Unleashed - How to Thrive as an Independent Professional

Episode

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  655. Andreia Fernandes, Portfolio Careers: The future of work? 20.07.2026 20mnt

  Show Notes: Andreia Fernandes, founder of the Portfolio Career Institute, explains that the term "portfolio career" was coined by Charles Handy in 1994, and it emphasizes working in different roles and contexts.  Defining a Portfolio Career Andreia adds that portfolio careers involve using different skills in various contexts, such as a mathematician working in both a school and an insurance company. She highlights that portfolio careers are not just about diversifying income streams but also aligning with one's values and being purpose-driven. The  Portfolio Career Program Andreia describes the stages of her cohort program for pursuing a portfolio career. She emphasizes the importance of community and peer exchange in her program, sharing an example of two bankers with different career paths. The program starts with understanding one's strengths, purpose, and limitations, and includes evaluating whether a portfolio career is the right fit. Andreia mentions that some participants are clear about their goals, while others are unsure and need guidance to explore new paths. Designing a Career Andreia discusses the importance of self-reflection and specific exercises in her program, such as the Ikigai principle. She introduces the portfolio career canvas, a framework she developed with a scientific background to help participants design their careers. The canvas includes elements like portfolio career metrics, learning journey, network building, and revenue streams. Andreia explains that participants need to consider what would make them regret having a portfolio career and adjust their plans accordingly. Stages of the Portfolio Career Program Andreia explains the next stages of the program, focusing on activating networks and positioning oneself in the market. She shares her own experience of having a portfolio career, including entrepreneurial ventures, lecturing, and executive coaching. Andreia emphasizes the importance of having a unique selling proposition (USP) and positioning oneself in the right environment. She provides examples of her clients' success stories, such as a banker who became a lecturer and project manager. How the Program Helps Participants When asked about common strands in portfolio careers, and Andreia mentions that there are no limits to what one can do. Andreia shares an example of a white-collar worker who wanted to produce something with their hands, such as brewing beer or working with wood. She discusses the concept of strategic diversifiers, who have two passions and want to follow different streams to balance their energy. Andreia highlights the importance of learning and knowledge sharing in portfolio careers, especially in the knowledge economy. How the Program Impacts Careers Andreia shares examples of participants who have gone through her cohort and the impact it had on their careers. She mentions a banker who became a lecturer and project manager, exploring new areas outside of risk management. Another participant, an employer for seven and a half years, strengthened her current activity by exploring new business models. Andreia emphasizes that the program helps participants design their future and make informed decisions about their careers. For those who want to learn more about Andreia's coaching and the Portfolio Career Institute, Andreia  offers upcoming events and webinars where potential participants can meet her and learn about her approach. Andreia encourages listeners to visit the website for more information and to contact her directly for further inquiries. Timestamps: 0:02: Defining a Portfolio Career  02:50: Program Structure and Community Support 06:51: Self-Reflection and Exercises  13:16: Activating Networks and Positioning  14:36: Common Strands in Portfolio Careers  19:52: Impact of Cohort Participants 20:56: Resources and Contact Information  This episode on Umbrex: https://umbrex.com/unleashed/episode-655-andreia-fernandes-portfolio-careers-the-future-of-work/ Links: Company website: https://go.portfoliocareerinstitute.com/en Andreia on LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreiarfernandes/ PFCI on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/portfolio-career-institute-pfci/ PFCI on Insta: https://www.instagram.com/portfoliocareerpfci/   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.  
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  654. Shankar Ananth, Micro-Casing: A Gamified Way to Practice Case Interviews 13.07.2026 26mnt

  Show Notes: Shankar Ananth shares his background, mentioning his nine years of consulting experience, highlighting his experience at McKinsey and Bain, and his role  in building the new app, Micro-Casing.  Bridging the Gap in Case Interview Preparation Shankar explains the gap in case interview preparation methods, which led him to create Micro-Casing. He also mentions his eight years of experience as a case coach and the usefulness of the app for students. He discusses the target audience of the app, which includes consulting candidates and those looking to improve their consulting thinking. Micro-Casing - Your Case Partner Reimagined Shankar explains the homepage of the app, where users can log in through Google or Apple.  Quick start guide The app is designed as a decision-making tool with a multi-choice game-like interface to mimic case interviews.  Categories Users can choose from various categories like market entry, growth strategy, profitability, market size, or M&A.  Avoiding AI Hallucinations Shankar explains the gameplay, where users can pick a category, race the clock, and solve timed cases with two attempts. The app includes a feature where incorrect answers lead to rabbit holes, similar to real-life case interviews. The scoring system involves penalties for viewing hints and entering rabbit holes. Shankar highlights the app's manual case creation process to avoid AI hallucinations, ensuring the cases are accurate. Mock Case Interviews Demonstration The app's growth strategy category is described, showing the available cases and their status (completed or not started). Coaches Shankar explains the optional feature of selecting a sidekick or coach, which provides tips during the case.  Growth Dilemma They start a case called "ShopSphere's Growth Dilemma," where a case prompt is read and  the process of solving the problem begins.  Case Profitability The Summary Page Shankar explains the summary page, which shows the case details, difficulty, pass score, and performance metrics.  Case results and performance review The summary page includes a growth category readiness score and an overall readiness score, indicating progress and areas for improvement. He explores the view of all hints feature, which provides detailed feedback on each question. The Quality Control System Shankar discusses the process of creating and validating cases, involving AI-driven reviews and manual checks by experienced case coaches. The app currently has over 60 cases across various categories, ensuring rigorous quality control. Shankar mentions the potential for users to disagree with answers, which will be tracked for future improvements. The app aims to provide a comprehensive and accurate case preparation experience. The Leaderboard Feature Will and Shankar discuss the leaderboard feature, which allows users to compare their progress with others. The leaderboard is based on overall category readiness and overall readiness scores, calculated using various metrics. Shankar explains the option for colleges and consulting clubs to create their own leaderboards and case competitions within the app. The app supports private quizzing clubs, allowing organizations to upload and co-create cases for exclusive use. Shankar shares his experience as a case coach, starting from word-of-mouth referrals and eventually joining platforms to offer his services. Case Practice  for Consultants He highlights the importance of case practice for consulting candidates, noting that it can take months to prepare. Shankar offers listeners of the podcast two months of free access to the entire app, providing an opportunity to try it out. Timestamps: 03:07: Overview of Micro-Casing App 06:29: Gameplay and Scoring Mechanism  10:03: Detailed Walkthrough of the App 13:54: Evaluation and Feedback 16:59: Creation and Validation of Cases  20:14: Leaderboard and Customization Features Links: iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/micro-casing/id6754453873 Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.microcasing.dev&pcampaignid=web_share Special link / discount code for the general audience for a free 2 months:  iOS: https://apps.apple.com/redeem?ctx=offercodes&id=6754453873&code=2MOTS   Android:Use the code 'Umbrex' at checkout, not within the app  Special link / discount code for participants in the Umbrex Consulting Fellowship for a free 3 months:  iOS: https://apps.apple.com/redeem?ctx=offercodes&id=6754453873&code=UMB200  Android:Use the code 'UmbrexCore' at checkout, not within the app  This episode on Umbrex: https://umbrex.com/unleashed/episode-654-shankar-ananth-micro-casing-a-gamified-way-to-practice-case-interviews/ 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.  
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  653. Harsh Aggarwal, How AI Lets Solo Consultants Take On Bigger Work 06.07.2026 22mnt

