The Future of the Firm
Conversations with experts that explore the big trends shaping the professional services industry.
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Why ESG integrity is at a crossroads
06/30/2025
Why ESG integrity is at a crossroads
In the latest episode of The Future of the Firm podcast, Dr. Katharina Weghmann, Global ESG Leader within Forensic & Integrity Services at EY, and Nick Jones, Director of Client & Markets Engagement also within Forensic & Integrity Services at EY, sat down with Emma Carroll, Head of Content at Source to discuss why ESG integrity is at a crossroads. Nick and Katharina shared their insights on the following matters and more: Many organisations face challenges in clearly defining industry-relevant ESG targets and translating them into actionable initiatives. ESG efforts are often siloed from the organisation's core purpose and strategy; treated more as a compliance risk than as an integrated, strategic priority. A 'say-do gap' often exists between leadership’s ESG commitments and how employees perceive those priorities. Bridging this gap requires clear, consistent communication, and alignment across all stakeholders—employees, investors, customers, and boards. Companies that excel in ESG often view it as a long-term strategic imperative rather than a regulatory exercise. They integrate ESG into their purpose, are willing to make tough choices and short-term sacrifices for long-term value, and they prioritise building trust with all stakeholders. To drive Integrity-First ESG, organisations should prioritise a few key areas where they can make a significant and measurable impact, rather than spreading efforts across too many KPIs. Embracing collective action by collaborating with peers in the industry or region can accelerate progress toward shared ESG goals and deliver more meaningful change. This podcast discusses EY’s article Why ESG integrity is at a crossroads between aspiration and regulation, which was rated as one of the top pieces of content in Source’s annual report, . If you enjoyed this conversation, don’t miss our sister podcast, Business Leader’s Voice. In a recent episode, we talked to Andrew Brothers, former CIO at Primark, about targeting tech investment in retail as a CIO.
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The future of AI consulting
06/03/2025
The future of AI consulting
On our latest episode of The Future of the Firm podcast, Dr Jan van de Poll, MD and Founder of Praioritize, caught up with Emma Carroll, Head of Content at Source. Jan and Emma shared their insights on the following matters and more: According to Source’s latest quarterly client survey, 98% of consulting buyers believe that generative AI will replace consultants to some extent, with 55% expecting it to do so to a significant degree Virtual consulting is challenging the established consulting model: Jan argues that while traditional consultants typically only serve 1% of the organisation, virtual consulting models offer the opportunity to extend insights and support to the remaining 99%. AI is streamlining consulting processes—turning time-consuming tasks like conducting and analysing hundreds of interviews into more efficient, dynamic workflows using smart, real-time questionnaires. Virtual consulting has implication for the governance processes within firms, and partners may find their role evolving. We can now combine the two, GenAI and human consultants, while AI can rapidly process and structure information, human expertise remains essential for tailoring insights and delivering client-ready solutions. [5:11] Despite current limitations, virtual consultants and human professionals are not mutually exclusive—but can, in fact, complement one another to create a more efficient, adaptive consulting model. The next steps for AI consulting will focus on objective quantification of soft aspects such as future readiness, leadership, innovation, and organisational dynamics. These can then be used to create KPIs to derive actionable insights. If you enjoyed this conversation, don’t miss our sister podcast, Business Leader’s Voice. In , we talked to Matthew Wilson, Chief Legal Office at Fremantle, about creating business resilience.
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A transformed approach to audit
05/20/2025
A transformed approach to audit
Sebastian Stoeckle, Global Head of Audit Innovation at KPMG, caught up with Emma Carroll, Head of Content at Source, on the latest episode of our The Future of the Firm podcast. Sebastian and Emma shared their insights on the following matters and more: Audit today is as important as it’s always been, with its core mission still centred around generating trust in business entities. But the environment in which audit operates is transforming as a result of geopolitical, regulatory, and technological change. There has been a shift in clients’ attitudes to audit. Historically, they have seen it as burden, but now they understand that it can provide valuable insights for organisations. Clients now expect more than just an analysis of transactions—they want insights, such as how to evolve their compliance systems and how they stack up against the rest of the marketplace. The ability to apply a digital audit is limited by the client’s own digital maturity. If organisations themselves have invested in standardising and centralising systems, this increases the capacity for audit innovation. Neural networks and basic machine learning have been being used in audit for some time, but auditors are increasingly seeing the value of large language models. There’s also huge potential in agentic AI and research reasoning models. The future of audit is not about replacing humans, but creating a powerful combination of human expertise and machine capabilities. If you enjoyed this conversation, don’t miss our sister podcast, Business Leader’s Voice. In , we talked to Matthew Wilson, Chief Legal Office at Fremantle, about creating business resilience.
