What does reinvention look like inside a global consulting firm with nearly $20 billion in revenue? In this episode of Consulting the Future, I speak with Mohamad Ali, Senior Vice President at IBM Consulting, about how the company is navigating the shift toward generative AI—one practical use case at a time.

Mohamad brings a rare blend of experience across cybersecurity, data, and enterprise software, shaped by leadership roles at IDG, Carbonite, and now IBM. This conversation unpacks how that background is informing IBM Consulting’s current transformation, including how teams are working differently, where AI is being applied effectively, and why an open ecosystem matters now more than ever.

We look closely at how generative AI is already changing day-to-day consulting work. From improving decision speed to redesigning complex workflows, Mohamad shares examples of client engagements that show real outcomes rather than hypothetical benefits. There’s a strong focus on using AI to amplify human expertise, not displace it—a theme that carries through his approach to upskilling and workforce development.

As consulting shifts toward more software-driven models, Mohamad outlines how IBM is adapting its own culture and mindset to stay relevant in a digital-first environment. That means faster iteration, deeper client collaboration, and new ways of thinking about what consulting looks like in the age of automation.

If you're wondering how to build an AI strategy that works in the real world—not just in pilot programs—this conversation offers grounded insights from inside one of the largest consulting organizations on the planet. It also raises a broader question that every leader should be asking: how do we make AI something that empowers, rather than replaces, the people at the heart of our businesses?

Listen in to learn how IBM Consulting is approaching the future—not as a trend to chase, but as a challenge to shape.

Inside the Accenture Tech Vision Report and the Future of AI-Driven Business

What does it really take to turn AI from hype into value? In this episode of Consulting the Future, I sit down with Mary Hamilton, Global Lead for Accenture's Connected Innovation Centers, to unpack the key findings from Accenture’s 25th Tech Vision report and explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping business.

We discuss how AI is moving beyond automation to become a true collaborator in the enterprise. From generative design to intelligent agents and robotics, Mary explains how technology is evolving from instruction-led tools to systems that understand intent and adapt in real time.

Topics we cover include:

• Why trust is the foundation for AI adoption and how to build it rationally and emotionally
• How organizations can inject personality into AI to avoid sounding the same as everyone else
• The concept of cognitive digital brains and how multi-agent systems are transforming operations
• How robotics are becoming more flexible and applicable across logistics, manufacturing, and healthcare
• The importance of experimentation, upskilling, and making employees part of the AI journey
• How to measure AI success using adoption, engagement, customer satisfaction, and ethical alignment

Mary also shares how Accenture is helping clients bring these ideas to life through its innovation centers and how leaders can start turning AI into meaningful impact.

If your organization is thinking seriously about how to scale AI, build trust, and stay competitive in an increasingly autonomous world, this episode offers a practical, research-backed roadmap to help guide your next steps.

Is your business ready to treat AI as a partner rather than just a tool? Let’s find out.

In this episode of Consulting the Future, we explore how Generative AI is quietly reshaping the consulting profession, not through bold predictions, but through real-world experimentation and measurable outcomes.

Recorded as part of the Tech Talks Network, this conversation features Vladimir "Vlad" Lukic from Boston Consulting Group (BCG), who unpacks findings from a major research collaboration between BCG, Boston University, and OpenAI’s Economic Impacts team. The study set out to measure how GenAI tools like Enterprise ChatGPT with Advanced Data Analysis perform in the hands of consultants tasked with complex data science assignments.

What they found is already shifting how professional services firms think about productivity, talent, and technical capability. Vlad explains how BCG consultants with no prior coding experience were able to complete predictive modeling and statistical analysis tasks at 86 percent of the performance benchmark set by experienced data scientists, and even did so 10 percent faster on average. But the implications go far beyond speed.

We discuss what happens when AI becomes an exoskeleton for knowledge workers, why over-reliance on tools can create new learning gaps, and how firms can design workflows that balance automation with skill retention. Vlad shares how GenAI is being used at BCG to transform onboarding, speed up ideation, and even shift the number of hires needed on high-volume projects.

This is not about replacing consultants. It’s about enhancing their capabilities and rethinking how expertise is developed and deployed. Vlad also touches on how these insights extend beyond the office, from helping his kids understand entrepreneurship to reimagining family travel planning through AI-assisted decisions.

Whether you're leading a consulting practice, working in enterprise transformation, or simply looking for a grounded understanding of how GenAI is being applied today, this episode offers a candid look inside a firm that is already putting it to work.

What will GenAI change in your workflow? And how are you preparing your teams to not just use these tools, but think with them?

Join the conversation and let us know what the future of consulting means to you.