
By Danielle Rocheleau, CEO
The word “consultant” has always been loaded. For many, it conjures images of sharp-dressed outsiders swooping in, conducting a flurry of meetings, dropping off a thick report, and moving on to the next gig. But let’s be honest—how useful is that old model today? Is consulting, as we know it, becoming obsolete? Or is it evolving into something more meaningful and impactful?
At Laridae, we’ve been thinking deeply about this shift, not only because we live and breathe consulting work, but also because the landscape is shifting fast—especially in the social purpose sector. The traditional consultant-client relationship is giving way to something more collaborative, sustainable, and empowering. What’s emerging is less about hired expertise dropping in with answers and more about building capacity from within—with a focus on enabling organizations to solve their own challenges over the long term.
So, let’s explore: is consulting really dead? Or is it just being reborn in a way that creates deeper value and lasting impact?
The Old Model: Solving Problems for You
In the traditional model, consultants were expected to be experts with the answers. Organizations would hire someone to analyze their operations, make recommendations, and hand over a plan, trusting that the consultant knew best. But increasingly, there’s a growing frustration with this transactional approach. The truth is knowledge on paper is not enough to spark meaningful, sustainable change.
This approach can also create a dependency. Consultants become an external “brain” that organizations rely on—one that disappears when the engagement ends. Sound familiar? It’s an expensive cycle, and it doesn’t leave organizations in a stronger position when the contract wraps up. In today’s landscape, social purpose organizations are pushing for a different kind of support—one that empowers them to become their own problem-solvers.
The New Paradigm: Building Capacity, Not Dependence
Consulting isn’t dead, but it’s changing. The new model of consulting looks a lot more like partnership than prescription. It’s about rolling up our sleeves alongside clients and focusing on capacity-building—the kind of work that enables organizations to grow their internal skills, knowledge, and systems to drive impact on their own terms.
This shift reflects the growing awareness that collective impact and sustainability aren’t achievable through short-term fixes or expert opinions. Real change happens when staff, boards, and stakeholders are empowered to lead the work themselves.
This is where consulting now needs to focus:
- Knowledge Transfer: It’s not enough to tell an organization what to do. We need to ensure that expertise is embedded within their teams, so they can maintain and evolve the work long after the consultant is gone.
- Co-Creation, Not Recommendations: The future of consulting lies in co-creating solutions with clients, where knowledge flows both ways. It’s no longer about delivering recommendations; it’s about building actionable plans together.
- Long-Term Resilience: Impact is no longer measured by the quality of a report, but by how effectively the organization can carry the work forward on its own, adapting as conditions change. Consulting should make itself obsolete over time by leaving behind the skills and tools organizations need to thrive independently.
What This Means for Laridae—and Our Clients
At Laridae, we see consulting as an evolving practice. We’re not here to simply hand over solutions. Our work is about teaching clients how to fish—coaching, mentoring, and transferring knowledge in ways that build confidence and capability. Whether we’re helping with strategy, change management, or leadership development, our goal is to make ourselves unnecessary over time.
In this new model, our success is measured by your independence. When your organization has the skills, insights, and resilience to thrive without us, that’s when we know we’ve done our job well. Consulting in this new form is less about being “the expert” and more about being your ally, your guide, and your co-creator.
It’s a humbler, more collaborative role—one that aligns beautifully with the goals of social purpose organizations. We believe this shift leads to better outcomes: less dependency on external experts, lower consulting costs over time, and, most importantly, greater impact.
Reimagining the Relationship
We also believe that consulting needs to move beyond the 1:1 model. Organizations need networks and peer-learning opportunities where they can build capacity together. Collective impact means fostering partnerships across sectors and breaking down silos—not just between organizations, but also between consultants and clients.
That’s why we’re seeing more clients engage us to facilitate cross-organizational learning, help boards and leadership teams work collaboratively, and design custom coaching programs that reflect their unique context. We’re working with our clients not as “fixers,” but as partners in capacity-building, focused on ensuring they can stand firmly on their own two feet.
This shift requires a change in thinking—consultants need to let go of the idea that their value lies in giving the “right answers.” And organizations need to stop thinking of consultants as outsiders who swoop in with solutions. Instead, the future lies in partnerships based on shared learning, mutual trust, and long-term growth.
So, Is Consulting Dead?
Not at all. But it’s evolving—and that’s a good thing. The best consultants are those who make themselves increasingly unnecessary by empowering organizations to take charge of their own success.
At Laridae, we believe that the future of consulting lies in capacity-building, collaboration, and co-creation. Our goal is not to give you the answers, but to walk alongside you as you find them—equipping you with the tools, knowledge, and confidence to sustain your impact for years to come.
So no, consulting isn’t dead. It’s just taking on a new shape—one that’s more aligned with sustainable impact, collective learning, and the true spirit of social purpose. And we’re here for it. Are you?