Consulting has long been a launchpad for future CEOs, and more CEOs come from consulting today than ever before.
But what’s changed is how that leadership is forged.
It’s no longer just about advising. Today’s consultants stay to make it work.
They implement. They deliver. They build credibility where it counts – in operations, execution, and outcomes.
Consulting offers something rare: structured chaos.
You learn to lead through ambiguity, influence without authority, and deliver under pressure – all before you’ve turned 30.
And it’s not just theory.
As Angela Beatty, Chief Leadership & HR Officer at Accenture, puts it:
“Not only do they advise on something – they deliver and implement it.
It’s a way to practice and learn what it is like to lead a business.”
That delivery mindset – combined with strategic exposure – is exactly what fast-tracks talent toward the C-suite.
From Decks to Delivery: The New CEO Path
Take Matthew Fitzpatrick – the new CEO of AI data-training firm Invisible Technologies.
Before that, he ran QuantumBlack Labs, McKinsey’s AI hub – leading 1,000 engineers and deploying GenAI at scale.
“People thought I was making PowerPoint slides,” he said.“But being a CEO is strategy and efficiency – and the biggest lever for that is digital.”
His path is a perfect example of how consulting has evolved – from advice to action.
Why Tech Doesn’t Produce as Many CEOs
The contrast with early tech careers is stark.
Tech often encourages depth – engineering, product, ops – but not always breadth.
Structured leadership acceleration is rare. Cross-functional exposure is limited. And early career development can be fragmented.
That’s why consulting still outpaces tech as a C-suite feeder – especially for roles requiring wide-angle thinking, cross-sector fluency, and people leadership.
Firms Are Getting Sharper About the Transition
Strategy firms aren’t coasting on brand equity anymore. They’re building real leadership engines:
More structure around upskilling
Broader exposure to business ownership
Operator experience, earlier in careers
The result?
A talent model that doesn’t just create more CEOs – it prepares them to lead from day one.
This post comments on: Bloomberg ‘Consultants are Taking Over the World’s Corner Offices‘ by Matthew Boyle → 29-May 2025 🔗 Read original article
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Ben Appleton is the founder of Strat-Bridge, a specialist executive search partner to the management consulting industry. He works with global consulting firms and senior leaders across the UK, Germany, Switzerland, and beyond — helping them build capability at the Partner and Director level.
Connect with Ben on LinkedIn or email ben@strat-bridge.com.
