Ric Peralta: I consider myself to have been involved in management consulting since the early 90’s when as a young CPA* at KPMG, I engaged with CEOs, CFOs, and COOs on consulting projects These client companies were either being acquired by larger organizations, acquiring or merging with other companies, or going public. Even as the Chairman and CEO of ATTIK Group (a multinational creative agency acquired by Dentsu in 2007), I felt that my clients were the different companies of our group agency, its internal and external stakeholders, and its full client base who had hired us to do something massively complex and impossible. I assume it is because of this consultant training that during some difficult times, I was able to detach from the swirling emotions and apply business logic to the issue. In retrospect, some of these actions could be categorized as do-or-die decisions that made all the difference in getting through to a successful outcome. In the process, I have worked with the most amazing people in the world, and can now nervously laugh at what we accomplished.
A typical PC engagement starts with meeting the agency’s leadership and getting to know everyone that has a stake in the firm. Sometimes it is one person, and most of the time it is a set of three to five people who started the firm together but may have drifted apart in the process of growing. If it is a simple fix, we discuss possible next steps, and/or introductions to other trusted advisors who have that issue as their main focus. If it is a more complex issue, we start by doing a quick financial analysis, and a deep dive into their pricing, operations, staffing, marketing plan, marketing presence, and client mix, and we focus on areas that may yield increased benefits. We will meet, discuss findings, and plan a process to address any issues.
Clearly, there is no standard approach to any engagement past the first meeting. Each engagement is determined by the culture of the organization and it’s prioritized needs. Together we will build on successive wins until the agreed changes are in place, and a new growth curve is established.
If this sounds like something that may be of interest, we would love to meet. To be clear, our first meeting is our treat, in all meanings of the word. Ric loves meeting new creatives and will insist on buying you a coffee or the appropriate adult beverage for a chat.
*California Board of Accountancy
Please email Ric at Ric@PeraltaConsultants.com or Ric@RogueID.com
Peralta Consultants 