Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

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Contact us via telephone at +1 (310) 260-9765 or email: info@conduitconsulting.com to set an initial consultation appointment.

It depends on the purpose of the engagement. Most strategy work — secondary research, analysis, forecasting, and planning — can be efficiently accomplished from Conduit Consulting’s® office, while it is typically more efficient and preferable to gather information from internal primary sources at client-site. Due diligence and negotiations in conjunction with most Corporate Transactions and many Business Transactions generally achieve best results when conducted on-site or face-to-face.

Generally, it is not a problem. However a country’s work restrictions may prohibit us from providing services at client location for extended period of time.

Duration depends on the project scope, client availability, client decisiveness, desired project intensity, and other factors. Most Conduit Consulting® projects range 2 hours to 4 months, yet many client relationships span years and multiple successful projects.

Our focus is on our clients success!

We view each client’s goals, current capabilities and needs as unique. As such, we customize our approach and assemble our team based on what is appropriate for the client. To do so effectively, requires experts focused on efficiently solving clients’ problems and creating value.

Large firm strategies, policies and incentives often drive actions that are in conflict with client companies’ best interest. For example, staffing unqualified or unnecessary resources, using travel as a profit center, and prolonging project duration. Recognizing this situation and being committed to adding-value to clients directly led to Jillian Alexander founding Conduit Consulting.

For more information about this topic, go to Why Conduit Consulting? and FAQs about Jillian Alexander.

There are several reasons why a Do-It-Yourself approach is not only inefficient, but also can be MORE detrimental than doing nothing. For example, your organization make take too long and spend too much developing a new product, hampering the product from being priced both competitively and profitably. In fact, the company may never recoup its R&D investment. Similarly, inexperienced people often derail or reduce the perceived value of a merger, acquistion, joint venture and strategic alliance. Plus, a poorly managed transaction or business transformation initiative can cause substantial distraction and tremendous disruption to their organization’s day-to-day activities. These situations occur in most organizations as few companies employ on a full-time basis any individual, let alone a team, who has consistently planned and managed a variety of successful business start-up, growth and transformation initiatives swiftly and cost-efficiently.

Clients engage us to help achieve their goals. Our professionals have extensive, repeated experience successfully mapping the road ahead and guiding our clients toward reaching their goals. In addition to industry knowledge and business process/function expertise, our professionals have consulting skills. Our unique combination of capabilities enables us to determine (and, when necessary, design and develop) approaches and tools that are calibrated for a client-specific fit. Conduit Consulting’s professionals, approaches and tools enhance our clients capabilities; accelerate clients new products & services development and launch; and increase our clients likelihood for success as well as expedite their opportunity to increase brand awareness, improve customer satisfaction, expand marketshare, increase revenue, improve productivity, reduce employee turnover, increase profit and enhance enterprise value.

The amount and nature of advice and support needed varies from one company to the next. We limit our services to those the client actually needs. We will tell you if you do not need our services.

For more about this topic, go to Why Conduit Consulting?

We are not Information Technology (IT) Consultants, Investment Bankers, Lawyers, Certified Public Accountants, or Human Resource Recruiters. There are many other services that we do not provide.

You have our promise that we will not commit to provide services which we are unqualified to successfully perform.



Conduit
Consulting

SBDC
QUALIFIED & EXPERIENCED Venture Investment professional provides key services

Yes

No

Reviews business concept
Yes
No
Advises on business model architecture/organization design
Yes
No
Guides business model development
Yes
No
Drafts business plan
Yes
No
Advises on and supports raising capital, ensuring securities laws compliance
Yes
No
Creates financial model and capitalization table
Yes
No
Perform enterprise valuation
 
Yes
No
Provides INDEPENDENT ADVICE customized and suitable for clients’ BEST INTEREST

Yes

No

Advises client of resources and actions needed to achieve goals as well as challenges to viability
Yes
No
(In-)validates client assumptions regarding resource needs and degree of effort, timeline, as well as expense, revenue and growth forecast
Yes
No
Recommends alternative strategies, business models, methods, policies, procedures, workforce characteristics and site location to mitigate risks, increase likelihood of success and enhance enterprise value
 
Yes
No
Professionals have REPEATEDLY SUCCESSFULLY:

