In this episode of Consulting the Future, I sit down with Varun Bijlani, Global Managing Partner for Hybrid Cloud Services at IBM Consulting, to unpack the real-world challenges and opportunities facing enterprise leaders today.

Varun shares candid insights on why the shine has come off many digital and cloud transformations and what needs to change to deliver measurable returns. We discuss the pitfalls of being hybrid by default and how a hybrid by design strategy can radically shift how businesses deploy AI, manage data and keep costs in check.

Drawing from global client examples, Varun outlines how companies are moving from generic IT spending to targeted investments that protect margins, speed up time-to-market and unlock new value from AI-driven innovation. We also touch on the future of infrastructure, from embedded security and energy efficiency to the evolving role of agent-based AI.

If you are navigating the next phase of your company’s cloud journey or questioning how to align IT architecture with financial results, this conversation will give you a clear-eyed perspective from someone helping shape transformation at scale.

Listen in and join the discussion on how consulting, design thinking and practical frameworks can turn technology promises into real business performance.