and finance.

    As a born entrepreneur, Assad started Phase 3 at a young age, and with a self-confessed aversion to planning, he was able to grow the business through his aptitude for building relationships and a healthy dose of ‘winging it’!

    Since then, Phase 3 has grown to over 100 employees spread across the UK, with many of Assad’s early recruits now in management positions, including COO James Proctor, who started as one of Phase 3’s first consultants.

    In this episode, Nick and Assad enjoy an in-depth chat about the trajectory of Phase 3, and delve into the detail of how it evolved from Phase 3 v.1 to v.2 and beyond.

    They cover a whole host of fascinating topics, including:
    - Why getting out and doing it is the most important step an entrepreneur can take
    - How landing a hugely profitable client actually set the growth of the business back
    - How Phase 3 thrived during the 2008-9 credit crunch by focusing on the value they offered to customers
    - Why Assad now embraces planning – and why 90-day plans are his preferred duration
    - The importance of culture in Phase 3, and why Assad is a big believer in putting people first
    -
    Whether you’re at the early stages of your consulting career, a seasoned pro, or you’re planning to start your own firm, you’ll love this episode of Climb in Consulting.

    We hope you enjoy the show!

    Reach out to Assad: https://www.linkedin.com/in/assadahmedp3c/

    Learn more about Phase 3: https://phase3.co.uk/

    Books, magazines, and websites mentioned in the show:
    - How To Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
    - Growth: Building a Successful Consultancy in the Digital Age by Joe O’Mahoney

    • 1 hr 25 min
    Episode 137: Vision & Values: The Winning Formula Behind Enfuse Group's Success with Graeme Curwen

    Episode 137: Vision & Values: The Winning Formula Behind Enfuse Group's Success with Graeme Curwen

    In the latest episode of Climb in Consulting, we had the huge pleasure of talking to Graeme Curwen, Co-Founder and CEO of Enfuse Group, an award-winning Digital Transformation consultancy that delivers high-performance transformations and solutions, through a deep understanding of people and technology.

    As an experienced career consultant, Graeme always had an aspirations to forge his own path. This journey began when he stepped out into the world of contracting, a move that set the stage for his entrepreneurial venture. But his pivotal moment came when he reconnected with a former colleague, Harry Vazanias. This reunion was the catalyst that ultimately led them to establish Enfuse Group.

    The partners spent the first 3 years learning the ropes, and then one New Year’s Eve, they met to discuss their vision for the future – a 150-strong consultancy within 10 years. Fast forward 5 years and Enfuse Group are well on their way to achieving that target. They are now a firm of over 50 consultants, and they’ve recently been recognised by Best Companies as the No. 2 Best Consultancy to work for in the UK and No. 3 Best Small Company.

    In this episode, Nick and Graeme have an in-depth conversation about the phenomenal growth of Enfuse Group, and the shared vision and values that have driven the firm’s success.

    They discuss a huge range of topics, including:

    - The three core principles Enfuse Group was founded upon

    - How Graeme and Harry built a roadmap to help them achieve their ten-year plan

    - Why business development is a lot like managing a football team – and why everyone has their own position to play

    - Why doubling the firm’s monthly revenue in the space of 3 months ended up being one of the most stressful times at Enfuse Group

    - And the 5 key growth areas Enfuse Group are focusing on to get to the next level

    If you’re looking to start 2024 off on the right foot and get your consultancy set up for success, then this is a must listen! Whether you’re just starting out, already established in your consulting career, or you’re planning to start your own firm, this interview is packed full of valuable advice and insights that will help you along the way.

    We hope you enjoy the show!

    Reach out to Graeme: https://www.linkedin.com/in/graemecurwen/

    Learn more about Enfuse Group: https://www.enfusegroup.com/

    Books, magazines, and websites mentioned in the show:

    https://www.amazon.co.uk/Growth-Building-Successful-Consultancy-Digital/dp/0367710846/?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_w=R4ULS&content-id=amzn1.sym.3413293e-3815-4359-96ba-1ec5110e0b30&pf_rd_p=3413293e-3815-4359-96ba-1ec5110e0b30&pf_rd_r=262-1895527-3140948&pd_rd_wg=6M5ng&pd_rd_r=70608808-7a2e-46fb-a383-9740bc6e1de0&ref_=aufs_ap_sc_dsk

    • 1 hr 43 min

Customer Reviews

4.9 out of 5
49 Ratings

49 Ratings

DanNew14 ,

Fascinating interviews for any grade

A good read for all listeners. I am a Consultant early in my career and have found this a super useful resource.

Taf18763 ,

Great resource!

Fascinating listen whatever your level or goals may be!

jengshaw ,

Fantastic series for those who ‘know’ consulting and even better for those that want to know!

Genuinely fascinating podcast for those both deep in the consulting sector or those who are interested in joining.

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