As an entrepreneur myself running my own legal practice and other ventures, and also wife of an entrepreneur, that’s how my team and I work with our clients:- 

- We understand and consider business when advising.
- We take care of human elements in our advice.  Relationship matters.
- We discuss with you how your team can also prevent problems on operational level.
- We avoid incurring unnecessary hours and guide with you on things that you can do so to save our hours
- We ask about your budget and provide fee estimate 
- We share our connections with you
- We work in plain language

What can I do for you?

- any agreement drafting and reviewing
- fund raising 
- ESOP and employee motivation plan 
- handling dispute 
- advising on how to deal with negotiations 
- overseas expansion 

Who are my clients?

- Startup / emerging companies looking for scaling up their business and fund raising
- Corporate / individual investors who are new to start up / early stage investment
- Fast growing companies which are yet to afford a full time experienced legal counsel
- Corporates which are keen about corporate innovation but not sure how
- Overseas companies which plans to tap into the Hong Kong and PRC markets
- Overseas law firms who look for reliable Hong Kong legal support
- Individuals who look for more thoughtful and humane legal advice in family / trust / probate matters (which I will work closely with my team)

Industry: E-Commerce, SI, SaaS, Cloud, Food Tech, Prop Tech, Digital Assets, F&B, Retail, Entertainment, Real Estate, Logistics, Franchised Business, Trading, IoT etc.

By having a general retainer (I call it Legal First Aid Kit) with us, you can focus on growing your business.

DM or email me to check out how our Legal First Aid Kit works, or how I may be able to help you - cermain.cheung@oln-law.com

***
Other than work, I am also a (mostly) stay at home working mommy of three adorable kids and a handsome kitten.

Cermain Cheung

My 2 cents when hiring the Head of CSS.  Any thoughts welcome!

Cermain  Cheung

Human-centric legal solutions for everyone | 1/2 entrepreneur (森流GreenFlow & YeeGoo 易雇) | Wife of entrepreneur & mommy of 3 | Work-life integrator

Essential Guide: Appointing an In-House Head of Computer System Security🛡️

As cyber threats grow more sophisticated and regulatory expectations tighten, appointing the right internal leadership is no longer optional - it’s critical.

In this timely publication, our Consultant Cermain  Cheung explores the key considerations and practical steps involved in appointing an in-house Head of Computer System Security. From governance structure to accountability and compliance, the article offers guidance for boards, senior management, and security teams navigating today’s risk landscape in Hong Kong.

🔗 https://lnkd.in/eQFR66qq

#CyberSecurity #ComputerSystemSecurity #Compliance #CriticalInfrastructure

Quorum in shareholder meetings? It seems boring and standard under Hong Kong’s Companies Ordinance (Cap. 622). 

Default: just two members present (or one for single-owner firms). 

But ignore it, and it bites back hard.

In a 50/50 JV? One skips the meeting—no quorum, no vote, total deadlock.

Not just JVs. With three shareholders, two against a move? They ghost, quorum fails, proposal flops. Absenteeism becomes a sneaky veto in any uneven setup. Still sound standard?

These quirks can stall your business decisions.

How to fix —review and tweak articles.

Unsure about your setup? DM me for quick advice!

***

I'm Cermain, an experienced corporate lawyer, a newbie entrepreneur, a mommy of 3 and a work-life integrator. I occasionally post insights on business, law, parenting and life. Stay updated, click the bell icon on my profile. DMs are welcome.  

Disclaimer - This post doesn't provide legal advice. Seek independent legal advice when necessary.

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Lovely goodie! Thank you OSOME!

I am the Chief Everything Officer!

I'll be honest. I was angry yesterday.

I won't go into the details — they're not all mine to share. But let's just say I discovered that a young lady and a new iPad and unlimited access to Shorts is a combination with consequences I hadn't fully thought through.

Part of me wanted to react. To take everything. To win.

But here's what I keep learning — from parenting, and from years of watching families navigate hard things — rage doesn't build anything. And with puberty-age kids especially, a power struggle isn't a strategy. It's just noise.

Parenting isn't a binary. There's no right answer you arrive at and stay at. It's a journey you walk with your child — not ahead of them, not behind them. With them.

And the moments where they find the loopholes, test every boundary, push every limit? Those aren't failures. They're fertilizer. That's how they grow. That's honestly how we grow.

What I did instead of reacting: I found something useful. YouTube has quietly rolled out proper parental controls for Shorts — daily time limits from 15 minutes to 2 hours, bedtime locks, break reminders. And critically: kids can't override it themselves.

More importantly: I talked. Not lectured. Not punished. Talked.

I'm sharing this because I know I'm not the only parent sitting with this. The technology moves fast. Our kids are navigating identity and belonging in a virtual world that didn't exist when we were their age. We are all figuring this out in real time.

What helps: 
1. Staying curious rather than combative. 
2. Staying connected with each other as parents — because the hardest part of any limit is when your child's friends have none. 
3. And remembering that the goal was never control. It was connection.

#Parenting #ScreenTime #WorkLifeIntegration #YouTubeShorts #HongKong #RaisingKids #DigitalWellbeing

I've had the privilege of serving on two panels that have quietly shaped how I think about the law — and about people.

The first was the Housing Appeal Panel, where I heard case after case from public housing residents in breach of the rules. A lot of them weren't defiant. They simply didn't know. 

The regulations were there — buried in documents full of words that weren't written for them. 

The support systems existed. But the bridge between the law and the person it was meant to protect? Often missing.

What I took away wasn't frustration. It was profound respect. For the resilience of people carrying stories I will never fully know — who still showed up, still fought for their homes, still believed the system could hear them.

Now I've joined the Appeal Tribunal Panel under the Subdivided Units (Regulation) Ordinance (《簡樸房（規管）條例》).

And I see the same gap — and this time, a real determination to close it.

This Ordinance doesn't just set a minimum standard. It builds a support system around it: guidance for landlords, protection pathways for tenants. Because the goal isn't punishment. 

The goal is this: that every person in this city has a humane habitat. Not a luxury. A floor.

But law alone doesn't bridge the gap. Awareness does.

The people who need this law are not far away. They are in the buildings we walk past. They are our neighbours. And most of them don't know what they're entitled to — because no one told them plainly enough.

So I'm sharing this. Because sometimes the most useful thing a lawyer can do is simply point to the door and say: it's open.

Resources at bhu.gov.hk
#簡樸房 #SubdividedUnits #HousingPolicy #HongKong #BHU #SocialAwareness #habitat

🤝 I'm Jada, specializing in custom promotional apparel and products for Houston corporations, driving brand visibility and engagement through tailored solutions.
 
With over a decade at Sysco, I earned multiple awards as a District Sales Manager and served as Director of Category Management. I led a team managing $𝟮𝟮𝟰𝗠 𝗶𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘂𝗲 and oversaw 𝟭,𝟬𝟬𝟬 𝗯𝗿𝗼𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗰 𝗕𝗿𝗼𝗸𝗲𝗿 𝗡𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿k, including the six largest national food brokerages.

Now, as a mompreneur, I combine my corporate acumen with a passion for creativity, offering bespoke solutions that meet the unique needs of my corporate clients.

👉 We specialize in custom-designed apparel, embroidery, brand design, and promotional products, all tailored to help Houston corporations stand out in today's competitive market. 

My commitment to excellence and attention to detail ensures that our clients receive high-quality products and exceptional service, every time.

👫In addition to my startup, I'm a dedicated cheer mom, sports mom, and dog mama to two lovely doggies. 

