Being a consultant has less to do with your title and more to do with how you show up. Whether you’re working for a consultancy, freelancing, or just the go-to person in your org when things get messy — this talk will show you how to manage stakeholders, drive meaningful change, influence without authority, and move on once the work is done.

For years, software consultants haven’t really been consulting. We’ve been brought in to fill seats companies couldn’t recruit for — we integrate, get an email account, and quietly become part of the furniture. It’s not what consultants are meant to do, but it’s been profitable — until now.

Things are changing. More companies are focusing on building in-house tech teams as software becomes a core part of their strategy. That means the old “guns-for-hire” model isn’t just outdated — it’s disappearing.

This talk is about stepping into the consultant role with more intent — to bring clarity, to guide, to challenge, to not just blend in.

Consulting isn’t a title — it’s a craft, with skills and practices attached to it. Great consultants don’t just fill gaps — they create lasting impact.