{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"Building Doors with Lauren Karan","title":"69. What They Don’t Tell You About Building a Consultancy from the Ground Up with Harley Whaikawa","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":2879,"description":"In this episode of Building Doors, host Lauren Karan sits down with Harley Whaikawa, Director at Minerva Group, whose journey from the military to civil engineering and into consultancy leadership is anything but traditional. From cold calls and rejection to becoming a respected voice in fire engineering and a force on LinkedIn, Harley shares the lessons he’s learned about authenticity, leadership, and playing the long game.\nWhether you’re a graduate seeking your first role or a business owner navigating the digital landscape, this conversation provides a no-fluff look into building a reputation that lasts, both online and offline.\nWhat You’ll Learn in This Episode:\n\nLeadership & High Performance\nWhy leading by example is non-negotiable in high-performing teams\nHow Harley’s military discipline translates into running a consultancy\nSetting standards and attracting like-minded professionals\nBrand & Business Development\nHow Harley went from 300 LinkedIn connections to 12,000+ weekly impressions\nWhat actually works (and what flops) when trying to build a personal brand online\nWhy human connection beats automation every time in sales and relationship-building\nCareer Journeys & Transition\nThe real talk about leaving the military and starting over\nHow rejection, cold calls, and missed expectations shaped Harley’s grit\nWhy building a consultancy is not all sunshine and smooth sailing\nAuthenticity in a Digital World\nThe power of transparency, inside your calendar, team culture, and online presence\nWhy authenticity online isn’t optional anymore\nWhere AI fits into the future of business (and where it really doesn’t)\nKey Quotes from Harley Whaikawa:\n“You can't fake effort. People spot it a mile away.”\n“If I’m not willing to operate at a high level, how can I expect others to?”\n“LinkedIn is a two-to-three-year game. You’ve got to do it for the right reasons.”\n“People still do business with people they like and trust.”\nAbout Our Guest:\n\nHarley Whaikawa is Director at Minerva...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/rcJTQ5eXITvLdAogYDlhRpa2ZvZlMeipr6w7MvQqkqs/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9zaG93/LzM1NTExLzE2Njgz/OTU0OTQtYXJ0d29y/ay5qcGc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}