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 • 11 episodes
Unlocking Value
Latest Episodes
Episode 11: Jon Grant - Achieving Premium Valuations in Tech Services M&A
In this episode of the Unlocking Value podcast, we welcome Jon Grant, Tech M&A Director at Clearwater, one of Europe’s leading corporate finance firms. Jon is one of the UK’s most experienced advisors on technology and consultin...
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Episode 11
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41:52
Episode 10: Andy Strictland - Demystifying Private Equity
In this episode of the Unlocking Value podcast, John Howard speaks with Andy Strickland, Partner at Palatine Private Equity.Andy has spent more than a decade backing ambitious Professional Services founders and management teams, often at...
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Episode 10
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53:35
Episode 9: Richard Jones - The Paradox of Difference: How to Make Senior Hires a Success
In this episode of the Unlocking Value podcast, John Howard speaks with leadership coach and former consultancy partner Richard Jones about one of the hardest things to get right in professional services: senior leadership transitions....
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51:53
Episode 8: Craig Herd - Marketing Only Matters If It Goes Somewhere
In this episode of the Unlocking Value podcast, John Howard speaks with Craig Herd, founder of Consultancy Growth. Craig shares his journey from door-to-door sales at 19, to becoming National Sales Director with a team of 55, to wor...
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51:15
Episode 7: Justin Langford - Watermelon KPIs, Moneyball Thinking and Scaling without External Investment
In this episode, John Howard speaks with Justin Langford, co-founder and CEO of Coeo. Over nearly two decades, Justin has grown the business from a two-person start-up into a consultancy trusted by some of the UK’s largest organisations....
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54:18