In this episode of Counsel Brew, we sit down with Brandon Dean, President of AVIO Consulting, euphonium enthusiast, startup veteran, and self-proclaimed maven of coffee precision. But before he was leading a specialized IT services and systems integration firm helping companies accelerate their digital evolution, Brandon was a band kid, a drum major, and a flat-white fan in the making.

Brandon’s early interest in consulting was driven by the excitement of new challenges and the appeal of a fast-paced, global career. But it wasn’t long before he discovered the realities of the corporate world where long hours and quiet excellence didn’t always translate to advancement. After being told he was “too good and too invisible” to move up, he realized he needed to adjust his approach to advancing in his career.

That realization sparked his move into startups, and eventually to founding AVIO Consulting. We dive into the long game of building a people-centered company during a volatile time. Brandon opens up about some of the most pivotal moments in his journey—leaving the security of a stable job, drafting a business plan in the middle of the night while preparing to welcome his second child, and learning to make hard calls as a new leader. His reflections are thoughtful and grounded, offering an honest look at what it really takes to build a company with purpose from the ground up.

Of course, we couldn’t talk to Brandon without geeking out on coffee. We explore his dual brew identity: Flat white when someone else is making it (shoutout to LDU in Dallas), AeroPress when he’s in charge of the coffee. We enjoy walking through his ritual—hand-grinding the beans, measuring grams of water, and cleaning every tool with precision. We also get the delightful lowdown on why he and his tea-loving wife have completely separate tumbler zones.

Whether you're leading a company, figuring out how to become visible, launching a side hustle, or just trying to pick the right espresso setup, this episode offers a blend of wisdom, humor, and some very strong brew.

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Find Brandon Dean at https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandonjdean/

Find AVIO Consulting at https://www.linkedin.com/company/avio-consulting/

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Explicit Rating is for the occasional use of colorful language.