  Show Notes: Update since recording: Restack has since moved to one simple plan at $800 per seat per month, and now works across PowerPoint, Excel, and Word as a single agent. Harsh Aggarwal is the founder of Restack, an AI agent that works inside PowerPoint to turn a consulting or PE team's analysis into a client-ready deck. He was previously at Roland Berger and product lead at an $8B PE firm. Restack: From Thinking to a Client-ready Deck Harsh explains that Restack is an AI agent that works natively inside PowerPoint to automate formatting for consulting and private equity teams. The purpose of Restack is to help consulting teams focus on client relationships and actual consulting work by automating the grind of formatting. Harsh highlights the historical advantage big firms had due to their production capacity, using McKinsey as an example. He discusses how AI has closed the research gap but the production gap remains, which is where Restack aims to help by automating the process of turning thinking into a client-ready deck. A Restack Demonstration Harsh begins demonstrating Restack by sharing his screen and showing a standard PowerPoint deck. He explains that Restack opens as a sidebar inside PowerPoint and can handle tasks that would normally take hours, such as updating a deck with new data. Harsh shows how Restack can update a deck with new data without specific instructions on formatting or chart appearance. He emphasizes that Restack can handle complex tasks like verifying data from sources like the SEC EDGAR website and updating slides based on that data. Converting Decks into Code Harsh explains that Restack converts the entire PowerPoint deck into code, allowing it to make precise changes to the data. He compares this technology to popular tools like Cloud Code and Cursor, which are used in software engineering to augment code bases. Restack can update specific lines of code in the deck, making it highly precise and efficient.  Restack updates the slides and analyzes the uploaded data, showing the progress on screen. Restack Results Harsh shows the results of Restack updating the numbers in the slides, explaining that it also updates the storyline based on the new data. He highlights that Restack takes screenshots to verify its own results before presenting them to the analyst or associate. The charts created by Restack are fully editable and can be manipulated like normal charts in PowerPoint. Harsh recaps the task of updating the data in four slides and shows the final results, emphasizing the efficiency of Restack. Creating Slides from Scratch Harsh demonstrates another use case where Restack can create a new slide from scratch using a data model. He explains that Restack can read the existing deck to understand the context and formatting, creating new slides that match the existing deck's style.  When asked if Restack can create any kind of chart, Harsh confirms, showing how Restack can convert a chart to a different type, like a waterfall chart. Harsh emphasizes that Restack is a generalized tool that can handle various tasks, making it versatile for different consulting needs. Pricing and Subscription Information Harsh explains how to sign up for Restack, either by visiting the website or reaching out to him on LinkedIn. He offers a free sandbox for listeners to test Restack on live cases, encouraging them to reach out for access. Pricing is $800 per seat per month, billed monthly, with credits pooled across the team (a five-seat team is $4,000/month). One to five seats are self-serve; six or more is the Practice plan. Harsh compares the pricing to tools like PitchBook and Bloomberg, noting the time and cost savings Restack offers.  Timestamps: 01:51: Demonstration of Restack's Functionality  06:08: Technical Details of Restack's Operation  08:03: Results and Verification of Restack's Work  12:34: Additional Use Cases and Capabilities of Restack 22:38: Sign-Up and Pricing Information  Links: LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/heyhiharsh Company website: http://re-stack.com/ This episode on Umbrex: https://umbrex.com/unleashed/episode-653-harsh-aggarwal-how-ai-lets-solo-consultants-take-on-bigger-work/ 60-second Demo: http://re-stack.com/demo   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.  
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  652. Vaibhav Longani, Giani: Zero‑Defect, Source‑Backed Slides for Consultants 29.06.2026 27mnt

  Vaibhav Longani introduces Giani.ai, the tool that helps consultants build PowerPoint decks one slide at a time. Vaibhav shares his background as a freelance consultant for seven years, working with leading consulting firms across the US, Middle East, and Europe. The Giani Design Vaibhav explains the design philosophy of Giani, focusing on knowledge synthesis and slide creation, rather than beautification. He highlights the tool's ability to understand and generate content based on specific consultant needs, such as action titles, footnotes, and chart readings. Faster, More Accurate, and User-friendly Vaibhav  discusses the tool's focus on making slide creation faster, more accurate, and easier for consultants. He compares Giani to other AI tools, emphasizing its ability to understand and generate content based on a consultant's knowledge base. The tool includes a chat interface for high-frequency use cases, generated from data mined from 10 consultants over three years. Vaibhav explains the tool's philosophy of "evidence first," especially in critical sectors like healthcare and commercial due diligence, ensuring transparency and accuracy. Demonstration of Giani Vaibhav demonstrates the tool's web portal, where users can add their document base and specify the source of documents.  The tool comes alive within PowerPoint, allowing users to choose projects and access project context knowledge.  Vaibhav sets up a dummy project for commercial due diligence and explains how to generate content from various document sources, including external reports, client documents, and Excel models.  He shows how the tool can generate content from the web or knowledge base, and how it integrates with PowerPoint to create slides, and generates content for slides, including bullets and tables, additionally,  it integrates with Excel models for data analysis. Refined Content Verified Knowledge He explains the tool's ability to refine content, making it more concise and structured, and how it can insert content into PowerPoint slides. The tool's feature of tracking the source of each content piece, allows users to verify and audit the information.  Fact Checker Vaibhav discusses the tool's fact-checking feature, which verifies claims against the knowledge base and provides evidence for verification. Vaibhav explains how the tool allows multiple team members to share project context and collaborate on slides.  Title Suggestions   He demonstrates the tool's ability to generate action titles based on the slide's content and context, and how it can recommend proactively. The conversation turns to the tool's architecture, including the generate, refine, and review tabs, and how they support the consultant's workflow.   Quality Checks Vaibhav explains the tool's quality checks, including custom rules for consistency and grammatical errors, and how it can automate QC tasks. Slide Generation Vaibhav introduces the tool's slide building agent, which can generate slides based on interviews and other data sources, ensuring accuracy and evidence. He explains how the tool can encode templates for specific projects and how it can generate slides with clarification questions for user approval.  Pricing The tool's pricing ranges from $50 to $150 per month based on feature sets and duration. Vaibhav offers a free trial for Umbrex users. In closing, Vaibhav shares his background and the development process of the tool, emphasizing the iterative improvement and validation with consultants from leading firms. Timestamps: 01:18: Design Philosophy and Features of Giani.ai  04:15: Tool Demonstration and User Interface  06:58: Content Generation and Refinement  11:39: Collaboration and Quality Checks 18:21: Advanced Features and Pricing  Links: Email: v@giani.ai This episode on Umbrex: https://umbrex.com/unleashed/episode-652-vaibhav-longani-giani-zero-defect-source-backed-slides-for-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.  
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  651. Chad Oakley, Current State of the Consulting Market in 2026 22.06.2026 57mnt

