GLG

If you have deep, specific domain expertise and want to monetize it one hour at a time, GLG is one of the most straightforward paths to doing so — here is exactly how it works.

What Is GLG (Gerson Lehrman Group) and Who Pays?

Founded in 1998 and headquartered in New York, Gerson Lehrman Group is one of the largest expert networks in the world, with a self-reported Council Member base of over one million professionals. The company has spent more than two decades building infrastructure that connects institutional decision-makers with domain experts for time-limited knowledge transfer.

The clients paying for access include private equity and venture capital firms conducting due diligence, hedge funds building investment theses, management consulting teams supplementing primary research, Fortune 500 strategy and corporate development groups, and occasionally NGOs or government-adjacent organizations. These clients pay GLG a platform and access fee — you, the expert, never pay anything to join or maintain your profile.

How the money flows matters: clients pay GLG for the platform; GLG pays you a per-engagement honorarium. Your financial exposure is zero.

Compared to competitors like AlphaSights, Guidepoint, or Tegus, GLG is generally considered the largest network with the broadest industry coverage and a particularly strong institutional client base in finance and life sciences. That scale means more inbound consultation requests for well-positioned experts, but also more competition at the profile level — your positioning in the GLG search tool matters.

GLG is not the right fit for everyone. If you are early-career without a clearly defined niche, if you prefer project-based retainer relationships, or if your expertise is genuinely generalist, the call-by-call marketplace model may feel sporadic. Understanding the expert network consultation process before joining will help set realistic expectations.

GLG is a legitimate, well-capitalized marketplace where institutional clients pay for your specific expertise — you bear zero financial risk to join.

How GLG Pays Experts — Rates, Frequency, and Currency

GLG refers to expert compensation as an honorarium, billed on an hourly basis. Publicly reported ranges run from roughly $100 per hour for junior or early-career professionals to $1,000 or more per hour for C-suite executives, former regulators, or highly specialized technical experts. Niche expertise in areas like FDA regulatory pathways, semiconductor manufacturing, or distressed debt restructuring can command rates at the higher end or above. That said, your initial rate is assigned by GLG at onboarding and is negotiable — particularly after you complete several calls with positive client feedback.

Key payment details:

• Timing: typically net-30 after a completed and confirmed engagement; some experts report faster cycles depending on region and volume
• Methods: ACH bank transfer for US-based experts, international wire transfer, and PayPal in some regions — confirm your options during onboarding
• Currency: USD by default in the United States; local currency options are available in major markets including the UK, EU, and APAC
• Tax treatment: GLG issues a 1099-NEC (US) or local equivalent; you are classified as an independent contractor, not an employee
• Exclusivity: none — you can simultaneously maintain active profiles on AlphaSights, Guidepoint, Dialectica, or any other expert network

Understanding how expert network honorarium rates are set gives you real leverage. After your first few completed calls, email your GLG network manager and request a rate review with a short justification — comparable market rates and client demand signals both carry weight.

Rates vary widely but are negotiable — the more specific and in-demand your expertise, the more leverage you have.

What Kinds of Calls You Can Expect

The vast majority of GLG engagements are one-hour telephone or video consultations. A client-side analyst or investment professional asks structured, pointed questions about a specific market, competitive dynamic, operational process, or decision-making pattern you have direct experience with. These are not lectures — they are interrogations, conducted professionally.

Other engagement formats include:

• Survey engagements: asynchronous written responses; compensated at a fraction of the hourly rate; lower effort, lower pay
• In-person meetings or site visits: less frequent, higher compensation; typically associated with private equity due diligence or strategy engagements
• Multi-call project series: some clients rebook the same expert across multiple sessions for an extended workstream — these are valuable but not guaranteed

Call topics vary by sector. Finance and private equity clients typically probe market sizing, unit economics, competitive dynamics, and management assessments. Healthcare and pharma clients focus on drug pipelines, reimbursement landscapes, and clinical workflows. Technology clients ask about vendor evaluations, enterprise sales cycles, and product adoption patterns. Industrials and supply chain clients want operational benchmarks, supplier relationships, and regulatory context.