Balancing these roles has taught me the importance of organization, perseverance, and dedication—qualities I bring to every client project. 

𝗛𝗢𝗪 𝗜 𝗖𝗔𝗡 𝗛𝗘𝗟𝗣 𝗬𝗢𝗨

I work with companies in the 𝗢𝗶𝗹, 𝗚𝗮𝘀, 𝗘𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 sectors to enhance their brands through premium promotional apparel and products. 

We understand the demanding environments and specific branding needs of these industries. 

Whether it's outfitting your team with durable, branded workwear or creating memorable promotional items for industry events, my solutions help reinforce your brand's strength and professionalism.

𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗪𝗘 𝗖𝗔𝗡 𝗗𝗢 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗬𝗢𝗨

My journey from corporate sales to mompreneurship has been driven by a desire to combine professional expertise with personal passion. 

We believe in the power of strong branding to make a lasting impact.

Our team is dedicated to helping your business stand out with high-quality, custom solutions tailored to your unique needs.

Join me in transforming your brand vision into reality with 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 that truly make an impact. 

Your success is our priority, and we're committed to exceeding your expectations with every project.

Together, we can create a brand experience that not only captures attention but also builds lasting connections.

📩 Contact us today to discover how our custom promotional products and apparel solutions can enhance your brand.

Jada Powell

There are moments in your career that make you pause and reflect on the path that brought you here.

Today is one of those moments for me.

I’m incredibly honored to share that I’ve been named Influential Women of Fulshear 2026.

What makes this recognition even more meaningful is the timing. Being recognized during March, International Women’s Month, a time dedicated to celebrating the leadership, resilience, and impact of women across industries and communities, makes it especially special.

Throughout my career, I’ve had the privilege of working alongside some truly remarkable women in Oil & Gas, Energy and Construction. Women who lead teams, solve complex operational challenges, build companies, support their communities, and quietly move entire industries forward.

Many of them do this work without recognition or headlines.

So when I received this honor, my first thought was that it really represents the many people who have been part of my journey along the way.

From my early corporate leadership years at Sysco, where I had the opportunity to lead teams responsible for more than $224M in revenue, to the mentors who pushed me to think bigger, to the clients and partners who trust me today through Powell Consulting Group , every chapter has been shaped by people who believed in the value of relationships, hard work, and long-term growth.

Those lessons continue to guide everything I do today.

Through Powell Consulting Group, I work with Oil & Gas, Energy, and Construction companies to help them build something many organizations struggle with: a predictable revenue pipeline built on strong partnerships, disciplined business development, and meaningful relationships.

But if I’m honest, the part of my work that matters most to me isn’t the strategy or the systems.

It’s the people.

The leaders trying to grow their companies.
The teams working hard to create new opportunities.
The organizations committed to building stronger industries and communities.

Over the years I’ve learned that influence isn’t really about titles, awards, or recognition.

Influence is about impact.

It’s about the conversations that spark new ideas.
The introductions that create opportunity.
The mentorship that helps someone take the next step in their career.

And hopefully, it’s about helping open doors for the women who are coming up behind us.

So during International Women’s Month, I want to recognize the women across our industries who are building businesses, leading teams, supporting their families, and creating real impact in their communities.

Your work matters more than you know.

Thank you to the Influential Women organization for the recognition. I’m truly grateful and honored to be included among so many inspiring women.

🎥 If you’d like to see the announcement, I shared the video in the comments.

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OSHA Construction Industry Course Certificate

Powell Consulting Group is a Houston-based business development consulting firm serving Oil & Gas, Energy, and Construction organizations that need predictable growth without adding full-time headcount.

We help leadership teams strengthen pipeline, expand key accounts, and activate strategic partnerships through clear go-to-market strategy and disciplined commercial execution. 

Our work is built for complex, relationship-driven environments where multiple stakeholders influence decisions, sales cycles are long, and “great capabilities” don’t always translate into consistent revenue.

Engagements typically include pipeline and territory strategy, account mapping and expansion plans, stakeholder and pursuit planning, partner and channel development, and weekly execution cadence that creates measurable momentum. 

Whether you need an experienced commercial partner to stabilize the front end of growth or a focused push to open new doors, we bring structure, clarity, and forward motion.

Our approach is practical and enterprise-ready: align priorities, build a plan your team can run, and execute with accountability. We’re known for turning relationships into repeatable revenue systems, not one-off wins.

Led by Jada Powell, Powell Consulting Group brings corporate leadership experience and operator-level urgency. Jada spent over a decade at Sysco in sales and category leadership, earning multiple awards and leading teams responsible for $224M in revenue while supporting a strategic broker network of 1,000 brokers, including six of the largest national food brokerages.

If your organization is ready to tighten commercial execution, grow key accounts, or build a partnership engine that drives pipeline, Powell Consulting Group is built to help.

𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 | 𝗢𝗶𝗹 & 𝗚𝗮𝘀 | 𝗘𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆 | 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 | 𝗣𝗶𝗽𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 | 𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵 | 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗰 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝘀 | 𝗙𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 | 𝗧𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝘆 | 𝗘𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵

We provide business development consulting for Oil & Gas, Energy, and Construction organizations that need predictable growth without adding full-time headcount.

We partner with leadership teams to build pipeline, expand key accounts, and develop strategic partnerships through clear go-to-market strategy and disciplined commercial execution. 

This work is built for complex, relationship-driven environments where multiple stakeholders influence decisions, sales cycles are long, and “strong capabilities” don’t always translate into consistent revenue.

Engagements typically include:

• Pipeline and territory strategy to focus effort on the highest-value opportunities
• Account mapping and expansion plans to grow share within priority customers
• Stakeholder mapping, pursuit planning, and deal strategy to increase win rates
• Partnership and channel development to create repeatable opportunity flow
• Weekly execution cadence and accountability to drive measurable progress

Clients bring us in when they need clarity, momentum, and a partner who can operate at an executive level while working seamlessly with Sales, Operations, and Leadership. The goal is always the same: a plan your team can run, a rhythm that creates forward motion, and outcomes leadership can track.

Industries served: Oil & Gas operators and service companies, energy and industrial organizations, and construction teams with complex stakeholder environments.

If your organization is looking to tighten BD execution, strengthen pipeline discipline, and grow key accounts with an enterprise-ready approach, please schedule a discovery call..

Principal Consultant

Houston Apparel Co. provides custom apparel solutions for corporate and SMB clients. Grateful for the work and relationships. Now focused on Powell Consulting Group.

Co-Founder

𝗖𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗺 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗹 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 | 𝗕𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗹 | 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗽𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗹 | 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗹

The journey to founding Dottie's Designs began during COVID-19. My dog, Dottie, was a beacon of light, providing comfort and joy when I needed it most. Inspired by her unwavering support, I named my business after her, symbolizing resilience and hope.

As a mompreneur, balancing home life and starting a new business was no easy feat. With a family to support, I knew I could do more with my life and decided to jump in feet first into the world of custom apparel. I took on multiple roles—salesperson, logistics manager, and accountant, learning and adapting as I went along. Each day presented new challenges and new opportunities to grow and innovate.

Starting from scratch, I immersed myself in learning about custom apparel, driven by a passion for creativity and a desire to make a meaningful impact. Overcoming initial doubts, I embraced each challenge, gradually building confidence and expertise. Dottie's Designs quickly grew from a small venture into a thriving business, known for its unique designs and personalized service.

Balancing the demands of entrepreneurship with my responsibilities at home required a great deal of perseverance and dedication. Late nights and early mornings became routine as I worked tirelessly to build a brand that resonated with customers. The support from my family and the joy of seeing my business grow kept me motivated.