  Show Notes: The conversation opens with an overview of the consulting market, mentioning the impact of interest rates, private equity, and AI on the industry. Chad shares his background, including his career at Deloitte Consulting, Bain, and Charles Aris, and the focus of his strategy recruiting practice. Chad explains the shift in Charles Aris's business from Fortune 500 strategy placements to private equity and portfolio companies. He details the types of roles his team places, including general strategy, chief of staff, transformation, and integration roles. Four Phases in the Consulting Industry Chad highlights the growth of private equity and its impact on the consulting market, including the increase in demand for consulting services. Chad outlines the four phases the consulting market has gone through over the past 24 months: downturn, rebound, downturn, and growth. Chad explains the impact of higher interest rates and tariffs on the consulting market, leading to reduced investments and consulting services. AI Growth Phase Chad discusses the rebound in 2025 due to lower interest rates and private equity adapting to the new normal. He highlights the current growth phase driven by AI and the understaffing of consulting firms due to previous downsizing. Chad emphasizes the candidate-driven market and the increased demand for consulting services, particularly in AI and go-to-market initiatives. Private Equity Chad identifies private equity and services firms (white and blue collar) as the two primary industries with high demand for consulting services. Chad explains the growth of private equity and its focus on due diligence and value creation initiatives. Chad discusses the impact of AI on due diligence, including commercial, operational, and technology due diligence. He  highlights the demand for consulting services in white and blue collar services firms, driven by private equity investments.  Areas of High Demand Chad transitions to discussing functional areas with high demand, starting with AI. Chad identifies AI as the number one functional area with high demand, focusing on increasing productivity and refocusing employees on high-value interactions. Chad explains the two types of AI consultants: AI strategists and AI implementers, and their roles in AI enablement. Chad discusses the importance of AI in various consulting projects and the need for consultants to embrace AI. Chad highlights the demand for go-to-market consulting initiatives, including CRM redesign, sales process redesign, and AI-powered territory optimization. Chad emphasizes the importance of understanding AI from a go-to-market perspective and the increasing demand for AI expertise. The Role of Transformation Consultants in PE Chad shares two AI use cases: an AI tool for a large international bank to automate research tasks and an AI sales planning platform for a pharmaceutical organization. Chad explains how AI automates repetitive tasks, allowing humans to focus on high-value interactions. Chad discusses the role of transformation consultants in private equity, emphasizing the need for a track record of getting things done, strong EQ, and analytical skills. Chad highlights the importance of influencing without direct authority and the analytical competencies required for transformation roles. Maximizing Opportunities Chad provides tips for client development with private equity firms, recommending reaching out to portfolio operations teams and deal partners. Chad identifies supply chain optimization and manufacturing footprint optimization as areas with declining demand due to the shift towards growth initiatives. Chad emphasizes that while some areas may have softened, there is still demand in most specialties. Chad discusses the relatively easy process of filling board roles and the limited demand for board searches. Chad advises independent consultants on positioning themselves to transition back to global firms, recommending reaching out to former colleagues and partners. Chad concludes by encouraging consultants to embrace AI and stay updated with market trends to maximize their opportunities. Timestamps: 03:48: Chad Oakley's Introduction 23:14: Market Overview  31:08: Consulting Market Phases and Current Trends  39:47: Industries and Functions with High Demand  47:19: AI and Go-to-Market Consulting Demand  55:24: AI Use Cases and Transformation Roles  1:03:43: Declining Demand Areas and Board Roles  This episode on Umbrex: https://umbrex.com/unleashed/651-current-state-of-the-consulting-market-in-2026/ 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.  
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  650. Gaurav Bhosle, Master the Consulting Journey: break-in, build & thrive 15.06.2026 35mnt

  Show Notes: Gaurav Bhosle talks about his coaching practice, which is split 50/50 between helping people get hired by consulting firms and coaching current consultants. He shares his background as an ex-McKinsey consultant and his MBA from HEC Paris, noting the lack of preparation structures for consulting firms in 2006-2007. Breaking into Consulting Gaurav recounts how a former HEC alum helped him prepare for consulting firms, leading to his success in joining McKinsey in Frankfurt. He explains his transition from McKinsey to coaching, driven by his passion for strategy and career development, and his decision to focus on career strategy for consultants. Gaurav discusses his realization that breaking into consulting is not the ultimate goal but thriving in it is. The Upskilling Journey He shares his journey of upskilling, including obtaining ICF certification, psychometric tools, NLP, and TA, to provide deeper career coaching. Gaurav explains his shift from helping people get into consulting to coaching current consultants on career strategies and performance improvement. He emphasizes the importance of career happiness and the need for consultants to thrive in their roles, not just get hired. The Three-step Process  Gaurav describes his three-step process: foundation, parallel tracks (networking and practice), and polishing. He emphasizes the importance of mindset, skill set, and tool set, particularly the mindset of preparing to be a good consultant rather than just cracking interviews. Gaurav details the foundation phase, which includes preparing for cases, understanding fit questions, and polishing the consulting CV. Gaurav outlines the practical steps for case interview preparation, including the importance of practicing with peers and AI. He explains the three-step process for data interpretation: data sanity check, extracting insights, and communicating findings. The Value of Top-down Communication Skills Gaurav emphasizes the importance of top-down communication and preparing fit answers with headlines first. He shares tips for practicing data analytics skills, including using charts as part of case interviews and focusing on the context and problem-solving. Gaurav discusses the challenges of developing top-down communication skills, especially for those from Eastern cultures or non-consulting backgrounds. He shares his personal journey of adapting to top-down communication in McKinsey and the importance of pushing oneself to communicate insights at a higher level. Gaurav explains the STAR format for storytelling in interviews and the importance of starting with headlines. He emphasizes the need for consultants to communicate crisply and lead the conversation, rather than providing lengthy explanations Coaching Practice and Processes  When asked the first step in his coaching process, Gaurav explains the importance of achieving orientation and having clear career goals beyond superficial reasons like travel or status. He shares his use of psychometric assessments and the "Why should we hire you?" question to gauge a candidate's value proposition. Gaurav highlights the need for candidates to have a clear understanding of their career motivations and the ability to articulate their unique value. Coaching Consultants on Performance Improvement The conversation turns to Gaurav's practice of coaching current consultants on performance improvement. He shares an example of a recent MBB consultant seeking promotion to engagement manager and feedback on case leadership. Gaurav explains the importance of understanding the root cause of feedback and implementing systems for continuous improvement. He emphasizes the need for consultants to seek frequent feedback, develop systems for transparency, and build checklists for effective project management.  "Fit-for-consulting" Assessment Gaurav discusses the use of psychometric assessments and other tools to understand candidates' personality and fit for consulting. He shares his experience coaching a diverse range of professionals, including US Marines, public servants, and athletes, to transition into consulting. Gaurav highlights the importance of having a clear value proposition and the ability to articulate it effectively, and he emphasizes the need for consultants to have a strong achievement orientation and the willingness to adapt to the demanding nature of the role. Timestamps: 03:53: Transitioning to Coaching Current Consultants  06:01: Gaurav's Coaching Approach for Aspiring Consultants 10:58: Practical Steps for Case Interview Preparation 22:06: Developing Top-Down Communication Skills  26:50: Clarifying Career Motivations and Goals  30:48: Coaching Current Consultants for Career Growth  34:46: Gaurav's Coaching Methodologies and Tools  35:11: Gaurav's Online Presence and Contact Information  Links:  Company website:  https://www.beingconsultant.com/ Linkedin:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/consultingcareercoach/ Email: gb@beingconsultant.com   This episode on Umbrex: https://umbrex.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=300254&action=edit#:~:text=https%3A//umbrex.com/unleashed/gaurav%2Dbhosle%2Dma%E2%80%A6%2Din%2Dbuild%2Dthrive/  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.  
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  649. Lana Newishy, Founder of Hey Intake 08.06.2026 34mnt