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Risk services: converting expertise into impact
04/22/2025
Risk services: converting expertise into impact
Kapish Vanvaria, EY Global and Americas Risk Consulting Leader, caught up with Emma Carroll, Head of Content at Source, on the latest episode of our The Future of the Firm podcast. Kapish shared his insights on the following matters and more: There have been some big changes in risk services in recent years, including technology innovation, the impact of regulatory changes, and an evolution of client expectations—in particular, clients wanting more sector-specific and personalised solutions. The sweet spot for risk experts lies in offering strong domain expertise—for instance, top tier talent in regulatory compliance—and marrying that up with deep sector knowledge, while supporting this with insights from other industries as well. To really solve business problems for clients, it often involves more than just consulting. Audit, legal, industry experts, and technology experts all need to have a seat at the table, and firms should look at creating shared KPIs to encourage this collaboration. When bringing solutions to clients, firms should be using themselves as client zero, and working on the concept of ‘proof, not promises’. Testing solutions within the firm itself and showing its successes brings credibility to the offering. When choosing which firms to shortlist, clients are most concerned about expertise, but an ability to implement is close behind. Firms can translate their expertise into implementation by never being afraid to fail and by going through the iterative process of finding what doesn’t work to lead you to what does. Firms are starting to supplement their workforce with digital FTEs. Beyond improving quality and reducing costs, this also allows work for be carried out more quickly. People become reviewers rather than doers and have more time to thrive as individuals. If you enjoyed this conversation, don’t miss our sister podcast, Business Leader’s Voice. In a , we talked to Francine Bennett, Board Member at the Ada Lovelace Institute, about solving business problems with AI.
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Which firms created the best and most relevant thought leadership this year?
04/10/2025
Which firms created the best and most relevant thought leadership this year?
Source’s Natasha Campbell, Principal Thought Leadership Consultant, and Nicola Kostrzewska, Senior Consultant, caught up with Emma Carroll, Head of Content, on the latest episode of our The Future of the Firm podcast. Natasha and Nicola shared the themes and findings from Source’s latest Quality Ratings of Though Leadership report, including: Being relevant to your target audience isn’t just about making your presence continually felt in the market, but also about showing that you deeply understand your clients’ current and future—even latent—needs. For firms to improve their resilience scores in Source’s Quality Ratings report, they should make sure they are not merely naming authors but are also including biographies that outline their experience and knowledge to boost credibility. There is little transparency about how firms have been using GenAI in their thought leadership—and firms could be making an error here: Our quarterly survey found that clients actively want firms to demonstrate their use of AI. This year’s report found that there was less thought leadership made in collaboration with think tanks, universities, or other organisations—but firms would benefit from using partnerships to foster innovation, expand reach, and amplify content. If you enjoyed this conversation, don’t miss our sister podcast, Business Leader’s Voice. In a , we talked to Francine Bennett, Board Member at the Ada Lovelace Institute, about the opportunities and risks of AI for client organisations.
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The Future of Human Capital Consulting
03/11/2025
The Future of Human Capital Consulting
Lesley Uren, Global CEO of Consulting for Korn Ferry, caught up with Emma Carroll, Source’s Head of Content, on the latest episode of The Future of the Firm podcast to discuss where the hot spots and challenges in human capital consulting are today, and where clients’ needs are set to shift in this space. Lesley shares her insight on the following matters and more: Volatility in the market for human capital consulting is being driven by large macro factors that are impacting clients’ appetite to invest. This uncertainty is likely to persist, and consulting firms need to be able to pivot quickly to respond to clients’ changing business issues. CEOs are facing a big challenge around maintaining business performance as they transform their organisations. AI is one of the big triggers here, as leaders start to rethink their business models, but there are other drivers too, including cost pressures. Data, including the use of data to create insights, is set to be the biggest change in human capital consulting. We discuss the power of unlocking client data and combining that with a firm’s data to reveal hidden information about talent and drive better business performance. The big questions from clients around AI include: How can we redesign our organisation? How will work be different? What kind of skills will we need? Where will we find those skills at scale? How can we galvanise our people behind this change? How will softer skills ensure this transition is successful? The political temperature around DEI is impacting the type of support clients need in this area. We discuss what is changing and what is staying the same. Firms will need to think differently about demonstrating value to clients. It’s about more than processing and sythesising data now: It’s about proving impact. If you enjoyed this conversation, don’t miss our sister podcast, Business Leader’s Voice. In we talked to Sarah Ricketts, SVP for Procurement at Rolls-Royce, about transforming procurement with data, culture, and tech.
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The impact of Trump’s policies on professional services—deglobalisation, decarbonisation, demographics, and digitalisation
01/28/2025
The impact of Trump’s policies on professional services—deglobalisation, decarbonisation, demographics, and digitalisation
Michael McMahon, Professor of Economics at University of Oxford, and Fiona Czerniawska, CEO of Source, caught up with Emma Carroll, Head of Content at Source, on the latest episode of our The Future of the Firm podcast to debate the potential impact of President Trump’s policies on professional services via the four global megatrends of deglobalisation, decarbonisation, demographics, and digitalisation. Michael and Fiona shared their insights on the following matters and more: The new US government’s protectionist policies are the latest iteration of a global move towards deglobalisation. While clients may turn to consultants to help navigate these changes, the inflationary impact (of tariffs, etc.) may lead to tighter purse strings and decreased consulting demand long term. Trump has made his stance on climate change and decarbonisation very clear. But firms should not be packing away their ESG services—the world could look very different at the end of Trump’s presidency. The new US government’s plans to restrict immigration, paired with other demographic changes, will lead to skills shortages in the labour market. This may affect the services clients are looking for—for instance, there may be an opportunity for firms to offer more staff augmentation services to fill this gap. While the EU is bringing in regulations to encourage ethical AI use, the US wants to keep restrictions to a minimum. The region is therefore likely to see a further boom in digitalisation and tech growth, and firms can expect a boost in tech consulting work as a result. Consulting leaders should be looking to the capital markets to assess the impacts of Trump’s policies—this is how he will be measuring success. Firms should also keep an eye on client confidence levels and consumer behaviour patterns to respond to any early trends. If you enjoyed this conversation, don’t miss our sister podcast, Business Leader’s Voice. In a , we talked to Benjamin Samuels, Former Chief Revenue Officer at WeWork about navigating growth and change.
