Show Notes
Show Notes: Lana Newishy, founder of Hey Intake, explains that Hey Intake is one of several startups she has founded, which focuses on improving the client experience in the initial stages of a project. The Client Intake Process Lana highlights common issues in the client intake process, such as disorganized communication, missing information, and inefficient discovery calls. She emphasizes the loss of opportunities due to inefficient intake processes and the need for a structured system. Lead Qualification and Filtering Issues Lana discusses the broken lead qualification process, where consultants often react to discovery calls without proper filtering. She points out information asymmetry, where clients don't know what to share, and consultants don't ask the right questions consistently. Streamlining the Intake Process Lana mentions the fragmentation of tools, such as emails, documents, CRM systems, and file sharing, which are not connected in a single flow. She introduces the idea of a single, structured flow from first contact to service completion to streamline the intake process. A Demonstration of Hey Intake Lana shares her screen to demonstrate the Hey Intake dashboard, which includes tabs for dashboard, submissions, contacts, form builder, email templates, automations, analytics, team settings, and support.
Dashboard Lana explains the AI-driven suggestions on the dashboard, which prioritize tasks based on the current stage of the intake process.
Submissions Window She demonstrates the submissions window, which categorizes submissions into lead phase, intake phase, and service phase, and provides AI scores for prioritization. Lana continues to explain the submissions window, showing how submissions are scored and prioritized based on AI analysis.
Submissions Drawer She demonstrates the submission drawer, which allows users to update the phase of a contact, request documents, and send e-signatures. Lana mentions the form builder, which allows users to create custom forms with various templates and fields. She explains the flexibility of adding fields, customizing inputs, and setting AI scoring weights to prioritize requests. Integrating with CRM Systems Lana discusses the ability to integrate Hey Intake with existing CRM systems and legal project management tools. She explains that some clients prefer to keep their existing systems and connect them with Hey Intake for a seamless process.
Form Builder When asked about the form builder, Lana demonstrates how to create and customize forms, including adding fields, customizing branding, and setting up automations. She highlights the importance of keeping forms simple and quick to fill out to avoid discouraging potential clients. Email Templates Library
Email Templates Library Lana demonstrates the email templates library, which includes pre-built templates and the ability to edit them manually or with AI. She emphasizes the flexibility of the system to meet the specific needs of different clients and businesses.
Automations Tab Lana introduces the automations tab, which shows the flows for various actions, such as sending emails, requesting documents, and following up on actions. She explains how to set up custom automations and toggle them on and off. The Vendor Setup System Lana explains how Hey Intake helps with vendor setup, including requesting documents, managing client portals, and handling e-signatures.
Uploading Documents She demonstrates the process of uploading documents for e-signatures and integrating with services like DocuSign and SignWell. Lana highlights the native storage options and the ability to connect with clients' private storage facilities. She emphasizes the importance of streamlining the onboarding process to save time and reduce administrative burdens. Hey Intake Customer Base Lana discusses the current customer base, which includes law firms, accountants, photographers, home renovators, and B2B consultant
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Show Notes Ben Garthwaite introduces Pegasus Insights. He explains why his firm developed the tool and who it serves. Pegasus is a software tool designed to improve the traditional 13-week cash flow forecasting process. The tool targets middle-market companies and private equity-backed firms looking to improve accuracy and save time, and give better insights on their business on a weekly or daily basis. Pegasus has worked with various sizes of companies from multi-nationals to one-man real estate businesses. It revolutionizes the reporting process, and Ben explains that while 13-week models are common in distressed companies, consistent financial snapshots are vital for any business.
Waziri Garuba, creator of G.R.I.O.T and CEO of HarlemLabs, talks about how he was inspired by the limitations of Siri and where the name for his custom AI persona, G.R.I.O.T, comes from. He integrates several platforms including n8n.io, 11 Labs, Vercel, and it can be integrated with an LLM of choice, including Claude. The system operates using an agentic workflow where a central brain assesses inputs via webhooks. Incoming queries are classified into four categories: direct, tools, complex, or schedule-based to determine the appropriate routing. He explains how his agent can talk to the platforms.
