Based on the September 2025 LinkedIn article series Consulting of Past, Present, & Future by StephenG Smith's In the Middle of Consulting newsletter this episode is a bonus wrap up of the September theme of "Consulting of Past, Present, & Future". This week our AI hosts Lily and Ethan connect the dots of the four articles from September and provide highlights of the series.
Based on the September 2025 LinkedIn article The Ghost of Consulting Future: Consulting of Past, Present, & Future Part 4 by StephenG Smith's In the Middle of Consulting newsletter this episode concludes the September theme of "Consulting of Past, Present, & Future". This week our AI hosts Lily and Ethan share the details where Stephen thinks consulting may be headed and how AI is impacting the industry.
Based on the September 2025 LinkedIn article TThe Ghost of Consulting Present: Consulting of Past, Present, & Future Part 3 by StephenG Smith's In the Middle of Consulting newsletter this episode continues the September theme of "Consulting of Past, Present, & Future". This week our AI hosts Lily and Ethan share the details on some current events in the US and how that ties into the current state of consulting.
Based on the September 2025 LinkedIn article The Ghost of Consulting Past: Consulting of Past, Present, & Future Part 2 by StephenG Smith's In the Middle of Consulting newsletter this episode continues the September theme of "Consulting of Past, Present, & Future". This week our AI hosts Lily and Ethan share the details on consulting roots going back to the 1800s up through present day as they look at how the industry has built up to where it is today.
Based on the September 2025 LinkedIn article My Career Can Rent a Car Next Year: Consulting of Past, Present, & Future Part 1 by StephenG Smith's In the Middle of Consulting newsletter this episode kicks off the September theme of "Consulting of Past, Present, & Future". This week our AI hosts Lily and Ethan share the origin story of Stephen's consulting career and how it influenced him over the years.
Based on the August 2025 LinkedIn 4 week article series, You Can Be A Winner in The Game Of Consulting, from StephenG Smith's In the Middle of Consulting newsletter this episode recaps the August theme of "The Game of Consulting". This week in the extended podcast our AI hosts Lily and Ethan discuss the staffing game, the performance review game, the imprints of clients in the consulting game, and the consultant's role as the commodity product within the consulting game. The provide their insights and tie some connections between the month's theme.
Based on the August 2025 LinkedIn article You, Consultant, Are The Commodity: You Can Be A Winner in The Game Of Consulting - Part 4 by StephenG Smith's In the Middle of Consulting newsletter this episode continues the August theme of "The Game of Consulting". This week our AI hosts Lily and Ethan discuss the good and bad aspects of employees being the commodity resource of the consulting machine.
Based on the August 2025 LinkedIn article Short and Long-Term Wins with Client Relationships: You Can Be a Winner in the Game of Consulting - Part 3 by StephenG Smith's In the Middle of Consulting newsletter this episode continues the August theme of "The Game of Consulting". This week our AI hosts Lily and Ethan discuss the importance of clients in the "game of consulting" and more importantly great relationships with clients.
Based on the August 2025 LinkedIn article Play the Performance Game Like a Champ: You Can Be a Winner in the Game of Consulting - Part 2 by StephenG Smith's In the Middle of Consulting newsletter this episode continues the August theme of "The Game of Consulting". This week our AI hosts Lily and Ethan discuss actions that can help you play the performance game in consulting and related insights.
Based on the August 2025 LinkedIn article Landing the Roles You Want: You Can Be A Winner in The Game Of Consulting - Part 1 by StephenG Smith's In the Middle of Consulting newsletter this episode kicks off the August theme of "The Game of Consulting". This week our AI hosts Lily and Ethan discusses how, like a board game, there is a strategy to landing a role that aligns with your goals and desires.
Based on the July 2025 LinkedIn article Making Work and the World Better From the Middle: Exploring the Power of the Middle, Part 4 and the first 3 July articles by StephenG Smith's In the Middle of Consulting newsletter this episode discusses the overall theme of "The Middle" from the July series. The episode recaps topics from the month's articles and adds in a non-work story on people coming together from different sides of the table, to see the humanity in one another.
On July 22, 2024, Stephen G Smith posted an article on his LinkedIn page to reflect on a recent promotion and the long journey at the manager level. This podcast discusses the insights and stories shared in that article that kicked off Stephen's desire to create his LinkedIn series, In the Middle of Consulting newsletter.
Based on the July 2025 LinkedIn article Igniting Change From the Middle: Exploring the Power of The Middle, Part 3 by StephenG Smith's In the Middle of Consulting newsletter this episode discusses how important the Middle is to driving transformation and change. Hear about how just talking with others is a key of any change journey. See how the adopters in the middle, not early or late adopters, are key to getting a change to take hold. The hosts also look at how middle managers play a crucial role in helping move the middle portion of the organizatin.
Based on the July 2025 LinkedIn article An Outsider in a Bridge Role: Exploring the Power of The Middle, Part 2 by StephenG Smith's In the Middle of Consulting newsletter this episode discusses how an how being the bridge between different groups is a bread and butter consulting skill. Hear about how, as an outsider, consultants can have a broader view of a client's project and play a part in helping different parts of an organization collaborate.
Based on the July 2025 LinkedIn article Being the "Geekspeak" Translator: Exploring the Power of The Middle, Part 1 by StephenG Smith's In the Middle of Consulting newsletter this episode discusses how an how being the bridge between different groups is a bread and butter consulting skill. Hear about Stephen's experience of being the translator between IT and business teams.
An extended recap episode from the StephenG Smith's In the Middle of Consulting newsletter for the June 2025 theme of What Improv Taught Me About Consulting. This episode discusses topics from all four June articles including highlights on getting comfortable with the uncomfortable, consulting should be a team sport with radical support, and sharpening your mind to be quick, and the value of "Yes, and" in the workplace. Join our hosts as the provide their thoughts on the month's content.
Based on the June 2025 LinkedIn article Yes and...What Improv Taught Me About Consulting, Part 4 by StephenG Smith's In the Middle of Consulting newsletter this episode recaps the prior three articles from June and provides some additional insights on how the improv concept of "Yes, and" can help build radical support.
Based on the June 2025 LinkedIn article Sharpening Your Mind to Be Quick: What Improv Taught Me About Consulting, Part 3 by StephenG Smith's In the Middle of Consulting newsletter this episode discusses how an insight from improv on building those quick on your feet skills that are so helpful in growing your consulting career.
Based on the June 2025 LinkedIn article Consulting Should Be A Team Sport: What Improv Taught Me About Consulting, Part 2 by StephenG Smith's In the Middle of Consulting newsletter this episode discusses how an insight from improv on the way an improv team supports one another should be the model for consulting teams.
Based on the June 2025 LinkedIn article Getting Comfortable with the Uncomfortable: What Improv Taught Me About Consulting by StephenG Smith's In the Middle of Consulting newsletter this episode discusses how an insight from improv to "f(ace) his fear" helped him take more risks in the workplace.