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Trends and opportunities for firms in 2025
01/21/2025
Trends and opportunities for firms in 2025
Source’s CEO, Fiona Czerniawska, and Director of Market Trends, Catherine Anderson, caught up with Emma Carroll, Head of Content, on the latest episode of The Future of the Firm to discuss trends and opportunities for consulting firms in 2025. Fiona and Catherine share their insights on the following matters and more: They predict increased demand for technology, risk, and HR & change work—although this may come from different areas of the business to where you might expect. Clients may initially be interested in AI for specific point solutions, but these will open their eyes to the wider possibilities of the technology. Firms should therefore be quick to jump on these early windows of opportunity. The end of last year saw client sentiment shift towards growth after a long period of caution and cost cutting. We discuss why this is the case and how firms can best support clients with their ambitions. Clients are looking for firms that understand them and their industry but can also bring consulting expertise that offers them a new perspective. They don’t want to be given teams they have to train themselves or firms that offer a cookie-cutter approach. Fifty-eight percent of clients expect fee rates to decline, but this could be a case of wishful thinking. We also discuss how clients are responding to the idea of outcomes-based pricing. Fiona and Catherine discuss their predictions for consulting in ten years’ time, including a shift from pure advisory to more delivery-focused work and an evolution of traditional consulting firms into technology firms. If you enjoyed this conversation, don’t miss our sister podcast, Business Leader’s Voice. In a , we talked to Benjamin Samuels, Former Chief Revenue Officer at WeWork, about navigating growth and change.
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Transforming service delivery
01/07/2025
Transforming service delivery
Wavestone’s Neil Sharp, Head of Proposition and Go to Market, and Uta Niendorf, ExCom Member and Partner for Digital Customer in Germany, caught up with Emma Carroll, Head of Content at Source, on the latest episode of our The Future of the Firm podcast. Uta and Neil shared their insights on the following matters and more: Data collection is central to producing seamlessly integrated touchpoints and creating a frictionless omnichannel experience. Businesses should not just focus on aspects that deliver immediate revenues like sales and marketing, but also on after-sales and service—and crucially on the customer’s “moment of truth”. We discuss why. In the current fast-changing business landscape it is important to have an energetic, agile business model that allows for trial and error in a controlled way. We explore what this looks like. Empathy is at the heart of customer services, and while AI that delivers convincing and genuine empathy remains yet to be seen, emotional AI could be the next big thing. Professional services firms are increasingly being asked to use AI to perform labour-intensive jobs that would traditionally have been carried out by junior consultants. While technological advancements are rife in the consulting world, it ultimately remains a people business: Nurturing relationships will remain key to success. If you enjoyed this conversation, don’t miss our sister podcast, Business Leader’s Voice. In a , we talked to Benjamin Samuels, Former Chief Revenue Officer at WeWork, about navigating growth and change.
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The impact of private equity investment on the audit market
12/10/2024
The impact of private equity investment on the audit market
Ryan Piper, Global CEO at Morison Global, and Fiona Czerniawska, CEO of Source, caught up with Emma Carroll, Head of Content at Source, on the latest episode of our The Future of the Firm podcast. Ryan and Fiona shared their insights on the following matters and more: The impact of PE funding on the use of technology in audit firms, in particular looking at how AI can make an impact. How the time horizons of PE deals have shifted to become more long term as a consequence of market volatility, and whether this shows any signs of changing. The commoditisation of audit services, and how this leads to a greater emphasis on customer experience to differentiate firms. Consolidation in the audit industry, and how firms globally are achieving growth and scale through mergers & acquisitions. Practical advice for audit firms, including exploring funding options and understanding market positioning. If you enjoyed this conversation, don’t miss our sister podcast, Business Leader’s Voice. In a , we talked to Benjamin Samuels, Former Chief Revenue Officer at WeWork, about navigating growth and change.
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Trends and opportunities in the financial advisory market
11/26/2024
Trends and opportunities in the financial advisory market
David Blowers, Co-President of the Financial Advisory Practice at Kroll, and Fiona Czerniawska, CEO of Source, caught up with Emma Carroll, Head of Content at Source, on the latest episode of our The Future of the Firm podcast. David and Fiona shared their insights on the following matters and more: While deals tend to drop off during more turbulent times, it all comes down the quality of the asset. If corporates are laser focused on a really good asset, it will get done despite market conditions—and this is something that will persist. David and Fiona share their views on the performance of the deals market in the last 18 months, including drivers and predictions. While AI is the technology everyone is talking about, it is a proxy for overall efficiency gains. Looking beyond just AI to focus on the technology that is the right fit for the client will yield the best results in the long term. The professional services market is bifurcating into two streams, with commoditised work in one direction and innovation in another. Likewise, half of the market is striving to be more technology-led, while the other half is focusing more on people. The importance of using a period of crisis to your advantage, for instance taking the opportunity to pull back on hiring, invest, and evolve to be ready for future opportunities. The big mistakes that firms could make, including trying to approach clients with a one-size-fits-all solution rather than listening to their needs and talking about the issues that resonate. If you enjoyed this conversation, don’t miss our sister podcast, Business Leader’s Voice. In a , we talked to Benjamin Samuels, Former Chief Revenue Officer at WeWork, about navigating growth and change.
