Climb In Consulting

Suki Thompson is co-founder of Oystercatchers and exec board member of their parent company Centaur Media PLC. In addition Suki is a trustee for Touraid and Macmillan Cancer Support as well as a Non-Executive Director for Gately PLC.

Unlike many of my guests, Suki doesn’t come from a Management Consulting background but a Marketing background. Following a successful corporate career she decided to go out on her own founding Marketing firm, Haystack Group, and her own gin business, Bunker Gin, before launching Oystercatchers and ultimately selling the business to Centaur.

Oystercatchers is an industry pioneer. It was created to help clients ‘accelerate marketing performance’ by providing consultancy support to their Marketing functions - to enable brands and businesses to build growth with a competitive edge in a rapidly changing industry landscape. This unique approach and the purpose behind it is something we discuss in detail in today’s episode.

Suki is as open as she is impressive and we go deep into her story and some of the challenges she faced along the way including:

Suki's approach to goal setting and how she sets and achieves her goals

Founding Oystercatchers and how Suki met her Business Partner, Peter Cowie

Suki's battle with Cancer in the early days of Oystercatchers and how she made it through with both her health and business intact

How Suki and Peter decided to sell the business and why they chose Centaur Media

The challenges women face in the professional world and how to overcome them

How to achieve a successful work and personal life by blending the two together

Suki’s advice to those thinking of starting their own business

And much much more!

You can find out more about Suki and Oystercatchers on her Linked In page – https://www.linkedin.com/in/suki-thompson-07615b6/ or reach out to her by email at [email protected]

Specific Things We Discuss in the show:

Mindfulness: A practical guide to finding peace in a frantic world by Mark Williams Danny Penman - http://amzn.eu/59JpVwp

The 5 Second Rule: The surprisingly simple way to live, love and speak with courage by Mel Robbins - http://amzn.eu/8Qe49o1

The Secret by Rhonda Byrne - http://amzn.eu/8TqT2dN

The OysterCatchers Club - http://theoystercatchers.com/category/oystercatchers-club/

Mark Ritson’s mini MBA - https://mba.marketingweek.com/

Feel The Fear And Do It Anyway: how to turn your fear and indecision into confidence and action by Susan Jeffers - http://amzn.eu/7j6ApZJ

Hayman’s Gin - www.haymansgin.com

Audible - www.audible.co.uk

Suki’s Holiday Reading list – Comments are her own:

The Thing Around Your Neck – By Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (a collection of short stories from one of my absolute favourite authors) - http://amzn.eu/gCegS3E

The Tattooist of Auschwitz – by Heather Morris – I love history and this is a simple, thought provoking and emotional story about a different aspect of the Holocaust - http://amzn.eu/5Q4lT7G

Mythos – Stephen Fry – Stephen was one of our guest speakers at our Festival of Marketing last year and we talked about this book, I just needed time to read it - http://amzn.eu/4f6gMo1

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine – by Gail Honeyman – my airport purchase, delighted I made a good choice. this lovely story gives an insight into a very different perspective on the world - http://amzn.eu/cAdqix4

Mohamed Mansour is one of the founding Partners – and former Managing Partner – of Baringa Partners. If you have listened to episode 4 (http://bit.ly/CICep4) you’ll know that Mohamed held this role before passing the mantel over to Adrian Bettridge having decided the time was right to move back to his homeland of Canada.

Mohamed was also my boss for the first part of my time at Baringa and it was great to have the chance to sit down with him to find out about the early days of Baringa (most of which I didn’t know) and ask Mohamed some questions that I’d always wanted to know the answers to!

Mohamed has a really unique story; having started in Canada and moved across to the US to join the start up Consultancy, The Structure Group, he was offered the opportunity to help launch the firm’s European arm and found himself alongside his co-founders, running a Consulting firm in a country he didn’t know in his mid 20s. This subsequently grew in to Baringa Partners and as they say, the rest is history.

We cover a whole range of topics in this episode including:

How Mohamed found himself running a Consulting firm at such a young age and what key skills he had to develop as part of this.

Mohamed’s advice on how to become a good Leader.

The key foundations that Mohamed and the founding team put in place to create the unique culture that Baringa was, and still is, renowned for.

The importance of lateral thinking in Consulting and how you can develop this critical skill.

How to respond to feedback and know what you should take on board and what you should ignore.

How Mohamed is so good with names (something he was renowned for at Baringa)

And much much more!