There is a hard boundary: GLG's compliance framework prohibits any discussion of material non-public information (MNPI), client-specific confidential data, or anything your current employer's NDA restricts. GLG's compliance team screens engagements before they reach you, and you are expected to flag any conflicts before the call begins. Reviewing GLG's compliance guidelines thoroughly during onboarding is not optional — it protects you legally.

Most engagements are one-hour calls with institutional analysts — prepare to answer pointed, specific questions about market dynamics, not give general opinions.

How to Get Onboarded with GLG — Step by Step

1. Apply or get recruited: Submit a profile at GLG.com, or respond to direct recruiter outreach — LinkedIn is a common channel. No application fee exists at any stage.
2. Profile review: GLG's network team evaluates your background for domain depth and client relevance. This typically takes one to five business days.
3. Intake call with a network manager: A 15–30 minute conversation to confirm your expertise areas, set an initial hourly rate, and explain compliance obligations.
4. Compliance training: A mandatory online module covering MNPI rules, securities law basics, and confidentiality obligations. Plan for roughly 20–30 minutes. You cannot take a call until this is complete.
5. Profile goes live: You appear in GLG's proprietary client-facing search tool.
6. Consultation requests arrive: GLG contacts you by email or phone with a brief topic description and proposed time. You can accept or decline — there is no penalty for declining.
7. Pre-call preparation: Review the topic brief GLG provides; flag any conflicts of interest before the call starts.
8. Call completion and confirmation: Both parties confirm post-call; GLG logs the engagement and initiates payment processing.
9. Rate renegotiation: After completing several calls, reach out to your network manager to request a rate review.

The entire process from application to first available call typically takes less than a week for candidates with clear profiles and no compliance complications. Knowing what to expect from the GLG onboarding process removes most of the friction.

Onboarding is low-friction and typically completes in under a week — the compliance module is the only mandatory step that requires real attention.

Common Screening Questions GLG Asks During Onboarding

GLG network managers are not making small talk during your intake call. They are building a structured record of your expertise that will surface in client searches. Expect questions like:

• What specific markets, geographies, or customer segments have you worked in directly?
• What were your decision-making responsibilities — budget authority, vendor selection, hiring?
• Can you speak to pricing dynamics and competitive positioning, not just general trends?
• Are you currently employed, and do you have any restrictive covenants or confidentiality agreements that limit what you can discuss?
• Have you had access to MNPI in the last six to twelve months? (Particularly relevant for anyone working at or advising a public company.)
• What hourly rate do you expect, and what justifies it?

Preparing strong answers to these expert network screening questions before your intake call accelerates your approval and tends to result in a higher initial rate. Be precise about what you know — and equally precise about what you cannot discuss.

GLG is vetting for specificity and compliance safety — the clearer you are about what you know and what you can't discuss, the faster you clear screening.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does GLG onboarding take?

For most applicants with a clear professional background and no compliance complications, the full process — from application to a live profile — takes roughly three to seven business days. The compliance training module is the only step with a hard gate.

Can I be on GLG and other expert networks at the same time?

Yes. GLG does not require exclusivity. Many active experts maintain simultaneous profiles on AlphaSights, Guidepoint, Third Bridge, Dialectica, and others. Comparing expert network rates across platforms is a reasonable way to understand your market value.

What happens if I decline a consultation request?

Nothing. There is no penalty for declining, and declining does not affect your standing or rate. Most experts decline calls that fall outside their expertise or conflict with employer restrictions.

Will GLG share my identity with the client before a call?

GLG typically provides clients with a summary profile rather than your full identity during the matching phase. Your name and employer are usually shared closer to the confirmed engagement. Review GLG's privacy practices during onboarding if this is a concern.

Can my current employer restrict me from participating?

Possibly. Some employment contracts include outside business activity clauses, non-compete provisions, or restrictions on discussing company-specific information. You are responsible for reviewing your own agreements. GLG's compliance framework is designed to avoid topics that would implicate employer confidentiality, but it does not replace your independent legal review.

How do I negotiate a higher rate with GLG?

The most effective approach is to complete two to four calls at your initial rate, then email your network manager with a concise case: your specific expertise, recent client engagement volume, and comparable rates in your sector. GLG has a financial incentive to retain active, well-reviewed experts, and rate increases are common for in-demand Council Members.