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Shifting social expectations and value creation in organisations
11/12/2024
Shifting social expectations and value creation in organisations
Alison Grigg and Kerry Grigg, Managing Partners at Multiple Group, and Fiona Czerniawska, CEO of Source, caught up with Emma Carroll, Head of Content at Source, on the latest episode of our The Future of the Firm podcast. Alison, Kerry, and Fiona shared their insights on the following matters and more: The dangers of social washing and how demographic change is driving increased accountability, as the younger generations expect businesses to deliver on the ESG promises they’re making. The mistakes firms could be making, such as assuming that good leadership happens overnight and not doing enough work to embed social value throughout all areas of the business. The importance of assessing learning agility during recruitment and in performance reviews, to both foster an adaptable workplace and to give your employees the tools to carry them through life. The four generational “tribes” and how they approach the workplace, and every facet of their lives, differently. Practical takeaways for firms to implement, such as focusing on communication and getting to know your team. The extent to which consulting firms should consider and be held accountable for the intended and unintended human consequences of the changes they implement in a business. The importance of bringing not just a financial and business impact lens to big decisions, for instance headcount reductions, but also considering the intended and unintended social impact risks that might occur as a consequence. If you enjoyed this conversation, don’t miss our sister podcast, Business Leader’s Voice. In a , we talked to Sam Samaratunga, Global Head of Risk Services at PwC, about the future of the risk services market.
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The Future of the Risk Services Market
10/29/2024
The Future of the Risk Services Market
Sam Samaratunga, Global Head of Risk Services at PwC, and Fiona Czerniawska, CEO of Source, caught up with Emma Carroll, Head of Content at Source, on the latest episode of our The Future of the Firm podcast. Sam and Fiona shared their insights on the following matters and more: Many clients think their leaders aren’t quick enough to respond, but Sam stresses the importance of taking risks intelligently and making decisions with confidence. PwC’s annual risk survey found that 44% of CEOs believe their organisation won’t be economically viable if they carry on along their current economic path. We discuss the need to change, adapt, and reinvent. Sam takes us through the four layers of risk services—from macroeconomic risks through to crisis management. GenAI is improving productivity, decision making, and client and employee engagement—but it brings with it threats as well as opportunities. We discuss what these might look like in the risk space. Data analysis is important, but it is only as good as the quality of data available. We consider the importance of combining proprietary and external data to support decision making. Making use of ecosystems and working in a joined-up way is not just beneficial for firms, but for clients too. If you enjoyed this conversation, don’t miss our sister podcast, Business Leader’s Voice. In a , we talked to Benjamin Samuels, Former Chief Revenue Officer at WeWork, about navigating growth and change.
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Innovation in the consulting industry - what do clients want?
10/01/2024
Innovation in the consulting industry - what do clients want?
Fiona Czerniawska, Source’s CEO and Emma Carroll, Source’s Head of Content, discuss innovation in professional services firms, on the latest episode of our The Future of the Firm podcast. They discussed the following and more: When clients think about the types of innovation they see from firms they talk about blue-sky thinking, best practices that they can apply in their organisation, and flexible ways of working. If firms want to convince clients that they are innovative then they need to prove it rather than talk about it. A concrete example might include a small technology tool they’ve created or a solution to one, small pain point. Innovation has fallen from the top of clients’ wish lists of the attributes they want to see in firms. They still think it is important, but have prioritised things like expertise and the ability to implement in 2024. We wouldn’t be surprised to see this rebound when growth hits the business agenda again. “Tried and tested innovation” may not be innovation at all. And the value of innovation to a client can be eroded if firms roll the idea out more widely. Managed services offerings have a tricky tightrope to walk between being innovative and tailored to each client versus being commercially viable for firms. When clients talk about innovation, they often mean technology. Firms can help clients innovate fast with small-scale, quick tech wins, rather than large-scale, extended projects. This podcast can be listened to in conjunction with Source’s new publication, The Innovation Challenge, which takes a deeper dive into the subject and is available to subscribers of Source’s White Space programme. If you’d like to learn more, please If you enjoyed this conversation, don’t miss our sister podcast, Business Leader’s Voice. In , we talked to Andy Haywood, former Chief Modernisation Officer of Yorkshire Water, about the recurring challenges in businesses that he’s experienced during his career.
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Should consulting be regulated?
09/17/2024
Should consulting be regulated?
