Events

We’re thrilled to welcome James Veenhoff from the Netherlands for a thought-provoking discussion on "Coalitions for Impact and Value." James is more than a visionary; he's a catalyst for change. With a remarkable journey spanning over 25 years, he has consistently shaped innovative paths for societal progress.

James is the Founder of Elemental, a mission-first strategy and innovation firm based in Amsterdam. He is also the mastermind behind the House of Denim Foundation. Through initiatives such as the Jean School and Denim City, James has demonstrated the profound impact of education and collaboration in enhancing industries' environmental sustainability.

James is the co-author of “Collaborate or Die: The co-creation book for change makers” a practical, action-oriented book taking the reader on a step-by-step journey towards making a meaningful impact.

In this engaging episode, James will share his insights on the following questions:

• The Shift from Growth to Impact: How businesses are embracing the journey towards more meaningful contributions to society and the planet.
• The Ethical Dilemma: As the world moves towards more responsible business practices, explore the challenges consultants face, especially when they have to work with clients whose values may not align perfectly with their own.
• The Power of Coalitions: Explore how collaboration and co-creation among organizations can lead to impactful change and value creation.

Watch the replay here:

Tune in to the 18th episode of the Gabriel Al-Salem Foundation's series "Consulting Without Borders LIVE - Perspectives," featuring international consultants and experts dedicated to addressing global challenges, promoting professional excellence, and fostering a sustainable future.

On October 1, we were thrilled to welcome Otto Acuna from Costa Rica, CMC (Certified Management Consultant), Founder and CEO of e-Consulting Global Solutions. Based in Estonia, Otto's company collaborates globally with small and medium-sized consultancies and consulting associations, empowering them to "level the playing field" in their home markets and gain a competitive edge through innovative methodologies and capabilities. Since 2007 Otto has also been leading EXYGE.COM, a boutique specialty consultancy in Latin America that enhances clients' back-office operations across various industries.

Otto is an Industrial Engineer with an MBA and double certified in Lean Six Sigma by ASQ (CSSBB). Prior to his current occupation, he led a practice at PwC Interamericas. With over 25 years of experience in strategy, operational efficiency, and business performance improvement, he currently volunteers as the Chair of the CMC-Global Institute and serves as the Lead Advisor for Consulting Institutes within ICMCI’s Quality Assurance Committee.

During our livestream, Otto took us through his professional journey and delve into the following key topics:

• Why tech matters in consulting: Discover why integrating technology into consulting is critical for long-term global success, enhancing client offerings, and increasing value.
• Beating the big players: Explore smart strategies that empower smaller firms not only to compete but to excel on the global stage, even against industry giants.
• Planning for international success: Learn the importance of strategic planning and recognizing your global strengths. Create a clear roadmap to enhance your consulting skills with technology, no matter where you are based.

To learn more about Otto's remarkable work and approach, check out his articles here:
https://nearshoreamericas.com/author/otto-acuna/

Watch the replay here:

Tune in to the 17th episode of the Gabriel Al-Salem Foundation's series "Consulting Without Borders LIVE - Perspectives," featuring international consultants and experts dedicated to addressing global challenges, promoting professional excellence, and fostering a sustainable future.

We were excited to welcome Dr. Dawn Rennick, PhD, CMC®, PMP, CEO of Piercing Sun Consulting (USA). Dr. Rennick is dedicated to realigning business models with the UN's Sustainable Development Goals, thereby fostering business as a force for good, and forging a new global economy that benefits all stakeholders. With a doctorate in Organization and Management and 25 years of industry experience in financial services, healthcare, and technology, Dr. Rennick is a renowned thought leader and trailblazer in the emerging field of Impact Consulting.

During our live broadcast, Dr. Rennick delved into the realm of Impact Consulting and explored the new Certified Management Consultant (CMC) competency requirements. Impact Consulting aims to help businesses not only drive profit but also generate positive social and environmental impact. With increased corporate focus on sustainable development and social responsibility, the requirements for becoming a CMC have expanded to incorporate these crucial elements. Our discussion spotlighted these new developments and how they shape the skills, knowledge, and approaches required for successful consulting in the current era of dynamic change and transformation.

