The Professional Services Pursuit

Ep. 109 - A Practical Approach to Technology Decisions That Stand the Test of Change w/ Shawn Windle

In this episode of The Professional Services Pursuit, host Brent sits down with Shawn Windle, Founder and Managing Principal of ERP Advisors Group, to unpack a challenge nearly every professional services firm is grappling with: how to choose technology that delivers relief today and provides support for the needs of tomorrow. Drawing on hundreds of ERP and PSA implementations, Shawn shares candid insights into what works, what doesn’t, and how leaders can avoid costly missteps while laying the groundwork for scalable, long-term success.Key topics covered in this episode:The people, process, and growth signals that indicate when it’s time to outgrow mid-level systemsWhy firms that delay investing in core systems risk falling behind as AI adoption acceleratesThe hidden dangers of overshooting your actual business needs with overly complex platformA pragmatic framework leaders can use to make smarter, more confident technology decisionsVisit ERP Advisors Group to learn more about their services and schedule a consultation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep. 108 - The Evolving Role of the CFO: Driving Strategy, Operational Clarity & Scalable Growth w/ Steve De Santis & Dave Ristow

In this episode of The Pursuit Power Half Hour, Brent sits down with two seasoned CFOs, Steve DeSantis and Dave Ristow, to explore how the role of finance leadership has rapidly expanded across professional services. They discuss how CFOs are now expected to shape strategic direction, unify systems and data, strengthen delivery operations, and build tech stacks that can sustain long-term growth. Key topics covered include:How the CFO role has evolved from traditional financial oversight to strategic operatorThe challenges of rapid growth and how unified tools (PSA, ERP, BI) restore clarity and control.How CFOs partner with operations and delivery leaders Signs it’s time to evolve your tech stackAdvice for CFOs on owning the enterprise tech stack, preparing for AI-enabled operations, and building companies that can scale through multiple stages of investment. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep. 107 - The Five 2026 Anti-Trends Professional Services Leaders Need to Hear w/ Brian Sommer

In this episode of the Professional Services Pursuit podcast, host Banoo sits down with industry analyst and longtime consulting leader Brian Sommer to break down the five critical “anti-trends” professional services firms must confront heading into 2026. Instead of following the overhyped AI narratives dominating the market, Brian challenges firms to rethink how they present expertise, differentiate themselves, and build credibility in an era where clients are more informed and more skeptical than ever. Key Topics Covered in This Episode:Why firms must stop selling AI solutions in 2026 the same way they did in 2025How to “show, not tell” the real art of the possible with AIWhy sharing your firm’s internal AI journey is essential for credibilityThe importance of proprietary intellectual propertyThe need to rethink your firm’s value proposition and commercial model Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep. 106 - The Billable Hour Is Dying: A New Era of Delivery Health Metrics w/ Kyle Sandine

What if the billable hour is hiding the real health of your delivery organization? In this episode, we talk with Kyle Sandine, Associate Director of PMO and Delivery Center of Excellence at Adage Technologies, about why utilization and chargeability no longer tell the full story of project success. Kyle shares how Adage is shifting from time-and-materials to value-driven delivery, how project sentiment and real-time data strengthen outcomes, and why modern PMOs must evolve beyond traditional metrics to stay competitive.We cover:The hidden costs of high utilization, and what leaders should watch forA practical framework for tracking delivery health beyond spreadsheetsHow to embed pulse checks to spot and mitigate risk earlyNavigating client maturity in value-based engagementsWhy team satisfaction is the key to scalable, repeatable success Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep. 105 - From Blind Spots to Breakthroughs: The Power of Benchmarking w/ Charles Gustine & Connor Budden

Professional services leaders are constantly balancing growth, delivery, and profitability, but what if the biggest opportunities are hiding in plain sight?In this episode, Charles Gustine, Director of Customer and Market Insights at Kantata, and Connor Budden, Global Director at Service Performance Insight (SPI), explore how benchmarking helps firms uncover hidden inefficiencies, strengthen leadership, and transform performance across every area of the business.Recorded live at Kantata Converge, this conversation draws on decades of SPI’s benchmarking insights and unveils SPI Insight, a breakthrough integration that brings real-time benchmarking directly into the Kantata platform.In this episode, you’ll learn:Why benchmarking matters — and how top-performing services firms use data to turn blind spots into breakthroughs.The five pillars of performance maturity — leadership, client relationships, talent, service execution, and operations.Real-world stories of firms uncovering costly inefficiencies and driving measurable improvements.How AI is reshaping benchmarking — delivering faster, smarter, and more contextual decision-making.A first look at SPI Insight — the new embedded benchmarking capability within Kantata that turns data into real-time guidance. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.