Through dedication and perseverance, I transformed a difficult period into an opportunity for growth and innovation. 

Little did I know, this was setting me up for my next opportunity. 

My journey with Dottie's Designs not only allowed me to create a business but also reinforced the importance of resilience and believing in oneself. This experience showed me that even in the face of adversity, we have the power to redefine our paths and achieve remarkable success.

Founder, Principal

𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘂𝗲 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵 |𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗰 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝘀 | 𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 | 𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁

I oversaw product categories and managed strategic broker relationships, driving impressive sales growth through innovative initiatives. My responsibilities included developing and executing category management plans, focusing on optimizing product assortment, competitive pricing, and promotion strategies.

By analyzing market trends and consumer behavior, I ensured our product lines exceeded customer expectations, resulting in substantial revenue growth. Working with strategic brokers, I forged and nurtured strong, performance-driven partnerships, implementing strategies that enhanced broker productivity and collaboration—skills invaluable for any aspiring entrepreneur.

I played a crucial role in crafting and executing sales and marketing strategies aligned with the company's goals. This involved identifying growth opportunities and launching innovative products. Leading a diverse team of category managers and brokers, I refined my leadership and mentorship abilities, fostering a culture of innovation, teamwork, and excellence.

My tenure was marked by significant achievements, including driving remarkable revenue growth and expanding our market footprint through successful new product launches and strategic market entry initiatives. My contributions were recognized through accolades for exceptional performance and dedication to the company's success.

These experiences have honed my strategic thinking, problem-solving abilities, and results-oriented approach—essential qualities for a successful entrepreneur. The skills I gained in strategic planning, relationship management, and performance optimization have equipped me to build and lead a thriving business.

As I embark on my entrepreneurial journey, I'm eager to leverage these experiences to create innovative solutions and drive meaningful impact.

Director of Category Management and Strategic Broker Network

𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 | 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 | 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗰 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴| 𝗦𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 | 𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁

This role has provided me with a comprehensive understanding of sales, leadership, and strategic planning, all of which are essential for running a successful business.

Managing a diverse team of Marketing Associates has honed my leadership abilities. I learned how to motivate, mentor, and guide a team towards achieving common goals. These skills are crucial for any entrepreneur who must inspire and lead a team to success.

Developing and implementing sales strategies to meet district targets has given me a strong foundation in strategic planning. Learned how to analyze market trends, identify opportunities, and create actionable plans. This experience is directly transferable to the strategic thinking required to launch and grow a business.

Building and maintaining strong relationships with clients was at the core of my role at Sysco. 

Understanding client needs and providing tailored solutions taught me the importance of customer-centricity in business. As an entrepreneur, this ability to connect with and satisfy customers will be vital to building a loyal customer base.

Monitoring and analyzing sales performance has given me a keen eye for identifying strengths and areas for improvement. This analytical skill is essential for any entrepreneur, as it allows for continuous improvement and adaptation in a competitive business environment.

My role as a District Sales Manager has prepared me to take on the challenges of entrepreneurship with confidence. 

The skills and experiences I gained in leadership, strategic planning, client relationship management, and performance analysis have equipped me with the tools necessary to build and lead a successful business.

I am excited to leverage this experience as I embark on my entrepreneurial journey.

District Sales Manager

I build the pipeline for Oil & Gas, Energy & Construction teams | Fractional BD Consultant: GTM, partnerships, key account growth | Ex-Sysco Corporate leader (led $224M) | Powell Consulting Group | Houston

Influential Women

Powell Consulting Group

My daughter hustled harder this Spring Break than most adults I know.

While other kids were sleeping in, glued to their screens, or dragging their feet to family outings, mine had a mission.

She's nine. She's got her own business. And she wasn't taking a week off.

All week, she begged me to bring her to a networking event. Not to tag along. Not to eat free snacks. She wanted access to build her empire: 𝘉𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘉𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘴.

So I caved. Alarm set. And at 6am, while the rest of the house was asleep, she jumped out of bed in full CEO mode. Backpack loaded with beads, signs she'd designed herself, and that "let me prove it" look in her eyes.

We rolled into Cup of Joey at The Ion. I thought she'd need hand-holding, help setting up, maybe some coaching on how to talk to adults. She even came up with her own purpose, unprompted by me. "To make others smile"

She set up her table solo, signs out, inventory sorted, payment link ready to go. I went to network like I always do, but I found myself watching her instead.

She didn't wait for anyone to come to her. She introduced herself. Asked people about their work. Told her story. Gave her sales pitch. Closed deals.

That Greenlight pay link got more of a workout than my credit card. She completed every sale, said thank you, and kept her cool even when she fumbled. All while giving grown adults a run for their money.

I got to see a side of her I've never seen before. The drive, the quick thinking, the confidence. I've never been more convinced that the best way to teach kids is to get out of their way.

Here's what shocked me:

- She didn't care about failing. She just kept talking to people.
- She was more prepared than most adults I meet at these events.
- Watching her in action was more valuable than any lecture I could ever give.

The urge to jump in and fix things is strong. But I held back. She didn't need a helicopter parent. She needed space to figure it out.

So if you have a kid who wants to do something ambitious, let them. Give them the tools, then back off.

The results might surprise you.

My takeaway: The next generation isn't lazy. They're hungry. Give them a shot at real life, and watch what happens.

When was the last time you learned something unexpected from a kid in your life? Drop your stories below, tag a parent who needs to hear this, or share the best lesson you've learned from letting go.

What bold idea is your kid dreaming up? Let them take the lead and see how far they go.

Cup of Joey

Greenlight

CERAWeek is almost here, and I'll be on the ground in Houston representing Powell Consulting Group

Most people see CeraWeek as another stop on the conference carousel. 

For me, it's a proving ground. This is where you see who's actually moving the needle inside energy, oil and gas, and construction, and who's just repeating last year's buzzwords. 

At Powell Consulting Group, we help companies build predictable revenue pipelines, expand key accounts, and close the gap between go-to-market plans and real growth. I'm not coming to play conference bingo or collect business cards. My focus is on substance.

I want to hear what's actually happening behind closed doors:
What's working in your pipeline right now, and what's stalling?
How are your teams actually driving growth, not just reporting on it?
Are those "game-changing" pilots actually making a difference, or is it just more paperwork?

CeraWeek is the one place where competitors, partners, and clients are all in the same room, and for a few days, people are willing to take off the armor and have honest conversations. That's why I'm setting aside time for unscripted, no-BS discussions with business development leaders, commercial execs, and partnership managers.

No slides. No rehearsed pitches. Just straight talk about go-to-market execution, account growth, and what's really blocking progress in complex industrial sectors.

If you're ready to compare notes, share what's working (and what isn't), and maybe challenge some sacred cows, let's sit down. If you're at CeraWeek March 23-27, message me or comment below. 

Let's make this week more than just another entry on the calendar. Let's turn it into something that actually moves your revenue forward.

Some conversations stay with you long after the microphones turn off.

Recently I had the chance to sit down with my dear friend Tina Degge,  MA, CCC-SLP hosting , redM Podcast, and talk about something that has quietly changed the way I see the world. 

Another country. Another city. Another life.

Then someone asked me a simple question.

“What is redM?”

That moment started a journey I didn’t expect.

Curiosity turned into awareness. Awareness turned into conviction.

And once you really understand what’s happening, especially as a parent, it becomes impossible to see the world the same way again.

On the podcast, Tina and I talked about the moment trafficking stopped feeling distant and became personal. We talked about the role organizations like Redeemed play in providing restorative care for survivors. And we talked about something I think a lot of people need to hear.