The discussion explored the following key areas:

• New CMC competency requirements: definitions and concepts
• The emergence of the ‘Impact Consulting’ specialty practice
• Impact business models, tools for measuring impact performance, and B Corp certification.

Watch the replay here:

Tune in to the 16th episode of the Gabriel Al-Salem Foundation's series "Consulting Without Borders LIVE - Perspectives," featuring international consultants and experts dedicated to addressing global challenges, promoting professional excellence, and fostering a sustainable future.

We were delighted to welcome Dwight Mihalicz (Canada), Founder and President of Effective Managers™, a leading management consulting firm based in Canada with a global reach. Dwight's humanistic approach, coupled with his deep understanding of organizational dynamics, makes him a trusted advisor to leaders seeking sustainable performance.

As an accomplished author, Dwight has penned two influential books that delve into essential topics for executives and management consultants alike. The Effective CEO: The Balancing Act that Drives Sustainable Performance explores the key functions that contribute to CEO success, while Consulting through Uncertainty: A Global Perspective examines the evolving landscape of professional services.

During the live broadcast, Dwight delved into the compelling topic of AI and its influence on the consulting industry. The discussion revolved around the following thought-provoking topics:

• Is Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) next? Can machines replace humans? Exploring the impact of AI on society, businesses and consultants and examining its potential benefits and drawbacks.
• Is AI good or evil? The ethics of AI and how to prevent it from being an agent for evil. Discussing the ethical considerations associated with AI adoption and exploring strategies for ensuring responsible use of AI in consulting.
• Practical AI examples and tools for consultants. Exploring real-world applications of AI in consulting and highlighting the practical tools and techniques available for consultants to leverage AI in their work.

Watch the replay here:

Tune in to the 15th episode of the Gabriel Al-Salem Foundation's series "Consulting Without Borders LIVE - Perspectives," featuring international consultants and experts dedicated to addressing global challenges, promoting professional excellence, and fostering a sustainable future.

On July 1 we were delighted to welcome Assel Karaulova (Kazakhstan), Founder and President of Kazakhstan Press Club and CEO at Promo Group Communications. With an impressive track record spanning 27 years, Asel brings a wealth of experience in various communication disciplines, including public relations, public awareness, corporate communications, issue/crisis management, and marketing communications.

Assel has had a profound impact on the communication landscape in Central Asia, as she has successfully positioned the Kazakhstan Press Club and PG Communications as industry leaders known for their excellence. She has also effectively managed PR and public awareness projects for multilateral donor organizations, including USAID, ADB, the World Bank, UNDP, and UNICEF in the region, showcasing her expertise in delivering impactful communication strategies.

Assel had a close and cherished friendship with the late Gabriel Al-Salem. Following his untimely passing, she helped organize the inaugural "Consulting Without Borders" conferences held in Kazakhstan and the Kyrgyz Republic, ensuring that his vision and legacy lived on through these impactful events.

During the live broadcast, Assel will explore key trends and challenges in communication, offering invaluable local insights intertwined with a global perspective. She will focus on the following topics:

• Cultivating trust and transparency in communications.
• The power of purpose-driven communication: aligning values, social responsibility and global trends for creating meaningful change.
• Mastering effective crisis management communication.

Watch the replay here:

Tune in to the 14th episode of the Gabriel Al-Salem Foundation's series "Consulting Without Borders LIVE - Perspectives," featuring international consultants and experts dedicated to addressing global challenges, promoting professional excellence, and fostering a sustainable future.

