Unleashed - How to Thrive as an Independent Professional

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.

Raman Julka, founder and CEO of ValueChaser.ai and former McKinsey partner, builds AI platforms that turn raw business data into auditable, consulting-grade reports in minutes. He demos company diagnostics and procurement insights, shows how uploads become detailed PDFs, Excel models, and CSVs, and explains why deterministic, multi-model orchestration and enterprise security set the platform apart.

A founder shows a platform that turns books into interactive AI avatars and scalable coaching agents. A live demo reveals a library where you can chat with books and get cited passages. Avatars can be built from images or video to act like consultants and retain memory. Specialized agent modes tackle A3 problem solving, Toyota Kata coaching, and live value stream mapping.

Nir Eyal, author and behavioral design expert behind Hooked and Indistractable, explores how beliefs shape perception and motivate action. He discusses experiments showing beliefs change what we see, techniques to identify and question limiting beliefs, mental contrasting versus magical thinking, and rituals like prayer and exposure practices to build resilience.

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.

Jason Baumgarten, partner at Spencer Stuart and leader of its global board practice, guides listeners through how boards define highly specific roles and why recently retired CEOs and CFOs are often sought. He covers the etiquette of being helpful without micromanaging, the typical board ladder from nonprofits to public companies, and practical tips for engaging search firms and preparing for vetting.