About us
Outsized is a financial services talent platform with 60,000+ vetted independents across APAC and EMEA. We help banks, insurers, payments firms, fintechs and consulting firms bring in experienced consultants, interims and fractional experts, and we were built by people who’ve sat on both sides of that table.
Our team comes from top consulting firms, financial institutions, and FS-focused private equity, so we know what great talent looks like from both sides of the table.
What truly sets us apart is how we work. We believe in building a sustainable, ethical talent market that benefits clients and independents alike, with fair rates, genuine partnerships, and a good dose of enjoyment along the way.
60,000+ vetted independent consultants globally
48-hour average time from brief to shortlist
Trusted by Big 4, MBB & Tier 1 financial institutions
What we do
Outsized connects banks, insurers, payments, fintechs, consulting firms, and investors with vetted independent consultants, subject-matter experts, interims, and fractionals.
We help clients fill critical capability gaps, deliver transformation and growth projects, and build agile workforce models that scale fast, without compromising on quality.
Our projects range from digital transformation and strategy to risk, regulation, data, and operations. Assignments typically run from 1–12 months, either onsite or remote.
If you want the detail, our Talent-on-Demand Report 2026 explores skill demand, day rates, and regional insights across financial services, private equity, and consulting.
What we believe in
What we believe in matters as much as what we do. It shapes how we work with clients, independents and our own team. There are three things we hold dear (it always has to be three, remember we’re ex-consultants!):
Better matching makes everyone better off. When the right skills meet the right opportunity, without bias, every assignment delivers more. Repeat that thousands of times and companies perform better, create more jobs and contribute more in taxes. Great wins, in our book.
Fair pay for independents is good business for clients. Some talent marketplaces compete by squeezing freelancer pay and terms, a race to the bottom. Highly skilled professionals only become, and stay, independent if they’re paid fairly, set up for success and treated well. That’s why we never take any part of an independent’s earnings: our margin is paid by clients, and matching is free for talent.
Doing business the right way, with everyone. Our values are Integrity, Passion and Accountability. We act ethically (not always a given in the talent market), we care deeply about the work, and every one of us takes ownership, thinks critically and works as one team.
We’re far from perfect and we make mistakes, but the intention and effort are there. If you’re a client or independent with tips on how we can do better, email niclas[at]outsized[dot]com. Haven’t worked with us yet? Read what clients say, verified on Trustpilot, what independents say on Google, and what our team says on Glassdoor.
How it all started
Outsized began with a simple frustration. Our founder, Niclas Thelander, was working in private equity, leading the value creation efforts across the fund’s financial services portfolio companies. Time and again, he struggled to find the right external talent to deliver ambitious growth plans with the right quality and pace required. Strategy was easy to design. Execution was hard to resource.
In 2016, he teamed up with Anurag Bhalla, who shared his belief that consulting and industry professionals deserved a better platform. With Anurag’s background in insurance, proposition design, and innovation consulting, the two combined complementary perspectives, and built Outsized from a PowerPoint deck, bold ambition, and a lot of coffee.
A few years later, Johann van Niekerk (ex-insurance and FS venture building) and Azeem Zainulbhai (with experience spanning banking, private equity, and venture-backed scale-ups) joined as co-founders.
Together, they grew Outsized into a trusted platform connecting independent professionals and clients around the world.
Today, we’re a 50+ strong global team with a shared purpose: helping organisations build flexible, high-performing teams through exceptional independent talent.
Where you can find us
We’re a global business with hubs in Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, India, South Africa, and Europe.
Our reach is global, but our approach is personal. We love digital collaboration, but we also believe in real connections: hosting roundtables, breakfasts, and meet-ups that bring together clients, independents, and industry experts to share insights and ideas.
Get to know us
Meet the leadership team
Ex-consultants, FS leaders and investors who’ve sat on both sides of the table.
Outsized has quickly become an important partner for Oliver Wyman in the Asia Pacific region for our talent-on-demand needs.
Kirsty Hill, Director Talent, Asia Pacific Region, Oliver Wyman
Ask AI about Outsized
Don’t take our word for it. Get an independent view from ChatGPT, Claude or Gemini.
Let’s talk
Speak to an Outsized representative about how we can help you implement an agile, flexible workforce model to drive growth, efficiency, and cost savings.