Join Honeycomb’s Deri Hughes and New Minds’ Caroline Boston, as they explore the key findings from The Consulting People Report 2026.
If you are yet to download your copy of the report, you can do so here:
The Consulting People Report 2026
In this session Caroline shares the four major themes from CPR26, grounded in original research with consulting leaders:
The Senior Team Tipping Point
AI is changing consulting fast – but it’s senior leaders, not juniors, who will be most exposed.The Changing Shape of the Firm
While AI plays a role, shifting talent tenure and client demands are also reshaping firms. Many are moving from traditional pyramid structures to diamonds or pods, with greater focus on experienced consultants and hybrid teams.Hybrid by Design
Hybrid working is now the default. But it brings risks to culture, learning, and wellbeing. Firms must deliberately design for connection, not assume it will happen.The Future is Human
In an AI-enhanced world, it’s the human skills – empathy, communication, judgment – that will define great consultants and trusted advisors.
Deri then introduces the five-part Playbook – practical guidance for consulting firm leaders navigating the year ahead:
1. Stay client and strategy-led
2. Operationalise culture deliberately
3. Lead on expertise and quality
4. Upgrade human skills
5. Automate and experiment (especially with AI)
He shares practical examples, including how some firms are experimenting with pod structures that blend consulting and technical roles, and how junior consultants can still add critical value in an AI-enabled model.
Finally, they respond to many insightful questions from the live audience, including:
- How can we replicate “learning by doing” if AI is now doing the doing?
- How do we maintain quality when AI-generated outputs aren’t always consistent?
- What support do mid-level managers need as they lead hybrid teams and navigate new delivery models?
- Where will our future managers come from if the traditional junior pipeline is shrinking?
- How can firms stay agile in people planning when AI is changing the shape of work so quickly?
The Skilled Consultant is written by Deri Hughes and Colin Mann, Managing Directors of Honeycomb Consulting Skills Training. We help consulting leaders develop exceptional teams with world-class training to support every career transition.
If this discussion raised a question about your own team, do drop a comment below or book a 30-minute call with Deri or with Colin to discuss how we could help you.
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