Northstar Recycling buys Sonoco Sustainability Solutions – Consulting.us

🤖 Everyone’s talking about AI. Few are buying it wisely.

In this episode of Procurement Game Changers, we tackle the big question:
How do you navigate uncertainty when buying AI solutions — and still make smart, strategic decisions?

Our guest, Debo Lufadeju brings a wealth of experience leading complex strategic sourcing projects across private and public sectors. His golden rule?

“Take a step back and understand what business problem you’re solving before investing in AI.”

We discuss why 95% of AI pilot projects fail, how to tie investments to measurable outcomes, and the role of procurement as a strategic partner in innovation, not just a gatekeeper.

🎧 Tune in to learn how to balance innovation with practical risk management — and buy AI with confidence.

5 0

In this Quick Take on Smart Consulting Sourcing, Hélène Laffitte, CEO at Consulting Quest, explains how a make-or-buy strategy helps you choose the right consulting delivery model with clarity and value in mind.

Discover how to balance what to keep in-house and what to outsource, avoid over-outsourcing, and design smarter, more cost-effective consulting projects.

💡 Turn your delivery model into a value-driven design, not just a default.

2 0

Can ChatGPT really replace McKinsey? The hype says yes. The truth? Not even close. 🚫
In this episode, we bust the AI myths and reveal how Gen AI is actually reshaping consulting.

Generative AI is everywhere — and so are the claims that it will “replace consultants.” But here’s the reality: AI isn’t killing consulting. It’s killing bad consulting.

In this episode of Smart Consulting Sourcing, Hélène Laffitte dives deep into:

Why the “10 prompts to replace McKinsey” meme is total nonsense
How Gen AI really works (and why that matters for clients)
Where AI genuinely accelerates consulting delivery
The dangers of “AI-washing” in consulting proposals
When to use AI — and when to insist on the human touch
Why the real value of consulting is shifting from slides to insight, judgment, and execution

🎯 Key takeaway: AI won’t end consulting, but it will end bad consulting. Clients now have the power to demand more value, transparency, and impact.

👉 Don’t forget to subscribe for more no-fluff insights on consulting procurement and strategy.

🌐 Learn more: consultingquest.com
📩 Book a free consultation: contact@consultingquest.com

0 0

Go-live is not the goal—maturity is. ?

In this episode of Quick Takes on Smart Consulting Sourcing, Hélène Laffitte shares why launching your digital consulting procurement platform is only the beginning of your transformation journey.

You’ll discover:
✅ Why go-live ≠ procurement success
✅ 3 powerful levers to optimize your platform: training, adapting, and continuous improvement
✅ How to drive sourcing maturity with smarter governance, better analytics, and stronger collaboration
✅ Why platforms like Consource.io are built to scale with your organization’s needs

If you’re leading a procurement digitalization, building a consulting sourcing strategy, or looking to increase ROI on your consulting spend, this episode is packed with actionable insights.

Learn how to make your consulting procurement platform more than just a digital tool—turn it into a driver of efficiency, compliance, and maturity.

? Explore more resources:
Book a free consult: consultingquest.com
Learn about Consource.io: consource.io

? Subscribe to Smart Consulting Sourcing for weekly tips on procurement excellence and sourcing strategy.

? Like, share, and drop your questions in the comments!

2 0

Thinking of launching a digital consulting procurement platform?
Pause right there. Because if your processes are immature, inconsistent, or outdated—tech won’t fix them. It’ll just automate the chaos.

In this episode, Hélène Laffitte, founder of Consulting Quest, dives deep into:

✅ What procurement maturity really means in the consulting category
✅ Why skipping this step can derail even the best digital solutions
✅ The six key maturity dimensions you need to assess first
✅ How to use a maturity assessment to uncover blind spots and build your roadmap
✅ Signs you're truly ready for digitization—and what to do if you're not
✅ How platforms like Consource.io support maturity-led digital transformation

? Whether you're trying to rein in rogue spend, build structure, or digitize smarter—this is your episode.

? Don’t digitize broken processes.
? Start with a baseline.
? Build capability. Then add technology.

? Helpful Resources
? Book a free maturity consultation: https://www.consultingquest.com
? Explore a demo of Consource.io: https://www.consource.io

? Like what you heard?
? Hit Like
? Subscribe for weekly insights
? Share this with a fellow transformation leader

And don’t forget—clarity beats complexity. Every single time.

