Consulting Success Podcast

What if the biggest constraint in your consulting firm isn't demand, but the type of clients you're saying ‘yes’ to?
In this episode, you're going to hear from Hassan Mahmood, founder of Voiant Group, a global consultancy helping Fortune 500 and Global 2000 companies rethink how they design, scale and optimize their revenue operations. What makes Hassan's perspective different is how intentionally he's built the firm - not by chasing the biggest deals, but by identifying the right sized opportunities that actually drive profitability, predictability, and team performance.
In this episode, you're going to discover how to move from chasing elephants to building a more strategic client portfolio; how to create predictable growth through partnerships instead of pure outbound; and why shifting from time and materials to outcome-based pricing is one of the most important evolutions a consulting firm can make.
If you're thinking about scaling but want to do it with more control, better margins, and less chaos, this conversation will change how you approach growth.
Welcome to the Consulting Success podcast. I'm your host Michael Zipursky, and in this podcast, we're going to dive deep into the world of elite consultants where you're going to learn the strategies, tactics and mindset to grow a highly profitable and successful consulting business.
Before we dive into today's episode. Are you ready to grow and take your consulting business to the next level? Many of the clients that we work with started as podcast listeners just like you, and a consistent theme they have shared with us is that they wished they had reached out sooner about our Clarity Coaching Program rather than waiting for that perfect time. If you're interested in learning more about how we help consultants just like you, we're offering a free, no pressure growth session call. On this call, we're going to dive deep into your goals, challenges and situation and outline a plan that is tailor made just for you. We will also help you identify where you may be making costly and time consuming mistakes to ensure you're benefiting from the proven methods and strategies to grow your consulting business.
So don't wait years to find clarity. If you're committed and serious about reaching a new level of success in your consulting business, go ahead and schedule your free growth session. Get in touch today. Just visit Consulting Success - Grow to book your free call today.
Hassan Mahmood is the Founder & CEO of Voiant Group, a global revenue operations consultancy for Fortune 500 and Global 2000 companies. With over 25 years' experience, he has intentionally built Voiant for strategic growth, targeting "right-sized" clients for optimal profitability and predictable performance. He champions outcome-based pricing, leverages strong partner networks, and prioritizes team development and a long-term vision. Passionate about helping clients "go to market more effectively," he coaches his team to deliver exceptional value, leveraging AI for strategic advisory and maintaining a focus beyond mere configuration.
Connect with Hassan Mahmood: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hassanmahmood1975/
Discover more about Voiant Group: https://voiantgroup.com/
Mentioned in this episode:
Get Expert Insights into Your Consulting Business: Claim Your FREE Growth Session Now!
Want to get personalized feedback and actionable insights on your consulting business from seasoned experts who've been in your shoes? The Consulting Success Clarity Coaching Program offers just that, and you can experience a taste of it with a FREE, no-obligation Growth Session. On this call, you'll explore how to optimize your business model, refine your messaging, and build a predictable stream of high-value clients. https://www.consultingsuccess.com/grow

Want to learn how we can help you grow your consulting business? Schedule your free Growth Session Call today! www.consultingsuccess.com/grow

Most consulting firms struggle with the feast or famine cycle. They have great months followed by silence. So what does it take to build a consulting firm that keeps growing for 24 years? Well, my guest, Carlo Cuesta, co-founder of Creation in Common, a consulting firm that helps nonprofits and government organizations collaborate, plan strategically, and strengthen communities. Over the past two decades, Carlo has built a business where up to 80 percent of new work comes from referrals and past clients.
In this episode, you're going to discover how strategic partnerships open doors to entirely new markets, why shifting to value-based pricing drove 300 percent growth in five years, and the prospecting discipline required to keep a consulting pipeline strong.
If you're building a consulting firm and thinking about the long game, this conversation is packed with lessons.
Enjoy.
Welcome to the Consulting Success podcast. I'm your host Michael Zipursky, and in this podcast, we're going to dive deep into the world of elite consultants where you're going to learn the strategies, tactics and mindset to grow a highly profitable and successful consulting business.
Before we dive into today's episode. Are you ready to grow and take your consulting business to the next level? Many of the clients that we work with started as podcast listeners just like you, and a consistent theme they have shared with us is that they wished they had reached out sooner about our Clarity Coaching Program rather than waiting for that perfect time. If you're interested in learning more about how we help consultants just like you, we're offering a free, no pressure growth session call. On this call, we're going to dive deep into your goals, challenges and situation and outline a plan that is tailor made just for you. We will also help you identify where you may be making costly and time consuming mistakes to ensure you're benefiting from the proven methods and strategies to grow your consulting business.
So don't wait years to find clarity. If you're committed and serious about reaching a new level of success in your consulting business, go ahead and schedule your free growth session. Get in touch today. Just visit Consulting Success - Grow to book your free call today.
With over 30 years of experience consulting for nonprofit organizations, Carlo Cuesta is a key leader at Creation In Common. His extensive client roster includes the Greater Twin Cities United Way, McKnight Foundation, and Walker Art Center. A dedicated advocate for the sector, Carlo leads workshops for the Minnesota Council for Nonprofits, contributes to the Nonprofit Quarterly, and serves on the national board of the Financial Commons. He is a former University of Minnesota adjunct faculty member and holds an MBA from the University of St. Thomas.
Connect with Carlo Cuesta: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cmcuesta/
Discover more about Creation in Common: https://creationincommon.com/
Mentioned in this episode:
Get Expert Insights into Your Consulting Business: Claim Your FREE Growth Session Now!
Want to get personalized feedback and actionable insights on your consulting business from seasoned experts who've been in your shoes? The Consulting Success Clarity Coaching Program offers just that, and you can experience a taste of it with a FREE, no-obligation Growth Session. On this call, you'll explore how to optimize your business model, refine your messaging, and build a predictable stream of high-value clients. https://www.consultingsuccess.com/coaching-for-consultants