You don’t have to solve the entire problem.

You just have to decide to show up.

Movements don’t grow because a few people do everything.
They grow because many people do something.

For some people, that means learning.
For others, it means volunteering.
For others, it means supporting organizations doing the work every day.

And sometimes it simply starts with a conversation.

One of the things I shared with Tina is how vulnerable kids can be in a digital world most parents didn’t grow up in. Awareness matters. Education matters. And communities that are willing to talk about hard things matter even more.

That’s why events like the upcoming 𝗚𝗼𝗹𝗳 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗚𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗧𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 matter so much.

On April 6, our community will come together to support the work being done through Redeemed and the broader redM movement to fight trafficking and support survivors rebuilding their lives.

There is still availability for:

• Sponsorships
• Foursomes
• Individual players

And every person who shows up helps move the mission forward.

Because trafficking only stays invisible when communities stay silent.

I’m incredibly grateful to Tina for creating a space on The Movement Podcast where these conversations can happen with honesty and heart. She’s an amazing host and someone deeply committed to helping people understand how real change begins.

If you’ve ever wondered how movements actually grow, this episode is a powerful reminder.

It usually starts with a question.

Then a conversation.

Then a group of people deciding that someone should do something.

And realizing...
that someone might be us.

If you’d like to listen to the full conversation, the link to the episode is in the comments.

And if you’re interested in joining us for Golf for Good on April 6, feel free to reach out. We would love to have you there.

Bilingual SLP

redM

Redeemed

Most sales teams brag about their potential. 
But their pipeline says otherwise.

I'm Jada, founder of Powell Consulting Group
I help Oil & Gas, Energy and Construction companies stop talking about growth and actually make it happen.

Here's the cycle I see every week.
Great teams. Strong capabilities. Ambitious goals.
But pipeline is lumpy. Partnerships stall. Key accounts flatline.
Everyone keeps working hard, but revenue drifts off target.
Sound familiar?

That's where I come in.

My job is simple:
- Build a pipeline that doesn't disappear next quarter
- Win deals with accounts that actually move the needle
- Turn "maybe partners" into real revenue streams
- Give leadership a system they can actually track (not just wishful forecasts)

I know the enterprise slog.

Before launching Powell Consulting Group, I spent years at Sysco leading corporate teams, winning awards as a District Sales Manager, and running $224M in business as Director of Category Management.
My teams supported a broker network of 1,000, including six of the country's largest.
Everything I learned there shapes how I work now.
I get laser clear on priorities, never hide from accountability, and refuse to let key accounts slip through the cracks.

My clients have a few things in common:
- They work in Oil & Gas, Energy or Construction
- Their sales cycles are long, and every deal counts
- They're tired of "maybe next quarter" excuses

Most come to me for three reasons:
- They need pipeline that doesn't keep them up at night
- They want key accounts to actually grow, not just get managed
- They want partnership revenue, not just promises

If you want a senior partner who's actually sat in your seat, built real plans, and isn't afraid to drive execution, let's talk.

Ready to stop guessing and start growing? 
Set up a strategy call with me, and let's get to work.

What do I actually do as an oil and gas business development consultant?

Forget the fancy titles. 

Here's the truth bomb.💣

I'm not just selling drilling rights or tracking barrels. 

I'm a translator. 

A fixer. 

Sometimes a firefighter.

One day, I'm stuck in the middle of a regulatory mess, trying to figure out why a deal that was simple on Friday now feels legally impossible on Monday. 

Next, I'm a therapist for a CEO who just watched their best prospect go up in smoke. 💨

It's never just about the oil.

A client calls, desperate. 

Their project's stalled. 

Stakeholders are circling. 🦈

Timelines slipping. 

The room feels smaller. 

The numbers aren't working.

That's when I show up.

No parachuting in with pitch decks. 

I listen first. 

I dig into what's really going wrong. 

Why did this partnership fail? 

Where did trust break? 

Is this even about price, or is someone just not ready to deal?

The deals I broker aren't just contracts. 

They're about confidence. 

I have to translate all the industry jargon into plain English so the finance team, engineers, and lawyers actually agree for once.

Sometimes, I'm the only one who feels the sting of missed opportunity. 

I wake up thinking about the rig that never broke ground. 

The handshake that didn't close.

Nobody writes "resilience" or "grit" into this job description. 

But that's what I use most.

I chase leads that look dead.

I nurture relationships that could take years to ever pay off, if they pay at all.

I get told "no" more than "yes," but I keep going.

I don't just open doors. 

I build the hallway.

And when a deal finally closes, it's never about posting some win or chasing awards. 

It's just the quiet relief of knowing I brought the right people together at the right time. 

That a landowner trusts their gut. 

That a team gets to actually do their work. 

That real, usable energy can flow because I did my job.

I'm a consultant, a builder, a translator. 

But most days, I'm just the one who sees what's possible before anyone else does.

That's what I do. 

The rest is just noise.

Powell Consulting Group

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗜 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗱 "𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿" 𝘄𝗮𝘀𝗻'𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝘀𝘄𝗲𝗿.

I was thrown into the deep end.

New Oil and Gas client. 
Sky-high targets. 
A team that believed brute force was the only way forward.

Everyone wanted more leads, more calls, more hustle. 
So we hustled. 
Long nights. 
Back-to-back calls. 
Everyone burning out but pretending it was fine.

But results? 
𝗙𝗹𝗮𝘁. 
We might as well have been spinning wheels in the mud.

So I stopped. 
Sat down with their head of commercial and asked one question, 
"𝘞𝘩𝘺 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘢𝘺?"

Silence. 
Then, "Because it's what we've always done."

That answer told me everything.

I mapped out their current process on a whiteboard. 
Messy handoffs between sales and marketing. 
Scattered lead sources. 
No real follow-up. 
Pipeline built on hope, not reality.

Every deal felt like a Hail Mary. 
No plan, just chaos and exhaustion.

I didn't suggest working harder. 
𝙄 𝙨𝙪𝙜𝙜𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙢𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙚𝙧.

We built a system. 
One source of truth for all leads 
Automated follow-ups 
Clear handoff rules 
Weekly pipeline reviews

Nothing complicated. 
Just discipline and repeatability.

At first, the team resisted. 
They thought I was making their job harder. 
More process means less freedom, right? 
Wrong. 
Process is what frees you.

No more chasing ghosts. 
No more last-minute scrambling for deals. 
No more 2 a.m. email sleuthing to figure out who dropped the ball.

Within the first 30 days, pipeline grew. 
Not just more leads, but better ones. 
Revenue followed. 
The team stopped seeing each new deal as a miracle and started seeing it as part of the plan.

Now, meetings stopped being firefights. 
People actually left work on time. 
No one wondered what was coming next week. 
It was in the system.

Here's the truth nobody wants to admit in Oil and Gas: 
You can't brute-force your way to predictable growth.

𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯'𝘵 𝘧𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘪𝘱𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘸𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨.

You have to build a system.

One the whole team believes in.

One that survives even after the hero salespeople burn out.

What changed? 
We made pipeline health a team sport. 
Everyone saw the same data. 
Everyone shared the same definitions. 
Marketing and sales stopped pointing fingers. 
We knew exactly where every dollar was in flight.

If you're still telling your team to "just do more," ask yourself 
When was the last time that actually worked?

In industrial sectors, process beats hustle every time. 
It's not about robots replacing people. 
It's about giving your people a shot at real, sustainable success.

You want predictable revenue? 
You need more than effort. 
You need a process that works even when you're not looking.

