From Specialist to Multi-Specialist: Redefining Consulting in the Gen AI Era
Srinivas Rowdur
Reimagining what’s possible with AI | Head of Generative AI Technology and Financial services AI lead | Consulting Director | Driving Intelligent Automation in the AI Era |Advisory Board Member | Product Development
When I started in consulting, the rules were simple: pick your niche, master it, and deliver expertise that clients couldn’t replicate. Whether it was growth strategy, M&A, IT transformation, or product development, success came from deep specialisation and the ability to guide clients through complex, domain-specific challenges.
But the consulting landscape has changed. The rise of generative AI has brought about tools that not only democratise access to expertise but also accelerate how problems are solved and solutions are delivered. Tools like ChatGPT, MidJourney, Cursor, and V0 have transformed the way we work.
Today, consulting isn’t just about having the right frameworks or strategies—it’s about using AI to deliver outcomes faster, better, and in ways that were unimaginable just a few years ago.
The New Consulting Paradigm: From Specialist to Multi-Specialist
AI hasn’t eliminated the need for expertise; it has expanded its boundaries. The future of consulting is no longer about siloed specialisation but about becoming a multi-specialist—someone who can combine expertise across domains to solve complex, multi-faceted problems.
This doesn’t mean becoming a generalist. It means mastering multiple areas and using AI as the glue that binds them together.
Let me illustrate this shift with two contrasting stories.
The Traditional Specialist
A decade ago, I worked with a consultant whose expertise lay in product development. Their strength was guiding clients through the innovation funnel—from ideation to prototyping to go-to-market strategies. But when the conversation shifted to customer analytics, they had to call in another team.
Their depth of knowledge was impressive, but their impact was limited by their inability to address interconnected challenges.
The New-Age Multi-Specialist
Fast forward to the near future. If we have a consultant helping a fintech client launch a new lending platform. Here’s what they would bring to the table:
This isn't about being a jack-of-all-trades. It was about layering expertise—product development, data science, and regulatory knowledge—into a cohesive solution. AI will make this possible.
Building a Production Application in Days
Let me show you how this plays out in practice.
In the near future, if we are working with a retail client facing a declining market share. They would need a solution—fast. Traditional consulting would take months. Instead, we can build a production-ready application in 10 days using AI-powered tools:
1. Strategy and Vision with ChatGPT and V0:
We can draft a complete product roadmap in under an hour. ChatGPT will outline the customer journey, and V0 will translate it into a scaffolded design for an MVP.
2. Design with MidJourney:
Visual prototypes can be created in a day. MidJourney will enable us to skip weeks of wireframing and endless design iterations, giving the client an almost final product to review.
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3. Development with Cursor:
Using Cursor, we can generate production-grade code at record speed. The tool will integrate business logic derived from the client’s data, allowing you to focus on customisation and functionality.
4. Feedback Loops:
With AI enabling rapid prototyping, client feedback will be integrated on the fly, ensuring the solution is aligned with real-world needs.
The result? A live application with:
This will not be an MVP in theory—it will be a functioning product that delivers tangible results in days.
The Consultant of the Future
In this AI-driven world, consulting isn’t just about solving isolated problems. It’s about orchestrating multiple disciplines to create holistic solutions. To thrive in this new era, consultants need to:
1. Broaden with Purpose:
Expand your expertise into adjacent domains. A strategy consultant should understand data science; an IT consultant should know UX design.
2. Master the AI Tool Stack:
Tools like MidJourney, V0, and Cursor aren’t just nice-to-haves—they’re essential for delivering faster, smarter outcomes.
3. Think in Intersections:
The future belongs to those who can combine strategy, technology, and creativity into a single offering. AI is the enabler, but the consultant is the integrator.
The New Standard: Outcomes Over Timelines
AI has ushered in an era of experimentation and execution. Clients no longer want a 50-page strategy—they want tangible results, delivered quickly.
The consultant of the AI era is a builder, a designer, and a strategist. They turn ideas into impact at record speed, leveraging AI to break down traditional barriers between disciplines.
The question is no longer what can you specialise in? It’s how can you specialise across domains?
The tools are here. The possibilities are endless. Are you ready to embrace this shift and redefine consulting for the future? Let’s discuss.
???? Software Engineer ?? Sustainable IT Advocate ?? Tech Blogger
2 个月"Outcomes Over Timelines" << LOVE this! I love to liken GenAI to e.g. Google Translate - a useful tool for the things it can help with, but no substitute for a human expert who knows HOW to work with it, get the most out of it and the broader team / topic.