Want to learn how we can help you grow your consulting business? Schedule your free Growth Session Call today! www.consultingsuccess.com/grow
Mentioned in this episode:
Your 3-Day Blueprint for Consulting Growth in San Diego.
Imagine your future self looking back on the single event that changed everything. The Consulting Success Mastermind in San Diego (April 30 - May 2, 2026) is designed to be that moment. For three days, you'll be surrounded by high-performing peers, world-class mentors, and a community genuinely dedicated to your success. Walk away with strategic clarity and unstoppable momentum.

Create your breakthrough moment. Learn more about the San Diego Mastermind: www.consultingsuccess.com/sandiego

Have you ever noticed that the harder you try to win the business, the less trusted you feel? What if the real power move in consulting isn't persuasion, but indifference? Well, Peter Block has spent more than forty years redefining what it means to be a consultant. He's the author of Flawless Consulting. He's shaped generations of advisors who want to move beyond being vendors and become true partners. What makes Peter different is this: he never built his firm around scale. He built it around contribution, around trust, around asking clients one uncomfortable question: "What's your contribution to the very thing you're trying to change?"
In this episode, you're going to learn how to structure sales conversations that build authority without boasting, how to handle resistant stakeholders without losing your grounding, and why implementation always begins with relationship. Because, in the end, consultants who win aren't the ones who persuade better, they're the ones who are willing to tell the truth, even if it costs them the deal.
Enjoy.
Welcome to the Consulting Success podcast. I'm your host Michael Zipursky, and in this podcast, we're going to dive deep into the world of elite consultants where you're going to learn the strategies, tactics and mindset to grow a highly profitable and successful consulting business.
Before we dive into today's episode. Are you ready to grow and take your consulting business to the next level? Many of the clients that we work with started as podcast listeners just like you, and a consistent theme they have shared with us is that they wished they had reached out sooner about our Clarity Coaching Program rather than waiting for that perfect time. If you're interested in learning more about how we help consultants just like you, we're offering a free, no pressure growth session call. On this call, we're going to dive deep into your goals, challenges and situation and outline a plan that is tailor made just for you. We will also help you identify where you may be making costly and time consuming mistakes to ensure you're benefiting from the proven methods and strategies to grow your consulting business.
So don't wait years to find clarity. If you're committed and serious about reaching a new level of success in your consulting business, go ahead and schedule your free growth session. Get in touch today. Just visit Consulting Success - Grow to book your free call today.
Peter Block is an author and consultant whose work focuses on community building and civic engagement. A partner in Designed Learning, he offers workshops based on his books, which include the bestselling Flawless Consulting and Stewardship. Block's core message is about creating workplaces and communities based on consent and connectedness, rather than control. He is a founder of the Common Good Collective and seeks to foster a world that reclaims our humanity.
Connect with Peter Block: https://www.peterblock.com/
Discover more about Designed Learning: https://designedlearning.com/
Mentioned in this episode:
Your 3-Day Blueprint for Consulting Growth in San Diego.
Imagine your future self looking back on the single event that changed everything. The Consulting Success Mastermind in San Diego (April 30 - May 2, 2026) is designed to be that moment. For three days, you'll be surrounded by high-performing peers, world-class mentors, and a community genuinely dedicated to your success. Walk away with strategic clarity and unstoppable momentum.

Create your breakthrough moment. Learn more about the San Diego Mastermind: www.consultingsuccess.com/sandiego
Get Expert Insights into Your Consulting Business: Claim Your FREE Growth Session Now!
Want to get personalized feedback and actionable insights on your consulting business from seasoned experts who've been in your shoes? The Consulting Success Clarity Coaching Program offers just that, and you can experience a taste of it with a FREE, no-obligation Growth Session. On this call, you'll explore how to optimize your business model, refine your messaging, and build a predictable stream of high-value clients. https://www.consultingsuccess.com/grow