Weird Wins
A live conversation on how to turn your firm’s niche into the reason you win bigger work.
2026 looks like the year of mega projects and mega firms. But trying to compete on size is the fastest way for mid-sized consulting firms to get squeezed. The firms winning right now aren’t the biggest. They’re the weirdest.
Projectworks CEO Mark Orttung reckons AI is eating big generalist consulting – and that it’s never been a better time to be a specialist firm.
Rob Meyer, founder of Mutherboard, has built an entire software consultancy around one platform, and doubled down with a laser-sharp audience and team culture.
New Civil Engineer editor Gavin Pearson is seeing small, local engineering consultancies land big infrastructure work by leaning into their local roots, not hiding them.
Join Gavin, Rob & Mark for an unmissable conversation:
- Why the era of “everything to everyone” consulting is over
Big industry and tech shifts that will shape what clients bring in-house next year, and what they’ll be willing to pay consultancies to do.
- The power of saying no
Tips on walking away from the wrong projects and people so your niche becomes real, and revenue follows - from someone who’s done it.
- Building a culture around your niche
Shortcuts for growing a team of specialists, and the rituals that’ll make them want to stay, thrive, and do their best work.
- How to sell your weirdness
Real stories of how niche consultancies are pitching, and winning, against bigger firms, by making their niche location, specialism, and team their superpower, rather than something to shy away from.
- Scaling without bloating
Steal Mark and Rob’s cheatsheet for growing smarter, not just bigger - utilisation shortcuts, automation pro-tips, and tech stack architecture.
Weird Wins
A live conversation on how to turn your firm’s niche into the reason you win bigger work.
2026 looks like the year of mega projects and mega firms. But trying to compete on size is the fastest way for mid-sized consulting firms to get squeezed. The firms winning right now aren’t the biggest. They’re the weirdest.
Your Z-Suite for this session:
Projectworks CEO Mark Orttung reckons AI is eating big generalist consulting – and that it’s never been a better time to be a specialist firm.
Rob Meyer, founder of Mutherboard, has built an entire software consultancy around one platform, and doubled down with a laser-sharp audience and team culture.
New Civil Engineer editor Gavin Pearson is seeing small, local engineering consultancies land big infrastructure work by leaning into their local roots, not hiding them.
Join Gavin, Rob & Mark for an unmissable conversation:
- Why the era of “everything to everyone” consulting is over
Big industry and tech shifts that will shape what clients bring in-house next year, and what they’ll be willing to pay consultancies to do.
- The power of saying no
Tips on walking away from the wrong projects and people so your niche becomes real, and revenue follows - from someone who’s done it.
- Building a culture around your niche
Shortcuts for growing a team of specialists, and the rituals that’ll make them want to stay, thrive, and do their best work.
- How to sell your weirdness
Real stories of how niche consultancies are pitching, and winning, against bigger firms, by making their niche location, specialism, and team their superpower, rather than something to shy away from.
- Scaling without bloating
Steal Mark and Rob’s cheatsheet for growing smarter, not just bigger - utilisation shortcuts, automation pro-tips, and tech stack architecture.
Join Gavin, Rob & Mark for an unmissable conversation:
