Why Hiring Former CEOs as Consultants Backfires

When Frank Scavo sent me his latest article about consulting skills, I knew we had to dig deeper. After 20 years of working together—first as his client, then as colleagues—we've lived the collaborative consulting model he champions. In this conversation, we explore why seasoned executives often struggle to transition into consulting, the critical difference between having authority and wielding influence, and why the best consulting relationships blur traditional boundaries. Frank shares hard-won insights from his 50-year career, including the fascinating failure of his "retread model" and what it really takes to move from telling people what to do to helping them discover solutions together.

Links from this episode:

Frank Scavo on LinkedIn

The Enterprise Spectator on Substack

Arabella Penrose Books

"Flawless Consulting" by Peter Block 

Previous episode we refer to.

Growth Resources Institute

Binky Patrol