Our Mission
Today's Pawlitics was founded on a simple observation: small businesses are the backbone of the American economy, yet they rarely have access to the strategic analysis and consulting resources that large corporations take for granted. The big consulting firms -- McKinsey, BCG, Bain -- serve Fortune 500 companies. The small consulting firms serve the lowest end of the market. The mid-market -- the businesses with $1 million to $50 million in revenue -- is left with no real options.
We built Today's Pawlitics to serve that gap. We bring Fortune 500-level strategic analysis to small and mid-size businesses at a fraction of the cost of the big firms, with a level of personal attention that the big firms cannot match.
Every engagement we take on is led by a partner-level consultant with 10+ years of experience. We do not use junior analysts to do the real work. We do not hand you off to a new team after the sale. Your senior consultant is with you from day one through project completion and beyond.
Our Story
Today's Pawlitics was founded in 2011 by David Harrington and Marcus Williams, two former McKinsey consultants who grew frustrated watching small businesses in Chicago struggle with the same strategic problems that they had solved for Fortune 500 clients -- but without access to the resources, tools, or expertise to solve them.
They left McKinsey, pooled their savings, rented a small office on LaSalle Street, and started building a firm that would bring world-class business analysis to the businesses that needed it most. Their first client was a three-location restaurant chain on the North Side that was losing money despite strong customer traffic. Within six months, Today's Pawlitics had identified $800,000 in operational inefficiencies and helped the owner restructure the business to profitability.
That engagement became the template for everything that followed: deep analysis, practical recommendations, hands-on implementation support, and measurable results. Word spread. Clients referred other clients. The firm grew from two founders in a small office to a team of eighteen senior consultants in a prestigious suite on Wacker Drive.
Today, Today's Pawlitics has served over 340 businesses across the Chicago metropolitan area and the broader Midwest. The firm has generated over $128 million in new revenue for its clients and maintains a 96% client retention rate -- a testament to the quality of work and the relationships built over 14+ years.
What We Believe
Data Over Opinion
Every recommendation we make is backed by data. We do not guess. We do not follow trends. We analyze, we measure, and we let the numbers guide our strategy.
Senior-Level Only
Every engagement is led by a consultant with 10+ years of experience. No junior analysts. No hand-offs. You get our best people from start to finish.
Measurable Results
We define success in numbers, not vague outcomes. Every engagement has specific, measurable goals and we track progress against them throughout the project.
Chicago First
We are a Chicago firm serving Chicago businesses. Our deep knowledge of the local market, regulatory environment, and business culture is a competitive advantage for our clients.
Long-Term Partnerships
Our 96% retention rate is not an accident. We build long-term relationships with our clients because we earn trust through results, consistency, and transparency.
Practical Strategy
We do not deliver 200-page reports that sit on a shelf. We deliver actionable strategies that your team can implement immediately and that produce measurable results.