Unlocking Value
Unlocking Value is designed to give founders and owners of professional services firms more confidence when they're working toward an exit or thinking about taking on investment.
Across six episodes, our host John Howard speaks with founders, investors and advisors about the moments that define the transaction journey - how to get ready, what to expect and how to succeed.
We cover everything from value drivers and team alignment to investor expectations and life after the deal. You’ll hear from people who’ve sold their firms, taken minority investments, stayed on, exited and started again – and from those who advise or invest in firms like yours every day.
Podcasting since 2025 • 30 episodes
Unlocking Value
Latest Episodes
Episode 30: Jonathan Peachey - When cognition becomes free: What AI means for professional services
In this episode, John is joined by Jonathan Peachey, founder of Factory X and former board member at Next 15, where he spent several years leading M&A and transformation across a group of more than 20 businesses spanning consulting, marketi...
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36:21
Episode 29: Chris Allinson – First of the Next, Not Best of the Last
In this episode, John is joined by Chris Allinson, Managing Partner at Yonder Consulting, a firm that helps organisations rethink how they grow and where they compete as markets evolve.Chris has spent his career working at the intersecti...
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Episode 29
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40:43
Episode 28: Adrian Hands - Coffee to Cash: Simple Habits That Keep Professional Services Pipelines Healthy
In this episode, John is joined by Adrian Hands, an experienced sales leader who has spent more than three decades in roles across technology, SaaS, media and e-commerce. Adrian now works as part of Positive Momentum, a group of seasoned consul...
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Episode 28
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37:36
Episode 27: Emma Flin - How ‘Buy and Build’ Drives Growth and Value in Professional Services
In this episode, John welcomes back Emma Flin, an investment director at Sovereign Capital Partners, a private equity firm that focuses on backing and growing mid-market tech and professional services businesses.Having first spoken to Em...
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Episode 27
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48:11
Episode 26: Venkata Nori and Hari Sethalapathy - From Zero Clients to 400 Staff: Building a Global Oracle Consultancy on Trust and Outstanding Service
Hari Sethalapathy and Venkata Subbarayudu Nori are two of the three co-founders of Winfo Solutions, a global Oracle consulting business that has grown from three people with no clients to more than 400 staff across a dozen countries in just 11 ...
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Episode 26
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49:43