You can find out more about Mohamed on his Linked In page – https://www.linkedin.com/in/mohamed-mansour-362b422/ or drop him an email at [email protected]

Specific things we discuss in the show:

Anderson Consulting – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Andersen#Andersen_Consulting_and_Accenture

The Structure Group - https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-structure-group

Colour personality types Mohamed mentions - http://www.fullcircletd.co.uk/insight-discovery/insights-discovery-colour-energies/

Riipen - https://riipen.io/

John Timpson - https://www.timpson.co.uk/about/meet-the-timpsons

Nixonland: The Rise of a President and the Fracturing of America: America's Second Civil War and the Divisive Legacy of Richard Nixon by Rick Perlstein - http://amzn.eu/cmNPiW6

India After Gandhi: The History of the World's Largest Democracy by Ramachandra Guha - http://amzn.eu/asFNO7d

In today's episode I answer one of the questions that I ask all of my guests - 'what book or books do you find yourself recommending most often?'.

Over 30 minutes I walk you through the 5 books that have had the biggest impact on me and my career and share some of the key takeaways that you can apply straight away in your own career.

Each of these books is fantastic in its own right and read together they will help you to take your career to the next level. Whether you're just starting out in Consulting or approaching Partner the skills that these books give you will prove invaluable!

The books I discuss in today's episode:

How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie - http://amzn.eu/26aPrX6

Influence by Robert Cialdini - http://amzn.eu/j9op2US

Unlimited Power by Tony Robbins - http://amzn.eu/1Jn3TLj

The 4 Hour Work Week by Tim Ferriss - http://amzn.eu/d4vK83U

Essentialism by Greg Mckeown - http://amzn.eu/hDT7C99

Stephen Newton is the Founder and Managing Partner of Elixirr. Elixirr are the entrepreneurial ‘Challenger Consultancy’ with a team of 130 across the UK, US and Africa. Elixirr span the whole spectrum of advisory work from advising major blue chip companies on operational strategy through to advising and investing in start-up businesses through their Elixirr Capital arm. They also have one of the coolest Consulting websites I’ve ever seen – www.elixirr.com

Stephen is a serial entrepreneur and his story shows the importance of determination and persistence when it comes to successfully achieving your goals. Prior to launching Elixirr Stephen launched 3 start ups and although they each failed for different reasons the lessons Stephen took from these ventures set him up for later success with Elixirr.

We dive in to so many topics in this interview including:

Stephen’s journey and what you can learn from it.

Why Consulting is the most entrepreneurial career you can have in the corporate world.

Why fixating on your salary is holding your career back and what you should focus on instead.

The importance of an entrepreneurial mindset for employees and how you can cultivate it.

Stephen’s career advice for millennials.

And much much more!

You can find out more about Stephen and get in touch with him through Linked In – https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephen-newton-3b331a15/ - and find out more about Elixirr at www.Elixirr.com

Specific things we discuss in the show:

We:Bo Fitness App - https://www.webofitapp.com/

Stephen’s Blog on the entrepreneurial mindset for employees - https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/moving-from-employee-entrepreneur-stephen-newton/

Stephen’s blog on the characteristics of an employee and an entrepreneur -https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/difference-between-employee-entrepreneur-stephen-newton

Elixirr’s Salary Sacrifice scheme we discuss in the show - https://www.elixirr.com/2017/06/54-return-team-salary-sacrifice-scheme/

Suneeta Padda is an Independent Consultant who’s built a market leading reputation in the Compliance and Regulatory space. Since founding her Consulting brand, Padda consulting, back in 2012 Suneeta has developed a strong reputation in the market with both insurance firms and the City’s regulator as someone who can get things fixed. A reputation that enables her to select the clients she wants to work with and build a successful client portfolio, the goal for pretty much all independent consultants.

Suneeta’s route in to Consulting was very different to that of most of my guests. Having entered the world of work at 35 her can do attitude and willingness to challenge assumptions and the ‘norms’ of the work place she quickly climbed the career ladder before going out on her own. Suneeta has achieved so much since founding Padda Consulting including becoming a Freeman of the City, one of the City’s highest honours, and becoming a mentor for other women from non-traditional City Backgrounds

We cover a whole range of topics in this episode including:

Suneeta’s amazing story of how she got in to Consulting

The challenges she faced entering the City and how she dealt with these

How Suneeta approaches Senior Executives and how she was able to get a 1 to 1 meeting with the MD of her firm when she was ‘just’ an assistant

Suneeta’s view on Diversity in the industry and the advice she gives to younger women

How Suneeta distinguishes her consulting offering to ensure clients see her as a premium brand

Suneeta’s advice on how to network and build your brand.

and much much more!

