Your Expert Advantage: A Higher Level of Management Consulting

A Conversation with Martin Bell

In this episode, co-hosts Ashka Wirk, CMC, and James Grieve, CMC, chat with Martin Bell, CMC, about Urban Systems' unique employee-owned business model. They also touch on what's next for Martin as he transitions out of the role of CEO he's held for the past 16 years. Martin Bell, CMC, ICD.D is the Principal of MBCI. He led Urban Systems Ltd. as CEO for over 16 years and built a 15-time national, Top 100, Great Place to Work and one of Canada’s largest fully employee-owned professional service firms. Martin’s professional practice as a management consultant focuses on strategy, governance, ownership and leadership for local governments and firms in the Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industries.

The Coaching Consulting Connection

In this episode, co-hosts Ashka Wirk, CMC and James Grieve, CMC chat with Heidi Hamilton about the important connection between coaching and consulting.  CMC-Canada’s new Affinity Partnership with Erickson Coaching International offers substantial discounts on Erickson programs to our members and this episode highlights how coaching and consulting can work together to benefit both client and consultant. Heidi Hamilton is a Fellow Certified Management Consultant (FCMC) the highest designation in her field. She is also Dare to Lead certified and completed the Coaching Competency for Leaders ICF certified program and The Essentials Art and Science of Coaching Program with Erickson Coaching International.

Consulting Success: Strategies for Building a Thriving Management Consulting Business

In this episode, co-hosts Ashka Wirk, CMC and James Grieve, CMC sit down with Michael Zipursky, CEO and Co-Founder, Consulting Success®, to discuss how to build exceptional consulting practices. Many management consulting leaders possess extensive expertise in various fields but many lack the sales and marketing skills needed to start and grow their consulting businesses. Michael Zipursky has been helping entrepreneurial consultants grow profitable, predictable, and strategic consulting businesses for over 20 years. In this podcast, he reveals essential best practices for management consultants to consistently expand their businesses and attract their ideal clients. -- Key Takeaways: Here are some of the key takeaways from Episode 11: * The most common challenges consultants face in growing their business * The steps consultants can take to increase the likelihood of their success when starting their practice and building their existing business. * The two key prerequisites that should be in place before consultants start marketing their practices * How the ‘magnetic message’ can help consultants get the attention of their ideal clients * How the 'scarcity mindset' can hold consultants back from growing their business * How the CMC designation provides value for consultants in growing their firms Hosts: James Grieve, CMC, Ashka Wirk, BSc, MBA, CMC, ACC Guest: Michael Zipursky

Workplace Culture and Business Strategy: How Management Consultants Can Help Executives Make the Connection

In this episode, co-hosts Ashka Wirk, CMC, and James Grieve, CMC sit down with Kate Fagan Taylor, CMC to discuss how to build exceptional company cultures that can support and propel your business strategies. Fagan Taylor is a management consultant and organizational culture strategist, with over 20 years of experience as a strategic leader and executive across a wide range of industries.  The topic of workplace culture can be overwhelming for executives and management consultants alike.  In a fascinating discussion, Fagan Taylor explains the importance of ‘culture with intention’- and how management consultants can help raise awareness of workplace culture with executives, so that it can be assessed, improved, and celebrated.  Key Takeaways: Here are some of the key takeaways from Episode 10: * Fagan Taylor’s unique career journey from a non-profit, community-based role, to working in governance, leading a start-up, and working as an executive coach and management consultant. * How ‘work culture’ should be defined. * How management consultants can offer a language for executives to talk about workplace culture. * How company culture should be considered inseparable from business strategy. * A helpful framework for assessing workplace culture.  * Case study examples of how Fagan Taylor helped bridge the gap between workplace culture and strategy. * How companies are incorporating diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility as part of conversations about workplace culture.  * How employees are valuing workplace culture in their decision-making on employment opportunities; including the importance of a sense of belonging and a flexible work environment. * How customer values can shape internal workplace culture.

Building Bridges: Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Consulting Perspectives on Truth and Reconciliation

In this episode, James Grieve, CMC and Flavio Caron, Flavio Caron Business Consulting, discuss what management consultants – and everyone – should know about Truth and Reconciliation. This important conversation explores the role Reconciliation plays in economic development in the Canadian consulting industry – and how starting with Truth, and understanding Canada’s mistreatment of Indigenous communities, is crucial to creating a more inclusive environment for all, nation to nation, neighbour to neighbour, business to business. Indigenous communities contribute billions of dollars to the Canadian economy annually, and there are growing opportunities for both Indigenous consultants and non-Indigenous consultants to support these communities in a wide variety of sectors with preparation. Learn more about how education is the right place for non-Indigenous consultants to start to achieve better partnerships, outcomes, and economic opportunities.  Key Takeaways: * What management consultants (and everyone) should know about Truth and Reconciliation  * How business leaders can embrace Truth and Reconciliation throughout the year and in their everyday lives, and not only on Canada's National Truth and Reconciliation Day on September 30 * The increased demand in Canada for Indigenous Consulting Services and collaboration between Indigenous Consultants and Non-Indigenous Consultants * Helpful background on the work of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, and the 94 Calls to Action. * How to explore new business opportunities with Indigenous communities; and the importance of dialogue and preparation to build new and lasting relationships.  -30-