  Show Notes: Lana Newishy, founder of Hey Intake, explains that Hey Intake is one of several startups she has founded, which focuses on improving the client experience in the initial stages of a project. The Client Intake Process Lana  highlights common issues in the client intake process, such as disorganized communication, missing information, and inefficient discovery calls. She emphasizes the loss of opportunities due to inefficient intake processes and the need for a structured system. Lead Qualification and Filtering Issues Lana discusses the broken lead qualification process, where consultants often react to discovery calls without proper filtering. She points out information asymmetry, where clients don't know what to share, and consultants don't ask the right questions consistently.  Streamlining the Intake Process Lana mentions the fragmentation of tools, such as emails, documents, CRM systems, and file sharing, which are not connected in a single flow. She introduces the idea of a single, structured flow from first contact to service completion to streamline the intake process. A Demonstration of Hey Intake Lana shares her screen to demonstrate the Hey Intake dashboard, which includes tabs for dashboard, submissions, contacts, form builder, email templates, automations, analytics, team settings, and support. Dashboard Lana explains the AI-driven suggestions on the dashboard, which prioritize tasks based on the current stage of the intake process. Submissions Window She demonstrates the submissions window, which categorizes submissions into lead phase, intake phase, and service phase, and provides AI scores for prioritization. Lana continues to explain the submissions window, showing how submissions are scored and prioritized based on AI analysis.    Submissions Drawer She demonstrates the submission drawer, which allows users to update the phase of a contact, request documents, and send e-signatures. Lana mentions the form builder, which allows users to create custom forms with various templates and fields. She explains the flexibility of adding fields, customizing inputs, and setting AI scoring weights to prioritize requests. Integrating with CRM Systems Lana discusses the ability to integrate Hey Intake with existing CRM systems and legal project management tools. She explains that some clients prefer to keep their existing systems and connect them with Hey Intake for a seamless process.    Form Builder When asked about the form builder,  Lana demonstrates how to create and customize forms, including adding fields, customizing branding, and setting up automations. She highlights the importance of keeping forms simple and quick to fill out to avoid discouraging potential clients.  Email Templates Library Email Templates Library Lana demonstrates the email templates library, which includes pre-built templates and the ability to edit them manually or with AI. She emphasizes the flexibility of the system to meet the specific needs of different clients and businesses.  Automations Tab Lana introduces the automations tab, which shows the flows for various actions, such as sending emails, requesting documents, and following up on actions. She explains how to set up custom automations and toggle them on and off. The Vendor Setup System Lana explains how Hey Intake helps with vendor setup, including requesting documents, managing client portals, and handling e-signatures.   Uploading Documents She demonstrates the process of uploading documents for e-signatures and integrating with services like DocuSign and SignWell. Lana highlights the native storage options and the ability to connect with clients' private storage facilities. She emphasizes the importance of streamlining the onboarding process to save time and reduce administrative burdens. Hey Intake Customer Base Lana discusses the current customer base, which includes law firms, accountants, photographers, home renovators, and B2B consultants. She mentions the potential to focus on specific verticals in the future based on data collection and user feedback. The conversation turns to the development process, and Lana explains that she has a development team based in Canada that helps build B2B AI-based solutions. Lana highlights the structured validation process and the importance of a framework for successful development and launch. Hey Intake Pricing Lana provides information about the pricing of Hey Intake, which starts at $16 per month for the annual plan and $19.40 per month for the monthly plan. She mentions the availability of an enterprise tier for custom solutions. Timestamps: 05:07: Demonstration of Hey Intake Dashboard  12:50: Detailed Walkthrough of Submissions and Form Builder  22:33: Integration and Customization of Hey Intake 22:57: Automations and Email Templates  26:20: Vendor Setup and Document Management 31:02: Customer Base and Future Plans  35:29: Pricing and Contact Information  Links: Website: https://heyintake.com/ This episode on Umbrex: https://umbrex.com/unleashed/episode-648-lana-newishy-founder-of-hey-intake/ 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.  
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  648. Mathooshan Manoharan, From Individual Contributor to Manager: Lessons Learned at Umbrex 03.06.2026 26mnt

