Linda N. Stewart - Consulting 2.0 - Seizing the Opportunity of a Growing Free Agent... | TotalPicture Radio - Podcast Career Advice and Leadership Development

Linda N. Stewart - Consulting 2.0

Tuesday, 03 March 2009

Seizing the Opportunity of a Growing Free Agent Marketplace

Linda Stewart of Epoch launches a national seminar tour to help professionals transition to free agent consulting

Linda Stewart, CEO, President and Founder, Epoch

Linda N. Stewart

This is Peter Clayton with a special Career Transition podcast on Total Picture Radio. Joining us today is a frequent contributor, Linda N. Stewart, president, CEO and founder of EPOCH - a company she formed in 2007 to bring together her financial service expertise and relationships with her understanding of the demographic changes in the marketplace and to introduce a new talent management resource to organizations.

EPOCH acts as a broker of independently employed financial service executives who offer their project based consulting services to help companies accelerate the completion of critical business initiatives. By engaging variable cost resources who have completed similar projects in similar organizations globally, companies can drive business results quickly and cost effectively. Different from traditional consultants that focus primarily on strategy, these executives are all about execution.

Responding to the tidal wave of layoffs that have hit executives from all industries and professions, Ms. Stewart is launching a national seminar tour titled Seizing the Opportunity of a Growing Free Agent Marketplace to assist highly accomplished individuals fast track their skills in the growing free agent marketplace. Our conversation today will focus on her seminar.

Dan Pink was right:

20 Min:

Talking Points

First – for those not familiar with EPOCH, tell us about your background.
Who are some of the companies you’ve worked with since founding your company?
What are the advantages of an executive working with you? Why not try and get consulting assignments directly with companies they target as good fits?
Seizing the Opportunity of a Growing Free Agent Marketplace – let’s get to your seminar. First, whom is this intended for? What’s the demographic, Linda?
Where and when will be your first seminar?
Where can people go to get more information?
Let’s get an overview of how the seminar is structured – You start with the pros and cons of independent consulting. What are a couple of the most important considerations?
Let’s face it. This is a big change for executives who’ve spent 25-30 years working for a large corporation. In your experience, what are some of the most difficult adjustments?
Your workshop goes into detail on the legal, tax and insurance considerations. What’s really important for individuals to know when the set out as free agents.
One thing I thought about when reviewing your seminar – Dan Pink’s book Free Agent Nation – written in 2001 – he was a little ahead of his time but it sure has come true. (Maybe you can site some stats).
Tell us about developing a business plan as a free agent. What are the biggest considerations?
How does this differ from a biz plan you would develop for a new company?
How does building business communities factor into this process?
Who are some of your seminar leaders?
What didn’t I ask that’s important for listeners to know about becoming an independent consultant.

Linda N. Stewart's Bio
Source: EPOCH
Jobs well done. That’s what Linda N. Stewart's career has been all about. An accomplished professional with international experience in both Fortune 500 and entrepreneurial ventures, she understands what it takes for companies – and their executives to succeed. That, in fact, is the primary mission of EPOCH, the company she founded to support accomplished professionals in introducing some work/life balance while addressing the oncoming shortage of executive skills and talent in the workforce.

Prior to EPOCH, Linda demonstrated extraordinary prowess in terms of executive leadership and strategic know-how, across sectors as diverse as financial services, technology and workforce development. Her constant focus has been on maximizing delivery of critical business services to increase market share, build revenues and enhance the value of the customer experience.

Linda's previous positions include acting COO of Veritude, a national recruiting, staffing and talent management organization, where she grew both revenue and contribution margins by more than 30% in the first year and more than 20% each of the two following years. Before that, she served as president of ActionsXchange and held key senior executive positions at National Charitable Services, Boston Coach and Fidelity Investments.

Trained and licensed as a certified public accountant, Linda is a graduate of the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.

Resources:
EPOCH
Workshifter Blog