Why AI Won’t Replace Consultants—Kearney’s Benjamin Glatz on The Future of AI in Consulting
March 12, 2025
How can consulting firms move beyond AI pilots to create lasting business impact? In this episode of Advising the Advisors, host Bolu Ben-Adeola sits down with Ben Glatz, Partner at Kearney, to explore the evolving role of AI in consulting and life sciences. Ben shares invaluable insights on scaling AI initiatives, building versus buying capabilities, and why human expertise remains crucial even as technology advances. Whether you're leading digital transformation or navigating the future of precision medicine, this conversation offers a practical framework for moving from experimentation to implementation. Tune in to discover why the biggest opportunities in AI consulting lie not just in efficiency gains, but in fundamentally reshaping how organizations create and deliver value.
In this episode of Advising the Advisors: AI in Consulting Unlocked, host Bolu Ben-Adeola welcomes Benjamin Glatz, Partner at Kearney, specializing in digital transformation and commercial strategy.
Join them as they:
- Delve into AI's transformative role in consulting, exploring how firms can move beyond pilots to create lasting business impact
- Explain why human expertise remains crucial in consulting despite AI advancement, with emphasis on the "essential rightness" principle in advisory work
- Discuss the evolution of the consulting pyramid structure as AI tools democratize knowledge access and augment junior consultants' capabilities
- Examine the future of healthcare and life sciences, particularly how AI could revolutionize drug discovery and enable precision medicine
- Highlight key success factors for scaling AI initiatives, including the importance of clear strategic focus and avoiding siloed implementations
- Consider the unique challenges and opportunities for consulting firms building internal AI capabilities versus partnering with external providers
- Explore how AI is reshaping client expectations and consulting deliverables, while emphasizing the enduring importance of human judgment and relationship building
Benjamin Glatz is a Partner at Kearney, specializing in digital transformation and commercial strategy in the life sciences sector. With over fifteen years of experience across industries including energy, retail, and life sciences, he guides global companies through digital disruption and AI adoption. In this episode, Ben shares deep insights on scaling AI initiatives beyond pilots, particularly in life sciences and pharmaceutical companies, where he helps organizations build innovative customer engagement models and leverage AI-driven insights for sustainable growth. His unique perspective bridges traditional consulting expertise with practical implementation experience, having worked both as a consultant and in-house transformation leader at major corporations like Shell. Ben's work at Kearney focuses on helping organizations move from AI experimentation to scalable, value-driving solutions while navigating complex regulatory environments and emerging technological capabilities.
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Episode Highlights:
[05:57] Balancing Top-Down Strategy with Bottom-Up Innovation in AI Implementation
[08:14] Transforming Core Consulting Capabilities with AI Augmentation
[13:00] Rethinking Talent Development in an AI-Enhanced Consulting Model
[18:26] Maintaining the Human Element in AI-Enabled Consulting
[23:48] Creating Value Through Custom AI Models for Industry Expertise
Episode Resources:
[05:57] Balancing Top-Down Strategy with Bottom-Up Innovation in AI Implementation
[08:14] Transforming Core Consulting Capabilities with AI Augmentation
[13:00] Rethinking Talent Development in an AI-Enhanced Consulting Model
[18:26] Maintaining the Human Element in AI-Enabled Consulting
[23:48] Creating Value Through Custom AI Models for Industry Expertise
Episode Resources:
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