  Show Notes: Mathooshan Manoharan talks about his time at Umbrex role and upcoming business school plans. Mathooshan shares his initial lack of business background and management skills when he joined Umbrex. Mathooshan explains his coffee chat strategy, including reaching out to professionals on LinkedIn and refining his message approach through A/B testing. The Coffee Chats Initiative Mathooshan details his experience with coffee chats, starting with over 150 and now over 400. He describes the types of coffee chats he had, including both virtual and in-person meetings. Mathooshan explains how he initially reached out to people on LinkedIn and refined his message to increase response rates. He talks about the importance of initiative and how anyone can replicate Mathooshan's approach. Learning from Coffee Chats Mathooshan shares that he didn't initially document his coffee chats but started after a conversation with Will. He created a spreadsheet to track response rates, positions, and sources of contacts. Mathooshan mentions the importance of follow-up calls and how he leveraged initial contacts to make more introductions. He discusses the value of documenting and learning from these interactions. The First Lesson Mathooshan outlines his first lesson: the importance of creating a project tracker to avoid forgetting tasks. He describes how he developed a system using checklists, notifications, and alerts in their CRM.  Will shares his own experience of learning the same lesson in the Navy. Mathooshan emphasizes the need for a structured approach to manage tasks effectively. Prioritization and Focus Mathooshan discusses the second lesson: the importance of prioritization and focus blocking. He explains how he initially struggled with shiny object syndrome and the need to prioritize tasks. Mathooshan describes how he started blocking time in his calendar for specific tasks and aligning priorities. They discuss the importance of setting clear expectations and managing workload effectively. Managing Upwards Mathooshan shares the third lesson: the importance of managing upwards and being pleasantly persistent. He explains how he learned to follow up effectively and make it easy for Will to respond. Mathooshan discusses the concept of "unless otherwise directed" (UOD) and how it helped him take initiative. Will and Mathooshan emphasize the importance of making it easy for managers to approve or correct tasks. Learning from Mistakes Mathooshan introduces the fourth lesson: the importance of learning from mistakes. He explains how he started a lessons learned sheet to document mistakes and their context. Mathooshan describes the root cause analysis he implemented to address the root causes of mistakes. Will and Mathooshan discuss the importance of systemic changes to prevent recurring mistakes. Team Management Mathooshan transitions to lessons learned in team management. He shares his initial overconfidence in managing a team and the challenges he faced. Mathooshan explains the importance of providing clarity, checkpoints, and systems for his team. Will and Mathooshan discuss the need for effective communication and support in team management. Trusting the Team Mathooshan introduces the fifth lesson: the importance of trust but verify in team management. He shares an example of a project where he trusted his team too much and the consequences. Mathooshan emphasizes the need for regular check-ins and spot checks to ensure tasks are on track. The conversation turns to the balance between trusting the team and maintaining oversight. Empowering the Team Mathooshan shares the sixth lesson: the importance of empowering the team. He explains how he initially had an individual contributor mindset and the need to change it. Mathooshan discusses the importance of explaining the "why" behind tasks and providing guidance. Will and Mathooshan emphasize the long-term benefits of empowering the team through training and support. Timestamps:  02:54: Effective Coffee Chat Techniques  05:24: Documenting and Learning from Coffee Chats  07:53: Lessons in Self-Management  10:32: Prioritization and Focus Blocking  13:11: Managing Upwards and Being Pleasantly Persistent  15:46: Never Waste a Good Mistake  18:38: Transitioning to Team Management  21:27: Trust but Verify  23:49: Empowering the Team  Links: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mathooshan-manoharan/ Substack: https://mathooshan.substack.com/ This episode on Umbrex: https://umbrex.com/unleashed/episode-648-mathooshan-manoharan-from-individual-contributor-to-manager-lessons-learned-at-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.  
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  647. Mehdi Frikha, mzx.ai: Consulting-Grade AI-Generated PowerPoint Decks, in Minutes 01.06.2026 21mnt

  Show Notes: Mehdi Frikha, founder at  mzx.ai, explains that mzx.ai builds a crew of agents for all knowledge workers, including colleagues in the Umbrex network.  Generating Brand Proposals from RFPs He introduces the first agent, Hector, which generates brand proposals from RFPs or client pitches, from as little as half a page of information. He explains that you input your output language, preferences about proposal approach, the target, the tone etc. Users can include their own PowerPoint template,  and the agent will provide a proposal that is 100% branded and 100% compliant with context, objectives, and the firm's approach. Integrating Firm Knowledge Mehdi mentions that the product is more targeted towards the European and Middle Eastern markets, where long proposals are common. He confirms that the agent can integrate the firm's knowledge, CVs, credentials, and any proprietary databases to generate a full proposal. The final product is fully branded and can be up to 40-50 pages, including all necessary elements to win the RFP or project.  Demonstrating the PowerPoint Output Mehdi demonstrates the 41-slide PowerPoint output, which is a technical proposal for an economic development strategy for AIDO(Abu Dhabi Investment Office) and offers to make the  41-slide PowerPoint output available for viewers. He explains how users simply send the request to the agent. The agent delivers a comprehensive 41 slide presentation based on the information sent.  Mehdi demonstrates how the agent presents the context and objectives of the project including the importance of AI in translating Abu Dhabi's national ambitions into localized investment. The proposal includes global benchmarks, structural drivers, competitive windows, and institutional timing. The proposal also addresses economic and market risks, environmental spatial constraints, and demographic and talent challenges. Structuring the Proposal Mehdi explains that the overall approach to the project is laid out in phases, which can be customized based on the RFP or the firm's preferences. The agent can provide guidance on the structure of the approach, including the number of phases and steps. The detailed version of the approach in this demonstration is 11 pages and can be used as a more detailed project plan. Agent Attention to Detail  Mehdi highlights the attention to detail, including real bullets, semantic selection of icons that reflect the content of the page, and consultant-compliant quality. Mehdi mentions that the agent can be trained to include details such as a placeholder slide for pricing or investment, and any necessary disclaimers in the proposal  in the future. Mehdi introduces the next agent, which translates PowerPoint presentations automatically, including complex slides with timelines and Gantt charts. He demonstrates the translation feature, which translates slides and injects the content in the right place, including right-to-left languages and timelines that read right to left. It has the ability to mirror complex slides and the potential time-saving benefits. Mehdi shows how the platform can generate research reports on any topic, using the request for an overview of nuclear submarine coolant pumps as an example. The Platform Pricing Structure In the demonstration of the third agent, Mehdi explains that the entry subscription will be $20, allowing 120 slides. Enterprise offers will be available for firms that want to deploy the platform in a private cloud, ensuring data security. Mehdi provides the website for sign-up and mentions that there is a closed beta available for interested users, and he mentions that there are many agents in development and invites feedback from Umbrex members for new product ideas. Timestamps: 01:51: Details of Hector's Proposal Generation  03:47: Examination of the Proposal Example  05:34: Customization and Detailed Approach 08:56: Additional Features and Pricing 11:04: Translation and Research Report Generation  20:00 Future Developments and Pricing Structure  Links:   Website: https://mzx.ai/ Proposal permalink: https://umbrex.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Proposal_example_Economic_Development_Strategy_for_Al_Dhafra_Region_English.pptx Report permalink: https://umbrex.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Report_example_Nuclear_submarine_reactor_pump_manufacturers_overview.pptx This episode on Umbrex: https://umbrex.com/?p=287037 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.  
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  646. Lilly Minkove, Know Your KPIs: Become the CEO of Your Health 25.05.2026 47mnt

