Episode 383: Adam Braff on Forecasting

Adam Braff is a former McKinsey partner; he runs a data and analytics consulting firm called Braff & Co. where he advises investors, boards, and senior leadership teams on extracting maximum value from their investments in data and analytics. Today, we talk about forecasting.

Key points include:

02:17: What Adam learned from running a forecasting contest

07:04: The problem with overconfidence

10:42: What differentiates a good from a bad forecaster

16:23: Researching STEM topics to make a prediction

20:42: How forecasting has manifested in Adam’s advisory work.

30:16: Addressing how to get better at forecasting

You can learn more about forecasting and check out Adam’s masterclass at https://braff.co/advice.

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.

In today’s episode, I host a panel discussion with Jennifer Hartz, J. Andrew McKee, Jay Altizer, and Ashutosh Dalvi. They share insights, advice, and their own story on taking the leap from a comfortable salaried position to becoming an independent consultant.

Key points include:

01:13: The decision to become an independent consultant. 

08:40: The positives and negatives of the transition

14:32: Advice to those making the transition

21:22: Cash flow and workflow

25:40: People who should not go independent

You can connect with members on the panel through LinkedIn.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jehartz/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewmckee/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/altizer/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashutoshbdalvi/

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.

In this Episode of Unleashed, I chat with Surbhee Grover. Surbhee is the consultant who runs the firm Steel and Graffiti, she has also recently launched a personal care brand love,Indus.com; and today we discuss the whole process of creating a brand from product formulation to promotion.

Key points include:

05:58: Evolving past the concept

10:18: The market research journey

12:34: Product formulation

17:54: Dealing with intellectual property rights

20:57: Cost of development

32:34: Developing the brand identity

You can learn more about love,indus on the website, Instagram, or Facebook page, and you can connect with Surbhee on LinkedIn.

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.

Stefan Kolle is the co-founder, Managing Director and Chairman of the Board of Futurelab, a company that helps businesses improve their marketplace through meaningful innovation in customer experience. On today’s show, Stefan shares a few case studies and we discuss customer centricity and customer experience.

Key points include:

02:19: Assessing the state of customer experience

05:18: Voice of the customer exercises

09:18: The changes Futurelab has helped companies make

20:23: The growth of Futurelab

You can connect with Stefan on LinkedIn and learn more about his company at  www.futurelab.net.

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.

In this episode of Unleashed, I offer a few tips on how to use units strategically to emotionally engage your clients and avoid numerical overload.

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.

In this short 2-minute episode, I share a LinkedIn trick that you can use to show people how to pronounce your name.

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.

In today’s short episode, I share a few tips on sending connection requests on LinkedIn.

01:47: Reaching out cold

02:35: Avoiding becoming spam

04:15: After 200 requests

04:50: Customized notes on the LinkedIn App

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.

Ali Ahmed is the founder and principal of Green Strategies, a company that helps clients discover sustainability opportunities. He is a recognized sustainability and energy management leader who has developed and managed more than 50 global energy and sustainability programs. In today’s episode, we discuss carbon. 

Key points include:

01:37: An overview of carbon credits

06:27: The companies buying carbon credits

09:02: Carbon credit audits

13:38: Carbon offset interpretations

21:42: How the soil captures carbon

30:04: Carbon accounting

37:46: The international market for carbon offset

Ali can be reached through his website at green_strategies.com  or connect with him on LinkedIn.

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.

Stacy Sifleet, an alum of A.T. Kearney, helps manufacturers, distributors and service-based companies improve their profit through targeted price strategy while providing customers with the services or products they want. 

She is here with me today to explain how she implements and improves customer value strategies.

01:34: How customer value applies to the B2B realm

07:54: Defining groups of customers by profitability

11:39: Communicating the tier status to the customer

16:34: Maintaining service levels across tiers

21:29: How an annual performance review adds value to a client

You can email at [email protected], visit her website, PricingVelocity.com, or reach out on LinkedIn.

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.

Tami Lucey is an independent travel consultant, or as she describes herself, “a worldwide business travel hassle remover.” 

We talk about her four decades of work as a corporate travel agent, how the industry has changed, and her focus on working with the entertainment industry and individual consultants.

02:06: The benefits of a personalized service 

04:57: The limitations of Google search in booking travel

07:47: How Tami structures her fees

11:05: What’s included in Tami’s fees

15:12: What it means to join a host agency as an independent

21:17: Working with the entertainment industry

Tami can be reached through the website, Corporate Travel – The Travel Society Host Agency

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