On June 1 we were delighted to welcome Valeria Della Rosa (Italy), Founder and CEO of Oli help. Valeria has built an impressive career in both the private and public sector leveraging her expertise in delivering creative solutions and building high performing teams. Her passion for technology led her to Thoughtworks, where she gained extensive hands-on experience in product management and digital transformation. During her time at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) in London, she held key leadership positions, working with consultants and businesses in the EBRD’s countries of operation, with a focus on driving social and economic change. However, it was her personal experience of behavioral change necessary to support her son that inspired her to create Oli help.

Valeria was a valued colleague of Gabriel Al-Salem at EBRD, and she played an instrumental role in establishing the Gabriel Al-Salem International Award for Excellence in Consulting after Gabriel’s passing. She was also an avid supporter and participant of the “Consulting Without Borders” conferences in Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Ukraine and Turkey.

During the live broadcast, Valeria shared her inspiring story of transformation from being a corporate executive to building her own business, which has a mission to empower parents of children with diverse minds. Valeria offered valuable insights on:

• Unleashing personal potential: Harnessing your own struggles to inspire and empower others.
• Finding purpose through lived experiences: supporting parents in navigating challenges related to their child’s diverse behavioral traits.
• Building a purpose-driven business: Practical strategies and overcoming obstacles along the way.

Watch the replay here:

Tune in to the 13th episode of the Gabriel Al-Salem Foundation's series "Consulting Without Borders LIVE - Perspectives," which highlights international consultants and experts working to address global challenges, promote professional excellence, and build a sustainable future.

On May 1 we were delighted to welcome David Norman (USA), a Certified Management Consultant® (CMC®) and Certified Business Manager (CBM), who has nearly 50 years of consulting experience, including 11 years in executive coaching. Since 1995 his company David Norman & Associates has been offering results-oriented services to small and mid-sized companies, non-profit organizations, and governmental agencies with a focus on financial, operational, and general management consulting services tailored to the clients’ specific needs.

David served on the Institute of Management Consulting USA (IMC USA) Carolinas Chapter Board, the National Board of Directors and as CEO and Chairman of the Board. He is currently Chair of the Board of the IMC USA Foundation, a 501(c)3 organization that focuses on ethics education.

In 2017, David was rewarded for his consulting achievements with the CMC®-AF (Academic Fellow by ICMCI) and in 2018, he was recognized as a Fellow of IMC USA (FCMC).

During the live broadcast, David focused on the following topics:

• Reputational damage for consultants: causes and fixes;
• How to differentiate you and your practice;
• The path forward.

Watch the replay here:

Tune in to the 12th episode of the Gabriel Al-Salem Foundation's series "Consulting Without Borders LIVE - Perspectives," in which we spotlight international consultants, experts and leaders working to address global challenges, promote professional excellence, and build a sustainable future.

On April 1 we were delighted to welcome Dr. Stephen Tupper (UK), an international development consultant, who has been living and working in Ukraine for many years. After the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 Stephen spent a year there managing funds for small scale renovation and reconstruction projects.

During the live broadcast, Stephen focused on the following topics:

• International and local consultants’ role in supporting Ukraine’s victory in the war and preparing the country for recovery;
• The likely long-term social effects of the war;
• The key stages in EU accession and the obstacles to this process.

Stephen has in-depth knowledge of donor instruments and processes based on more than 30 years of working experience with the EU, USAID, World Bank, EBRD and other institutions, including the private sector. He has played a key role in program and project cycle management in over 50 countries. Stephen has an extensive background in capacity building, working with key state institutions in the fields of economic policy, budget support, public finance, national and regional development planning, and team management for complex projects, often in challenging environments.

Since 2017 Stephen has been serving on the Gabriel Al-Salem Foundation’s Board of Directors.

Watch the replay here:

Tune in to the replay of thе 11th episode of the Gabriel Al-Salem Foundation's series "Consulting Without Borders LIVE - Perspectives," in which we engage with international consultants and experts working to address global challenges, promote professional excellence, and build a sustainable future.

On March 1, 2023, at 13:00 GMT, we were delighted to welcome Anya Al-Salem, Master's of Science student of Sustainable Development at Utrecht University (the Netherlands), specializing in Energy and Materials. During her studies, Anya has developed a particular interest in the academic sub-discipline and movement of degrowth, and she is currently writing her master’s thesis about degrowth of the European aviation industry.