  Show Notes: Lilly Minkove shares her background in brand and strategy consulting, focusing on retail, beauty, and wellness. She discusses her time at McKinsey, Tapestry, and Louis Vuitton, emphasizing her work in the luxury sector. Lilly explains her transition from the corporate world to running ArtLogica Group, a boutique consulting practice focused on customer insights. Introduction to HeraSphere Lilly talks about her interest in health and wellness, which eclipsed her work in retail and luxury. She recounts attending a longevity talk by Dr. Darshan Shah, which sparked her interest in tracking biomarkers and consumer insights. Lilly describes the inception of HeraSphere, a women's health newsletter translating healthcare innovations into plain English. She highlights the importance of women's health, especially for those in perimenopause or menopause, and how her consulting experience translates to this new focus. The Five Pillars of Health Lilly outlines the five pillars of health: exercise and muscle, sleep, nutrition, brain health, and connection. She emphasizes the importance of strength training, noting that muscle is an anti-aging metabolic organ. She discusses the benefits of muscle, including anti-inflammatory proteins, insulin resistance, and bone density protection. The Critical Role of Sleep Lilly explains the critical role of sleep in brain function, immune system, and overall health. She discusses the importance of regularity and quality of sleep, noting that even one night of sleep deprivation can significantly impact natural killer cell activity. Lilly shares tips for improving sleep quality, such as maintaining a consistent sleep schedule, avoiding alcohol, and using a sleep tracker. The conversation turns to the impact of stress and anxiety on sleep and the importance of winding down before bed. The Impact of Sugar on the Body Lilly highlights the negative effects of sugar on the body, including inflammation, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. She explains the concept of glucose spikes and how eating fiber, protein, and fat before carbohydrates can reduce their impact. Lilly emphasizes the importance of a diverse diet, recommending consuming 30 different types of plants and vegetables weekly and highlights the challenges of hidden sugars in processed foods. Maintaining Brain Health Lilly discusses the significance of brain health, noting that the brain consumes 20% of daily calories and requires continuous stimulation. She shares her experience with learning a new skill, cardio dance, and how it improves muscle memory and cognitive function. Lilly explains the link between midlife decisions and cognitive outcomes, emphasizing the importance of lifestyle measures in preventing Alzheimer's. Lilly elaborates on the benefits of keeping the brain active through learning and new skills. Community and Health Connection Lilly highlights the importance of social connections for overall health, citing a Harvard study on the mortality risk of social isolation. She discusses the decline of extended family households and the need for intentional efforts to maintain social connections. Lilly emphasizes the role of small interactions with people in the community in reducing loneliness and improving well-being. Lilly discusses the benefits of having a support system and the impact of feeling less isolated on health outcomes. The Complexity of the Wellness Industry Lilly explains her dual objectives: sharing knowledge with consumers and using consumer insights to inform her consulting practice. She offers services to help brands distill what their customers want and convey value effectively. Lilly highlights the complexity of the wellness industry and her expertise in understanding the female consumer. Measuring Health KPIs Lilly outlines key health metrics, starting with blood pressure and hemoglobin A1C, which measure metabolic efficiency and cardiovascular risk. She discusses C-reactive protein (CRP) as an indicator of systemic inflammation and its association with various diseases. Lilly explains fasting insulin and LDL cholesterol, noting their importance in measuring insulin resistance and cardiovascular health. She highlights the importance of bone density and body composition, recommending DEXA scans for accurate measurement. A Focus on Longevity Lilly discusses VO2 max, a measure of cardiovascular capacity and longevity, and the challenges of obtaining accurate measurements. She mentions the use of fitness trackers to estimate VO2 max and the benefits of regular monitoring. Lilly shares her personal practice of conducting twice-yearly health panels to track biomarkers and ensure overall well-being. Timestamps: 02:47: Transition to Women's Health and HeraSphere  06:48: Key Health Pillars: Exercise and Muscle  13:57: Sleep and Its Importance  23:57: Nutrition and Sugar Impact  29:53: Brain Health and Lifelong Learning  36:20: Connection and Social Support  38:32: Lilly's Services and Consumer Insights  41:08: Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for Health  47:04: Advanced Health Metrics and Longevity  Links:  HeraSphere newsletter: https://herasphere.beehiiv.com/ HeraSphere website: https://herasphere.beehiiv.com/p/herasphere-24-become-the-ceo-of-your-health Consulting practice website: https://artlogicagroup.com/ 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.  
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  645. Andrew Persh, Founder of Oria, an AI PowerPoint Plug-in for Management Consulting 18.05.2026 21mnt

  Show Notes: Andrew Persh, co-founder of Oria, an AI-based tool for creating PowerPoint slides demonstrates Oria. Andrew provides a brief history of his experience at McKinsey and the challenges he faced with existing AI tools for creating slides. He explains the idea behind Oria: to create complex slides that do not look like they were generated by AI. Oria Demonstration Andrew demonstrates Oria as an extension for PowerPoint, focusing on the text-to-slide feature.  Converting text into design suggestions He explains the process of converting text into multiple design suggestions for slides. Andrew highlights that each design option is custom-built and fits within the user's existing PowerPoint template. Complex slides with data He shows how Oria can handle complex slides with data and create visually compelling designs. Data heavy slides 3D visualizations Andrew discusses the ability of Oria to handle data-heavy slides and create 3D visualizations.   Framework with icons He demonstrates how Oria can convert text descriptions into detailed slides with icons and text. Improve design Andrew explains the "improve design" feature, which allows users to specify detailed instructions for slide design. He shows how Oria can format slides and add visual elements based on user instructions. Andrew explains the ability of Oria to handle long content and extract key points for slides. He demonstrates how Oria can create a roadmap slide from a detailed text description. Roadmap slide He explains the process of using Oria with large amounts of text and how it can synthesize the content into a slide. Oria can build slides from normal human language meaning users do not need to know how to use prompts. Andrew shows how Oria can handle non-standard elements like chevrons and create fully editable slides. Screenshots to Slides Function Andrew demonstrates how Oria can handle screenshots and convert them into editable PowerPoint elements. He explains the limitations of other AI tools in handling charts and how Oria excels in this area. Sketch to slide feature Andrew introduces the "sketch to slide" feature, which converts handwritten notes into editable slides. He shows how Oria can switch between different templates for different clients and maintain consistency in slide design. Subscription Plans Andrew discusses the installation process of Oria and the availability of a free trial. Andrew explains the different subscription plans: $20 per month for basic use and $60 per month for heavy users. He mentions the option to purchase additional tokens for more complex slides. Promo code: UMBREX - 20% for 12 months.  Timestamps: 03:20: Demo of Oria's Text-to-Slide Feature  06:30: Advanced Features of Oria  11:07: Handling Long Content and Complex Slides  15:29: Additional Use Cases and Features  21:41: Subscription and Pricing Details  Links:  https://www.oria.one/ https://marketplace.microsoft.com/en-us/product/office/WA200009750?tab=Overview This episode on Umbrex: https://umbrex.com/unleashed/episode-645-andrew-persh-founder-of-oria-an-ai-powerpoint-plug-in-for-management-consulting/ 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.  
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  644. Zsigmond Fajth, Gridd: Smart Templates for the AI Era 11.05.2026 25mnt