Have you seen a team make this switch? 
Or are you still stuck in the hustle trap?

I got the invite. 📫

Joseph J Raetzer, MBA, JD asked me to join him on 𝙒𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙎𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙔'𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙎𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙩.

That's probably a mistake he'll only make once.

We hit record and, suddenly, everything was up for grabs.

Family?

We went there. 

Turns out raising kids while juggling work-from-home chaos makes you either a better parent or a better liar. 

𝘚𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘵𝘩.

Mental health? 

Absolutely. 

We traded stories about those days when even getting out of bed feels ambitious. 

Layoffs? 

Of course. 

Because who hasn't been ambushed by a surprise Zoom meeting that ruins their lunch plans? ☠️

We shared a few horror stories and laughed at how corporate America thinks a Starbucks gift card counts as severance.

And then the big reveal.

Joseph wanted to know what I'm cooking up next.

So I shared the real news. 

Powell Consulting Group

No more hiding as "just another employee." 

Now it's just me, my business, and a family that's suspicious of all my "strategy sessions" that happen on the living room couch.

We swapped tales of entrepreneurial wins, fails, and the truly weird stuff people won't admit on LinkedIn. 

𝘓𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘣𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘢 𝘭𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘰𝘱, 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘦 𝘮𝘶𝘨𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘦, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘧 𝘢 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘯.

The best part? 

Joseph forced me to be honest. 

No scripts. 

No fake optimism. 

Just real talk about the ugly, hilarious reality of starting over.

If you want to hear two people telling the truth about family, mental health, work, and why you should never trust a calendar invite from HR, you'll want to tune in.

Episode drops soon. 

Bring your sense of humor. 😜

You'll need it.

Tag someone who loves a good comeback story, or who just wants to know what happens when you stop pretending everything is fine.

#livideo

Corporate, M&A and Securities Lawyer (Ex-Wall Street Lawyer➡️ Host of “Wall Street to Y’all Street” podcast) 💸 $100B+ & 20+ Years Experience (NY & TX Licensed) 🎖️Veteran

Twenty years married to Adam Powell.

That's not just a milestone. 

That's a statistical anomaly.

Twenty years.

That's 7,300 days.

Or, if you count in marital math:

𝟱,𝟬𝟬𝟬 "What do you want for dinner?" debates (results still inconclusive)
𝟯𝟬𝟬 "You're snoring again" midnight nudges (he denies it, naturally)
𝗔 𝗳𝗲𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗮𝗻𝗱 inside jokes that would make zero sense to anyone else
𝟭,𝟬𝟬𝟬 apologies, sometimes for things neither of us remembers
And at least 𝟮𝟬𝟬 hours spent looking for my keys

People post about marriage like it's all sunset walks and Instagram-worthy matching pajamas. 

𝘖𝘶𝘳 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯? 😆

"I don't have any socks???"
"Why are there three open jars of salsa in the fridge?"
"Are you awake???"

They say time flies when you're having fun. 

I still laugh at his dad jokes. 

Mostly at him, sometimes with him.

We have an entire language of eye rolls, sighs, and "really?" looks.

We've survived launching and putting a boat on a trailer 250 times. 🛥️

That's a legally binding level of teamwork.

Big moments, sure, we've had them. 

𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭 𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘧𝘧 𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘥𝘢𝘺:

Sideways glances across crowded rooms

Knowing exactly how to push each other's buttons, then pretending it was "accidental" ☠️

We've seen each other at our best (promotion, celebration, nailing a new recipe on the first try).

We've seen each other at our worst (flu, family drama, hardships).

My advice? 

Don't marry someone you can live with. 

Marry the one you can laugh with when all hell breaks loose.

I won't pretend it's all magic. 

𝙒𝙚 𝙜𝙚𝙩 𝙤𝙣 𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙝 𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧'𝙨 𝙣𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙚𝙨. 

He and our daughter leave a trail wherever they go. 

Sometimes we'd both rather be on our phones than talk about our feelings. 

That's normal.

But I'd pick the same person, every time, even though he says "not it" when I just made the kid's quesadillas for 3 nights in a row. 

If you've clocked in more than a few years with someone and you're still willing to split the last slice of pizza, you're doing it right.

Cheers to twenty years, and to still being in love. 

Anyone else out there counting in decades?

Project Manager

Before the conversation happens... there’s always a story behind the leader.

Tomorrow on Inside the Corridor, I’m sitting down with Robert N. Harris Founder & CEO of Coded2Lead LLC

And this one is different.

Because Robert doesn’t just come from engineering.

He comes from understanding people.

With over 20 years leading software engineering teams and a background in anthropology and psychology Robert operates in a space most companies overlook:

The human side of performance.

Not the org chart.
Not the metrics dashboard.
Not the surface-level KPIs.

The real drivers of whether a team executes... or struggles.

Because here’s what he’s seen (and what a lot of leaders don’t want to admit):

You can have the right strategy.
The right tools.
The right people on paper.

And still fall short.

Why?

Because leadership isn’t tested in perfect conditions.

It’s tested in communication breakdowns.
In pressure moments.
In how teams respond when things don’t go as planned.

Through Coded2Lead, Robert works directly with engineering leaders to build emotionally intelligent teams that don’t just perform, but outperform.

Teams that move faster.
Collaborate better.
And deliver results at a level most organizations can’t sustain.

He’s helped companies:

Shorten product cycles from months to weeks
Launch faster
And scale revenue in ways that don’t come from “working harder” but from working smarter, together

That’s where this conversation is going.

Inside the Corridor isn’t about what looks good from the outside.

It’s about what actually drives performance inside organizations.

With Robert, we’re getting into:

What leaders miss when they focus only on metrics
Why human dynamics are the biggest constraint to growth
What it takes to build teams that actually execute under pressure
And how leadership shows up when it matters most

This is one of those conversations that hits whether you’re leading a company… running a team… or trying to figure out why things feel harder than they should.

📅 Wednesday, March 25th 9:30am CT
🎥 Live on LinkedIn

If you’ve ever felt like your team should be performing better than it is, don’t miss this one.

Let’s get inside the corridor. ⚡️📈

Link to join us tomorrow is in the comments. Bookmark and get reminded when we go live!

Reposting this from @thepowell-consulting-group because this conversation keeps coming up behind closed doors.

I spend a lot of time talking with leadership teams in Oil & Gas, Energy, and Construction. 

Strong operators. 

Smart people. 

Real capability.

And yet, the same quiet frustration surfaces:
“We should be growing faster than this.”

Not because the market isn’t there.

Not because the team isn’t talented.

Not because the goals aren’t ambitious.

But because pipeline feels inconsistent.

Because key accounts aren’t expanding.

Because partnerships sound good in meetings but don’t show up in revenue.

Here’s what I’ve learned over the years, both leading $224M portfolios inside a large enterprise and now building commercial systems for industrial companies:

Hard work is not the differentiator.
Structure is.

Most sales teams don’t have a motivation problem.
They have a design problem.

The wrong accounts get attention.
The right accounts get “managed.”

Forecasts are built on hope instead of disciplined qualification.
And partnerships live in the “strategic” category instead of the revenue column.

When pipeline feels lumpy, leaders react tactically.

Push the team harder.
Add more prospecting.
Run another campaign.

But if the commercial engine itself isn’t engineered correctly, more activity just creates more noise.

In long-cycle industries like ours, one or two key deals can swing a quarter. 

That means you can’t afford randomness. 

You need:
Clear target account selection.
Defined partnership pathways.
Structured follow-up discipline.
Visibility leadership can trust.

Growth in industrial markets isn’t about hype. 

