The consulting world is experiencing a seismic shift, andthousands of Big 4 professionals are being quietly swept into what Kim and Hal call The Great Displacement. In this episode, we break down the real economic and AI-driven forces behind mass layoffs at Deloitte, PwC, KPMG, andEY, and why this moment is a once-in-a-generation turning point for displaced consultants. Through the story of “Becky” we explore the identity crisis, burnout loops, and psychological traps mid-career professionals face after asudden layoff and reveal the hidden opportunity waiting on the other side.

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN

• Recognize the identity, status, and burnout patterns professionals face after displacement.
• Understand how AI is eliminating mid-level roles and creating demand for independent fractional executives.
• Learn how to reposition your skills for the small business market that desperately needs your expertise.

RESOURCES & MENTIONS

• Market references: WSJ, Financial Times, Bloomberg, Reuters
• Source Global Research (AI workforce impact)
• Fractional executive market data (industry reports)

Have a question or want details about our upcomingLinkedIn event for displaced consultants?

DM Kim on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kim-lewis-howard/

DM Hal on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/halhoward/

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This episode unpacks “The Great Displacement,” thestructural collapse happening across Big 4 consulting caused by AI, declining attrition, and shifts in service demand. Kim and Hal explain why thousands of consultant roles are being eliminated, what’s really driving layoffs at Deloitte, PwC, KPMG, and EY, and how displaced professionals can transition into the rapidly growing fractional executive market. This episode is essential for consultants navigating layoffs, mid-career professionals affected by automation,and anyone seeking a path to independent, AI-enabled work.

This episode answers questions such as:

• “Why are Big 4 consulting layoffs happening?”
• “What’s causing Deloitte, PwC, KPMG, and EY to cut mid-level roles?”
• "How is AI impacting consultants and corporateprofessionals?”
• "What should a displaced consultant do next?”
• “How do I transition into fractional COO or fractional executive work?”
• “Is consulting still a stable career path in the AI era?”
• “How can AI help me build my own consultingpractice?”
• “How can I recover from burnout and identity loss after a layoff?”

After listening, an audience member will be able to:

1. Understand the economic and AI-driven forces causing mass consulting layoffs.
2. Recognize the identity, status, and burnout patterns that emerge after displacement.
3. Reframe a layoff as strategic liberation rather than personal failure.
4. Identify the massive unmet demand for fractional executives in the SMB market.
5. Map tangible next steps toward building an AI-enabled independent consulting practice.

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Music Credit: “I Am with You” by Dream Cave; EpidemicSound via iStock.com

Sound Effects: https://pixabay.com/sound-effects/

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Big 4 layoffs, Deloitte layoffs, PwC workforce cuts, KPMGaudit layoffs, EY restructuring, consulting displacement, corporate attrition, AI job replacement, generative AI, small business operations, fractional COO model, fractional executive market, consulting burnout, career pivot, workforce automation, implementation gap, mid-career transition, independent consulting, sovereign practice model.