Fiona Czerniawska, Source’s CEO, and Margaret Cameron-Waller, Associate at Source, caught up with Emma Carroll, Source’s Head of Content, on the latest episode of our The Future of the Firm podcast to discuss the thorny issue of whether consulting should be regulated. Fiona and Margaret shared their insight on the following matters and more: If regulation is needed, then there is a decision to be made about whether firms or individual consultants would be the target. We think about what these options would involve. We consider what self-regulation looks like in the consulting industry today and what impact it is having. The wide nature of consulting work would make it extremely difficult to regulate—we look at the other pros and cons. There is an argument in favour of junior consultants going through a recognised qualification—we consider what this would entail. We also debate the need for CPD. We conclude that the consulting scandals that hit the headlines are outliers rather than the tip of an iceberg or the sign of a systemic problem. Firms should carry out satisfaction surveys with all clients, and this should include a question about the value created. We challenge firms to publish the results. If you enjoyed this conversation, don’t miss our sister podcast, Business Leader’s Voice. In , we talked to Andy Haywood, former Chief Modernisation Officer of Yorkshire Water, about the recurring challenges in businesses.
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The Role of AI in Tax Services, Marna Ricker, EY.
09/03/2024
The Role of AI in Tax Services, Marna Ricker, EY.
Marna Ricker, Global Vice Chair for Tax at EY, and Fiona Czerniawska, CEO of Source, caught up with Emma Carroll, Head of Content at Source, on the latest episode of our The Future of the Firm podcast. Marna and Fiona shared their insight on the following matters and more: Clients say that choosing where to start implementing AI in their tax operations is tricky. Something simple and repeatable is a good first target. We look at concrete examples across three, increasing levels of maturity. Some of the big challenges that clients are facing include getting robust data in place, legality & ethics, and how to put together a business case for implementing AI. Quantum computing is set to have a profound impact on tax, particularly around predictions and policy development. We consider what opportunities lie ahead. We explore three areas where EY is reimaging tax services: compliance and reporting, advice, and new services. Marna suggests that some tax services will never be carried out by AI, particularly ones where judgement is required. We consider what’s in and what’s out. There continue to be talent and capacity challenges in tax services; we consider some solutions. If you enjoyed this conversation, don’t miss our sister podcast, Business Leader’s Voice. In a , we talked to Jason Maude of Starling Bank about what a tech-first business wants from consulting firms.
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Outcomes-Focused Ecosystems, Greg Sarafin, EY.
08/20/2024
Outcomes-Focused Ecosystems, Greg Sarafin, EY.
Greg Sarafin, Global Vice Chair, EY Partner Ecosystem, caught up with Fiona Czerniawska, CEO of Source, on the latest episode of our The Future of the Firm podcast. Greg and Fiona shared their insight on the following matters and more: Clients want firms to help them drive their business outcomes, and increasingly take joint responsibility for those outcomes. That includes bringing along the collective partners that are needed. Partnering is the route to an outcome-based commercial model vs. the traditional product and services-based one. The role of consulting firms is shifting from being the advisor to the orchestrator. We discuss how EY is approaching this globally. Stakeholder value is created when clients move to a major platform as a service (PaaS) which is then strengthened by adding an orbiting ecosystem of smaller software businesses. A journey lies ahead that will take AI from being a copilot to having agency. We discuss the opportunities and timeline. Clients want to pay firms based on the value their ecosystems create. We explore what this means for fee models. We finish by discussing how firmss may take their partner ecosystems to the next level. If you enjoyed this conversation, don’t miss our sister podcast, Business Leader’s Voice. In a we talked to Jason Maude of Starling Bank about what a tech-first business wants from consulting firms.
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Quality thought leadership: more critical than ever?
08/06/2024
Quality thought leadership: more critical than ever?
Fresh from the publication of Source’s latest Quality Ratings of Thought Leadership report, Natasha Cambell, Principal Thought Leadership Consultant; Nicola Kostrzewska, Thought Leadership Consultant; and Emma Carroll, Head of Content, get together to debate today’s big thought leadership trends. They also discuss exactly how firms can improve the differentiation, appeal, resilience, and action-driving capability of their material. Natasha and Nicola discuss the following matters and more: Thought leadership has long been considered essential to driving awareness of a firm’s brand. However, Source’s research shows that it is also integral to the whole lifecycle of the firm-client relationship. Thought leadership has come a long way since the one-time-only launch of the doorstop report, where 80% of investment and effort was put into producing the thought leadership and only 20% on activating it. A more even split is now needed. Changing customer behaviours are shaping thought leadership. More content is being consumed on the move and clients want short, sharp resources. This is changing how thought leadership is produced and governed. Collaboration across a firm is key. Though leadership quality scores are at their highest ever this year. “Challenger brands” have worked harder on all dimensions of quality, and against this background, appeal and resilience have started to become non-negotiable hygiene factors. Thought leadership is distinguished from its “poorer relation” content marketing by a strong dataset. We look at what else sets it apart. Prompting action is, once again, where thought leadership often falls short. Firms have some good ideas in this space but fail to apply them consistently. If you enjoyed this conversation, don’t miss our sister podcast, Business Leader’s Voice. In a , we talked to Jason Maude of Starling Bank about what a tech-first business wants from consulting firms.
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Leading as a CMO in legal services, Jon Brewer, Orrick LLP.
07/09/2024
Leading as a CMO in legal services, Jon Brewer, Orrick LLP.
