When a slowing economy puts revenues at risk, belt-tightening is often the preferred method of protecting the bottom line. Executives start by scaling back on discretionary costs such as travel and vendor services. All too frequently, however, they pare back the workforce or put promising initiatives on hold. As I discussed in an earlier post,…
Shortly after the Great Recession began, a billboard popped up along I-95, on the way to Philadelphia. “Recession 101: Bill Gates started Microsoft in a recession.” The campaign was meant to be an inspirational reminder that we have the grit it takes to get through difficult times. Yet, it’s also true that businesses can use…
With private equity investing on the rise and deal volume on the decline, general partners are focusing on creating value by improving business performance within their portfolio investments. This shift is underscored by the confidence of middle market deal making professionals recently surveyed by ACG New York, 83% of whom said they expect PE investments…
Although big data is quickly turning analytics into a core marketing function, many companies are still ramping up their use of data while others have yet to implement the processes and systems needed to deliver the customer intelligence that marketing strategists need. Indeed, CMOs report that they’ve seen no improvement in marketing knowledge metrics –…
Most independent consultants are familiar with the usual networking tactics: Become active on social media, work your professional connections for leads, and join industry associations. While these are effective ways to produce quality leads, it’s worth considering some other, more strategic ways to expand your network – and find leads that are a better fit…
