🎙️ Podcast Summary

In this episode of The HE Consultant’s Toolkit, we explore one of the most uncomfortable - but essential - topics for independent consultants: pricing.

How do you set a fair and sustainable day rate? What do you say when clients push back? And how do you manage your mindset when the money conversation gets awkward?

Karen shares candid reflections from her own consultancy experiences, offering practical strategies for setting your fees, negotiating with confidence, and staying financially resilient during quiet periods.

Whether you’re new to consultancy or still finding your pricing rhythm, this episode will help you approach your value with clarity, professionalism, and purpose.

✅ Key Takeaways

• Your day rate isn’t your old salary divided by 220. Price for value, not just time, and include your non-billable work, business costs, and downtime.
  

• Use others to inform your rate - but don’t simply copy. Your offer and experience are unique.
  

• Tiered or packaged services can give clients choice without undercutting your value.
  

• Pushback is negotiation, not rejection. Be open to scope changes - but protect your baseline.
  

• Use a three-point decision filter: pay, learning/enjoyment, and visibility. Two out of three? Consider saying yes.
  

• Have a BATNA. Know what you’ll do when a project doesn’t land - writing, CPD, business development, or creating content like this podcast.
  

  📣 Calls to Action

  👉 Subscribe and Share If you enjoyed this episode or found Series 1 helpful, please subscribe and share it with your network. It really helps the podcast reach others working in HE consultancy.

  🤝 Connect on LinkedIn I’d love to hear your thoughts on today’s episode. Do you find pricing tricky? What strategies work for you? Feel free to connect and join the conversation on LinkedIn.

  📅 Look Out for Series 2: Episode 3 We’ll be back soon with the next episode. Make sure you’re subscribed so you don’t miss it.

  
  

  🔗 Relevant Resources

  • 🌐 KHL Consulting Website: www.khlconsulting.co.uk
    

  • 👤 LinkedIn Profile for Karen Heard-Lauréote: www.linkedin.com/in/profkhl
    

  • 🤝 Network for Educational Enhancement Consultants (NEEC): Join here

  
  

Podcast Summary
In this episode of The HE Consultant’s Toolkit, we explore the critical skill of time management for independent higher education consultants. With multiple projects, shifting client demands, and the pressure to maintain a work-life balance, effective time management is essential to sustaining a successful consultancy career.

Karen shares personal insights from her own consultancy journey, discussing practical strategies for prioritising tasks, using productivity tools, managing quieter periods, and setting boundaries to prevent burnout. She also highlights common time management pitfalls and provides a simple, actionable framework for consultants to stay in control of their workload.

Key Takeaways

✅ Prioritise tasks effectively – Use tools like the Eisenhower Matrix to focus on work that delivers the most impact rather than constantly firefighting urgent but less important tasks.

✅ Use productivity tools wisely – Platforms like Padlet and Google Calendar can help manage deadlines and allocate time for focused, deep work.

✅ Schedule downtime intentionally – Rest and recovery are essential. Blocking out time for non-work activities can improve overall productivity and prevent burnout.

✅ Manage quieter periods proactively – Have a BATNA (Best Alternative to a Negotiated Agreement) by engaging in high-quality, non-client work like research, thought leadership or professional development to maintain momentum.

✅ Avoid common mistakes – Over-servicing clients, failing to build buffer time, and neglecting self-care can all lead to stress and inefficiency. Learning to set boundaries is key.

✅ Follow a structured approach – Regularly review commitments, plan the week ahead, and reflect and adjust to maintain a sustainable workflow.

By adopting these strategies, HE consultants can manage their time more effectively, maintain their professional wellbeing, and ensure long-term success in their consultancy practice.

Links to Relevant Resources

• KHL Consulting Website: www.khlconsulting.co.uk

• LinkedIn Profile for Karen Heard-Lauréote: www.linkedin.com/in/profkhl

• Network for Educational Enhancement Consultants: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/14409504/

  
  

  Calls to Action

  • Subscribe and Share: If you enjoyed this episode or found series one helpful, please subscribe and share it with your network.

  • Connect on LinkedIn: I’d love to hear your thoughts on today’s podcast, so feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn.

  • Look Out for Series 2: Episode 2: We’ll be back in February with episode 2. Make sure you’re subscribed so you don’t miss it!

    
    

  
  

  
  

In this final episode of Series 1 of The HE Consultant’s Toolkit, Karen Heard-Lauréote explores the importance of building a strong personal brand and cultivating a professional network in Higher Education consultancy. Sharing practical, down-to-earth tips, Karen discusses how to define a personal brand that feels authentic, use LinkedIn effectively, and approach networking with curiosity rather than formality. Wrapping up the first series, she reflects on this podcasting experiment and hints at what listeners can look forward to in Series 2.

Key Takeaways

Defining your personal brand - Start by clarifying what makes your approach unique. Think about the specific strengths or experiences that set you apart and make sure your brand reflects those clearly and authentically.

The value of LinkedIn - Use LinkedIn as a tool to share insights and engage with the sector, not as a soapbox. A clear headline and an active presence make it easier for potential clients to connect with you and remember you when they need support.