You can find out more about Suneeta on her Linked In page – https://www.linkedin.com/in/suneetapadda/ and at her website http://www.padda-consulting.co.uk/

Specific things we discuss in the show:

Worshipful Company of Insurers - http://www.wci.org.uk/

Freeman of the City - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_of_the_City

Surely - https://services.surelygroup.com/

The Brokerage City Link - https://www.thebrokerage.org.uk/

Who Moved My Cheese - http://amzn.eu/6rDWYIt

Simon Dennis is co-founder of Gate One (www.gateone.co.uk). Gate One are an award winning Business Transformation Consultancy who specialise in Digital, Operating Model and People Change. Since founding the business Gate One have grown rapidly going from an idea to £25m cumulative revenue in their first 5 years trading.

As well as their award winning Consultancy offering Gate One also runs its own internal Start Up Incubator. Giving their team the opportunity to explore their own entrepreneurial ambitions and help grow new business ideas alongside the Consultancy. The latest idea to go through the Incubator, Pinga (http://pinga-app.com/), has seen some great early success and is looking to grow rapidly, something we discuss in today’s episode.

Simon and I first met when I was deciding whether to stay in Consulting or pursue a start-up idea that I had. Throughout our conversations about joining Gate One it was clear that Simon and his team were looking to do it differently and create something unique in the Consulting industry. I ended up pursuing the start-up idea (sadly unsuccessfully) but Simon and I have stayed in touch ever since and I’ve had the pleasure of watching as Gate One have gone from strength to strength.

We cover a whole range of topics in this episode including:

How and why Simon and his Co-founders started Gate One

Gate One’s unique ‘ripple’ approach to Consultancy

What you should think about if you’re looking to make the move from a big Consultancy to a small one

Simon’s top books for anyone looking to climb in Consulting or start their own business

The Gate One start-up incubator

and much much more!

You can find out more about Simon on his Linked In page – https://www.linkedin.com/in/simon-dennis-28416b1/ or drop him a message at [email protected]

Specific things we discuss in the show:

Simon’s Recommended Reading List:

Managing the Professional Services Firm by David Maister - http://amzn.eu/8gfLD5m

Start with Why by Simon Sinek - http://amzn.eu/dU3ZgMq

Drive by Dan Pink - http://amzn.eu/6Nne2Xr

Mindset by Carol Dweck - http://amzn.eu/h2fAzeu

The Icarus Deception by Seth Godin - http://amzn.eu/73hkExk

Quiet Leadership by David Rock - http://amzn.eu/71y201l

Happiness by Design by Paul Dolan - http://amzn.eu/3kEqGr2

Bounce by Matthew Syed - http://amzn.eu/icRAp5S

Crossing the Chasm by Geoffrey A Moore - http://amzn.eu/7SiieF4

The Founder's Mentality by Chris Zook and James Allen

Pinga – http://pinga-app.com/

Acai Berry - https://www.webmd.boots.com/healthy-eating/guide/acai-berries-health-benefits

Today’s episode of Climb In Consulting is a little different and I’m excited to see what you think about it!

Instead of interviewing a leader from the Consulting industry I answer a question that I’ve had A LOT since making the move in to Independent Consulting – ‘Nick, how do I become an Independent Consultant?’

In this episode I cover some of the specific questions that I’ve been asked by friends and colleagues along with some of the key areas that you need to know about and consider. This includes the myths that often stop people becoming an independent, how to set your day rate, how to find roles and some of my top tips that I’ve learnt over the last 2 years doing it.

I hope you find this episode useful and I’d really value your feedback on whether you like this format and whether it’s useful content. Happy to do more of these if it is. Happy to stick with interviews if it’s not.

Drop me an email and let me know – [email protected]

Topics I discuss and when:

05:22 - Top myths about being an Independent Consultant/Contractor

10:43 - How to calculate your day rate

15:43 - How to find contracting/independent roles

23:54 - My top tips to help you become a successful Independent Consultant

Adrian Bettridge is the Managing Partner of Baringa Partners (www.baringa.com). Baringa Partners is an award winning, multi-national consultancy working across Energy, Financial Services, Consumer Products and Retail and Telecoms and Media. It’s also where I used to work!

This episode is a special one for me as I used to work for Adrian. I worked for Baringa for 3 years from 2012 – 2015 and without them I wouldn’t be working in Consulting to day.

Since I’ve left, Baringa has continued to cement its reputation for both it’s client work and it’s culture achieving Great Place to Work ‘master’ status in 2016 for being a ‘Great Place to Work’ for 10 years in a row and winning best large company to work for in the Great Place to Work awards in 2017.

