In this episode of The Consultancy Growth Podcast, Craig Herd speaks with Mark Green, founder and CEO of Change Rebellion. After a near-fatal battle with COVID that left him in a coma for months, Mark came back with a new philosophy: empathy over ego, and change that’s human first.

We dig into why clients now value implementation over clever slides, how authenticity and humour can be powerful differentiators in a crowded market, and what it takes to build a consultancy that wins clients by standing out, not chasing RFPs.

Mark also shares his view on the role of AI in change management, the upside and downside of bold positioning, and why he believes consultancies should leave clients better equipped than they found them. If you’ve ever wondered whether playing it safe is holding your firm back, this conversation will make you rethink how you grow.

Chapters
0:00 Introduction to Change Rebellion
01:17 From Coma to Consultancy: A Life-Changing Reset
05:30 Why Authenticity and Humour Stand Out in Consulting
10:00 Family First: Defining Success on Your Own Terms
14:55 The Upsides and Downsides of Being Bold
19:55 Why Implementation Now Beats Intelligence
22:13 AI’s Role in the Future of Change Management
28:11 Empathy Over Ego: Consulting Without the Ego Trap
30:52 How to Ensure Clients Are Better Off After You Leave
35:13 The Future Vision for Change Rebellion

In this episode Craig is joined by Richard Longstreet, founder of Tarka Talent, to explore what really drives successful hiring in boutique consultancies. Too often, firms bring in senior hires with impressive CVs only to find they don’t deliver the growth expected. Richard explains why success in a Big Four doesn’t always translate into a boutique environment, the critical distinction between developing existing accounts and winning new logos, and how cultural fit can determine whether a hire creates lasting value.

They also discuss the infrastructure required to support growth, why equity should be tied to performance, and how consultancies can create a culture where business development is a shared responsibility rather than resting solely on the founder. If you’re thinking about making senior commercial hires, this episode offers a clear framework to avoid costly missteps.

00:00 Introduction and Context
02:59 The Role of Senior Hires in Boutiques
07:53 Account Development vs New Business
10:23 How to Vet Candidates for Commercial Roles
14:04 Why Infrastructure Matters for Growth
16:30 Marketing’s Role in Enabling Success
20:28 Systems and Processes That Scale
25:15 Escaping Founder Dependency
30:10 Building a Sustainable Hiring Strategy
34:14 Balancing Equity in Hiring
38:37 The Importance of Cultural Fit
43:01 Curiosity as a Growth Mindset

Host Craig Herd
Guest Richard Longstreet

In this episode, Craig sits down with executive coach Deena Priest to unpack the three pillars of sustainable Consultancy leadership: Purpose, Peace, Profit. Along the way, they explore how to spot the early signs of unfulfillment, tackle the fear of selling, and break free from the micromanagement trap. Deena shares why emotional regulation is a non‑negotiable skill for leaders, and how to build a legacy that lasts through smart succession planning.

00:00 — Introductions & Why Founders Lose Their Spark

05:42 — From Consulting to Coaching: Finding Purpose Again

11:37 — The Hidden Signs You’re No Longer Fulfilled

17:41 — Why Most Consultancy Founders Struggle With Sales

20:25 — Breaking the Micromanagement Habit That’s Draining You

24:05 — How to Lead With Confidence (Even Under Pressure)

27:44 — Using NLP to Reframe Setbacks Into Wins

30:32 — Mastering Emotional Regulation for High‑Stakes Leadership

36:07 — Building a Consultancy Legacy That Outlives You

Host Craig Herd

Guest Deena Priest