Anya is a member of the Gabriel Al-Salem Foundation’s Board of Directors and leads the Foundation’s activities related to sustainability.

On March 1, Anya discussed ‘greenwashing,’ which refers to the deceptive messaging disseminated by organizations to misleadingly portray themselves as environmentally responsible and thereby improve their public image. Such disinformation is particularly dangerous because it can stall effective and urgently needed action on climate change. Anya will specifically discuss the results of a research project she worked on in 2022, which analyses the changes in public communications of the top five oil and gas ‘supermajor’ companies – BP, Shell, Chevron, ExxonMobil, and TotalEnergies – since the onset of the war in Ukraine and provides recommendations for strategies to effectively combat greenwashing.

The research was conducted in a team of six Utrecht University master’s students in collaboration with Solid Sustainability Research, InfluenceMap , and Reclame Fossielvrij (Fossil Free Advertising). The research builds on InfluenceMap’s 2022 report Big Oil's Real Agenda on Climate Change, which compares and contrasts the public communications, business operations, and policy engagement of the top five oil and gas ‘supermajors.’

Anya focusеd on the following questions during the livestream:

• What is ‘greenwashing,’ and why is it dangerous?
• How did the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 affect the public communications of oil and gas ‘supermajors’?
• What are the best strategies to fight greenwashing and hold polluting companies accountable for their detrimental impact on the environment?

Watch the replay here:

Change is here to stay. So how do consultants stay relevant and valued? The time is now to purposefully build your capabilities, explore new ideas, learn future-ready skills, and lead or support leaders. Are you ready for what’s ahead? Find out by tuning in to the replay of our traditional February 1 event for consultants and businesses.

Guest Speaker: Brian Ing (UK)

In his 30-year career Brian Ing has been continuously involved with ICMCI (International Council of Management Consulting Institutes) since 1999 having been a UK trustee, elected Secretary (twice) and Chair. For four years he led the group within ICMCI responsible for assuring the consistent standard of awarding the CMC in all the full member countries of ICMCI. In 2002 Brian was President of the UK Institute of Management Consultancy. In his career Brian built two consultancies from scratch. He has covered, among other topics, use of IT for competitive advantage, program management, outsourcing, marketing strategy and organizational development.

As a colleague and friend of the late Gabriel Al-Salem, Brian has been supporting and contributing to the Gabriel Al-Salem Foundation's activities. In 2015 he conducted training for the winners of the International Award for Excellence in Consulting as part of the “Consulting Without Borders” international conference in Istanbul, Turkey.

Although currently retired, Brian continues to be involved in the revision of CMC standards, development of revised competency framework, determination of re-certification standards, development of Master Coach competency framework and standards, development of CMC firm standards, advising of other committees regarding implementation of standards.

The Future of Management Consultancy: Learning from Our Past.

Management consultants need to re-invent themselves every five or so years. The new high demand product/service may be new but the adaption of the profession to be able to support this service is a well-trodden path. The bulk of management consultancy is the rump of the once trendy products, and when consulting on the trend topic, consultants must not ignore all the lessons learnt in the past.

You will learn:

1. Why does management consultancy always need to adapt to new ideas and concepts?
2. Which past trendy consulting products and services has the consulting profession gone through, and what are the lessons learned?
3. What does it take to effectively consult on a new high demand topic?

Brian’s presentation is followed by a Panel discussion with the participation of the Gabriel Al-Salem Foundation’s Board of Directors, who will elaborate on future readiness from the perspectives of their diverse backgrounds and current engagements.

International Awards for Excellence announcements:

In the second part of the event, we announced the updated categories, criteria, and application requirements and deadlines of the International Award for Excellence in Consulting, including announcing special awards related to the response of civil society and non-governmental organizations in dealing with the impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine from February 2022.