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About The Consultant's Way Podcast

The Consultant's Way podcast is your go-to resource for navigating the complexities of the consulting and professional services world. We bring you insightful conversations with industry thought leaders and executives from top Professional Services organizations, sharing their expertise on how to:

• Build high-performing consulting and professional services teams 
• Differentiate your offerings and increase organizational growth 
• Deliver exceptional client value and drive impactful outcomes

Brought to you by: 

• McMann & Ransford: A strategy consulting firm with over 30 years of experience helping leading B2B organizations escape commoditization and achieve sustainable growth. Learn more: https://mcmannransford.com/ 

• The Consultant's Way: Your one-stop shop for training and enabling consultants and professional services teams to deliver exceptional client value. Learn more: https://www.consultantsway.com/ 

Connect with us: 

• LinkedIn: 

○ Dean McMann - https://www.linkedin.com/in/deanmcmann/

○ Anthony Paluska - https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthony-paluska-5081804b

• Email: podcast@consultantsway.com 

Interested in being a guest? 

We're always looking for insightful guests to share their expertise. Reach out to us via email or LinkedIn if you'd like to be considered for a future episode.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------In this episode of The Consultant’s Way Podcast, hosts Anthony Paluska and Dean McMann sit down with Brandon Hammer, Senior Vice President of Global Services at Seismic, to explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping professional services. Brandon shares a clear and grounded view of what the next phase of AI looks like for consultants, going far beyond the simple use cases of automation and efficiency.

Rather than focusing on replacing people, he discusses how AI can expand the impact of consultants by freeing them from repetitive work and allowing them to focus on higher-value conversations with clients. He introduces the idea of “virtual consultants” that can support live engagements in real time, drawing from company knowledge and best practices to help deliver better outcomes.

The conversation also touches on how organizations are changing structurally because of AI, moving away from rigid silos and toward teams that are built around customer outcomes instead of products. Brandon explains how his teams are using AI to identify risks earlier, deliver results faster, and stay ahead of client needs.

Beyond technology, the episode dives into what this transformation means for people. Brandon describes how the profile of a successful consultant is evolving, with curiosity, communication, and adaptability becoming just as essential as technical expertise. He also offers a perspective on preventing burnout and building longer, more fulfilling consulting careers in an industry that is shifting faster than ever.

The episode closes with a challenge to leaders: make space for innovation inside your organization. Brandon believes the best ideas for using AI in professional services will come from the ground up, not the top down. His message is both practical and inspiring; a reminder that the consultants who learn to combine human judgment with intelligent technology will define the next era of the profession.