Andy Eversbusch’s Post

‘I know I have to do something, but just what to do is not clear!’ I hear this a lot from clients when discussing AI. It’s causing increasing amounts of executive anxiety often exacerbated by a ‘once bitten, twice shy’ mindset when it comes to applying the latest technological innovation. We’ve been building an incredible AI practice at AlixPartners – the expertise of Hoyoung Pak, Catherine Brien, Luca Ridolfi, Greg Adams, Natalia Connolly, and many others - is proving invaluable to clients as they navigate this complex challenge and look for the best opportunities to extract tangible value out of AI. My colleagues have encapsulated some of their thoughts into a practical guide to AI for CEOs (and C-Suite Executives). It steps through the questions leaders should be asking themselves and their organizations as they look to capitalize on the benefits this fast-evolving technology can bring. Underpinned by a philosophy of 'think big, start with purpose, learn fast, and scale with confidence', this is a fantastic resource for businesses wherever they are with their AI endeavours.

There’s nowhere else I’d rather be… Next week, we’re gathering our North American team for our 2024 Team Meeting in Miami. My co-leader of the region, Lisa Donahue, and I will be making remarks about our performance and direction of travel. This has got me thinking, and the one thought I keep returning to is, ‘There’s nowhere else I’d rather be’. Leading any business is a tremendous opportunity and privilege. Never without challenges, but as I look across the current business landscape and everything we are doing, I increasingly appreciate the special firm we are and the opportunities that lay ahead for us. Whenever I get the chance to meet with colleagues across the Firm, I am reminded of the talent, character and collaborative spirit that pervades this organization. It is what makes us who we are.  It is also what makes events like Miami memorable. I encourage all of my colleagues to make the most of it. I look forward to seeing you there!  

How do you explain a firm like AlixPartners to more than two million people a year?   It’s not easy. Our clients consistently tell me that once they’ve worked with us they’re very keen to engage us again. And, my colleagues tell me that they love our Firm's culture and values, our collaborative meritocracy and 'One Firm' firm operating model. These seem like good places to start.   I personally take much pride in hearing these comments. Our results and our teams are critical in making AlixPartners what it is today and will play a critical role in the future of our firm.   That’s why we’ve rebuilt our website. We want to showcase who we are, what we do and how we help people.   Please take a look, I’d love to hear your thoughts   https://lnkd.in/eA6Rg2ca  

I’m back from an energizing week in China and Japan (Shanghai, Beijing, Tokyo).    The week started with our new and expanded Shanghai Office opening reception, which gave me a good opportunity to gauge the business sentiment in China. While there is a sense of caution driven by domestic economic challenges and geopolitical tensions, I also sensed a very positive sentiment for our expanded presence in China.   In Beijing, it was very interesting to understand how global industrial companies are addressing some of the supply chain decoupling challenges, and the sheer complexity this involves.   Our commitment to the region is exemplified in our recent new hires: Ignatius Tong, Lisa Hu, Michael Mo (Xudan), Janet Tang and Yichao Zhang.     In Tokyo, the overriding theme was how active leading Private Equity firms are in pursuing opportunities in Japan, driven by an increased focus on shareholder returns among Japan’s corporate sector, attractive valuations driven by the value of the Japanese Yen, and continued opportunities for founder buyouts.    All in all, I am very excited for the growth prospects that lay ahead, and thankful to our talented team for the great work we are doing for clients across the region.  

Great piece in the Harvard Business Review from my colleagues Simon Freakley and David Garfield exploring why some companies grow in uncertain times. The narrative for the last few years has been somewhat gloomy and many leaders felt trapped in the endless cycle of shocks and disruption. But, there are those who have led their businesses to prosperity while others have struggled. How do they do it, Simon and David outline some key features that characterize leading through disruption: 1. They find opportunities to drive disruption in their industry, rather than have it happen to them; 2. They focus on enhancing their people’s skills through development programs, cultivating talent and addressing skills shortages from within, as well as with new hires; and 3. They are not afraid to make decisions and focus on execution. It’s a great article and worth a few minutes of your time: https://lnkd.in/ekmiwVTJ #business #economics #managementconsulting

M&A activity has become such a bell weather for economic health that any signs of an improvement are welcome. This piece from my colleagues Sean O'Flynn, Brian Major, Nick Wood and Jessica Barreno offers some timely advice to businesses looking to divest. With "continued misalignment between sell- and buy-side valuation expectations where equity narratives haven’t held up to diligence" colouring the market, a credible valuation of the asset really matters. Well worth a read: https://lnkd.in/gQppxvh2? #mergersandacquisitions #managementconsulting #economics

Throughout my career I've tried to keep pace with the gathering pace of technological advancement. Right now, that seems almost impossible. The explosion in Generative AI is just one example of the speed with which things are moving. I'm currently reading: 'Blindspot: Why Science Cannot Ignore Human Experience' which presents an interesting perspective on the dangers of removing the human experience from the scientific 'search for objective truth'. Authors astrophysicist Adam Frank, theoretical physicist Marcelo Gleiser, and philosopher Evan Thompson explore how encompassing the human experience into our scientific research enriches the outcomes and avoids overlooking the potential consequences. The combined impact of science, or in our case technology, and the human experience has been the cornerstone of our approach to our clients' digital challenges for some time. In today's marketplace, we're seeing increasingly bold statements about the impact of technology and particularly AI on business. The potential and opportunities are indeed impressive. However, technology is always best delivered with deep and relevant human experience, pattern recognition and understanding. In their haste to keep up, I worry some businesses will be drawn into hasty, costly and, ultimately, ineffective technology decisions that could inhibit their success for some time. #managementconsulting #technology #innovation #business

I really enjoyed reading this WSJ article about the creation of Red Bull and the disruptive impact it has had on the world of Formula 1. A triumph of drive, creativity, and the ability to see the world through a different lens, Also a great reminder of what is possible, especially in an increasingly disrupted world with arguably more opportunity than at any other time in our lifetimes. https://lnkd.in/eV5Wmj3e

I found this story about the use of AI, a particle accelerator and a 2000-year-old unreadable set of documents remarkable and worth highlighting for what it demonstrates. The level of cross-disciplinary ingenuity to solve an up-to-now impossible problem to solve is really interesting and shows how multiple sources of expertise, coupled with the power of AI can unlock solutions.  There are some valuable lessons for businesses looking to accelerate their use of powerful new technologies around driving rapid innovation and encouraging collaboration across their organizations to benefit from cross-functional skills and perspectives. I also enjoyed the incentive-driven and competitive approach to solving this task. It was highly motivating to this team, who have still yet to meet in person. It is a good reminder for business leaders, how powerful the productive unlocking of competitive instincts can be to an organization. https://lnkd.in/eWT74VSW #technology #managementconsulting #genAi #innovation