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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.
Unlocking Value
Episode 23: Rob Garner, Luk Smeyers & Deri Hughes - The Four Forces Shaping Consulting in 2026
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This episode is a little different from our usual format. Rather than a one to one conversation, we are sharing the audio from a recent webinar hosted by Deri Hughes of Honeycomb Consulting Skills Training, joined by Luk Smeyers from The Visible Authority and Rob Garner from Garwood Growth.
Together, they explore what 2026 is likely to mean for consulting firms, drawing on insights from the hundreds of firms they each work with every year.
The discussion covers:
• The AI triple squeeze reshaping delivery models and margins
• Why specialist boutiques are showing early signs of renewed growth
• How firms are using AI internally, from efficiency and expertise to new propositions
• The rising importance of human skills in winning work and building trust
• What a consulting firm built from scratch in 2026 would actually look like
• Why deep sector expertise is increasingly beating generalist capability
A big thank you to Deri Hughes for allowing us to republish the session here on Unlocking Value. If you would like more conversations like this, follow the show for early access to future episodes.
Host: John Howard,Partner at Garwood Growth
Guest: Rob Garner,Partner at Garwood Growth
Guest: Luk Smeyers, Partner at The Visible Authority
Guest: Deri Hughes, MD at Honeycomb Consulting