It’s about alignment and execution over time.

That’s the work we’re doing at Powell Consulting Group, helping companies replace “maybe next quarter” with predictable, measurable momentum.

If you’re sitting in a leadership seat and thinking, “We’re close… but something isn’t clicking,” you’re not alone.

The good news? This is fixable.

I’d love to hear from other leaders in this space:

What’s the most frustrating part of your current pipeline: volume, velocity, or visibility?

Most sales teams talk about growth.

Their pipeline tells a different story.

At Powell Consulting Group, we work with Oil & Gas, Energy, and Construction companies that are tired of forecasting ambition and ready to engineer revenue.

Here’s the pattern we see every week:

Strong technical teams.
Proven operational capability.
Aggressive growth goals.

But the pipeline is inconsistent.
Partnership conversations stall.
Key accounts plateau.

Revenue projections look good in meetings, and soft in reality.
Everyone is working hard.
Yet growth drifts off target.

That’s not a talent problem.

It’s an infrastructure problem.

Our role is clear:
 • Build a pipeline that doesn’t reset every quarter
 • Target and win accounts that materially impact revenue
 • Convert “exploratory partnerships” into measurable income streams
 • Install a sales and partnership system leadership can track with confidence

We understand the enterprise grind because we’ve led inside it.

Before launching Powell Consulting Group, our founder led corporate sales teams at a national scale, managing $224M in business, supporting a broker network of 1,000+, and working alongside six of the country’s largest organizations. 

The lessons from that environment shape every client engagement:

Clarity over noise.

Execution over intention.

Accountability over optimism.

The companies we partner with typically share three traits:
 • Long sales cycles where every deal matters
 • High-value contracts that require strategic pursuit
 • Frustration with “maybe next quarter” conversations

They come to us when they need:
 • Predictable, trackable pipeline
 • Key account strategies that produce expansion
 • Partnership models that generate real revenue

Growth in industrial markets is rarely about working harder.

It’s about building a commercial engine that doesn’t rely on momentum or luck.

If your leadership team is ready to replace hopeful forecasting with disciplined execution, let’s start the conversation.

Stop guessing.

Start building.

Ready to chat?

Book a call with our founder Jada Powell, link in the comments.

You're not Exxon. 
You're not Shell. 
So why are you hiring Business Development like you run a Fortune 100?

The ugly truth:
Full-time BD leaders are expensive, slow to ROI, and half the time, they're building their own mini-kingdoms.

⛽️ Energy, Oil and Gas, Construction, the "mid market" isn't playing on easy mode. Every dollar counts. The wrong hire stings for years.

STOP HIRING FOR EGO. START BUYING FOR RESULTS. 
Most companies throw a salary, benefits, and a truck at the "BD problem" and hope magic happens. 

What they get? 
- Overhead 
- Meetings 
- PowerPoints nobody reads 
- CEO's frustration level: MAXED OUT

Fractional BD is different. 
You buy outcomes, not hours. 
Speed, experience, zero fluff. 
You keep your payroll lean and your pipeline active.

👷♂️ You wouldn't hire a full-time crane operator if you only pour concrete twice a year.

So why saddle your business with a full-time BD leader when you need someone who drops in, lands deals, then gets out of the way?

THREE ADVANTAGES OF FRACTIONAL BD: 
- Immediate impact 
- No baggage 
- Flexes with your needs

Here's the kicker:
Fractional leaders are usually ex-GMs, ex-owners, people who've actually closed deals that matter. Not "professional BD" lifers with fancy resumes and soft hands.

👉 Imagine this: 
Your competitors are locked in 6-month onboarding cycles. 
You're already introducing new partners, new revenue, and new markets. 
Who wins?

NO, YOU WON'T LOSE CONTROL. 
You'll finally gain it. 
You choose outcomes, you set the pace, you get results that stick.

Trying to conquer today's market with yesterday's playbook? 
That's how you end up stuck in neutral while everyone else floors it.

Fractional BD for Oil and Gas, Energy, Construction. 
Less cost. More deals. Fewer headaches.

Any questions?

Powell Consulting Group

Attending Cup of Joey at the Ion tomorrow morning?

There's one place every leader in Oil & Gas or Energy should stop by: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆 𝗖𝗶𝗿𝗰𝗹𝗲.

It isn't another round of surface-level introductions. 

It's a gathering of people focused on solving real challenges in the industry, sharing insights, and building meaningful relationships.

You won't find scripted pitches or shallow exchanges here. 

𝘐𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘥, 𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘥𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴, 𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘥𝘳𝘢𝘸𝘯 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦. 

The Energy Circle is where you meet professionals who have navigated booms and downturns, built new business models, and pushed for innovation when the market wasn't ready. 

You also hear from new voices bringing bold ideas that force all of us to sharpen our thinking.

If you're seeking practical guidance, market context, or simply a chance to connect with peers who understand the realities of complex sectors, this is where to start. 

𝘽𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙘𝙪𝙧𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙟𝙚𝙘𝙩, 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙢𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙜𝙚, 𝙤𝙧 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙣𝙚𝙭𝙩 𝙗𝙞𝙜 𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙖. 

There's always someone who can offer a perspective you hadn't considered, ask the tough question you need to answer, or point you toward the right partner.

Most networking events leave you with a pile of business cards and little else. This is different. 

The Energy Circle focuses on purposeful conversation, actionable connections, and building a network that actually matters for your work.

At 9:30, I'll be guest hosting for Ian Uriarte .

𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲, 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀. 

You'll find an audience ready to listen, contribute, and help you move forward.

If you're tired of conversations that go nowhere, make this the morning you reset your approach. 

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘌𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘨𝘺 𝘊𝘪𝘳𝘤𝘭𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴, 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘦.

Join us, connect with the people shaping the industry's future, and leave with something valuable.

See you on the stairs at 9:30.

A healthy pipeline on paper doesn't mean a thing. 

I learned that lesson the hard way. Sitting there, staring at a spreadsheet full of "deals" that looked solid, until the quarter closed and nothing landed. 

I've watched this cycle play out in every industrial market: Oil & Gas, Energy, Construction, you name it. The pipeline is fat. The slides look great. But real revenue stays stuck in limbo.

That disconnect is why I wrote my new article: "The Moment I Realized Pipeline Is Really About People." 

For years, I thought it was all about process, more CRM hygiene, more forecasting, more dashboards. But the biggest wins, and the most painful misses, never boiled down to data or deals. They all came down to people.

The article is full of real stories and case studies. Here's the short version:

- The $7M handshake we lost because no one actually owned the relationship. We had the right logos, all the right signals, and then silence. Because we never built trust.
- The technical leader who landed a major long-term partnership, no pitch deck involved. Just a series of small conversations, months before procurement was even thinking about buying.
- The channel program that finally took off after we stopped coaching teams to "sell" and started teaching them to listen, introduce, and show up consistently.
- What happened when we made pipeline ownership a leadership responsibility, not just a sales target. Hint: growth stopped being a coin flip.

I break down exactly why pipeline success depends on relationships, not reports. 

If you're leading business development in a complex sector, you know the pain: 
- Partnership announcements that go nowhere 
- Accounts that look qualified on paper, but never call back 
- Sales cycles that drag on forever, then evaporate at the finish line 

Most teams try to fix it with more process or more tech. Doesn't work. What moves deals forward is trust and consistency, who's actually showing up, having the tough conversations, and making sure nothing slips.

In the article, I share:
- How we turned "maybe" deals into real revenue by doubling down on relationship building
- The trap leaders fall into when they rely on dashboards instead of dialogue
- The playbook shifts that actually moved the needle (and what to avoid if you don't want to waste years)

If you see any of your own pipeline struggles in this, you're not alone. The fix isn't glamorous, but it's effective.

