Our Story – The Fly on the Wall
When Jason and Jeff met for the first time in 2012 at an Association of Management Consulting Firms conference in Chicago, we were just like our listeners, marketers and managing partners learning and sharing ideas on how to drive growth in a professional services firm.
After a few short conversations, we realized we shared what Jeff refers to as Simpatico, a mutual worldview about marketing’s strategic value, professional services being an absolutely great place to work, and that professional services marketing needed to take its game up several notches. Over the following 6 years, we developed a relationship through hours-long phone conversations about everything from branding to sales, martech, stupid marketing fads, breakout ideas, client wins and losses, family and football.
A Difference in Perspectives
Jason brought an agency perspective that reflected decades working with a wide range of clients on a range of brand and digital marketing challenges. Jeff’s view reflected life in family business operations and a career as a CMO of top consulting firms. The conversations were robust, fun, and sometimes heated! At the end of each call, we would bemoan the fact that we had not recorded the conversation and captured all the ideas that surfaced. We wondered what a fly on the wall might think of it all.
In 2018, we made a decision to hit record and turned those conversations into Rattle & Pedal. With over 125 episodes and counting, Rattle & Pedal leads listeners through all topics related to marketing and growing professional services firms. We welcome firm leaders and other experts to share their experiences driving sustainable growth and value creation. And, we usually have a good laugh or two along the way. It’s that virtual coffee chat about marketing and firm growth you always wanted.
The Hosts
Jason Mlicki
As Principal of Rattleback, Jason Mlicki has been advising professional services firms on how to unlock growth for over 20 years. He writes about value creation strategies, thought leadership development and digital marketing at Rattleback.com. In addition to Rattle & Pedal, he co-produces the annual conference, Profiting From Thought Leadership which brings together the world’s top thought leadership practitioners to share best practices, learn from each other, and grow their careers.
His agency has worked with a variety of notable clients including Dale Carnegie, Emerson, Jump Associates, GE Capital, Infosys, L.E.K. Consulting, The Ohio State University, Verizon and Wendy’s. He earned an M.B.A. from The Ohio State University and a B.S. in Mathematics from Denison University.
When he’s not working, you’ll find him with his family on the tennis courts, playing golf, or traveling all over the United States and Europe.
Jeff McKay
Jeff is the founder and CEO of Prudent Pedal which provides consulting, coaching, and Fractional CMO services to professional services and SaaS firms.
His teams and strategies have helped the world’s top professional services firms achieve industry-leading growth rates, optimize marketing investment, and maximize brand value. He was the SVP of Marketing at Genworth Financial, the Global Marketing Leader at Hewitt Associates, and held senior roles at Towers Perrin and Andersen. AND, he can never forget his “Karate Kid” time selling spark plugs and software in the family-owned auto parts business that turned a brat into a businessman. He earned an M.B.A. from Saint Louis University and a B.S. in Marketing from Illinois State University. He sits on the advisory board of the Salvation Army and helps individuals going through a tough stage of life as a Stephen Ministry leader.
When not working, he’s spending time with family, perfecting his “pedal stroke” with his Tower Racing cycling teammates, reading a book, or restoring some object to its former glory.
Our Great Guests
The sharpest minds and thought leaders in professional services and B2B.
They are proven executives from top firms, leaders of emerging firms, sales and marketing experts, leadership gurus, and young turks. Many are clients, former employees, co-workers, and friends. Many are listeners themselves.
We personally invite each of them on the show. We look for people with unique stories and compelling points of view. None of our guests is a shrinking violet. They have opinions and they share them. Just like us.
Naming. What is it Good For? An Interview with Laurel Sutton of Catchword
With many consumer names facing stark criticism, do professional services firms face naming risk? Jeff and Jason explore the topic with naming consultant, Laurel Sutton.
The Pipeline Cliff — An Interview with Mark Wainwright on Sales Planning for Doer/Sellers
Mark Wainwright shares his thoughts on the intersection where certainty ends and partners' "night sweats" often begin -- your sales pipeline.
Becoming the Leader You Were Meant to Be — An Interview with Ted Harro of Noonday Ventures
Ted Harro joins us to talk about how to develop your leadership skills and find leaders within your firm.
Good Sale. Bad Sale – An Interview with Brian Caffarelli of Strategic Talent Solutions
Jeff and Jason welcome Brian Caffarelli to discuss the long-lasting impact of good and bad sales decisions.
The Potential of Digital Marketplaces to Destroy and Enhance Professional Services
Let’s Get Radical – An Interview About POVs with Jody Padar, Author of The Radical CPA
Jody Padar, CPA and author of The Radical CPA, joins Jason and Jeff to talk about her radical point of view and how its changing the CPA profession.
You’re Already Serving Me. Now Sell To Me. A Conversation with David Ryan.
David Ryan, founder of Gray Matters Group, joins Jason and Jeff to share his unique approach to growing the business development function of a professional services firm by empowering billable professionals.
Coining the Key Speech: A Conversation with CEO Gil Hantzsch of MSA
Gil Hantzsch, CEO of MSA Professional Services, joins Jason Mlicki to talk about the key speech he delivered to his employees to share his vision for the firm while in the midst of a rebrand.
How Grant Thornton Punches Above Its Weight: Interview w/ Grant Thornton CEO Mike McGuire
Jeff McKay talks with Grant Thornton CEO Mike McGuire about the firm's unique structure and culture that embraces disruption and facilitates innovation, creativity and growth.
Aligning Strategy, Leadership, and Culture to Serve the Mid-Market with Andy Bosman of RSM
Jeff McKay talks with Andy Bosman, Chief Marketing Officer at RSM, about the intersection of strategy, leadership and culture—and how when an organization gets those right, growth is the result.
The Other Man Behind the Mic: Introducing Rattle and Pedal Co-host Jeff McKay
Introducing Jeff McKay, co-host of Rattle and Pedal, as he speaks about the meaning behind the name "Prudent Pedal", his background in marketing, and what he’s learned from his numerous positions as a senior marketing leader within large firms.
One of the Men Behind the Mic: Introducing Rattle and Pedal Co-host Jason Mlicki
Introducing Jason Mlicki, co-host of Rattle and Pedal, who speaks about his role as Principal of Rattleback, how it came to be and what he’s learned as a recognized leader in the professional service marketing industry.