Episodios

  • 263 | AOCP The Preemptive Edge - Gaining a Strategic Advantage by Acting Early and Wisely

    263 | AOCP The Preemptive Edge - Gaining a Strategic Advantage by Acting Early and Wisely
    Nov 27 2025
    00;00;00;01 - 00;00;31;05 Andy Hey, everybody, today I want to talk about the things we can do and decisions we can make ahead of time before something becomes an issue. Recently, most of us know about the government shutdown that had recently occurred. This is being recorded, November 24th, so of 2025. So anybody who wasn't aware of it in the US, the government had shut down, which was affecting air traffic because the air traffic controllers, some of them were having difficulty getting to work and some of them were being overworked because the government wasn't funded and they weren't getting paid. 00;00;31;05 - 00;00;47;13 Andy So I had to travel during that week. And what happened was I was I knew I would be able to get out of my home airport in Phoenix, of course, if the flight gets delayed. I just got home so it wasn't as big of a deal, but if I was going to my destination, I had to connect to get home. 00;00;47;13 - 00;01;10;21 Andy I couldn't get a direct flight, so I knew already I had to connect through another airport, which was a was another challenge. And of course, the whole network of of flights were being affected. So what I ended up doing was I postponed that trip because my feeling really was that once I get on that plane out of Phoenix, I had no control over when I could get back. 00;01;10;23 - 00;01;32;18 Andy I knew I had a flight booked to come home and you know, that was scheduled to come home, but I didn't know if that flight was going to be there. And and during the time when I was supposed to return home, there's about 10% of the flights they were expecting to be affected in the US. So there was a high potential that I was I was going to have an issue with my flight getting home. 00;01;32;18 - 00;02;08;08 Andy So really what I looked at was, you know what decisions can I make today to affect or put myself in a place where I'm not negatively affected by decisions that are out of my control? And so that's what I did. I just rescheduled my my trip to that client and, and, going in the future. But when I looked at, you know, look, talked about this, I thought about other sort of decisions that we make where they are one off things where we can make a choice and look at, you know, what decision can I make today where it's something that's not out of my control, but there's also much of our lives are spent 00;02;08;08 - 00;02;34;01 Andy dealing with things that have already occurred and where especially there's possibly high stress. And I go back. I recorded an episode way, way, way, way back. It was episode number nine. So this goes back to early in the Art of consulting days, one of the first episodes. So and in that episode, I talk about a lot of stress, especially when your subconscious is working on things as you sleep. 00;02;34;02 - 00;02;50;13 Andy This is one reason why we wake up at 3:00 or 3 a.m., and we have a hard time going back to bed, is because our subconscious is really working on the issues that are unresolved, and in that episode, I talk about some ways to deal with that. A couple of ways. You know, I recommend going back and listening to it. 00;02;50;13 - 00;03;14;03 Andy You can hear how young my voice might sound back then, and hopefully it sounds young. But anyways, one of the things is to immediately get up and write down all the things that are that you know are on your mind that are causing stress, and then immediately identify which ones are connected because. And then identify a step that you're going to make today to deal with that. 00;03;14;03 - 00;03;33;22 Andy One of the approaches to that is because often we can we can do things that will affect multiple areas in our lives. So and, you know, in that episode, I talk about the fact that if we don't do it, it's okay, because tomorrow morning we'll just wake up at 3 a.m. and our subconscious will remind us that we still have an outstanding task to do. 00;03;33;22 - 00;03;58;19 Andy So it'll our body and our brain will just keep reminding us until we we hopefully ultimately deal with it. But one of the things I wanted to talk about was being more proactive or preemptive on issues, especially when issues become a problem. So when we're notified of a problem that we're experiencing and, you know, we none of us get through life without major problems, it does not happen. 00;03;58;19 - 00;04;18;01 Andy You know, when we have those moments in our lives where everything is going good and things feel great and we're high, you know, we're on top of the world. Enjoy it. Because that does not happen. All the time. We're always going to have some issue and, you know, some issues are going to pop up at some point in time. 00;04;18;01 - 00;04;35;10 Andy We all have to deal with it. That's just part of being a human being. And normally those issues will be, you know, I kind of thought of a few different categories. You know, one, of course, is health. You know, when we have either a ...
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    17 m
  • 262 | More Than Compliance - How Confidentiality Serves Us

