Consulting Skills for Business Impact

How do consultants drive impact — and how does AI change things? This course explores this question both for students considering a job in consulting, as well as those wanting to understand and apply the key skills in any role. The consultant of the future will be less analyst and more human translator, and this demands a set of difficult-to-quantify human-centered skills: critical thinking, non-linear creativity, storytelling, deep listening, influencing, and scaling change across complex organizations. You will practice these skills through a highly interactive experience. You will interrogate AI-generated data, craft your own stories, and role play listening, influencing, and giving feedback in real time. You will hone your pitches using an AI-based video tool and you will present to your peers. C-suite guest speakers, as well as current and former consultants will share real-world experiences to inspire you. You will gain practical insight into both being an effective consultant and getting the most from consultants when your organization hires them. Finally, like any good consultant, you will reflect on and sharpen “brand you” - the unique value you bring to a client or employer - and practice how to land that in the first conversation.