As AI begins to revolutionize industries, one profession that's being put under the microscope is management consulting. Once a bastion of pedigree-driven hiring, firms like McKinsey are now rethinking their approach as AI models increasingly take on junior-level tasks.
Bob Sternfels, McKinsey & Company's global managing partner and board chair, recently highlighted three essential skills for consultants to succeed in an AI-infused world: leadership and direction-setting (aspiring), judgment and prioritization, and creativity. In a talk at CES 2026, Sternfels emphasized that while AI can excel at analysis, it lacks the human touch.
"Solving problems is about being curious, asking the right questions, and learning from failures," said Sternfels. "These are not skills machines will replicate anytime soon."
Leadership and direction-setting, or aspiring, remain crucial in an era where companies need visionaries to guide them through complex decisions and strategy. Judgment, on the other hand, is essential for prioritizing effectively, setting parameters that align with company values or societal norms.
Creativity, meanwhile, remains a uniquely human skill, with AI models still relying on inference models that lack the capacity for original thought. As Sternfels noted, "Learning to ask the right questions and solving hard problems are very different mindsets."
While McKinsey has made significant strides in harnessing AI to automate routine tasks, it's also investing heavily in client-facing staff – a 25% increase is being reported – as work becomes increasingly focused on high-touch services.
However, there remains a pressing question: how will talent be developed and trained in the AI era? Critics argue that elite universities are not adequately preparing students for this new landscape. Entry-level consultants who spend too much time automating routine tasks risk losing opportunities to build essential skills like resilience.
"There's a massive gap in resilience," Sternfels warned. "The question is: do you get back up, and how do you get back up? I think the educational system today doesn't necessarily build individual capability in resilience."
Ultimately, as AI continues to reshape industries, companies must prioritize skills that complement human capabilities – like leadership, judgment, and creativity.
Bob Sternfels, McKinsey & Company's global managing partner and board chair, recently highlighted three essential skills for consultants to succeed in an AI-infused world: leadership and direction-setting (aspiring), judgment and prioritization, and creativity. In a talk at CES 2026, Sternfels emphasized that while AI can excel at analysis, it lacks the human touch.
"Solving problems is about being curious, asking the right questions, and learning from failures," said Sternfels. "These are not skills machines will replicate anytime soon."
Leadership and direction-setting, or aspiring, remain crucial in an era where companies need visionaries to guide them through complex decisions and strategy. Judgment, on the other hand, is essential for prioritizing effectively, setting parameters that align with company values or societal norms.
Creativity, meanwhile, remains a uniquely human skill, with AI models still relying on inference models that lack the capacity for original thought. As Sternfels noted, "Learning to ask the right questions and solving hard problems are very different mindsets."
While McKinsey has made significant strides in harnessing AI to automate routine tasks, it's also investing heavily in client-facing staff – a 25% increase is being reported – as work becomes increasingly focused on high-touch services.
However, there remains a pressing question: how will talent be developed and trained in the AI era? Critics argue that elite universities are not adequately preparing students for this new landscape. Entry-level consultants who spend too much time automating routine tasks risk losing opportunities to build essential skills like resilience.
"There's a massive gap in resilience," Sternfels warned. "The question is: do you get back up, and how do you get back up? I think the educational system today doesn't necessarily build individual capability in resilience."
Ultimately, as AI continues to reshape industries, companies must prioritize skills that complement human capabilities – like leadership, judgment, and creativity.
management consulting firms are gonna have to adapt fast or risk getting left behind. but i think the key to success lies in focusing on those soft skills, you know? leadership, judgment, creativity... those are things that no machine can replicate. and honestly, i think it's kinda cool that companies are recognizing this and are already investing in client-facing staff. 
and now its like McKinsey needs people with good ideas 
, like what's the point of hiring someone who just copies formulas from Excel 
? Aspiring consultants need to be able to lead the team and make decisions without AI doing all the work for them 
. But at the same time, I feel like they're not even teaching people how to deal with failures 
, like, when things go wrong, what do you do? That's where resilience comes in 
. And creativity is key, I mean, who wants an AI that just does one thing over and over again 
? 
is a bit of a bummer for aspiring consultants... I mean, what's the fun in working if robots can do it all already? 
But seriously, Sternfels makes some good points about leadership, judgment, and creativity being the skills that matter most. However, isn't it weird that we're still stressing about resilience as an essential skill? Like, isn't that just common sense or something? 
I'm low-key relieved McKinsey's rethinking their approach 
. It's not just about crunching numbers anymore; it's about understanding people's needs and emotions 
. And yeah, resilience is key 
. The thought of being left behind due to over-reliance on AI is a bit scary for me 
... maybe firms should focus more on creating hybrid roles that combine human intuition with AI-powered tools? 
. but honestly think we need to rethink our whole education system so people can learn real skills not just how to automate 
! The fact that McKinsey is shifting focus towards high-touch services is a total game changer 
. And I'm totally with Bob Sternfels on the importance of developing resilience in young consultants 
... And let's be real, if leaders like Sternfels are saying we need more focus on skills like judgment and creativity, isn't it kinda implying that AI is just gonna do all the analysis and planning for us? Like, where's the excitement in that? 
. Judgment & prioritization are also super important - it's not just about following AI-driven reports, you gotta know what matters 
. I mean, AI can analyze data all day but can't come up with fresh ideas 
I mean, how are they supposed to build resilience if they don't even need to deal with stress anymore? It's like, come on educational system, step up your game! 
. Judgment & prioritization are key too - setting parameters that align with company values is a must. And creativity? Forget it, AI's still struggling to come up with original ideas 
. But, I think creativity is where they're really missing it... AI's still stuck in inference models 
️
We can't just rely on AI to do everything, there's a human touch that machines lack 
️ i think the big firms need to invest more in their people than just AI