    262 | More Than Compliance - How Confidentiality Serves Us
    Nov 20 2025
    The Art of Consulting Podcast – Episode Transcript Hosts: Andy Fry & Cat Lam Episode Topic: Non-Disclosure Agreements and the Power of Keeping Information Confidential [00:00 – Intro Music] Andy Fry & Cat Lam (together): Welcome to the Art of Consulting Podcast with Andy Fry and Cat Lam. We are seasoned IT consultants, CPAs, and professional-development connoisseurs. Each episode we bring you an inspiring message to help you discover that X-factor as a professional in your field so you can gain the success you know you deserve in your career and in your life. [00:15] Andy Fry: Hey everybody, today I want to talk about non-disclosure agreements and keeping information close to our chest. One of the things that, as a consultant, you've either already signed or you will sign—especially if you're new to consulting—is a non-disclosure agreement, or what's commonly called an NDA. It really is a confidentiality agreement that says you're not going to share information that is not already public with people who shouldn't have it. Publicly traded companies require this because if you have access to their financials, or you're in meetings where they're about to disclose material non-public information, you possess something valuable. If you start talking to other people, sharing that privately, or—worse—publicly, you can be sued, fired, or face a whole range of consequences depending on the severity. Most NDAs are signed purely for protection; you sign it, you agree not to share, and most of us never have to worry about it day-to-day. But the broader concept of confidentiality is absolutely critical in consulting—and, honestly, in our personal lives too. [01:10] The number-one reason it matters? We're trying to prove we're trustworthy. Trust is a huge thing for me. I even wrote a book called The Trust Paradigm (there are actually three books with that title, but mine's the one with Andy Fry on the cover). I wrote it because I wanted to figure out: What is trust? How do you build it? How do you measure it? As consultants, we prove trustworthiness through integrity—making sure the information we hear isn't used for our own benefit. "Our own benefit" can be financial (classic corporate espionage—yes, it happens at the corporate level too, not just governments). Or, more commonly, it's the ego boost of feeling important because we "know something" and get to tell it. [02:05] I've always treated any confidentiality agreement as lifelong. I have clients I haven't worked with in years. The information I learned back then—probably all public by now—but there could still be context, reasons behind decisions, who said what about letting someone go or selling a division… I view that NDA as in perpetuity. I'm never going to talk about it. I recommend everyone adopt that mindset. I actually had a client bring me into a highly sensitive project with only a handful of people in the loop. They told me point-blank: "We're bringing you in because you've proven in the past you don't share things you hear." They still made me sign another NDA. I signed it and said, "Just so you know—when I sign this, I treat it as forever." [03:00] Organizations can and do test for leaks. At high-clearance levels it's obvious, but even regular companies sometimes plant slightly different versions of the same information to see who's talking. So ask yourself with every piece of information: Is this my story to tell? I once had a family member share something very personal that was happening with my immediate family—me, my wife, and our two kids. It wasn't their story. I told them, "That wasn't yours to tell." It hurt because it showed a lack of boundary awareness. [03:45 – Personal story – Calgary street encounter] I was walking in Calgary for a client, and a friend's wife comes out of an apartment building that definitely wasn't where they lived. Eyes got big, I nodded, kept walking. I spent the next week wondering, "Do I tell my friend?" A week later he called laughing: "Hey, I heard you ran into [wife's name]. She was visiting a friend who lives there and couldn't remember your name in the moment." We both laughed—she thought I kept walking because I suspected something, and I kept walking because I didn't want to accidentally say the wrong thing. Moral: We often don't have the full picture. [04:40] As consultants we're paid for what we know. Having "extra" information can make us feel powerful, special, in the know. But watch high-performing executives in a room—they speak very little. Top performers are extremely discreet about what they share and with whom. That's the behavior we want to model. [05:10 – Early-career story – drinks with another consultant] Over 25 years ago I was out for drinks. Another consultant bragged they'd just signed a big staff-augmentation deal with a health authority that was actually going to replace a bunch of internal employees. I had a close friend who worked there. I was ...
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    17 m
  • 261 | Why We Should Assume Someone Is Always Recording

    261 | Why We Should Assume Someone Is Always Recording
    Nov 13 2025

    Why We Should Assume Someone Is Always Recording

    In this solo episode, Andy Fry reflects on how everyday behavior—inside and outside the workplace—shapes our personal brand and professional reputation. Through personal stories and relatable lessons, he reminds listeners that in today's world of smartphones and social media, every action could be on record.