Yes

No

Led strategic planning for companies ranging from start-ups to Fortune 100 corporations
Yes
No
Performed Market Assessments which illuminated insights and have proven to be accurate
Yes
No
Conceived and planned business model architecture/organization design
Yes
No
Drafted business plans, financial models and financier pitches used to successfully secure capital
Yes
No
Managed start-up business model development and corporate restructuring/reorganization
Yes
No
Sourced, qualified and selected vendors, partners and employees
Yes
No
Forged strategic alliances
Yes
No
Orchestrated legal documentation (i.e., legal entity registration, joint venture agreements, IPOs)
Yes
No
Negotiated and mediated agreements (i.e., commercial contracts, buy-sell deals)
Yes
No
Devised company & brand strategies and marketing collateral, positioning to profitably attract and retain customers
Yes
No
Launched new companies, products and services that realized exit via sale, merger or IPO
Yes
No
Recruited qualified workforce fitting corporate culture
Yes
No
Led merger, acquisition, divestiture and joint venture deals
Yes
No
Completed cross-border business transactions (i.e., customer sales, distribution, raw materials & components, M&A and joint venture deals)
Yes
No

"Corporate Development" is a multi-faceted approach focusing on maximizing company-wide profitability and increasing the business’ intrinsic enterprise value and shareholder value. It traditionally encompasses Strategic Planning, Service and Product Development, Organization Design, Business Model Development, Corporate Portfolio Management, Corporate Governance Policy Development, Corporate Transactions, Business Transactions, as well as Reorganization and Transformation Management activities.

Since the mid-1990s, "Business Development" has been a euphemism for "Sales." Especially, when relationship building is a substantial Sales activity.

For more about this topic, go to Services - Corporate Development.

No. The International Coaching Federation defines a “Coach” as one whose role is simply to prompt you to keep going towards your self-defined goals. Coaches address problems AS DEFINED BY CLIENTS.

Instead, Conduit Consulting® professionals use extensive operating and consulting experience, subject matter expertise, multidisciplinary skills, and objective independence to accurately define and diagnose clients’ problems as well as highlight valuable opportunities; advise on courses of action; and use an instructive trainer coaching-style when teaching clients new methods or collaborating with clients to design new products, conceptualize new business models, or devise new strategies.

Do you really want to work with a “Yes”–person? If so, hire a Coach.

The International Coaching Federation defines a “Coach” to be one whose role is simply to prompt you to keep going towards your self-defined goals. Unfortunately, due to inexperience and lack of objectivity, clients typically focus on the symptom rather than the cause.

Wouldn’t you prefer veracious guidance and constructive feedback? Expert Consultants diagnose problems, design solutions, develop efficient workplans, and often manage implementation. If you want to make substantial changes, some that may not already be on your radar screen, and with guidance to do so swiftly, HIRE AN EXPERT CONSULTANT.

Rates for our services are value-based. Once the project scope of work is defined we estimate man-hours, service fees and anticipated expenses. As most engagements involve obtaining information from, collaborating with, and advising and/or training client personnel; clients’ punctuality, degree of knowledge and experience, and decisiveness can significantly impact the time involved in providing such services.

We are happy to briefly discuss whether or not Conduit Consulting is well-qualified to fulfill your needs. The amount and nature of advice and support needed varies from one company to the next. We limit our services to those the client actually needs. We will tell you if you do not need our services.

For certain services, such as Business Plan Review or Market Opportunity Assessment or a specific training, we can provide you with an estimated fee and duration based on that brief conversation.

Yet, most often clients seek solutions to issues which are highly complex. You want guidance to get from where you are today to where you want to be. Considering that during the Initial Consultation Meeting we conduct a cursory diagnostic and we provide valuable advice on methods to overcome challenges and grow your business, insights and more, we do charge a small fee for the initial consultation. Payment of these charges must be made at the time of the Initial Consultation Meeting.

Please contact us at +1 310-260-9765 for more details and to schedule an appointment.

Consulting projects: We accept payment in the form of cash, checks and wire transfers.

Workshops and Seminars: We accept payment via PayPal from MasterCard and Visa credit/debit cards as well as directly in the form of cash, checks and wire transfers.

We accept payment in the form of cash, checks and wire transfers. Conduit Consulting® does not provide financing.

We refrain from publishing client case studies for two reasons.

First and foremost, due to the strategic nature of Conduit Consulting's services, much of our work is highly confidential.

Second, each client situation is unique and most client engagements are complex. Attempting to follow an approach published in a case study without expert guidance skilled at customizing approaches to fit each context usually leads Do-It-Yourselfers to detrimental and often disasterous results (i.e., demoralized and demotivated employees, delayed time-to-market, substantial operating disruption, wasted resources, unfruitful business investment and reduced enterprise value).

