On October 1, Dean Mehrotra hosted a panel of consulting leaders for another Tech Talks Business event. The talk was held at the Cisco Innovation Center in the CODA building at Tech Square and included panelists Chloe Barzey, senior managing director at Accenture in Atlanta; Tiffany Burns, senior partner at McKinsey & Company and Atlanta managing partner; and Parmeet Grover, managing director and senior partner at The Boston Consulting Group (BCG).
The consulting industry is undergoing significant changes, with a renewed focus on client-centricity and specialization. Burns noted that while consultants were once more generalists, today's landscape demands expertise and specialization to solve the complexity of problems. "We now often also see efforts where we partner with clients along a holistic impact journey to deliver performance transformation versus discrete project efforts. This work has become much more holistic and fulfilling for many of our people," she said.
The rise of AI is reshaping every aspect of business, including consulting. As Barzey pointed out, "Most organizations are thinking 'how do we leverage Generative AI.'" This technological revolution is prompting consultants to guide their clients through digital transformations while breaking down organizational silos. Processes need to be redefined, people need to be reskilled and a data and generative AI backbone needs to be built into the digital core. For Burns, the future of retail is being reimagined with a blend of digital services and personalized in-store experiences, as exemplified by the innovative concept store her team set up in the Mall of America.
Leadership in consulting is evolving to meet these new challenges. The panel emphasized the importance of collaboration, resilience, and continuous learning. Grover highlighted the need for competence, adaptability, and humility in leadership roles. As the pace of change accelerates, he stated that consultants must possess technical skills and demonstrate the ability to learn, unlearn, and relearn. While AI is transforming the industry, allowing for faster problem-solving, there's a growing emphasis on responsible AI implementation and the irreplaceable value of human insight in navigating complex business landscapes, according to Barzey.
In discussing innovation, Grover described Atlanta's innovation and startup environment, noting that while the city remains in the top 10 for the number of startups and technology innovations, he said there's much to be done, including creating a consortium between institutions to attract more venture capital and startup companies.
After taking questions from the audience, the panelists joined attendees for a reception after the event.
Watch the full event in the video below.