    Andy shares an eye-opening story about visiting a college track team whose coach insisted her athletes greet everyone politely because "you never know who you're talking to." That lesson sparked a deeper conversation about professionalism, reputation, and emotional control—especially when stress, anger, or frustration threaten to take over.

    💡 Key Takeaways

    • Professionalism never turns off: Your personal and professional conduct are one and the same.

    • Every interaction matters: Treat people kindly—you never know who's watching or recording.

    • Control the triggers: Catch negative emotions early and reset before reacting.

    • Grace and forgiveness: If you make a mistake, own it, apologize, and move forward.

    • Stop glorifying others' failures: Resist the online culture of finding joy in others' missteps.

    Andy closes with a reminder to lead by example, forgive quickly, and always put your best self forward—on and off camera.
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    15 m
  • 260 | Power Moves: Inside Energy Innovation and Consulting with Ashton Fox

    260 | Power Moves: Inside Energy Innovation and Consulting with Ashton Fox
    Oct 16 2025

    Power Moves: Inside Energy Innovation and Consulting with Ashton Fox

    In this episode, Cat sits down with Ashton Fox, President of Onix Energy, to explore how consulting and executive leadership are reshaping the future of energy. With an impressive career spanning renewable energy, natural gas, and electricity supply, Ashton brings a wealth of experience on scaling organizations, transforming business models, and leading companies through high-stakes change.

    Ashton shares how he helped transform a negative-revenue startup into a $150M powerhouse, scaled solar and renewable operations across new markets, and shifted an energy supplier from 10% to 100% renewables. But beyond the numbers, he dives into what it really takes to be a transformational leader: building trust, managing culture during rapid growth, and creating sustainable strategies that last.

    Key Insights You'll Learn

    • Energy Leadership: How Ashton navigated the transition from fossil fuels to renewables while maintaining profitability and growth.

    • Scaling with Purpose: Lessons on expanding a company's footprint from one market to six while multiplying revenue by 15x.

    • The Consulting Mindset: Why consulting skills are crucial for energy executives — from solving complex problems to guiding strategic pivots.

    • Sustainability in Action: How to implement efficiency programs that save clients 25% on energy costs while driving impact.

    • Executive Lessons: Ashton's take on building recurring revenue streams, transforming company culture, and positioning businesses for long-term success.

    This conversation is a must-listen for consultants, executives, and anyone interested in how innovation, leadership, and consulting expertise intersect in one of the world's most important industries.

    🌐 Official Podcast Title

    Power Moves: Inside Energy Innovation and Consulting with Ashton Fox

    🔗 Where to Find our Guest

    What Guest is Promoting: https://onixenergy.com/

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashtonfox1/

    👤 Guest Bio – Ashton Fox

    Ashton Fox is a visionary C-Suite executive with extensive experience in strategic leadership, enterprise transformation, and organizational growth in the renewable energy sector. As the former CEO of a solar EPC company and COO of a natural gas and electricity supplier, Ashton has a proven track record of scaling organizations, driving market expansion, and delivering exceptional shareholder value.

    During his tenure at the energy supply company, Ashton transformed the organization from a negative revenue startup to an entity with $150M in assets, expanded its footprint from one market to six, and increased the customer base and revenue by 15x. He pioneered the company's transition from 10% to 100% renewable energy sources and developed comprehensive energy efficiency programs resulting in average customer savings of 25%.

    At the solar EPC company, Ashton led strategic growth and market expansion, scaling the sales organization by 50% while maintaining profitability and establishing strategic partnerships with key equipment suppliers.