We cover a whole range of really interesting topics in this episode including:

How Baringa has managed to grow so quickly in such a short space of time (they’ve almost doubled in size since I left!)

What skills Adrian has had to develop most as Managing Partner as the firm has grown

Adrian’s guiding life philosophy and what you should take from it

How Adrian maintains a healthy work life balance

Adrian’s view on Alcohol and whether you need to drink to make it to the top

And much much more!

You can find out more about Adrian on his Linked In page – https://www.linkedin.com/in/adrian-bettridge-9aa32b14/ or drop him a message at [email protected]

Specific things we discuss in the show:

7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R Covey - http://amzn.eu/6xq8Syu

As A Man Thinketh by James Allen - http://amzn.eu/4zVUkaM

Tetris - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tetris

Headspace - https://www.headspace.com/

The 5 Minute Journal by Intelligent Change - http://amzn.eu/1bm6M8K

How Will You Measure Your Life? by Clayton Christensen - http://amzn.eu/3BdYYS5

Drive by Daniel Pink - http://amzn.eu/7lfMJUF

Elon Musk by Ashley Vance - http://amzn.eu/hMYipoZ

Team of Teams: New Rules of Engagement for a Complex World by General Stanley McChrystal - http://amzn.eu/gPsCXH3

Audible – www.audible.co.uk

“A key way to distinguish between different recruitment agencies is knowledge… If they can see that we know our clients, we know our industry and we know the marketplace that should give them the confidence that we know what we’re talking about."

Minesh Jobanputra is co-founder of the recruitment firm Deltra Group (www.deltragroup.com). Deltra group is a specialist Programme, Project and Change recruitment firm who provide both permanent and interim consultants to Major blue chip companies and consulting house.

I first met Minesh back in 2016 when I was looking for an independent role and his approach and that of Deltra really stuck with me. His honest and transparent style coupled with his knowledge of the industry was really refreshing and this is what led me to invite him on to the podcast.

We cover some really interesting topics in this episode including:

How Minesh founded Deltra Group

How you can tell a good recruiter from a bad one

How you can avoid the biggest interview mistake that Minesh and his team hear from their clients

How you can break in to hot areas of the industry that you may not have previous experience in

Whether PRINCE 2 matters

And so much more!

You can find out more about Minesh on his Linked In page – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jobanputra/ and the Deltra Group website - http://www.deltragroup.com/minesh-jobanputra

Specific things we discuss in the show:

EQ Questionnaire and EQ Coach – Lynn Leahy - https://www.lynnleahytalks.com/

Myers Briggs - http://www.myersbriggs.org/

Kolb’s Learning Styles - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kolb%27s_experiential_learning

The One Minute Manager Meets The Monkey by Kenneth Blanchard et al. - http://amzn.eu/6c2URZo

The Servant: A Simple Story About the True Essence of Leadership By James C Hunter - http://amzn.eu/ecBW7I2

Harvard Business Review - https://hbr.org/

Audible - https://www.audible.co.uk/

Minesh Jobanputra is co-founder of the recruitment firm Deltra Group (www.deltragroup.com). Deltra group is a specialist Programme, Project and Change recruitment firm who provide both permanent and interim consultants to Major blue chip companies and consulting house.

I first met Minesh back in 2016 when I was looking for an independent role and his approach and that of Deltra really stuck with me. His honest and transparent style coupled with his knowledge of the industry was really refreshing and this is what led me to invite him on to the podcast.

We cover some really interesting topics in this episode including:

How Minesh founded Deltra Group

How you can tell a good recruiter from a bad one

How you can avoid the biggest interview mistake that Minesh and his team hear from their clients

How you can break in to hot areas of the industry that you may not have previous experience in

Whether PRINCE 2 matters

And so much more!

You can find out more about Minesh on his Linked In page – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jobanputra/ and the Deltra Group website - http://www.deltragroup.com/minesh-jobanputra

Specific things we discuss in the show:

EQ Questionnaire and EQ Coach – Lynn Leahy - https://www.lynnleahytalks.com/

Myers Briggs - http://www.myersbriggs.org/

Kolb’s Learning Styles - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kolb%27s_experiential_learning

The One Minute Manager Meets The Monkey by Kenneth Blanchard et al. - http://amzn.eu/6c2URZo

The Servant: A Simple Story About the True Essence of Leadership By James C Hunter - http://amzn.eu/ecBW7I2

Harvard Business Review - https://hbr.org/

Audible - https://www.audible.co.uk/