2022 Global Leaders in Consulting: Anil Khurana

Based in Boston Anil leads PwC's Global Industrial Manufacturing and Automotive (IM&A) business. He is the chairperson of the Smart Mobility initiative, which he co-founded. He has been a senior partner with PwC Strategy for the past ten years, and has more than 30 years of experience in industry, consulting, academia, government, and private equity. His focus has been industrials (aerospace, manufacturing, auto, engineering), mobility/ transport, hi-tech, and government, and he enjoys working with Boards and CEOs on strategic and digital transformation of organizations and businesses. Anil combines strategy with execution by both being a widely published thought leader and speaker on strategy, public policy, innovation/ digital/ Industry 4.0, smart mobility, and globalization. He enjoys jogging, sports, traveling, learning about new cultures and cuisines, and spending time with his wife and 2 daughters.

What do you consider your greatest personal or professional achievement?

That's a tough one, but going down memory lane … I think I derived most satisfaction from (unexpectedly) winning a national art competition in India when I was 18 or 19 for an oil painting (the sad thing is that the "Portrait of Changez Khan" was lost in one of our moves across the world). I want to add that while it is not an achievement, our 18-month granddaughter has been life-changing and amazing.

What advice would you give a professional just beginning a career in consulting?

Build a strong foundation of expertise in one or two areas, and then adapt. Enjoy working with people, both in your team and your clients, and enjoy both the thrill of the "hunt" and the ability to deliver outcomes to your clients.

What have you loved most about your consulting career?

It is fun to solve problems on a frequent basis, to see businesses transform in front of you, to learn so many new things, and to meet and work with smart and diverse colleagues and clients. The travel (if not too much) adds to the charm.

What's the best advice—personal or professional—you've ever received?

One has to juggle many balls in one's career … but keep remembering to never drop the ball that represents "family and health".

What does being honored as a Global Leader mean to you?

The past couple of years were a difficult time for consulting, especially in the industrials sector. Discretionary consulting spend slowed down, the M&A deal flow dried up, and travel limitations further cramped the effectiveness of consulting engagements. I am proud that I was able to inspire a few thousand very smart people to bring their ideas to fruition, work together, and deliver results during such a challenging period.

It will be great to be recognized for being able to lead a business to deliver results and execute effectively in such a challenging period. It represents both my personal impact with our teams and our clients, and also reflects what PwC is aspiring to achieve as part of our "New Equation". For me, it recognizes my ability to bring together some of our brightest minds and creative thinkers, and execute to deliver outcomes by solving some important issues and challenges for our clients and society. Our clients will be delighted to see that they were right in putting their trust with me and my teams. It will also highlight that our consulting profession continues to be relevant and highly impactful today, delivering results amidst a convergence of issues such as technology and AI, changing industry and stakeholder demands, urgent climate and societal needs, and the yawning gaps in workforce and skills!