Why Q27? The Story Behind Our New Name

A new name naturally raises a question: Why that one?

For years, we operated as WorksCounsel Consulting. The name reflected our roots in the workplace, but it didn’t quite capture everything we do. Our work spans human resources and strategic communications. Sometimes clients need one. Sometimes they need both.

We wanted a name that made room for the whole practice.

Q27 appealed to us because it was simple, distinctive, and open to interpretation. There was no hidden formula behind it. But as we explored the name, we discovered some interesting connections.

Start with Q. It could stand for question. That’s where much of our work begins. What really happened? What’s the underlying problem? Who needs to be heard? What should happen next? The right questions often lead to better decisions.

Then there’s 27.

The Spanish alphabet has 27 letters, including the distinctive ñ. We liked the connection to language, culture, and the international nature of our work.

There’s also a bit of English language history. The ampersand (&) was once taught as the 27th character of the alphabet. It means and, which happens to describe our approach rather well. Human resources and communications. People and organizations. Strategy and execution.

We even discovered that Q.27 is the designation of an international telecommunications standard concerning the transmission of an answer signal. That wasn’t part of our thinking when we chose the name, but it’s a fitting coincidence for a firm whose work involves asking questions, finding answers, and communicating clearly.

None of these interpretations defines Q27 on its own. That’s what we like about it. The name has room for different ideas, perspectives, and possibilities.

WorksCounsel will always be part of our story. Q27 Consulting better reflects the full scope of our work and gives us room for whatever comes next.