Episode 116: From boutique to ‘big four’ and back again with Ash Chapman, CEO of Inlumi

In this episode, Nick chats with Ash Chapman, CEO at Inlumi, the rapidly growing consultancy focused on large-scale, technology enabled transformation for the Office of the CFO. Ash has had a hugely successful and diverse career and one which shows that you don’t have to follow a set path to achieve success. Having started out working for a software vendor, Ash moved on to join boutique consultancy, Paragon Consulting, where he spent eight successful years before they were acquired by PwC. That jump from small to big gave Ash exposure to a whole world of opportunity and mentorship that helped him accelerate his career. Something we go into detail on in today’s conversation. After almost a decade at PWC, Ash started thinking about his next challenge, and called on his extensive network to test the waters. Before long, the opportunity to set up Inlumi’s UK business came up. This was the challenge Ash had been looking for and he set off to help them launch. Fast forward and Ash is now the CEO of Inlumi, a business with over 250 employees spanning Europe, the Middle East and Africa. In this conversation, Ash and Nick talk through the various stages of his career and how they combined to put him at exactly the right place, at the right time, and with the right skills and experience to enable him to make the jump to CEO. They cover: The key differences between boutique consultancies and big firms, and why both have a lot to offer. Why when it comes to consulting careers, one size doesn’t fit all, and like Ash, you don’t have to follow a set path to success. How to harness the power of your network and Ash’s advice if you’re thinking of making a career move. And the Inlumi journey so far, the challenges of starting a business from scratch and the value they’ve seen of investing in building the right culture from the start. If you’re at a career crossroads and looking at which road to take next, Ash’s advice is going to really help you. We hope you enjoy it! Reach out to Ash - https://www.linkedin.com/in/chapmanash/ Find out more about Inlumi - https://www.Inlumi.com/ Specific Things Discussed in the Episodes: Let My People Go Surfing: The Education of a Reluctant Businessman by Yvon Chouinard https://www.amazon.co.uk/Let-People-Surfing-Education-Businessman-Including/dp/0143109677/ref=sr_1_1?crid=25Q8TIR0L7ID&keywords=Let+my+people+go+surfing&qid=1668775871&sprefix=let+my+people+go+surfing%2Caps%2C80&sr=8-1 Alchemy: The Dark Art and Curious Science of Creating Magic in Brands, Business, and Life by Rory Sutherland https://www.amazon.co.uk/Alchemy-Curious-Science-Creating-Business/dp/0062388428/ref=sr_1_2?crid=3MSZUJXU2HR7T&keywords=alchemy+by+Rory+Sutherland.&qid=1668776021&sprefix=alchemy+by+rory+sutherland.%2Caps%2C53&sr=8-2 The Art of Resilience: Strategies for an Unbreakable Mine and Body by Ross Edgley https://www.amazon.co.uk/Art-Resilience-Ross-Edgley/dp/0008356955/ref=sr_1_2?crid=KHPTK1YKQ4A7&keywords=The+Art+of+resilience+ross+edgley+paperback&qid=1668776131&sprefix=the+art+of+resilience+ross+edgley+paperback%2Caps%2C67&sr=8-2