What happens when your background isn’t the “typical” consulting path, but you bring curiosity, people skills, and a strong sense of mission? Rico Oyola, Head of Post-Sales at IdeaScale, joins The Consultant’s Way to talk about his unconventional path from civil rights work and international development to leading customer success, professional services, and support.

Rico breaks down what open innovation really looks like and why success often comes down to being the one who can bring people together across silos. From CEO summits in Davos to block-by-block canvassing for neighborhood apps, Rico’s done it all. And it’s given him a unique lens on how to lead teams, guide clients, and help ideas scale.

He shares how to earn trust by showing up with empathy, how to use bad analogies to make great points (his words, not ours), and why humility is the real foundation of innovation. You'll hear how NASA solved a $20 million problem by breaking down silos and how Rico helps clients do the same, one stakeholder map at a time.

If you’re managing people in client-facing roles or trying to make your PS org more impactful, this is one you’ll want to play twice.