  Show Notes: Zsigmond Fajth is a McKinsey alum and co-founder of Gridd, a company that provides templates for the AI era, specifically for consultants. Zsigmond explains that Gridd is designed for independent consultants, leveraging his experience at McKinsey where he modernized client communication tools. Introducing Gridd Zsigmond mentions the creation of McKinsey's PowerPoint toolbar and the Pyramid add-in, which helped consultants create interactive presentations. He discusses the transition from traditional templates to AI-driven templates, aiming to serve a broader audience beyond McKinsey. Gridd's AI Templates Zsigmond describes Gridd's AI templates as having flexible layouts that auto-expand as content is added, solving issues with static PowerPoint templates. The templates include embedded AI prompts that can be copied and pasted into various AI tools like ChatGPT or Copilot. He explains that the templates are designed to accommodate content in a format that can be easily integrated into the AI tools.  Gridd's Basic Setup Zsigmond demonstrates both the flexible layouts and the integration with AI tools. He shows the template library, which includes 260 templates covering various use cases like boxes, matrices, process flows, funnels, pyramids, and charts. The templates are designed to look like best practice consulting charts, with 60 charts being traditional Microsoft charts and the rest in a special format. Gridd's Special Formats Zsigmond highlights the special format, which includes elements like tables with blue boxes and sub-headers, typical of consulting slides. Gridd has a variety of templates, including frameworks, text, shapes, and quantitative info charts like column charts, bar charts, and waterfall charts.   Adding Rows Gridd's Flexible Layouts Zsigmond demonstrates how to insert a new page with a Gridd element, add columns or rows, and resize elements to maintain alignment. The flexible layouts allow for quick edits without manual alignment, saving time and effort. He shows how to add additional levels to a pyramid framework and delete levels as needed, making it easy to adjust the structure. The auto-expanding capability saves templates by allowing them to accommodate more content without creating multiple versions. Expanding Copy and Paste  Gridd Integration with AI Tools Zsigmond explains the process of using Gridd's custom prompts with AI tools like ChatGPT to generate content for the templates. The custom prompts include instructions on the layout and content format, ensuring the AI generates content that fits the template. Rearranging Columns Generating and Integrating Prompts Zsigmond demonstrates how to copy the prompt, paste it into ChatGPT, and specify the source of information to generate an executive summary.  Using AI Prompt The generated content is then copied and pasted back into the Gridd template, which formats it automatically.  Paste Prompt in ChatGPT Zsigmond contrasts Gridd's approach with traditional templates, which overdetermine output or require manual edits that are time-consuming. Paste into Gridd Gridd's approach allows for quick algorithmic edits, making it faster and more reliable to add or modify content than always using AI. The built-in prompts ensure consistent output and reduce the need for long and token-intensive layout generation. Zsigmond demonstrates how to modify existing templates to specify dimensions and content, making it easier to generate accurate and detailed pages. Gridd Pricing Packages Zsigmond outlines the pricing packages for Grid templates, including a free trial, an essentials package, and a full template package. The free trial includes the add-in and 23 templates, allowing users to test the tool without commitment. The essentials package, priced at $69, includes 60 layouts and is available with lifetime access. The full package, priced at $269, includes 260 layouts and 60 charts, also with lifetime access. All packages come with a 30 days satisfaction guarantee. Zsigmond mentions a launch promotion offering 33% off for Unleashed listeners, bringing the prices down to $49 for the essentials and $169 for the full package.  Promo code: UNLEASHED Timestamps: 02:42: Overview of Gridd's AI Templates  04:16: Demonstration of Gridd's Template Library 08:02: Editing and Customizing Templates in Gridd  13:02: Integration with AI Tools for Content Generation 22:55: Advantages of Gridd's Approach  23:09: Pricing and Availability of Gridd Templates Links: Gridd website: www.griddtemplates.com This episode on Umbrex: https://umbrex.com/unleashed/episode-644-zsigmond-fajth-gridd-smart-templates-for-the-ai-era/ 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.  
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  643. Scarlett Jiang, COO at Vantage Global AI Shares 3 Live Client AI Use Cases 04.05.2026 32mnt

  Show Notes: Scarlett Jiang from Vantage AI, an AI product and services firm based in London,  provides a one-minute overview of Vantage AI, highlighting their focus on data foundations and AI transformation. Vantage AI helps companies consolidate data from various systems into a single source of truth. Scarlett mentions the firm's experience with hospitality franchise clients, such as Burger King, KFC, and McDonald's. Mock Demo of Chatbot Scarlett introduces a mock demo of a chatbot designed for hospitality franchise owners. The chatbot can handle real-time queries about sales data, labor costs, and other key metrics. Scarlett explains the process of using the chatbot to query data, including translating natural language questions into SQL, which means users do not need to know SQL.  Custom Dashboard Scarlett introduces the custom dashboard with data intelligence analyst chatbot functionality, allowing users to query via human natural language and retrieve insights from pre-ingested data warehouses.  Sales Performance The chatbot can provide summaries of sales performance, labor data, and other operational metrics. Sales Performance Rank Scarlett shows how the chatbot can handle more complex queries, e.g.: If I had to focus on 3 stores to improve performance this quarter, which would you recommend and why? (chatbot showcase the capability to synthesize sales, reviews, and trend data into  recommended action) Performance Graph The chatbot can provide detailed insights into top and bottom performers, including specific metrics like net sales and transaction counts. Scarlett discusses the benefits of using a chatbot for specific questions, rather than pre-built dashboards. The chatbot can also provide reasoning behind its answers, showing the steps it takes to generate insights. The Process of Building AI Tools Scarlett explains the process of building AI tools, starting with a diagnostic phase to understand the client's data journey and use cases. After the diagnostic, a strategic roadmap is created to prioritize use cases. A quick prototype is then developed, followed by data foundation transformation. The process can range from a few days to several months, depending on the complexity and scope of the project. Accounts Payable Month-end Reconciliation Demo Scarlett demonstrates a workflow automation tool for account payable month-end reconciliation.  Accounts Payable Reconciliation This demo presents a finance use case built around month-end accounts payable reconciliation - a process every finance team navigates. Supplier invoice data sits across two systems: the AP subledger, which holds granular invoice-level detail, and the general ledger control account, which carries a single summary balance that should match. In practice, the two rarely align - late-posted invoices and manual journal entries that bypass the subledger are the most common culprits. This demo showcases an AI agent that pulls data from both sources, identifies and reconciles the gap automatically; and surfaces discrepancies to human reviewers for sign-off or overwrite - eliminating hours of manual investigation at close. Converting PDF Purchase Orders into CSV Files Scarlett demonstrates a tool that converts PDF purchase orders into CSV files. Snowflake Tables The tool extracts key information from the PDF, such as contract terms, payment schedules, and expenditures. The tool can transform the extracted data into a chart format for easier analysis.  Reconciliation Report Payment Breakdown The tool is designed to automate the process of working with large amounts of unstructured data, reducing manual effort.  Cost and Development Time  Scarlett discusses the cost and development time for AI tools, noting that prototypes can be developed quickly. The bulk of the work involves data cleaning, ingestion, and transformation to ensure data accuracy. The development time can range from a few days to several months, depending on the complexity and scope of the project. The cost varies based on the specific requirements and the level of automation needed. Demonstration Videos:  Pre-recorded Demo 1: Data Intelligence demo https://www.vantageglobal.ai/insights/demo-pages/data-intelligence-analyst Pre-recorded Demo 2: Accounts payable month-end reconciliation agent ​https://www.vantageglobal.ai/insights/demo-pages/ap-month-end-reconciliation-agent Pre-recorded Demo 3: Parsing unstructured data to structured data https://www.vantageglobal.ai/insights/demo-pages/purchase-order-explorer-agent Timestamps: 02:24: Demonstration of AI Chatbot for Hospitality Franchise Owners 07:14: Advanced Query Capabilities of the Chatbot 13:06: Process of Building AI Tools at Vantage AI 17:40: Case Study: Account Payable Month-End Reconciliation  28:03: Case Study: PDF to CSV Transformation 34:42: Cost and Development Time for AI Tools  This episode on Umbrex: https://umbrex.com/unleashed/episode-643-scarlett-jiang-coo-at-vantage-global-ai-shares-3-live-client-ai-use-cases/ 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.  
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  642. Saurabh Gupta, Co-founder Binocs, AI Driven Commercial Due Diligence 27.04.2026 28mnt

