In this episode of the Leap into HR Consulting® podcast, Sarah Hamilton-Gill explores one of the biggest shifts senior HR professionals make when they move into consulting: learning how to bring their commercial judgement forward with confidence.

This is not about becoming someone different. It is not about becoming pushy, cold or overly salesy. It is about recognising that, as an experienced HR professional, you already have years of commercial insight built through advising leaders, managing risk, handling complex people issues, supporting change and helping organisations make better decisions.

The challenge is often not that senior HR consultants lack commercial judgement. It is that they do not always make that judgement visible enough in client conversations.

Sarah talks through how experienced HR consultants can move from being seen as an HR supplier to being trusted as a business adviser. She explores how great consultants diagnose before they prescribe, ask better questions, listen for the real issue beneath the client’s request, connect people challenges to business impact and give a clear point of view.

The episode also looks at why your HR values are not a barrier to being commercial. In fact, they are often what make your advice stronger. Fairness, clarity, good leadership, trust, accountability and risk management all have a direct impact on business performance.

Sarah also speaks with Kate Lawson, founder of tHRive Partnership, about her move from Head of People and Culture in an InsurTech start-up to launching her own HR consultancy. Kate shares how a restructure led her to rethink her career, why flexibility for her family became a key driver, and how she overcame doubts about whether she had enough experience to go it alone. They discuss the realities of early-stage consulting, including imposter syndrome, networking nerves, the power of community and the importance of getting involved.

Kate also introduces her Thriving Foundations package, designed to help smaller SMEs put practical HR foundations in place. This is an honest and encouraging episode for senior HR professionals who are considering consulting and wondering whether now might be the right time to take the leap.

To connect with Sarah on LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahhg/

To connect with Kate on LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-lawson06/

To find out more about our services : www.leapintoconsulting.com

Episode: Three Years into HR Consulting with Ambra Parisi

In this episode, Sarah Hamilton-Gill catches up with Ambra Parisi, three years after Ambra launched her HR consultancy business following a 15-year corporate HR career.

Ambra shares her honest reflections on moving from an HR Director role into consultancy after redundancy in 2022. Rather than being driven purely by financial goals, Ambra explains that her decision came from a desire to return to the heart of HR: adding real value to businesses and supporting leaders with practical, people-focused solutions.

She talks openly about the first year in business being a testing period, where she had to build confidence, develop commercial skills, understand her market, and learn how to position her services beyond her technical HR expertise.

Ambra now works with small and medium-sized businesses, particularly in the healthcare, dentistry and retail sectors. Her consultancy offers bespoke HR support, including compliance, operational HR, people development and practical guidance for business owners who need senior HR expertise without adding to their permanent headcount.

A key theme of the conversation is clarity. Ambra explains how she has shaped her 2026 strategy around three clear business pillars.

Sarah and Ambra also discuss the importance of word-of-mouth referrals, listening to client feedback, adapting your services, and staying committed during the early stages of consultancy when the path can feel uncertain.

This episode is a valuable listen for HR professionals considering the leap into consulting, as well as existing consultants who are refining their niche, services and business model.

Ambra’s journey shows that the first year of consultancy is often about testing, learning and building business confidence.

Technical HR expertise is important, but consultants also need commercial awareness, positioning, marketing and relationship-building skills.

Clarity around your services and ideal client base makes it easier to attract the right opportunities.

Word-of-mouth referrals remain one of the most powerful routes to new business.

A strong LinkedIn profile can help consultants showcase their credibility, services and client outcomes.

Ambra Parisi is an HR consultant supporting small and medium-sized businesses with practical, bespoke HR services. With a 15-year background in corporate HR, she now works with clients across sectors including healthcare, dentistry and retail, helping business owners strengthen compliance, develop their people and build more effective teams.

You can connect with Ambra Parisi on LinkedIn.