Networking for connection, not transaction - Approach networking with genuine curiosity. Building relationships with HE colleagues is about taking an interest in their work and finding ways to be helpful, which leads to more meaningful connections and lasting opportunities.

Supporting your brand through content - Creating and sharing content, whether that’s articles, posts, or comments, can strengthen your personal brand and showcase your expertise. Authentic, helpful insights resonate more than promotional content.

Consistency is key - Building a strong personal brand and network takes time and consistent effort. Regularly engaging on LinkedIn, attending events, and nurturing connections will help reinforce your presence and reputation over time.

KHL Consulting Website.

LinkedIn Profile for Karen Heard-Lauréote.

Network for Educational Enhancement Consultants.

Subscribe and Share: If you enjoyed this episode or found the series helpful, please subscribe and share it with your network.
Connect on LinkedIn: I’d love to hear your thoughts on the series, so feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn.

Look Out for Series 2: We’ll be back in the new year with Series 2, covering topics like time management, balancing consultancy projects, and more. Make sure you’re subscribed so you don’t miss it!

In Episode 2 of The HE Consultant’s Toolkit, Karen Heard-Lauréote explores one of the most crucial tools for any consultant: communication. From getting through the jargon-heavy world of Higher Education to handling tricky conversations with university leadership, Karen offers practical tips on getting to grips with communication in the consultancy space. Karen discusses the importance of tailoring your message to different audiences, the value of active listening, and the fine art of managing emails, meetings, and committee discussions. Whether you’re a new or seasoned consultant, this episode will equip you with the skills to communicate clearly, effectively, and with confidence in the HE sector.

Know your audience - in Higher Education consultancy, your audience will vary from academics to finance officers, and you need to tailor your message accordingly. Flexibility in your communication style is key.

Active listening is critical - don’t just listen to respond - listen to understand. Dig deeper into the problems universities face by genuinely hearing what’s being said (and what isn’t).

Avoid jargon overload - while HE loves its jargon, as a consultant, your job is to simplify and translate complex ideas so that everyone is on the same page.

Keep emails clear and meetings focused - emails should be concise and to the point, while meetings need structure and preparation. Be ready to pivot when the conversation takes unexpected turns.

Managing difficult conversations - delivering bad news is part of the job. Be direct, but always frame the conversation with constructive solutions that will help the provider move forward.

Build trust through communication - consultancy is all about relationships, and trust is built through transparent, consistent, and honest communication throughout a project.

Committee meetings survival tips - stay focused on outcomes, keep presentations short, and be prepared for questions from every angle.

Links to Relevant Resources:

KHL Consulting Website.

LinkedIn Profile for Karen Heard-Lauréote.

Network for Educational Enhancement Consultants.

Subscribe to the Podcast: If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to The HE Consultant’s Toolkit on your preferred podcast platform to stay updated on future episodes.

Share with Your Network: Know someone who might benefit from this podcast? Share this episode with them to help them demystify the world of HE consultancy.

Connect on LinkedIn: Let’s keep the conversation going. Connect with me on LinkedIn here to share your thoughts on the episode or ask any questions you might have about consultancy in Higher Education.

In this inaugural episode of The HE Consultant’s Toolkit, Professor Karen Heard-Lauréote, Founder, Director and Principal Consultant at KHL Consulting, celebrates the first anniversary of her consultancy practice by sharing insights into the world of Higher Education consultancy. Karen reflects on her unexpected transition into consultancy, the unique challenges of the HE sector, and the essential skills and attributes every consultant needs to succeed.

Whether you’re new to consultancy, considering it as a career move, or an experienced consultant, this episode sets the stage for the foundational skills that will be explored throughout the series.

Subscribe to the podcast: if you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to The HE Consultant’s Toolkit on your preferred podcast platform to stay updated on future episodes.

Share with your network: do you know someone who might benefit from this podcast? Share this episode with them to help them demystify the world of HE consultancy.

Connect on LinkedIn: let’s keep the conversation going. Connect with me on LinkedIn at http://www.linkedin.com/in/profkhl to share your thoughts on the episode or ask any questions you might have about consultancy in higher education.

Provide feedback: I’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode. What resonated with you? What would you like to hear more about?

Please leave a review or contact me directly through LinkedIn or my website.

Check out my website: Visit for more information about my consultancy services, blog posts, and other helpful resources. www.khlconsulting.co.uk

In this inaugural episode of The HE Consultant’s Toolkit, Professor Karen Heard-Lauréote, Founder, Director and Principal Consultant at KHL Consulting, celebrates the first anniversary of her consultancy practice by sharing insights into the world of Higher Education consultancy. Karen reflects on her unexpected transition into consultancy, the unique challenges of the HE sector, and the essential skills and attributes every consultant needs to succeed. Whether you’re new to consultancy, considering it as a career move, or an experienced consultant, this episode sets the stage for the foundational skills that will be explored throughout the series.

Links to Relevant Resources:

Calls to Action: