MIPIM SPECIAL - A Different Take on Growth in Consultancy | Melani King of ADP Consulting - Ep 31
Get the full intelligence
Search transcripts, export clips, track mentions, and explore all topics from “MIPIM SPECIAL - A Different Take on Growth in Consultancy | Melani King of ADP Consulting - Ep 31” inside PodZeus.
In this special MIPIM episode of Pegasus Radio, host welcomes Melani King, founder of ADP Consulting and a veteran in the construction recruitment space, for an insightful conversation on redefining growth in consultancy. Melani traces her journey from English literature graduate to recruitment specialist, highlighting her eight-year stint running a successful, relationship-driven business in the UK. She discusses how the pandemic, motherhood, and a serendipitous opportunity with MGAC led her to transition into HR and eventually to her current role at ADP Consulting—where she uniquely combines recruitment and business development. A key theme emerges: the growing need for recruiters to evolve into business development roles, especially in small firms where leaders are stretched too thin. Melani emphasizes LinkedIn as a powerful, underused tool for personal branding and business growth, sharing her own journey of building an authentic online presence through candid, unscripted content. She reflects on her transition into ADP’s UK operations, the company’s rapid global expansion, and its strategic focus on sustainability, MEP engineering, and emerging sectors like data centers and life sciences. With a strong Australian foundation and a bold UK expansion plan, ADP is positioning itself as a multidisciplinary leader in sustainable building services. The episode underscores a paradigm shift in consultancy growth: blending talent acquisition with strategic business development to create sustainable, resilient firms. Melani’s story illustrates how personal evolution, digital presence, and strategic role design can fuel innovation in traditional industries. Her emphasis on long-term relationships, authenticity, and continuous learning offers actionable insights for consultants and recruiters alike. The conversation closes with anticipation for MIPIM, where Melani is actively engaging with the global real estate and construction community, further cementing her role as a trailblazer in the industry.
Recruiters can and should transition into hybrid business development roles, especially in small consultancies where leaders are overburdened.
LinkedIn is a free, underutilized tool for personal branding and business growth—authentic, unscripted content builds trust and visibility.
Long-term relationship-building is more valuable than transactional hiring; success comes from trust, not just speed.
Consultancies should consider merging recruitment and business development functions to reduce costs and increase strategic impact.
Understanding your service offering deeply—beyond surface-level knowledge—is critical when selling your business to clients.
…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus
Introduction and Melani's Journey
Host introduces Melani King, founder of ADP Consulting, and sets the stage for a conversation on growth in consultancy. Melani shares her background, from English literature to recruitment, and her evolution from client to competitor to collaborator.
From Recruitment to Business Ownership
Melani reflects on her eight-year journey running her own recruitment business, emphasizing long-term relationships, lifestyle balance, and the personal investment required to build trust and sustainability.
The Pivot: HR, LinkedIn, and Strategic Growth
“I've got nothing to lose. I'm going to just do a video of me walking the dog on the beach and talking about how to negotiate a pay rise or whatever it might be.”
ADP Consulting: A New Model for Growth
“If you're engaging talent, you're engaging clients. They're very similar skills.”
Future of MEP, Sustainability, and Global Expansion
“The percentage of overall project spend on MEP is increasing... as we push for sustainable buildings.”
“If you're engaging talent, you're engaging clients. They're very similar skills.”
“I've got nothing to lose. I'm going to just do a video of me walking the dog on the beach and talking about how to negotiate a pay rise or whatever it might be.”
“You can't dip your toe in the data center market. It's all or nothing.”
Host
Guest
Melani King
person
ADP Consulting
organization
MEP Engineering
other
other
UK
place
Australia
place
Data Centers
other
Sustainability Advisory
other
Oscar
other
MGAC
organization
Get the full intelligence
Search transcripts, export clips, track mentions, and explore all topics from “MIPIM SPECIAL - A Different Take on Growth in Consultancy | Melani King of ADP Consulting - Ep 31” inside PodZeus.
Start discovering podcast insights today
Start with a 7-day trial and explore a growing catalog of popular podcasts. No credit card required.
No credit card required • 7-day trial • Cancel anytime