? Also available on Spotify and your favorite podcast apps!

5 0

Can your consulting spend be smarter — just by using better tools?
In this episode of Quick Takes on Smart Consulting Sourcing, Hélène Laffitte, CEO of Consulting Quest, breaks down how digital platforms are revolutionizing the way companies manage their consulting spend.

Discover what the latest tools can really do — and why strategy still comes first.

? In this episode:
• What’s broken with traditional spend tracking
• How modern tools improve visibility and performance
• Why clean data and smart questions matter more than fancy dashboards
• Where tools like Consource.io fit into the bigger picture

? Ready to get your consulting spend under control?
Visit: https://consultingquest.com
? Or contact Hélène directly: helene@consultingquest.com

? Like this episode?
? Subscribe for more no-fluff advice on sourcing smart!
? Share this with your procurement, finance, and strategy teams.

2 0

How do you get the most from your consulting budget — without compromising impact?

In this episode of Smart Consulting Sourcing, Hélène Laffitte, CEO of Consulting Quest, shares a pragmatic, no-fluff approach to consulting utilization. Discover how to prioritize projects, choose the right delivery model, and unlock new sourcing options that stretch your budget and accelerate transformation.

? You’ll learn:
• Why not every project deserves external support
• How to pick the right delivery model — from in-house to fully outsourced
• What hybrid models can unlock in terms of flexibility and cost
• Where to find hidden value in freelance experts, platforms, and data tools
• How to build a system that makes smart consulting the norm

? Want to get more ROI from your consulting spend?
Visit: https://consultingquest.com

? Contact Hélène directly: helene@consultingquest.com

? Like this episode?
? Subscribe for smarter consulting sourcing strategies — every week.
? Share this video with your transformation, procurement, and strategy teams!

0 0

Ever wondered why consulting costs as much as it does? Is it the brainpower? The brand name? Or just a really fancy PowerPoint template?

If you’ve ever stared at a consulting invoice and thought, “Seriously?” — this one’s for you.

Join us for our exclusive webinar session, "Demystifying Consulting Pricing – How Firms Build Their Rates and What It Means for You," where we pull back the curtain on how consulting firms actually calculate their fees — and what that means for your bottom line.

Whether you're buying your first project or managing a multi-million-dollar consulting budget, understanding the logic (and sometimes the illogic) behind pricing is the first step to making smarter, more confident decisions.

What to Expect:
Real Talk: We’ll unpack how firms structure their pricing — yes, even the “black box” stuff they hope you never ask about.
Behind the Curtain: Discover what drives those eye-watering fees and how to tell if you're getting a fair deal.
Power Moves: Learn smart strategies to boost your negotiation game and get better value without playing hardball.

? See All Our Videos: https://bit.ly/3AWAV03
? Subscribe To Our Channel: https://bit.ly/3sdUlth

OUR VIDEOS - PLAYLIST
? Webinars: https://bit.ly/3AUvnTA
? Knowing the Consulting Industry: https://bit.ly/3sh7Rwn
? Buying Consulting: https://bit.ly/3LaFQPQ
? Managing the Consulting Category: https://bit.ly/3La0JKE

If you are a professional in consulting and are looking to level up and learn more about the industry, visit the Consulting Quest website at: https://consultingquest.com

0 0

Think spend analysis is just adding up invoices? Think again. In this episode of Quick Takes on Smart Consulting Sourcing, Hélène Lafitte, CEO of Consulting Quest, breaks down why real spend analysis is about insight; not just data. She shares five smart questions every procurement leader should ask to uncover inefficiencies, align suppliers with project needs, and boost the ROI of consulting spend.

If you want to stop reacting and start optimizing, this is your playbook. Tune in now and turn your consulting data into a strategic advantage!

? See All Our Videos: https://bit.ly/3AWAV03
? Subscribe To Our Channel: https://bit.ly/3sdUlth

OUR VIDEOS - PLAYLIST
? Webinars: https://bit.ly/3AUvnTA
? Knowing the Consulting Industry: https://bit.ly/3sh7Rwn
? Buying Consulting: https://bit.ly/3LaFQPQ
? Managing the Consulting Category: https://bit.ly/3La0JKE

If you are a professional in consulting and are looking to level up and learn more about the industry, visit the Consulting Quest website at: https://consultingquest.com

0 0