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Leveraging Executive Debriefs to Drive Re-Engagement

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When a consulting engagement concludes, the formal deliverables are often complete, but the relationship with the client is just beginning. Too often, firms end projects with a handoff and a “thank you,” leaving future opportunities to chance. At Empactful Advisors, we believe one of the most overlooked tools for creating long-term value is the executive debrief. Done well, a debrief not only reinforces the outcomes of the engagement but also opens the door to deeper partnerships, new projects, and expanded services.

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Execute for Success in 2026: Turning Plans Into Pipeline

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If Part 1 was “plan via the journey” and Part 2 was “fund the journey,” Part 3 is about putting it all into motion. Planning and budgeting only matter if they lead to results. Execution is where growth happens or stalls.
By January, most firms have their plans and budgets approved. The question now becomes: how do you turn those plans into measurable progress your executive team can see by the end of Q1?
From May through August, most executive teams, whether at brands or professional services firms, are knee-deep in building strategies and budgets for the coming year. But many are using outdated models: departmental budgets created in isolation, growth projections rooted in past performance and plans that treat customer experience as a byproduct rather than a priority.

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Strategic Insights from a Client Advisory Board

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What if your best strategic insights didn’t come from consultants, books, or conferences, but instead from your own clients?
When we launched our first Client Advisory Board in 2022, I quickly realized how true that was. The experience reshaped how we make decisions, identify blind spots, and improve our service. Here is what we have learned about building a board that actually works.

Pro Serv Blogs

Why Q1 (2026) Success Starts in December — Not January

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Most boutique firms don’t lose momentum in March or April.
They lose it in January.
Research from Gartner shows that 67% of annual plans fail by the end of Q1, often because teams enter the new year without clarity or focus. And Harvard Business Review reports that 85% of leadership teams spend less than one hour per month discussing strategy, which means many firms start January reacting, not executing.

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AI and the New Leverage Model for Professional Services

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For decades, the economic engine of professional services was built on one deceptively simple concept: leverage.
David Maister popularized the term in his classic book Managing the Professional Service Firm. His formula was clear: the more junior professionals a partner could supervise and bill, the greater the profit per partner. The model worked brilliantly for the industrial era of expertise, when value creation depended on human effort.

Pro Serv Blogs

Faith at Work: How Belief and Values Shape Boutique Firm Success

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In the high-stakes world of boutique professional services, it’s easy to believe that success is solely the result of relentless effort, sharp strategy, and personal ambition. But what if the real differentiator is something deeper—a guiding faith and a set of values that transcend the bottom line? By juxtaposing the common narrative of self-made success with a perspective rooted in faith and humility, we discover a new framework for leadership and growth.

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