  Saurabh Gupta, founder of Binocs, and provides a brief background on his career at KPMG and Verizon. Saurabh explains that Binocs uses generative AI to accelerate commercial due diligence, industry analysis, and company analysis. The tool is designed to support private equity clients, particularly in analyzing private companies. Saurabh mentions that the focus of the demo will be on industry analysis and investment memos. Binocs Home Page A Demonstration of Binocs Saurabh navigates to the commercial due diligence section of Binocs, highlighting four main areas: industry analysis, investment memos, growth strategy, and valuation analysis.  Industry analysis Saurabh explains the process of conducting an industry analysis, including selecting a geography, industry segments, key players, and uploading documents. The tool allows for detailed analysis at various levels, from country to state, and is used globally by clients in different regions. The inputs required for an industry analysis,  include industry name, geography (state, country or region), and optional focus area description and project code. How Binocs Generates Industry Reports Saurabh demonstrates how to input data for an industry analysis, selecting Colorado as an example geography. Geography Input The report generated includes an executive summary, industry overview, industry segments, key industry trends, customer overview, industry market size, and more. The report also includes references and sources used in the analysis, which can be linked to for further information. Company Snapshot Saurabh explains that the system builds a knowledge base each time a report is run, searching the web for relevant information and creating a detailed issue-tree based approach to identify the right references.  Product Report Exporting Reports When asked if the reports can be exported and shared with listeners, Saurabh confirms that they can be downloaded as PowerPoint presentations or PDFs. The system allows users to share the report link without requiring a login, making it accessible to others. The extensive amount of information in the report, including various topic areas and subcategories is highlighted. Saurabh mentions that the report can take 30 minutes to 60 minutes to run, depending on the granularity of the analysis. Building Market Models Saurabh explains that the system not only compiles information but also performs cognitive work, such as building market models and triangulating market sizes. The system can calculate market sizes by analyzing various factors, giving an example of market sizing of Building Materials Distribution market size through the US value of construction, material share, and distribution margins. The detailed logic and assumptions used by the system allows users to audit and adjust the results. Market Size Estimation Saurabh provides an example of how the system triangulates market sizes and builds multiple market models for accuracy. Competitive Positioning Saurabh discusses how the system can analyze competitive positioning using social media reviews, G2 reviews, and comparative literature. The system can also perform financial benchmarking by connecting to public filings and comparing public competitors' revenue growth, profitability, and operating efficiency. It is noted that the system currently does not allow downloading data into Excel but mentions it is on the roadmap. Saurabh highlights the potential inorganic opportunities identified by the system and the detailed competitor profiles available in the appendix. The Company Profile Section Saurabh introduces the company profile section, which includes an investment memo for conducting a deep dive into a company. Investment Memo The system can generate an overview of the company's geographical footprint, products and services, distribution channels, and key purchasing criteria. The report also includes industry analysis and financial benchmarking, if financial data is available. Pricing Structure The conversation turns to the pricing of the reports, and Saurabh explains that unlimited access to the portal, which includes industry analysis and commercial due diligence reports costs $2,500 per month for three seats, while individual industry reports cost $500 each. The system allows users to purchase credits and run analyses as needed. Saurabh provides an overview of the current user base, which includes consulting firms, private equity companies, investment banks, and corporates. The system is used for various purposes, such as pre-LOI research, growth strategy, and industry analysis. Additional Features Saurabh mentions additional features like a chatbot that can answer questions and build proposals, interview guides, and expert interview notes. The system can connect to proprietary data sources and subscriptions, enhancing the depth of the analysis. The comprehensive nature of the tool and its potential to save time and resources for consultants and investors is a major benefit.  Umbrex Members Discount: Saurabh is offering a 20% discount to Umbrex members. They recieve a discount coupon on the payment page when they sign up using a referral link.  Disclaimer: The Binocs reports have been entirely generated by Artificial Intelligence. The research and insights provided are based on information we consider reliable at the time of generation. However, we do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of this information. This report is intended for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for making investment decisions. Readers are encouraged to perform their own due diligence or consult with professional advisors before taking any action based on this content. Please note that any reliance on this report is at the reader's own risk, and we disclaim all liability for any potential errors or omissions. Timestamps: 02:22: Demo of Binocs: Industry Analysis and Investment Memos 05:29: Generating an Industry Analysis Report 07:13: Exporting and Sharing Reports  09:49: Cognitive Work and Market Modeling 13:45: Competitive Positioning and Financial Benchmarking  17:06: Company Profile and Investment Memo  26:18: Pricing and User Base 29:10: Additional Features and Future Plans  Links: Website:  https://binocs.co/ Permalinks: PowerPoint: IR Building Product Distribution Binocs Concise PowerPoint: IM Hammertech Binocs PowerPoint: IR Building Product Distribution Binocs Disclaimer: The Binocs reports have been entirely generated by Artificial Intelligence. The research and insights provided are based on information we consider reliable at the time of generation. However, we do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of this information.  This report is intended for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for making investment decisions. Readers are encouraged to perform their own due diligence or consult with professional advisors before taking any action based on this content. Please note that any reliance on this report is at the reader's own risk, and we disclaim all liability for any potential errors or omissions. This episode on Umbrex:  https://umbrex.com/unleashed/episode-642-saurabh-gupta-co-founder-binocs-ai-driven-commercial-due-diligence/ 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.  
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  641. Lauri Euren, Operating.app: An AI-powered platform to run a consulting firm from resource planning to month-end close 06.04.2026 29mnt

  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.  
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  640. Raman Julka, The AI Platform Turning Raw Business Data into Consulting-Grade Insights in Under 10 Minutes 30.03.2026 31mnt

  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.  
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  639. Fred Brouillet, LearningFrontier.ai: Turning Books into AI Avatar Consultants 23.03.2026 19mnt

  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.  
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  638. Nir Eyal, Author of Beyond Belief 09.03.2026 45mnt

  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.  
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  637. Erin-Michael Gill, Founder of Genaesis on GovCon M&A 02.03.2026 51mnt

  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.  
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  636. Sarah Pomeranz, The Consultant's Guide to Working with Nonprofits 19.02.2026 36mnt

  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.