Read the full article for the stories, the mistakes, and the steps any team can steal. 

Pipeline doesn't live in a spreadsheet. It lives in the daily effort to build trust before there's anything to close.

How is your team building pipeline? Are you owning the conversations, or just hoping the numbers add up? 

Full story and lessons learned in the article.

Nobody tells you how fast your identity can vanish.

One day, I was a Director managing $224 million in revenue, overseeing 1,000 brokers, and running major markets at Sysco. 

My calendar booked weeks out, my phone blowing up all day, my inbox stacked with decisions only I could make. 

I was the go-to. 

The operator. 

The person who knew how to build new business and put out fires before they started.

Then one call changed all of it.

COVID layoffs hit. 

My title? Gone. 

My network? Silent. 

The sense of control? Vaporized in seconds.

You don't plan for that kind of silence. 

You don't train for the moment your "work family" moves on without you, politely, but fast. 

The routines, the urgency, the need to perform, gone overnight. 

That's when reality hits. You're not your LinkedIn bio. You're just you, stripped of armor.

Nobody talks about the spiral. The months of uncertainty. The insomnia. Wondering if the last decade even mattered or if you were just a cog in the machine.

But here's the thing about hitting zero: you start caring less about what people think and more about what you want to build.

I started a custom apparel hustle. Not exactly a logical next step for a former exec. Friends thought I lost it. The first order came in and I packed it myself, sweating over every detail. That old feeling of impact flickered back on.

This is what nobody preaches: The narrower you go, the more you stand out. The more value you deliver, the more people remember your name. The bigger the bets, the messier the wins, but also the lessons.

That experience changed my playbook. I started working with companies that want results, not PowerPoints. Fractional sales and marketing for teams sick of empty pipeline promises. No fluff, just new deals.

Now, I run Powell Consulting Group. I see the same patterns everywhere: leaders hiding behind titles, companies avoiding risk, teams terrified of missing targets but not willing to change.

Joseph J Raetzer, MBA, JD brought me on Wall Street to Y'all Street to talk about all of this. 

We go deep on:
- Leading when you don't have the badge or title
- Recovering from a layoff without losing your edge
- Turning competitors into allies
- Choosing hard customers who pay, over easy wins that disappear
- Checking your ego at the door and building for the long game

If you want resume stories, scroll my feed. If you want the ugly, real, unvarnished playbook, listen to our conversation.

For every exec who's had the rug pulled out: it's survivable. The secret? Drop the ego, build something real, and find people who bet on you, not your business card.

Tag the person who needs to hear that today. They'll thank you later.

I closed deals the CEO couldn't.

That wasn't random, and it wasn't luck.

Here's how it happened.

First, I didn't show up trying to be clever. 

No fancy decks. 

No scripts. 

I just listened.

It sounds simple. 

It's not. 

Most consultants think they need to impress. 

The reality? 

Clients already have a hundred people pitching them fluff. 

They want someone sharp enough to cut through the noise. 

That's your edge.

I found the problem underneath their "problem." 

Every client says they want growth, leads, or revenue. 

They're lying. 

What they actually want is proof they matter. 

Proof something will change. 

They want a reason to trust.

So, I stripped the pitch down to three sentences. 

No false promises, no pressure.

Just specifics:

Here's what I see.
Here's what I can fix.
Here's what happens if you don't.

Then I shut up. 

Silence is uncomfortable, but that's where the deal gets made. 

People trust confidence, not noise.

When you stop talking, you find out what scares them. 

That's leverage.

The results? 

Closed two contracts in four weeks. 

Why did it work?

I wasn't there to "sell." 

I was there to solve.

Most BD people are just hunting commission. 

Clients smell that a mile away.

Instead, I positioned myself as the technical operator who wanted the headache to go away, fast.

I explained what no one else would say out loud: If we don't do this in 30 days, your pipeline is dead for Q3. 

No one had said that to them before.

That urgency triggered action.

Not panic, but clarity.

Here's the funny thing. 

CEOs often overcomplicate it.

 They think authority is about telling. 

It's not. 

Authority is about showing you see what others don't, then stating it simply.

Process? 

Ruthless focus. 

I disqualified bad fits fast. 

No "maybe" calls, no endless coffee chats. 

The faster I got to no, the faster I got to yes.

Results? 

Clean pipeline, closed deals.

That's it.

The lesson is simple. 

If you want to close deals when everyone else is stalled, drop the theater. 

Hunt for pain, offer clarity, walk away if it's not real.

People don't want another seller. 

They want someone who can tell them the truth, fix the root, and leave them better than they started.

If you can't do that, you're just noise.

Powell Consulting Group

Houston networking is WILD, y'all. 🤠

You haven't really networked until you've survived an HTown Handshakes at the Cannon.

I walk in and the place is packed. Swarms of people. New faces everywhere.

First conversation, someone actually says, "Hey, I've seen your name pop up. Didn't you try to get a meeting with [insert dream client nobody ever gets a call back from]?" 

My only answer is a laugh, because yes, I probably sent more emails than I care to admit. Suddenly this new connection offers, totally unprompted, to make an introduction.

Let that sink in.

Weeks of chasing go quiet. 
One handshake later, my inbox has a pulse. 
Day made.

But here's the best part.

On the way out, as I'm already thinking about beating traffic and what I'm going to grab to eat, someone stops me. 

Not for a pitch, not for a sales script. Just a quick chat. Lo and behold, he is in a market that I spent my entire career in before becoming an entrepreneur.

I give him the real playbook, ideas of people to share his vision with from my former life. 

Day REALLY made.

Five minutes later, I realize something that hits me every single time I do this: Networking is not just about what you can get. It's about what you can give back.

It's not just a city full of suits and LinkedIn profiles. It's a living, breathing web where you get to be the one who helps someone else out of a jam, purely because you showed up.

And that's the entire reason I never say no to a good event.

You don't go because you think you'll walk away with a stack of new clients or a signed contract. You go because you have NO IDEA what's going to happen. 

Sometimes you get the intro you've chased for months. Sometimes, without planning it, you're the hero in someone else's story.

Random? Sure.
Chaotic? Absolutely.

Houston, you're a mess but you're my kind of mess. 😍

In this city, deals happen in coffee shops, introductions are made in parking lots, and sometimes your next opportunity wears jeans and eats street tacos at the same table as you.

So, if you see me at an event, just know: I'm not there for the name tag or the cheese cubes. I'm there because this city never fails to surprise me. 

Show up. Say hi. Offer help. Ask for help. Walk away knowing you never wasted a conversation. 

That's how doors open here. That's why I keep putting myself out there.

And, if you've ever had a Houston networking moment where everything flipped because of one conversation, drop it here. Tag that person. Let's keep the luck rolling.

Your next big break? It's not sitting at your desk. It's out there, somewhere in this city, waiting for you to say yes to a room full of strangers.

Houston, you're wild, but you're magic. 🎩

What's the most unexpected connection you've made in this city?

HTown Handshakes

Stop burning cash on old-school hiring.

If you run an oil and gas company, you've probably been told to build a "rockstar" business development team in-house. 

Full-time. 

Permanent. 

Safe bet, right? 

Wrong. 

That's how you end up in the slow lane, watching competitors pass you while you wait for resumes and onboarding to magically turn into revenue.

Let me tell you the secret execs rarely admit: 𝗳𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀.

I've been inside these boardrooms. 