Jon Brewer, CMO of global law firm Orrick and European President of the Legal Marketing Association, caught up with Emma Carroll, Source’s Head of Content, on the latest episode of our The Future of the Firm podcast. Jon shared his insight on the following topics and more: How the role of the CMO in legal services has evolved, including becoming an advisor to the CEO and being more campaign focused The importance of building up a support network of peers How CMOs can influence strategy if they don’t have a seat at the board table Understanding your competition and adapting your value proposition in response How to get ahead of your customers’ needs, including the demands of regulation How to cut through with thought leadership in an era of digital distraction If you enjoyed this conversation, don’t miss our sister podcast, Business Leader’s Voice. In our , we talk to Simon Bumfrey of HSBC Innovation Banking about how to prioritise customer experience.
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The tech consulting market – trends and opportunities
06/24/2024
The tech consulting market – trends and opportunities
Ismail Amla, Global Practice Leader at Kyndryl, and Fiona Czerniawska, CEO of Source, caught up with Emma Carroll, Source’s Head of Content, on the latest episode of our The Future of the Firm podcast. Ismail and Fiona shared their insight on the following matters and more: Demand for support with AI, new regulation, innovation, and sector-specific digital transformation are all driving growth in this consulting sector. Clients are imagining new, cross-sector propositions. These will need new solutions from a technology point of view. Clients are becoming more realistic about making good use of AI. They aren’t becoming less interested, but they realise it isn’t as easy as they thought at first. There may be some interesting uses for AI around account management, particularly for clients that are working with multiple advisors. There is a trend towards technology-first when it comes to consulting projects. We discuss what this will look like and how it is set to transform the professional services sector. More mergers, acquisitions, or new partnerships may be on the cards between consulting firms, data companies, and platform providers. We look at what new entrants can add to partnerships and where firms are falling short with their ecosystems. If you enjoyed this conversation, don’t miss our sister podcast, Business Leader’s Voice. In our , we talk to Simon Bumfrey of HSBC Innovation Banking about how to prioritise customer experience.
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Partner hiring trends in professional services—the gender diversity lens, with Helen Tudor, Sheffield Haworth
06/14/2024
Partner hiring trends in professional services—the gender diversity lens, with Helen Tudor, Sheffield Haworth
Helen Tudor, MD of executive search organisation, Sheffield Haworth, and Fiona Czerniawska, CEO of Source, caught up with Emma Carroll, Source’s Head of Content, on the latest episode of our The Future of the Firm podcast. Helen and Fiona shared their insight on the following matters and more: There has been a decline in the proportion of female partners appointed, from 29% in 2022 to 26% in 2023. This is against the trend we’ve seen over the past 10-15 years. Firms that hire female leaders from outside their direct competitors and similar organisations achieve greater diversity. In a difficult economic environment, firms want senior hires that can hit the ground running and are less likely to take risks on people who don’t have all the requisite skills or those that will need more investment. Clients themselves are looking to work with more diverse consulting teams. Current employers of strong female candidates will work hard to keep them, and low salary offers (even in the current environment) won’t be accepted. Firms look for people with strong networks, and this can prove a problem for some non-consulting candidates, including those in industry and people who have been out of the market for a while. During restructures, redundancy criteria can inadvertently result in high-potential people exiting. Firms should consider this carefully. If you enjoyed this conversation, don’t miss our sister podcast, Business Leader’s Voice. In our , we debate whether organisations have pursued the cult of leadership to such an extent that they have forgotten how to manage.
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Trends in the Restructuring Market
04/16/2024
Trends in the Restructuring Market
Richard Fleming, European Head of Restructuring at Alvarez & Marsal, and Margaret Cameron-Waller, Associate Consultant at Source, caught up with Emma Carroll, Source’s Head of Content, on the latest episode of our The Future of the Firm podcast. Richard and Margaret shared their insight on the following matters and more: Hotspots for restructuring work currently include Germany, France, the UK and Nordics. When looking at sectors there’s activity in real estate, housebuilding, the automotive supply chain, and anything with a strong consumer focus. Early signs of trouble are a drop off in demand, liquidity pressures, and a lack of financial discipline. We discuss parallels between tech businesses that are in trouble today and those during the dot.com crisis, including the risk of large amounts of money being made readily available to creative, tech businesses where the financial acumen available in leadership teams doesn’t support the weight of the investment being made. Changes in the restructuring market itself, including spinouts from the Big Four, and how this has affected clients and competition. What clients are looking for when they choose a restructuring firm, including regulatory knowledge, restructuring creativity, great stakeholder management, reputation, the appropriate scale, and cost. Plus, Richard shares his experience of restructuring a critical healthcare business just as COVID lockdowns hit. If you enjoyed this conversation, don’t miss our sister podcast, Business Leader’s Voice. In our , we debate whether organisations have pursued the cult of leadership to such an extent that they have forgotten how to manage.