    Currently, Ashton is the President of Onix Energy, where he focuses on energy procurement and specialized sustainability programs for commercial clients. He also provides executive-level consulting services to renewable energy and cleantech organizations, focusing on strategic growth initiatives, operational excellence, and market expansion strategies. He specializes in transforming traditional energy companies into renewable energy leaders while establishing recurring revenue streams and optimizing financial performance.
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    50 m
  • 259 | From Oilfields to Solar Fields: Building Ridgeline Solar and the Future of Clean Energy

    259 | From Oilfields to Solar Fields: Building Ridgeline Solar and the Future of Clean Energy
    Oct 9 2025

    In this episode of the Art of Consulting Podcast, hosts Andy Fry and Cat Lam sit down with Drew Mair, President of Ridgeline Solar, to explore his inspiring journey from Alberta's oil and gas sector to building one of the most respected solar manpower companies in Western Canada.

    Drew shares how his early career as an electrician shaped his transition into renewable energy, and the challenges of moving from "one guy in a truck" to running a full-fledged solar construction business. He talks candidly about balancing golden handcuffs with flexibility, the risks of entrepreneurship, and the mindset shift from being self-employed to leading a team.

    The conversation dives into:

    • Starting Ridgeline Solar – why Drew left the oilfields to build something of his own

    • Golden Handcuffs vs. Flexibility – making the choice to prioritize freedom and family over security

    • Scaling a Business – moving from solopreneur to building teams, hiring operations managers, and creating systems

    • Pipeline Fears – how Drew manages the ever-present fear of "dry spells" in project work

    • Quality and Transparency – why Ridgeline Solar stands apart, with in-house electricians, rigorous QA, and complete transparency with customers

    • Future of Solar Energy – the growth of utility-scale projects, opportunities in Alberta and beyond, and why Drew welcomes any innovation that moves clean energy forward

    Whether you're an entrepreneur, energy enthusiast, or someone curious about the future of renewables, this episode delivers real-world lessons on resilience, leadership, and innovation.

    Where to Find our Guest

    • What Guest is Promoting: Ridgeline Solar

    • LinkedIn: Drew Mair

    Guest Bio

    Drew Mair – President, Ridgeline Solar
    Drew Mair is the President of Ridgeline Solar, a company specializing in utility-scale solar manpower solutions. With over a decade of experience as an electrician in Alberta's energy sector, Drew transitioned from oil and gas to renewable energy, driven by a desire for flexibility and a passion for building something of his own. Starting as a solopreneur—just one person and a truck—he grew Ridgeline Solar into a respected organization known for its operational excellence, transparency, and commitment to quality. Drew's leadership focuses on building strong teams, delivering high-value solar projects, and continuously improving processes to set new standards in the industry.
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    48 m
  • 258 | Breaking Barriers: Svetlana Winters' Journey from Russia to CFO in American Oil & Gas

    258 | Breaking Barriers: Svetlana Winters' Journey from Russia to CFO in American Oil & Gas
    Oct 2 2025

    Breaking Barriers: Svetlana Winters' Journey from Russia to CFO in American Oil & Gas

    In this episode, we sit down with Svetlana Winters, CFO at Alteriver, whose journey from Russia to the executive boardroom of a U.S. oil & gas company is nothing short of inspiring.

    Svetlana shares how she left a top finance role in Russia to start over in the United States—facing language barriers, cultural challenges, and the uphill climb of rebuilding her career from the ground up. Her story is a testament to perseverance, adaptability, and the strength required to thrive in male-dominated industries.

    Key Insights You'll Learn

    • Starting Over with Courage: How Svetlana navigated language and cultural barriers while rebuilding her career in a new country.

    • Leadership in Oil & Gas: The realities of being a woman leader in a highly male-dominated sector—and how she earned respect through expertise and resilience.

    • The CFO's Role Beyond Numbers: Why financial leadership is about relationships, trust, and proactive decision-making, not just balance sheets.

    • Building Trust as a Leader: Svetlana's three-part formula for becoming a trusted advisor: build credibility through action, anticipate needs, and communicate with clarity.