I've seen companies sign off six-figure budgets for BD hires with big resumes and big promises, only to watch months churn by with little to show. 

Meetings get booked. 

Decks get made. 

But deals? 

Not so much. 

Meanwhile, the smart companies do something different. 

They bring in a fractional business development pro. 

Two weeks later? 

They're already chasing new leads, opening new accounts, and getting traction where others are spinning wheels.

Why does it work? 

Fractional consultants are allergic to bureaucracy. 

We don't have time for long onboarding. 

Internal politics? 

Not my problem. 

My reputation depends on one thing, and one thing only: 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘴. 

Here's the difference no one talks about:

- Full-time hires need months to settle in. 𝘍𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘴 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘙𝘖𝘐 𝘪𝘯 𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘬𝘴.
- Permanent teams cost you year-round, benefits and all. 𝘍𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘴 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘱𝘢𝘪𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮, 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘶𝘱.
- Internal teams get caught in office politics and endless meetings. Fractional pros have one mission: 𝘣𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘥 𝘱𝘪𝘱𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘦, 𝘤𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘴, 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘵.

Still think you need a permanent "growth team"? 

Look at the math. 

Bringing in a senior business development exec often means six figures just in base salary, plus bonuses, plus a honeymoon period where everyone tiptoes around them so they can "make their mark." 

Been there. 

𝙎𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙞𝙩 𝙖𝙡𝙡.

Fractional is different. 

You get heavyweight strategy. 

Battle-tested playbooks. 

Zero long-term baggage.

And it's flexible. 

If the market shifts, or your priorities change? 

You pivot immediately, with no contracts to unwind or HR headaches to clean up.

Is fractional a shortcut? 

No. 

𝘐𝘵'𝘴 𝘢 𝘴𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘦.

The best CEOs I know don't care about how many people are on the org chart. 

They care about who actually brings in revenue. 

The ones willing to ignore business school dogma and hire for outcomes are the ones who win.

I've used this model to drive results for companies like Sysco, where every quarter felt like a playoff game. 

But as a fractional, I bring more agility and less drag. 

You get my A-game without the overhead.

Ready to get results that actually show up on your bottom line?

Drop me a message. 

Let's see what real business development feels like.

@

#RedMonday

How far would you run if it actually meant changing someone's life?

On Saturday, I saw the answer.

We swapped the conference calls for running shoes and joined the redM Leprechaun Leap organized by redM Oil and Gas Group .

Not your typical corporate crowd. 

Picture our favorite CTO/CMO in a glittery green tie. David Reid 👔

Some ran fast. 

Some strolled at a snail's pace. 

Some walked their distracted Labrador and almost tripped over said Labrador's leash 100 times. (Dang it Dottie!)

Leprechaun Leap wasn't about medals or PRs. 

We were out to make some real noise for Sparrow House of Redeemed .

Sparrow House doesn't just provide shelter, it's a launchpad for women fighting their way back from being trafficked. 

We're talking about second chances. 

Real ones. Not the "we'll get back to you" kind, but the kind that rewrites someone's story. 

That's why dozens of us dragged ourselves out of bed on a Saturday morning. 

That's why the banter, the sweat, the sore legs on Monday. 

If you've ever wanted to see the corporate world put its money and time where its mouth is, this was it.

And here's what I wish more people understood: events like this aren't about looking good on social media. 

They're not about ticking the "community service" box for the year. 

They're about rolling up your sleeves, showing up, and doing something that actually moves the needle for people who need it, right now.

Missed it? Don't worry. Second chances are rare, but we've got one.

Golf for Good is back, April 6th. 🏌️♀️

This isn't a stuffy tournament with hushed voices and predictable speeches. 

If anything, it's a little chaotic, a lot of fun, and dead serious about making a difference. 

We're switching things up this year:

𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘂𝗽 𝗼𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗼𝘄𝗻? Perfect. We're welcoming single players for the first time. You'll build your squad on the fly, meet new faces, and maybe even outdrive someone who's been swinging clubs for decades.

𝗡𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗱 𝗮 𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗴𝗼𝗹𝗳? Even better. We need volunteers who aren't afraid to get their hands dirty. No experience necessary, bring your energy, your curiosity, and your willingness to pitch in.

𝗪𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝘂𝗽 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀? We're looking for sponsors who care about real, measurable change. Not just slapping a logo on a banner.

Here's the bottom line: Golf isn't the point. People are.

If you're tired of the talk, tired of waiting for someone else to take the lead, now's the time to do something. Skip the endless planning. Stop telling yourself you'll get involved someday. 

Sign up.
Show up.
Do some good.

Tag a friend who would actually put in the effort. Tag a boss who owes you a day on the course. Tag your competitor and dare them to show up for more than just the leaderboard. ⛳

April 6th. Let's swing for something real.

See you on the green.

redM Oil and Gas Group

NOV CTO & CMO | CEO and President redM | Host: Engine Room (NOV) & The Movement (joinredM) | Human Trafficking Awareness, Action & Advocacy

Last week, I got feedback on one of my posts.

Not the "𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁" kind.

The "𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘳𝘶𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘓𝘪𝘯𝘬𝘦𝘥𝘐𝘯 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘈𝘐 𝘫𝘶𝘯𝘬" kind.

Apparently, my post and the AI image I paired with it, were "𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙝𝙡𝙚𝙨𝙨."

That's a direct quote.

Bold move. 

I respect the confidence.

Especially from a guy whose name was something like "𝘑𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘴𝘓𝘰𝘢𝘯𝘈𝘱𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘢𝘭𝘍𝘢𝘴𝘵123" and whose headline was an emoji salad followed by "𝗖𝗿𝘆𝗽𝘁𝗼 𝗩𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗿𝘆 | 𝟭𝟬𝘅 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵 𝗖𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵."

But let's be fair. 

Maybe James is right.

Maybe my post really was just noise, digital landfill, another drop in the content ocean.

Except for one small thing.

That post was my highest performing post in the past 30 days.

I'm talking record impressions.

More reactions than a pricing increase memo.

Comments rolling in from a mix of friends, strangers, and bots promising to "𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝙢𝙮 𝙗𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 1000% 𝙚𝙣𝙜𝙖𝙜𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩."

So according to the algorithm, and apparently half of Eastern Europe's finest LinkedIn lead generators, my "𝘄𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀" post was absolutely worth everyone's time.

Funny how that works.

I used to see spammers and bots as a bad sign.

A trigger to nuke a post and question everything.

Now? I treat it like a badge of honor.

The more spam you attract, the more reach you've got.

If the robot army is showing up, you must be doing something right.

Here's the reality in B2B:
Everyone says they want "𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵," but when it arrives wearing a fake profile and peddling AI solutions for $19.99 a month, people panic.

I don't.

The fastest indicator of real reach isn't congratulatory DMs from your friends.

It's the random dude from Tbilisi offering to build your sales funnel for $47.

It's the vague "𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁!" from someone whose profile pic is a stock photo of a handshake.

You want clean, safe LinkedIn?

Good luck. That's not how the platform works.

If your content never attracts spam, it probably isn't reaching humans either.

So, to JamesLoanApprovalFast123, thank you.

You're proof the post worked.

I hope you keep commenting. I need the engagement.

AI is here. Spammers are here. The reach is definitely here.

And if a bot wants to call my post worthless, I'll take the impressions and keep moving.

If you're still worried about spam comments, remember: you can always turn off comments.

But that would spoil all of the fun, wouldn't it?

But then you'd miss out on all this free validation.

taplio

The Battle

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Jada Powell

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The Battle

Cermain Cheung

Jada Powell

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Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Cermain Cheung's LinkedIn Performance

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