The Future of Independent Management Consulting

Business in independent consulting looks different in every market. On 14 May 2025 six people who run or advise consulting platforms compared what they see: Ray E. Culver from the US, Charlotte Gregson from the UK, David Küpper from Germany, Kacper Pupin from Poland, Alp Sezginsoy from Turkey and Abeer Qumsieh from the Middle East. Their answers are their own views of that moment, and markets and rules may have changed since.

What the panel covers

• By region: Culver sees companies holding back on full-time hires because of tariffs and turning to consultants, with more engagements. Gregson describes a weak UK consulting economy with turnaround and restructuring work, and lower freelancer confidence because of off-payroll tax rules. Küpper says German demand varies by sector: automotive is tough, retail and telecom are stable, restructuring is in demand. Pupin calls Poland a growth market, and Qumsieh points to large projects in Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
• What platforms are for, according to the panel: finding work for people who dislike business development, and security when clients pay late. Some also see themselves as a single contact for clients who do not want to hire dozens of freelancers.
• AI: Culver sees team sizes in engagements shrink while AI projects grow. Gregson says knowledge is no longer power, so consultants become facilitators of change. Sezginsoy expects the "last mile" of expertise to matter more. Qumsieh's line: experts who use AI will keep getting work.
• What the best freelancers do: they pick a niche instead of ten, keep promises, listen to the client more than they talk, and invest in the relationship. Küpper asks them to use AI tools to work efficiently.
• Küpper expects the German freelance economy to grow, helped by infrastructure and defence spending.

Who it's for

Independent consultants and interim managers who want to see the market beyond Germany.