Opinion · Fred Barry
The 15-person question
Why boutique advisory firms should rethink permanent headcount—and how a small senior core can deliver large mandates with AI.
A research-informed view on lean firms, scalable delivery, private AI and C-level as a service—with the evidence separated from the predictions.
Read the opinion & referencesFrom a question to a decision
These guides make the assumptions behind a decision explicit. Use them to prepare a leadership discussion, define a bounded assessment or challenge a proposed investment. The examples are illustrative; reported engagement outcomes are kept separately in selected work.
Decision guide
Six questions before an AI pilot
Define the workflow, data, evaluation, ownership, adoption and costs.
Read the guideDecision guide
GCC market entry: a decision guide for founders and boards
A practical framework for UAE and Saudi market-entry decisions: customer evidence, route to market, operating model, investment gates and a launch brief.
Read the guideDecision guide
AI investment decisions: value, cost and readiness to scale
Evaluate an AI use case with task-level evidence, full operating costs, quality thresholds and a practical calculator before expanding a pilot.
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Growth diagnosis: acquisition, retention and unit economics
Diagnose a growth problem with clear funnel definitions, cohort retention, contribution economics and a worked example before changing spend.
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