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The Economics of Climate Sustainability with Alexander Teytelboym, University of Oxford
04/03/2024
The Economics of Climate Sustainability with Alexander Teytelboym, University of Oxford
Alex Teytelboym, Professor of Economics at the University of Oxford and Director of their , and Fiona Czerniawska, Founder & CEO at Source, caught up with Emma Carroll, Source’s Head of Content, on the latest episode of our The Future of the Firm podcast. Alex and Fiona shared their insight on the following matters and more: Climate change can be viewed as a failure of the market—in theory, this means that solving it could make everyone better off. Policy responses and regulation are lagging behind what is happening to the planet. It’s very difficult to predict how the risks will manifest, but they will be complex and unpredictable. Business leaders should think about climate change as being about operating in a complex and unpredictable environment. That means we need to build in resilience and redundancy. There is going to be a lot of creative destruction. Successful businesses need to innovate early and broadly, thinking about innovation in terms of a portfolio. Consultants need to talk to clients about the long-term view and about the real problems climate change poses—this can be counterintuitive to consultants who like to be optimistic and target near-term wins. Voluntary carbon markets and carbon offsets are potentially a terrible way for businesses to meet their climate goals. Regulation is not sufficient and there are reputational greenwashing risks attached. Carbon measurement should be simple, but there’s still a lot of difficulty measuring complex supply chains. The EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism is set to accelerate progress, and consulting firms will be in demand to help clients comply with this. It’s going to be harder to be an average manager with so many different goals to meet. This means it is going to be even more difficult for businesses to incentivise their people appropriately. We used to think about climate change as a slow process, but that’s no longer true. To succeed in this space, businesses must move early and create a portfolio of innovations. Seventy-five percent of clients think that the way they are approaching sustainability needs to change. If you enjoyed this conversation, don’t miss our sister podcast, Business Leader’s Voice. In , we set out the big business challenges that clients say they’ll be facing in the year ahead.
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Reinventing your firm with AI, with James Byles, Deloitte
03/19/2024
Reinventing your firm with AI, with James Byles, Deloitte
James Byles, Partner & UK AI Service Delivery Transformation Leader at Deloitte, caught up with Emma Carroll, Source’s Head of Content, on the latest episode of our The Future of the Firm podcast. James shared his insight on the following matters and more: Clients are asking questions about how firms are using AI themselves, including how they are dealing with risk, data, and adoption of this technology. Use-case themes include search capability, data scanning, autonomous coding, and how to generate, analyse & report on data. How the use cases in firms are set to translate into client services. Tricky questions around the appropriate use of data. How to empower people in your business to innovate around AI. Thinking about the areas where AI is set to disrupt the professional services market. Working out what the analyst of the future will look like and how that will impact pathways into the profession. Identifying non-traditional competitors and how they may disrupt the market. If you enjoyed this conversation, don’t miss our sister podcast, Business Leader’s Voice. In , we set out the big business challenges that clients say they’ll be facing in the year ahead.
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Rethinking Digital Talent in an AI-Ambitious World, with Gianluca Barletta, PA Consulting
02/06/2024
Rethinking Digital Talent in an AI-Ambitious World, with Gianluca Barletta, PA Consulting
As the age of the ubiquitous, AI-enabled organisation draws closer, leaders need to think differently about talent. New roles are emerging, existing ones becoming broader, and people across the board will need to be reskilled. We discuss how all this can be achieved by firms and their clients alike. Dr Gianluca Barletta, Global Head of Data Science at PA Consulting, and Fiona Czerniawska, Source’s CEO and Founder, join Emma Carroll, Source’s Head of Content, for the latest episode of our The Future of the Firm podcast. They share their insight into the following issues and more: Nobody knows exactly what the future will bring, so, when it comes to talent, organisations need to focus on resilience, readiness, and agility It is crucial to have your data foundation in place, to allow you to move beyond ‘proof of concept’, embrace AI, and scale at pace People will need to be reskilled. We discuss solutions, including AI academies and cultural change Fear can be a big barrier to delivering the talent piece around AI Everyone in an organisation now needs to be a data custodian. We examine what this looks like in practice What are the new roles we need as we ramp up AI? Clue: Beyond data scientists, there is a role for linguists, designers, and user experience experts How the concept of the T-shaped consultant is evolving, as knowledge needs to become broader, but clients are demanding more specialists If you enjoyed this conversation, don’t miss our sister podcast, Business Leader’s Voice. In our latest episode, we set out the big business challenges that clients say they’ll be facing in 2024.
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Trends and Challenges for Firms in 2024, with Fiona Czerniawska and Margaret Cameron-Waller, Source
01/23/2024
Trends and Challenges for Firms in 2024, with Fiona Czerniawska and Margaret Cameron-Waller, Source
As we head into 2024, revenue growth is coming under pressure in professional services firms. In this podcast, experts at Source discuss the trends and challenges that will really matter in the year ahead, including which markets are set to grow, what clients are looking for from pricing, and how firms can’t risk letting customer experience fall off the leadership agenda. Fiona Czerniawska, Source’s CEO and Founder, and Margaret Cameron-Waller, Associate at Source, join Emma Carroll, Source’s Head of Content, for the latest episode of our The Future of the Firm podcast. They share their insight into the following issues and more: Revenue growth for professional services firms came under pressure in Q3 2023, and this has continued into 2024. Today’s market is patchy, and firms will have to select where they want to focus carefully. Technology, cybersecurity, and data & analytics will remain important. Pricing is coming under pressure. There is some discounting taking place to allow firms to maintain their market share. There are tentative signs that outcomes-based pricing is becoming more interesting to clients. AI remains top of mind for clients in 2024, and work will centre on areas like strategic reviews, pilots, and advice on regulation. However, clients aren’t yet spending on larger-scale projects. There is a danger that ESG work may get absorbed into business as usual, and this risks it failing to get the attention and investment it deserves. It’s crucial that customer experience doesn’t suffer in 2024, and expertise will be a crucial attribute for firms. If you enjoyed this conversation, don’t miss our sister podcast, Business Leader’s Voice. In , we set out the big business challenges that clients say they’ll be facing in 2024.
