TL;DR
The traditional consulting model is outdated, often leaving clients with temporary solutions and ongoing challenges after consultants depart. At Stellafai, we're disrupting this by focusing on continuous, on-demand, and tailored support that truly empowers clients. Instead of rigid schedules and dependencies, we prioritise accessibility, enablement, and personalised guidance. The future of consulting lies in being partners who provide ongoing, contextual support—not just consultants who deliver and leave.
Disrupting the consultancy model isn't just a catchy tagline; it’s a necessity for the future of how we drive meaningful change. I’ve spent my career working for consulting organisations - management consulting, IT consulting, technology consulting, business consulting, agile consulting…. just a few flavours of consulting I’ve provided to hundreds of clients since I entered this industry as a graduate.
The traditional consulting model is like bringing a sledgehammer to a job that requires a scalpel. We swoop in with big teams, big plans, and big invoices. We execute grand strategies and deliver polished reports, but then what? The impact is too often temporary, and the change we’ve initiated can start to unravel the moment we walk out the door. The problem isn’t in the intent, it’s in the execution—more specifically, the model of execution. My work has been most fulfilling when my team and I have achieved greatness in delivering a solution that provides real benefits to the client AND when the change we’ve affected is long-lasting.
At Stellafai, we’re turning that model on its head. We’re not here to just “consult and leave.” We’re here to create lasting change by embedding ourselves in the journey with our clients, not as traditional consultants, but as outcome coaches. The difference? It’s in our approach. We know from our research that we need to provide help to our customers over and above what our software alone provides. But bolting on some consulting days will not achieve the full outcome.
So, we’re looking to employ five principles in the enablement and implementation support we provide.
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1. Being accessible over being dedicated
In the traditional consulting model, clients are often required to book consultants for a set number of days at the beginning of an engagement or agree to a predetermined schedule, like two days a month. While this approach might seem logical on paper, it’s inherently flawed. It assumes that both the client and the consultant can predict exactly when support will be needed—weeks or even months in advance. But the reality of business is far less predictable.
Imagine a tech startup that’s just launched a new product. They’ve brought in a consulting firm to help with the rollout, and the consultant is booked for the first week of every month to provide strategic advice. But what happens if a critical issue arises in the third week? Maybe a competitor suddenly drops a similar product, or perhaps the team hits a technical snag that threatens to delay the launch. Under the traditional model, the client is left to either handle the crisis alone or scramble to renegotiate the consultant’s schedule. Neither option is ideal, and both can lead to suboptimal outcomes.
This is why we prioritise accessibility over dedication. Instead of locking ourselves into a rigid schedule, we offer a more flexible, on-demand model of support. We make ourselves available when the client truly needs us, whether that’s for a quick 15-minute call at 7 AM to troubleshoot a critical issue or an impromptu brainstorming session to pivot a strategy in response to market changes. We’re there when the client needs us most, not just when it’s convenient for the calendar. This model not only leads to better outcomes for our clients but also fosters a stronger, more collaborative relationship. We’re not just consultants who drop in and out—we’re partners who are there when it counts.
2. Enablement over execution
I’ve been part of too many project teams where the delivery organisation—sometimes driven by business pressures—pushed for contract extensions, change requests, and additional consulting days. Whether intentionally or not, we made ourselves essential to the client’s continuity. While this approach might keep the consulting pipeline full, it doesn’t serve the client in the long run as it fosters dependency rather than capability. Clients come to rely on external consultants for every little decision or adjustment, and the internal team never truly gains the skills or confidence to manage the project independently.
But there’s a better way to deliver lasting value—a way that drives true agility and empowers product-centric teams within the client organisation. The goal should be to enable long-lived, empowered teams that can sustain and build upon the initial success long after the consultants have left the building. By guiding and training teams through problems and roadblocks, rather than jumping in with a solution, we help them build the confidence and capability to resolve issues independently. By focusing on enablement over execution, we help create self-sufficient teams that are empowered to achieve greatness on their own terms. This is how we drive true, lasting impact—by making ourselves unnecessary in the best possible way.
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3. Little & often over big batches
We can’t assume that people need help for weeks or even days at a time. The reality is, sometimes a 30-minute call or even a quick 10-minute chat is all it takes to unblock a team, provide clarity, or give someone the confidence to move forward. In those brief interactions, we can offer targeted advice, share a fresh perspective, or simply validate a decision—often providing just the nudge needed to keep things moving in the right direction.
This approach of providing support in small, frequent doses recognises the dynamic nature of modern work. Challenges and questions arise spontaneously, and they often require immediate attention. By being available for these quick touchpoints, we can deliver high-impact support precisely when it’s needed—without overwhelming the client with unnecessary time or resources.
4. Continuous support over a scheduled plan
I used to hate leaving a client engagement knowing that the team I was leaving behind would likely face ongoing challenges. The contract had expired. The message was clear: "If they need more, they’ll have to pay." But that’s not how real-world problems work. Challenges don’t respect the boundaries of a contract. They don’t conveniently resolve themselves just because the consulting engagement has ended. The reality is, that teams often need continued guidance and support well beyond the initial engagement, but the traditional consulting model isn’t built to accommodate that.
Imagine this scenario: You’ve just wrapped up a six-month project helping a client implement a new enterprise system. The project was a success, the system is live, and everything seems to be on track. But as you’re packing up, you know that the real test is just beginning. Over the next few months, the client’s team will face new challenges—learning how to fully leverage the system, troubleshooting unexpected issues, and adapting to evolving business needs. But your contract is over, and they’re on their own unless they’re willing to renegotiate for additional services.
Instead of this stop-and-go approach, we believe in offering continuous support. Rather than leaving clients to fend for themselves once the contract ends, we provide ongoing support through a subscription model. This allows organisations to access and consume guidance as they need it, without worrying about the clock running out or unexpected invoices. True success isn’t just delivering a solution; it’s ensuring that the solution continues to deliver value, month after month, year after year.
5. Contextual guidance over reusable assets.
Generic training materials, knowledge documents, and videos certainly have their place in a consulting engagement. They provide foundational knowledge, introduce best practices, and offer a broad overview of key concepts. These resources can be helpful in getting teams up to speed and establishing a baseline of understanding. However, as valuable as these materials are, they can never fully address the unique complexities and nuances that each client faces. Nothing is as powerful—or as effective—as receiving tailored guidance that is specifically designed to address the customer’s unique context, data, usage, and challenges.
Every organisation operates within its own distinct environment. A one-size-fits-all approach simply doesn’t cut it when it comes to navigating these complexities. While generic resources might provide the "what" and the "why," they often fall short on the "how"—how to apply these concepts within the specific framework of the client’s business, how to adapt best practices to fit their particular needs, and how to overcome the specific obstacles they face. Tailored guidance, on the other hand, takes into account the full spectrum of the client’s situation. It’s about understanding their goals, their challenges, and their existing capabilities. It’s about analysing their data, diving deep into their usage patterns, and considering their unique constraints. This level of personalised support allows us to offer solutions that are not only relevant but also immediately actionable.
At Stellafai 🚀, we’re committed to leading this change, and we’re excited to see where it takes us—and our clients. The consultancy model as we knew it is evolving, and we’re here to make sure it evolves for the better. The future is on-demand, accessible, contextual guidance and coaching.
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