As the consulting landscape rapidly shifts toward outcome-based models, the next generation of leaders must be equipped with the commercial acumen and technological fluency to thrive. On April 16, 2026, Consulting Magazine will host the Rising Stars Professional Series at The Midland Hotel in Chicago—an exclusive afternoon program designed to accelerate the careers of up-and-coming advisory talent.
Held in conjunction with the 2026 Rising Stars of the Profession awards dinner, the program, themed "Outcomes First: The Next Generation of Advisors," will unite industry innovators, firm leadership and award honorees.
This year's dynamic program combines three fast-paced lightning talks with a deep-dive moderated panel discussion. Attendees can expect an engaging, high-impact session that delivers practical tools, AI strategies and business-building skills to help early-career professionals transition from strong billable performers to trusted originators.
"The transition from a high-performing consultant to a trusted advisor requires a fundamental shift in mindset," said Michael Webb, Director of Consulting Magazine. "Our goal with this year's Professional Series is to provide the next generation of leaders with the practical frameworks—from value pricing to AI adoption—that will accelerate their path to partnership and amplify their impact on clients."
Attendance for the thought leadership program is complimentary; however, seating is limited and guests must register in advance here.
The series opens with arrival and registration at 3:45 p.m., followed by three lightning presentations tackling the critical facets of modern advisory work:
Value Pricing and Executive Impact — John Norkus, Founder of ChiefPricingOfficer.com, will break down how early-career advisors can shift from selling hours to selling outcomes. He will share practical strategies for using rapid diagnostics, ROI modeling and executive-ready communication to frame expertise in terms that resonate with decision-makers, positioning attendees as strategic partners rather than task executors.
"Consultants are no longer paid for activity — they're paid for outcomes. The next generation of advisors will need to think commercially, price around value, and communicate impact at the executive level. I'm excited to help Rising Stars build those muscles." — John Norkus
AI for Advisors: From Prompt to Product — Marissa Bowman, Chief Customer Officer at Moonnox, will explore how artificial intelligence is acting as a force multiplier for the modern advisor. She will demonstrate how to turn prompts into polished deliverables using LLMs, analytics and automation, providing real-world examples of AI-accelerated memos and dashboards that attendees can apply immediately.
"For advisors, AI is no longer optional. Rising stars are taking the reins to learn how to build and test agents and are upskilling with context engineering. I look forward to sharing how top performers learn and build exceptional customer experiences." — Marissa Bowman
From Billable to Rainmaker: Practical Steps — Andrea Mac, Growth Strategist and Founder of Salesy, will demystify the path to career acceleration in advisory work. Her session will outline the practical steps—including sponsor mapping, internal selling, content strategy and micro-BD planning—that help professionals build visibility, secure sponsorship and open doors to leadership.
"Sales is the one skill that can accelerate every stage of your career. For up-and-coming professionals, it's not just a nice-to-have—it's the foundation everything else is built on. I'm excited to work with the next generation of consultants to master this essential skill." — Andrea Mac
To wrap up the presentation content, Norkus, Bowman, and Mac will all join together on stage for a deep-dive panel discussion and Q&A session. Moderated by Webb, this interactive conversation is designed to connect the dots for attendees, exploring how value pricing, AI fluency, and business development reinforce one another to build a cohesive blueprint for next-generation leadership.
After the program concludes at 5:30 p.m., attendees are invited to a pre-awards networking break before the Rising Stars of the Profession Awards Cocktail Reception at 6:00 p.m., followed by the awards ceremony and dinner at 7:00 p.m.
Details and more information, including the list of the 2026 Rising Stars of the Profession honorees can be found here.
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