The Consultancy Growth Podcast

Refined Over 20 Years: The 7 Ps That Win High-Stakes Consultancy Pitches with John Timperley

Craig Herd Episode 25

For 20 years, John has helped consultancies win the kinds of high-stakes pitches where there’s only one winner and everything’s on the line—revenue, reputation, and momentum.

In this episode, John breaks down the real mechanics behind successful consultancy pitches, sharing his 7 Ps framework and what the best teams do differently. We talk WhatsApp dealmaking, shifting client expectations, and why the pitch is won long before the presentation begins.

If you’ve ever hit a losing streak, over-invested in a “perfect” deck, or wondered why a great relationship still didn’t close then this one’s for you.


02:00  What’s changed in 20 years of high-stakes pitches

06:40  Why remote consultants aren’t learning by osmosis anymore

11:00    The 7 Ps that shape every winning pitch

18:30   How firms lose before they’ve even sent the proposal

24:00  Conversation vs presentation: the game has changed

30:20  AI’s effect on thought leadership and positioning

36:15   The difference between trusted insight and generic content

42:40  How the best consultancies stay in the “penalty box”

48:50 The one move every founder should make this quarter


Host: Craig Herd
Guest: John Timperley

People on this episode