We caution you about case studies. Most are intended as marketing tools. Many facts, circumstances and steps are omitted. Your company’s similar problems exist in a different context -- different resources, different capabilities, different competitive environment, different suppliers and terms, and different customer relationships. To successfully apply an approach presented in a case study, you need to know how to adjust for these differences, select the appropriate elements and tools, plus develop and implement a nuanced solution. Conduit Consulting® professionals’ get clients onto the right path quickly and avoid wasting time and expense on misguided approaches.

Pre-registration is encouraged to guarantee a seat. You may register at the door, if space is available. If not pre-registered and online registration is unavailable, please contact us at events@conduitconsulting.com or +1 310-260-9765 one day prior to the presentation to confirm space availability and no other changes.

You may cancel attendance at anytime prior to the event.


Presentations & Seminars

100% Refund deadline
24 hours*

Late Cancellation Refund Policies**
Registration Fee less $20.00 (USD) service charge.

Bootcamps & Workshops

100% Refund deadline
48 hours*

Late Cancellation Refund Policies**

Registration Fee less $50.00 (USD) service charge.
No refund within 24 hours prior to event start time.

*Prior to event start-time.
**Post 100% Refund deadline.

As a courtesy, your payment is transferable. You may substitute registrants or reschedule to attend a future Conduit Consulting® presentation or workshop within one year of cancellation date if you notify us more than 24 hours prior to the event at events@conduitconsulting.com or +1 310-260-9765.

The first registrant substitution and/or scheduled attendance date change per organization will be waived. Subsequent changes will incur a $20.00 (USD) service charge per attendee.

Please note that if you do not attend and you do not contact us to cancel as described above, you are responsible for the entire payment.

Should you have any questions regarding this policy, please contact us at events@conduitconsulting.com or +1 310-260-9765.

Yes. While each registration is unique to a single person, we permit substituting the person who will be attending as long as we are notified at least 24 hours prior to scheduled program start time. For continuity purposes, once a program begins we cannot accommodate substitute attendees.

Plese contact us at events@conduitconsulting.com or +1 310-260-9765 and we will take care of everything!

Yes, you will receive materials at the seminar. These materials are prepared specifically for each presentation by the speakers. They serve as a valuable reference back at the office.

All of our seminars are held in facilities that are handicap accessible. If you have other needs, please contact us at events@conduitconsulting.com or +1 310-260-9765 at least two weeks prior to the presentation date.

Casual business attire is appropriate. (Certain venues have a "no denim, no thong-style sandals" policy.)
Additionally, a light jacket or sweater is recommended for your comfort.

Unless otherwise noted, meals and parking are on your own. We select presentation locations that have eating establishments within the facility or nearby for your convenience.

For Seminars and Workshops, we accept payment in the form of Cash, Check and Major Credit Cards.

Our philosophy is to add-value to our clients by enhancing your ability to create wealth and achieve other strategic goals in both the near- and long-term. We understand that your company is unique; it operates a different context than even its nearest competitors -- different resources, different capabilities, different competitive position, different suppliers and terms, and different customer relationships.

Conduit Consulting® professionals provide advice as well as collaborate with clients to achieve their goals. First we focus on clients’ desires and needs, then customize our approach to develop and implement nuanced solutions based on YOUR situation. We help our clients cross the chasm and reach their destination as quickly as you are willing and able to proceed without wearing out workers or causing failure due to distractions from day-to-day activities. Our focus is on our client’s success!

Unlike many firms, NO.

At Conduit Consulting®, our focus is on our client’s success! As such we promise the following:

  1. We will make our best effort to do what is in the best interest of our client.
  2. We will not commit to providing services should we believe that our capabilities do not match the prospective client’s needs.
  3. We will not commit to providing services should we believe that the client is uncoachable and unwilling to leverage proven methods, tools and our advice developed and continuously improved via decades of managing and advising on client projects and continued professional education.
    “Insanity is doing the same thing in the same way & expecting a different outcome” -- Chinese Proverb
  4. We will not provide unnecessary services simply because it is what the prospective client requested to buy.

We reserve the right to refuse service to any party for any and no reason.

No. We work with clients of ALL sizes and in many different industries.

As always, we continue to explain upfront the difficulties in raising capital to launch and grow a business or to fund a buyout, and advise clients of what must be accomplished in each aspect of their business to be successful.

Would you like to improve your competitiveness, increase revenue and accelerate profit growth? Don’t you deserve a team that confidentially and efficiently delivers desireable results?

To contact Conduit Consulting® for advice and/or assistance, request further information about our services, reserve a spot in an upcoming Seminars or Workshops, or receive our eNewsletter, click button and email us:

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