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How Firms can Harness Tech & AI to Stay Relevant in 2024, with Fiona Czerniawska and Paul English, Source
12/07/2023
How Firms can Harness Tech & AI to Stay Relevant in 2024, with Fiona Czerniawska and Paul English, Source
Emma Carroll, Source’s Managing Editor, is joined by Fiona Czerniawska, Founder & CEO at Source, and Paul English, Strategy Director at Source, for a special edition of our Future of the Firm Podcast. AI is set to have a significant impact on the professional services market. At Source’s recent flagship event, leaders and experts shared how they are adapting their business models in response to the opportunities and risks this provides. In this podcast, Fiona, Paul, and Emma discuss the big learnings coming out of the event. They share their insight into the following issues and more: How strategy is changing The ways firms are reshaping their business models with the help of AI The opportunities and risks of tech ecosystems How firms can use their own ways of working to showcase AI in action What Source’s research is telling us about the market in this space Plus, a sneak peek into our new report on the role of AI in thought leadership
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Emotional Health as a Key Component of Transformational Change, Melanie Lindsay, Vici Partners
12/04/2023
Emotional Health as a Key Component of Transformational Change, Melanie Lindsay, Vici Partners
Successful transformation programmes need clear goals that are set and communicated upfront, honesty and openness from everyone involved, and sponsorship from an organisation’s top team. In this podcast, we talk to Melanie Lindsay, Partner at Vici Partners, and Fiona Czerniawska, Founder & CEO at Source, about what else they would add to this recipe for success, including how to navigate the emotional timeline of any change. They share their insight into the following issues and more: The key components of a successful transformation programme Drawing on the knowledge of people within a business to inform change Balancing the quality of change initiatives and the strength of buy in Empowering clients to challenge themselves Building agency and accountability within an organisation The emotional timeline of a transformation How tech can play a role in addressing emotional challenges Balancing strategy and implementation If you enjoyed this conversation, don’t miss our sister podcast, Business Leader’s Voice. In our latest episode, we discuss reducing complexity in your business, with Beth Butterwick, CEO at Jigsaw.
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Outsourcing in the public sector, with Hilary Robertson, Sopra Steria UK
11/21/2023
Outsourcing in the public sector, with Hilary Robertson, Sopra Steria UK
“In the public sector, where we have a wealth of data, I think AI is going to be one of those tools that is a game changer,” Hilary Robertson Emma Carroll, Source’s Managing Editor, is joined by Hilary Robertson, Strategy Director at Sopra Steria UK, and Fiona Czerniawska, Founder & CEO at Source, for the latest episode of our Future of the Firm Podcast. The outsourcing market has shifted rapidly over recent years, and work done in the public sector is no exception. The pandemic, business failures, and digital developments have all played their part. In this podcast, we talk to Hilary and Fiona about what’s new in the public sector outsourcing market, and where they see things heading next. They share their insight into the following issues and more: How the public sector procurement process has improved and why, including the introduction of the UK government’s outsourcing playbook. The importance of technology, including AI, and the risk of obsolescence and skills shortages. The search for agility and how clients saw outsourcing as a solution during the pandemic. This appears to be a trend that has stuck. How the pandemic has caused clients to reconsider organisational boundaries and consider outsourcing core parts of their businesses. How clients are balancing investment in resilience versus investment in change. Addressing low-cost-bid bias amid macroeconomic uncertainty. The governance challenges faced by organisations that are juggling multiple external consulting providers. What’s new in measuring value in public sector outsourcing: This includes the importance of social value measures. Mindset change as part of outsourcing and whether this can or even should be measured. If you enjoyed this conversation, don’t miss our sister podcast, Business Leader’s Voice. In , we discuss reducing complexity in your business, with Beth Butterwick, CEO at Jigsaw.
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Leading on Talent in Today’s Polycrisis with Per Breuer, Roland Berger
10/24/2023
Leading on Talent in Today’s Polycrisis with Per Breuer, Roland Berger
Emma Carroll, Source’s Managing Editor, is joined by Per Breuer, Head of Global HR at Roland Berger, and Fiona Czerniawska, Founder & CEO at Source, for the latest episode of our Future of the Firm Podcast. A firm’s talent is by far its greatest asset, and managing this resource for success, in both the short and medium-term, is complex at the best of times. In today’s uncertain environment—when clients’ needs are unpredictable—balancing supply and demand requires both creativity and a practical approach. In this podcast, we talk to Per and Fiona about what a truly successful approach to talent looks like. They share their insight into the following issues and more: Leading on talent in a VUCA world (volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous) Getting expertise in the right places, at the right time, in the best way The real opportunities AI is offering today—and what it promises for tomorrow Using multidisciplinary teams to support your clients and your people Driving individual accountability for creating client value The risk of neglecting the mid-term talent agenda.
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