Cristian Marino Advisory · How It Works
Defined scope. Independent judgment. A usable conclusion.
Each engagement begins with a defined decision and a clear outcome. The process is designed around what the client needs to understand, decide or improve.
The principle
Start with what needs to be decided.
A useful advisory engagement should be clear before confidential material, time or budget is committed.
The first conversation establishes the decision, who it affects and what information is available. This provides the basis for the proposed scope.
If the request falls outside the relevant experience, cannot be assessed responsibly with the available information or would be better handled by another specialist, the engagement should not be forced.
Three focused services
The method is shared. The professional question is different.
Second Opinion
I need to make a decision.
An independent view of a specific decision before committing, delivered as a written summary, a discussion, or both, as agreed.
Executive Chef Assessment
I need to assess an Executive Chef candidate.
A written assessment of a candidate’s leadership, operational judgment and suitability for the role, with a comparison of finalists where agreed.
Cristian Marino Review
I want an independent review of our existing culinary concept.
A confidential, remote review of a developed concept, menu and positioning, with a written report on strengths and priorities for improvement.
For openings, repositioning or leadership transitions requiring support across several stages, see Project Engagements.
Working sequence
01 · Introduce
Share the situation, the decision, what has already been prepared and the relevant timeline. The first message can be concise.
02 · Define
Clarify what is inside the scope, what is outside it, what information is required and what the client needs to receive.
03 · Review
Examine the agreed material, context, constraints and operating reality. Additional questions are raised only where they affect the conclusion.
04 · Conclude
Return the agreed assessment, recommendation or decision framework in a form the client can understand and use.
Standards behind the work
Independent
The conclusion should not be shaped by internal politics, supplier pressure or the need to confirm a predetermined answer.
Practical
Recommendations must survive contact with budgets, teams, timelines, kitchens, systems and everyday hospitality operations.
Scoped
The client should know what was examined, what information was available and where the limits of the professional assessment sit.
Discreet
Sensitive material and internal context are handled only for the agreed purpose and are not used publicly without explicit authorization.
Scope and fee
Clear scope before the work begins.
Work, format, timing and fee are agreed before the engagement begins. Additional work requires a separate agreed scope.
Confidentiality
Sensitive information is not needed in the first message.
Once fit and scope are clear, the necessary documents can be shared through the agreed channel. When the nature of the matter requires it, confidentiality terms can be agreed before sensitive material is exchanged.
A useful first enquiry can be five lines long.
What property or project is involved? What needs to be decided? What has already been prepared? Who is affected? When is the decision required?