Episode 31: Growing a Consulting Firm by 500% During COVID-19 with Dr. Nadya Zhexembayeva in Consulting Success Podcast by Michael Zipursky

Reinventing Consulting: How Dr. Nadya Zhexembayeva Scaled a Boutique Practice During Global Disruption

In this episode of the Consulting Success Podcast, Dr. Nadya Zhexembayeva shares the origin story behind the Reinvention Academy, her evolution from academic to global consultant, and what every consulting business must rethink in the age of nonstop disruption.

From collaborating with firms like McKinsey and BCG to building a scalable educational arm during COVID, Dr. Nadya offers a candid, inspiring blueprint for resilience. If you’ve ever wondered how small firms can compete with giants—or why grit matters more than polish—this episode is for you.

What You’ll Learn

You’ll learn how Dr. Nadya transitioned from a Coca-Cola chaired professor to a global authority on reinvention, why she believes boutique consultancies have an edge in today’s uncertain world, and what shifts are reshaping the consulting industry—including the rise of process over content, new pricing models, and collaborative delivery structures. She shares data-backed insights into how her firm grew 480% during COVID by helping organizations navigate disruption, and reveals what it takes to win—and keep—clients when competing against industry giants.

Who This Is For

• Consultants aiming to scale beyond solo delivery
• Coaches and advisors facing disruption in their market
• Boutique firms seeking to collaborate with larger players
• Executives looking to embed reinvention into strategy
• Thought leaders ready to expand their educational footprint

3 Key Takeaways from This Episode

1. The Power of Process Over Content

In today's consulting landscape, clients no longer pay for a fixed "right" answer—they seek frameworks that help them co-create and adapt in real time. Dr. Nadya explains how shifting from proprietary content to reinvention-driven process gave her firm an edge even against global consulting houses.

2. Collaboration Is the Future of Consulting

Rather than competing with McKinsey or BCG, Reinvention Academy often works alongside them—bridging strategic theory with real-world implementation. This kind of value-based collaboration is a key strategy for small firms to punch above their weight.

3. Grit, Not Glamour, Wins the Game

Dr. Nadya emphasizes the power of consistency, vulnerability, and grit—especially in marketing. Whether it’s publishing a report, showing up weekly with content, or simply asking good questions, what builds trust isn’t flash—it’s resilience, substance, and care.

Resources Mentioned

• Learn2Reinvent.com – Home of the Reinvention Academy and access to Dr. Nadya’s free 85-page Reinvention Toolkit
• Chief Reinvention Officer Handbook – Download the book co-created with over 3,000 contributors
• Reinvention Academy Programs – From consultant training to executive programs for leading reinvention