AMA: Should I Charge a Referral Fee?

Consulting Meets Academia with Erin Flynn

What happens when academia meets consulting? I sat down with Erin Flynn to talk about balancing life as a professor at Bentley and an independent consultant—and how each role sharpens the other. We got into strategy, marketing, DEI, and why following your curiosity can lead to a more aligned (and more interesting) career.

Carly McLandrich on How to Push Back Without Pushback

Can move from strategy to execution—without losing momentum? I sat down with Carly McLandrich [https://www.linkedin.com/in/carlymclandrich/] to talk about building trust through quick wins, asking smarter questions, and making processes work with your team, not against them. We also touched on tools like Office Timeline Pro that help keep projects on track.

Why Culture Isn't Just a Buzzword - with Sandhya Jain-Patel

What does multicultural inclusion really mean? I sat down with Sandhya Jain-Patel [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandhya-jain-patel/]—founder of CulturePRISM and co-author of Beyond Diversity—to talk about authentic storytelling, lived experiences, and why culture is way more than a checkbox. We also touched on her journey from Christie’s to Disney, and what companies get wrong (and right) in their DEI efforts.

AMA: Should I Charge a Referral Fee?

One of the questions I get asked all the time is whether consultants should be paid for referring business to someone else.    The answer is yes, but I understand the hesitation. Asking for compensation can feel awkward, especially when all you're doing is making an introduction.    But here's the way I think about it: when you refer someone, you're creating value for everyone involved. You're helping a consultant find an opportunity they may not have found on their own, and you're helping a client find someone trustworthy to solve a problem.    That's not just an introduction; it's value. Referral fees are simply a way to recognize that value.    In this podcast episode, I answered some of the most common questions I hear about referral fees.

Namrata Sarmah’s Playbook for a Plural Career

You don't have to wait until retirement to reinvent your career.    Namrata Sarmah [https://www.linkedin.com/in/namratasarmah/] followed the traditional path all the way to the C-suite before realizing there was more than one way to be successful.    Today, she advises PE-backed companies as a product leader, runs global leadership communities, and helps executives create what she calls a plural career.    If you've ever wondered what comes after the corporate ladder, this conversation offers a fresh perspective on what's possible.  ---------------------------------------- 👉 Join CPO Track: https://forms.gle/CPVZiyW1czzUCyp18 [https://forms.gle/CPVZiyW1czzUCyp18]