The McKinsey Crossword: Spread Sheets No. 146 – McKinsey

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.

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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!

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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
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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

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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!

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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

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Change management might not be in your procurement job description, but it should be. In this Quick Takes on Smart Consulting Sourcing episode, Hélène Lafitte explains why procurement professionals play a critical role in setting consulting projects up for success. From spotting misalignment early to designing collaboration into the process, Hélène shows how procurement can act as a catalyst for change even before the consultants are hired.

Tune in to discover how change fluency can make you a smarter, more strategic sourcing leader. Don’t miss this one!

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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

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A consulting agreement might not be flashy — but it’s one of the most critical tools in your consulting procurement arsenal. In this episode of Quick Takes on Smart Consulting Sourcing, Hélène Lafitte, CEO of Consulting Quest, breaks down the seven must-have elements every procurement pro should scrutinize before signing a consulting contract.

From scope clarity and payment terms to IP rights and termination clauses, she highlights how a well-crafted agreement sets the stage for project success — and protects your organization from costly surprises.

Don’t miss this power-packed episode because smarter contracts mean smarter sourcing. Tune in now!

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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

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In this thought-provoking episode of Smart Consulting Sourcing, Helene Lafitte unpacks a question that every organization faces but few answer strategically: should you handle a consulting project in-house or bring in external experts?

With humor, clarity, and a practical five-pillar framework, Helene guides you through the complexities of the make-or-buy decision—looking beyond cost to consider capability, strategic value, and long-term impact.

If you’re tired of defaulting to habit and ready to treat consulting as a true strategic lever, this episode is a must-listen. Don’t miss it—your next big project might just depend on it.

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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

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Should you invest in an internal consulting team? In this episode of Quick Takes with Smart Consulting Sourcing, Hélène Lafitte, CEO of Consulting Quest, breaks down the strategic considerations behind this crucial decision. From analyzing consulting spend to defining a clear team mandate, she explains why internal consulting is about more than just cutting costs; it's about driving long-term efficiency, retaining knowledge, and optimizing ROI.

Discover when to build in-house expertise, when to rely on external consultants, and how to ensure your internal team aligns with broader business goals. Don’t miss this quick but insightful episode to smarter consulting decisions!

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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

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Companies spend billions on external consultants, but is there a better way? In this episode of Smart Consulting Sourcing, Hélène Lafitte, CEO of Consulting Quest, explores the growing trend of Internal Consulting Groups and how they can serve as a powerful strategic asset. Far from being just a cost-cutting measure, internal consulting helps organizations retain knowledge, develop future leaders, and optimize consulting spend without sacrificing expertise.

Discover how leading companies like Siemens and BASF have leveraged internal teams to drive transformation and why striking the right balance between internal and external consultants is key. Don’t miss this insightful episode—tune in now and rethink how your organization approaches consulting!

👉 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

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