Jean-Christophe Lanoix is the founder of Turboconsultant. He spent seventeen years at Hinicio, a strategy consultancy specialising in hydrogen — joining as an intern, rising to Associate Director and leaving in 2024, two years after the firm's exit. He now builds the system he wishes he had had. Introducing Turboconsultant An execution layer for solo consultants: a virtual team of AI agents spanning the whole practice — business development, research, methodologies, marketing and content, deliverable production, quality control, meetings and follow-up, admin. The consultant directs. The agents execute. It installs as a plugin on Claude Cowork and turns a generalist agentic workspace into a consulting-grade one. Three things separate it from a general-purpose assistant. Personalisation. A one-time onboarding hands it the consultant's own methodologies, templates, frameworks and voice. What comes out arrives in their template, follows their methods, and reads in their words. Quality control. Every document it produces passes three layers of audit before it leaves — sources traced, figures recomputed, claims contested by models outside the system. That is where AI hallucination and error get caught. Data walling. Nothing moves from one engagement to another, and the models do not train on client work. And it is one system rather than a patchwork of tools: the whole practice runs in a single environment that sharpens with every engagement. The net effect, measured on the existing user base, is a 25x on average, while improving the general quality of the work. Demonstration of Turboconsutlant Both cases are invented, and so is the consultant behind them — a generic profile carrying no proprietary methodologies, no past deliverables, no writing to learn from. The engagement starts the way a real one does: a request for proposal lands by email. Everything that follows comes out of that one document and public sources. The proposal — thirty minutes The system interviews the consultant first — how they want to work, whether they know the client, who delivers, what their day rate is. Then it writes, in their own template: context, the question behind the client's question, objectives, approach and methodology, scope in and out, work packages, data room requirements, timeline, budget options, next steps. The consultant reviews and signs off. Nothing leaves unvalidated. Without AI, a proposal of that depth is several man-days.
Show Notes: Andreia Fernandes, founder of the Portfolio Career Institute, explains that the term "portfolio career" was coined by Charles Handy in 1994, and it emphasizes working in different roles and contexts. Defining a Portfolio Career Andreia adds that portfolio careers involve using different skills in various contexts, such as a mathematician working in both a school and an insurance company. She highlights that portfolio careers are not just about diversifying income streams but also aligning with one's values and being purpose-driven. The Portfolio Career Program Andreia describes the stages of her cohort program for pursuing a portfolio career. She emphasizes the importance of community and peer exchange in her program, sharing an example of two bankers with different career paths. The program starts with understanding one's strengths, purpose, and limitations, and includes evaluating whether a portfolio career is the right fit. Andreia mentions that some participants are clear about their goals, while others are unsure and need guidance to explore new paths. Designing a Career Andreia discusses the importance of self-reflection and specific exercises in her program, such as the Ikigai principle. She introduces the portfolio career canvas, a framework she developed with a scientific background to help participants design their careers. The canvas includes elements like portfolio career metrics, learning journey, network building, and revenue streams. Andreia explains that participants need to consider what would make them regret having a portfolio career and adjust their plans accordingly. Stages of the Portfolio Career Program Andreia explains the next stages of the program, focusing on activating networks and positioning oneself in the market. She shares her own experience of having a portfolio career, including entrepreneurial ventures, lecturing, and executive coaching. Andreia emphasizes the importance of having a unique selling proposition (USP) and positioning oneself in the right environment. She provides examples of her clients' success stories, such as a banker who became a lecturer and project manager. How the Program Helps Participants When asked about common strands in portfolio careers, and Andreia mentions that there are no limits to what one can do. Andreia shares an example of a white-collar worker who wanted to produce something with their hands, such as brewing beer or working with wood. She discusses the concept of strategic diversifiers, who have two passions and want to follow different streams to balance their energy. Andreia highlights the importance of learning and knowledge sharing in portfolio careers, especially in the knowledge economy. How the Program Impacts Careers Andreia shares examples of participants who have gone through her cohort and the impact it had on their careers. She mentions a banker who became a lecturer and project manager, exploring new areas outside of risk management. Another participant, an employer for seven and a half years, strengthened her current activity by exploring new business models. Andreia emphasizes that the program helps participants design their future and make informed decisions about their careers. For those who want to learn more about Andreia's coaching and the Portfolio Career Institute, Andreia offers upcoming events and webinars where potential participants can meet her and learn about her approach. Andreia encourages listeners to visit the website for more information and to contact her directly for further inquiries. Timestamps: 0:02: Defining a Portfolio Career 02:50: Program Structure and Community Support 06:51: Self-Reflection and Exercises 13:16: Activating Networks and Positioning 14:36: Common Strands in Portfolio Careers 19:52: Impact of Cohort Participants 20:56: Resources and Contact Information This episode on Umbrex: https://umbrex.com/unleashed/episode-655-andreia-fernandes-portfolio-careers-the-future
Show Notes: Shankar Ananth shares his background, mentioning his nine years of consulting experience, highlighting his experience at McKinsey and Bain, and his role in building the new app, Micro-Casing. Bridging the Gap in Case Interview Preparation Shankar explains the gap in case interview preparation methods, which led him to create Micro-Casing. He also mentions his eight years of experience as a case coach and the usefulness of the app for students. He discusses the target audience of the app, which includes consulting candidates and those looking to improve their consulting thinking. Micro-Casing - Your Case Partner Reimagined Shankar explains the homepage of the app, where users can log in through Google or Apple.