Consulting Uncensored
Consulting Uncensored
Neal McNamara
The good, the bad and the ugly of the world of consulting. Consulting Uncensored is where we have straight talk on key topics impacting the consulting industry. Hosted by industry veteran Neal McNamara, who is never short on unfiltered opinions on most things but in particular matters of strategy, leadership, talent and culture.  With decades of experience building and leading high-performing consulting teams, Neal sits down with other industry participants, investors, executives and consumers of consulting services to talk openly about realities of the industry - especially realities that many don't openly discuss or analyze.   Whether you’re a veteran in the industry, early in your career or someone considering a career in consulting, Consulting Uncensored offers an unfiltered look at the industry, what it takes to succeed and ways to grow and build great practices and/or businesses with some fun and entertaining dialogue along the way.  No consulting speak. Real talk. No filters.
The Current State of the Consulting Market: What Are Private Equity Investors Saying about Deals, Fund Raising and AI?
In this episode of Consulting Uncensored, Virtas Partners founder and CEO Neal McNamara provides an update from two recent private equity conferences on what investors are saying about the consulting industry with regards to deals, value creation, and the disruption being caused by AI. Neal shares what’s real, what’s noise, and what consulting and Office of the CFO leaders need to pay attention to next. To read the full show notes and explore more resources on consulting, private equity, and ...
May 22
6 min
Leading from the Front: How to Build and Lead Boutique Consulting Firms
Most consulting leaders say “people are our greatest asset,” then design firms where the best people burn out, stall out, or quietly leave. In this episode, Neal sits down with Jason Gandy, CEO of Performance Improvement Partners, a technology advisory and private equity–focused consulting firm, to examine what it actually looks like to lead from the front in a modern consulting business where careers, culture, and revenue all collide. Listen in as they discuss the real implications of ...
May 22
52 min
New Challenges to the Big 4 and the Questionable Responses
The consulting industry is entering a more volatile phase as the Big Four (Deloitte, PwC, EY, and KPMG) face a new kind of competition: former partners building well-funded firms designed to compete directly with them. As industry giants respond with aggressive legal action, they are forced to balance protecting their market share with broader risks around culture, talent, and long-term positioning. In this episode, Neal explores whether these hardball tactics could backfire, impacting ...
May 22
7 min
Consulting Uncensored - Intro Trailer
What really happens inside the world of consulting? Consulting Uncensored is a space for unfiltered conversations about the realities most people don’t talk about. Host Neal McNamara draws on decades of experience across the industry, from technical delivery and leading global teams to building and scaling a consulting firm from the ground up. This podcast will dive into leadership, strategy, culture, career growth, and industry trends—without the usual consulting speak. Expect raw insigh...
Apr 27
2 min