    • Global Lessons in Leadership: The cultural differences in management styles she's observed across Russia, the U.S., and beyond—and how they've shaped her approach.

    Svetlana's journey shows that even when you have to start over, determination, strategy, and a positive outlook can take you to the very top.

    🌐 Official Podcast Title

    Breaking Barriers: Svetlana Winters' Journey from Russia to CFO in American Oil & Gas

    🔗 Where to Find our Guest

    What Guest is Promoting: https://alteriver.com

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/svetlanawinters/

    👤 Guest Bio – Svetlana Winters

    Svetlana Winters is a seasoned finance and accounting leader with over 25 years of experience spanning FP&A, regulatory compliance, and strategic financial management. Currently serving as CFO at Alteriver, Svetlana has driven transformative initiatives including a $70 million cost recovery, IPO-critical audits, and the overhaul of asset management systems.

    Her career includes senior roles at industry giants like Baker Hughes, CNJ Energy Services, and Tubular Solutions, where she led GAAP/IFRS compliance, tax strategy, and capital planning. Svetlana holds both a master's and bachelor's degree in accountancy and auditing from the East Siberian University of Technology, is a certified financial director and professional accountant through IFAC, and is fluent in English and Russian.

    Her global perspective, technical expertise, and passion for mentoring make her a powerhouse in the world of finance and a role model for aspiring leaders.
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    39 m
  • 257 | Fractional CFOs: The Secret Weapon for Scaling, Selling, and Stress-Free Success

    257 | Fractional CFOs: The Secret Weapon for Scaling, Selling, and Stress-Free Success
    Sep 25 2025

    Fractional CFOs: Turning Financial Chaos Into Strategic Wins with Emily Statler

    In today's episode, Cat welcomes Emily Statler, a seasoned Fractional CFO and Financial Coach who has spent more than 20 years helping consultants transform financial headaches into strategic victories.

    Emily shares how fractional CFOs are no longer just for big corporations — consultants, solopreneurs, and small-to-mid-sized firms can all benefit from high-level financial guidance without the burden of a full-time hire.

    Together, Cat and Emily dive into three key perspectives:

    • For solopreneurs and consultants: How to know when it's time to bring in financial expertise (hint: when your bank balance is always scraping zero or you're working nonstop with little to show for it).

    • For growing firms: Why having clean books, cash flow clarity, and an exit strategy early on is critical if you want to scale or eventually sell.

    • For aspiring fractional CFOs: Emily's own journey from bookkeeper to trusted financial partner, including how to land that first client and build confidence in this fast-growing field.

    They also unpack hot topics like:

    • How CFOs often bridge finance and operations

    • What buyers really look for when valuing a consulting business

    • Why having a clear exit strategy is essential, even if you never plan to sell

    • The mindset shift required to stop "DIY-ing" everything and start building a sustainable business

    This episode is packed with actionable insights for consultants who want to not only hit revenue goals but also build a business (and life) they actually love.

    🔗 What Guest is Promoting

    Emily's latest work can be found at Starr Books.

    If someone enjoyed the show, shoot me a connection on LinkedIn—I'm all about meeting new people, swapping ideas, and growing together...
    👉 Connect with Cat on LinkedIn

    👤 Guest Bio – Emily Statler

    Meet Emily Statler, a Fractional CFO and Financial Coach with 20+ years of experience helping consultants turn financial headaches into strategic wins. Emily empowers consulting professionals to master cash flow, boost profitability, and truly enjoy their financial journey.

    Her passion lies in connecting financial strategy to both business growth and personal fulfillment—ensuring clients not only hit revenue targets but also achieve the life goals that matter most. Emily's approach goes beyond spreadsheets, focusing on financial freedom that lets consultants scale their impact and live their dream lifestyle.

    Outside of work, you'll find her soaring on new adventures, spending time with family, and prioritizing self-care.
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    53 m
  • 256 | How Returning a Man's Gloves Helped Move Me Forward

    256 | How Returning a Man's Gloves Helped Move Me Forward
    Sep 19 2025

    Andy shares a story of a difficult time in his life where an apparent unassuming event helped move him forward and change his perspective. This began a path a consistent changes for the better.

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    15 m