Top Consultant with RJ Lumba

Top Human Capital Consultant: Teneo’s Micah Alpern

In this episode, we speak with Micah Alpern, Senior Managing Director at Teneo. Micah is part of the firm’s People Advisory team, where he advises organizations and executives on culture, leadership, and talent strategy, particularly in the context of transformation and transactions.
Micah brings nearly two decades of experience guiding Fortune 500 companies and private equity-backed businesses through complex organizational change. Before joining Teneo, he was a partner at EY, where he built a Culture and Leadership offering, and previously held leadership roles at Kearney and Booz & Company. His work focuses on leadership development, team effectiveness, and aligning culture with business strategy to improve performance.
Micah was recognized by The Consulting Report as one of the Top 25 Human Capital Consultants and Leaders of 2023 and 2025.
Teneo is a global advisory firm that works with CEOs and senior leaders across strategy, communications, financial advisory, risk, and organizational design to help solve complex business challenges.
I am your host RJ Lumba. We hope you enjoy the show. If you like the episode, click to follow.

Top AI Consultant: FTI Consulting’s Sumeet Gupta

In this episode, we speak with Sumeet Gupta, Senior Managing Director and Leader of AI and Digital Transformation at FTI Consulting. Sumeet leads the firm’s AI and Digital Transformation practice, advising companies and investors on business model change, operating model redesign, and value creation through AI.
Sumeet began his career as an AI researcher, studying deep learning neural networks at IIT and later conducting research with MIT and the National Center for Biological Sciences. He brings more than 20 years of experience helping companies apply AI, data, and emerging technologies across sectors including retail, healthcare, financial services, technology, and industrials. Before joining FTI Consulting, he was an Executive Partner at Publicis Sapient and previously co-founded a high-performance computing startup.
Sumeet was recognized by The Consulting Report as one of the Top 25 Digital Transformation Consultants and Leaders of 2024 and 2026, and one of the Top 25 Artificial Intelligence Consultants and Leaders of 2025.
FTI Consulting is a global advisory firm that helps organizations navigate transformation, performance challenges, and high-stakes business situations across more than 30 countries and territories.
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Top M&A Consultant: Grant Thornton Stax’s Paul Edwards

In this episode, we speak with Paul Edwards, Global Practice Lead at Grant Thornton Stax. Paul leads firm strategy and execution, with a focus on market and commercial work for private equity clients across the deal lifecycle, from acquisition evaluation to value creation and exit preparation.
Paul has spent more than two decades advising private equity firms and portfolio companies on diligence, growth strategy, pricing, and market positioning. Over that time, he has led more than 1,000 engagements and helped build the firm’s private equity practice into a global business supporting hundreds of engagements each year. He brings particular experience in software, services, and industrials, and has been with Stax for more than 20 years.
Paul was recognized by The Consulting Report as a Top 25 M&A Consultant and Leader of 2025.
Grant Thornton Stax is a strategy consulting firm focused on commercial diligence, value creation, and growth strategy for private equity firms and corporate clients.
I am your host RJ Lumba. We hope you enjoy the show. If you like the episode, click to follow.

Top Consumer and Retail Consultant: Genpact’s Charisma Glassman

In this episode, we speak with Charisma Glassman, Partner, Vice President, and Global Head of Retail, Consumer and E-Commerce Advisory at Genpact. Charisma advises retail and consumer brands on AI, digital transformation, and operating model changes across subsectors including fashion, luxury, grocery, beauty, and e-commerce.
Charisma brings more than two decades of experience across business and technology transformation. Before joining Genpact, she held leadership roles at Capgemini, Barclays, Citi, and Rave Digital, working across retail, luxury, financial services, and digital commerce. Her work has included large-scale AI transformation initiatives, customer experience strategy, growth planning, and post-merger integration.
Charisma was recognized by The Consulting Report as a Top 25 Artificial Intelligence Consultant and Leader of 2025 and a Top Consumer and Retail Consultant and Leader of 2026.
Genpact is an advanced technology services and solutions company that helps enterprises apply data, technology, and AI across operations and business functions.
Charisma support American India Foundation and Asian American Business Development Center.
I am your host RJ Lumba. We hope you enjoy the show. If you like the episode, click to follow.

Top Private Equity Consultant: Accenture’s Rachel Barton

In this episode, we speak with Rachel Barton, Senior Managing Director and Global Lead for Private Equity at Accenture. Rachel works across the deal lifecycle, advising private equity firms and portfolio company executives on technology diligence, value creation, and complex transformation initiatives.
With more than 20 years of experience at the intersection of business and technology, Rachel focuses on revenue growth, operating models, and AI-driven strategies that support investment outcomes. She has spent nearly two decades at Accenture in progressively senior leadership roles, working with private equity clients across industries.
Rachel was recognized by The Consulting Report as a Top 25 Private Equity Consultant and Leader in 2024 and 2025.
Accenture is a global professional services company operating in more than 120 countries, combining technology capabilities with industry expertise to support clients across sectors.
I am your host RJ Lumba. We hope you enjoy the show. If you like the episode, click to follow.

Top Customer Experience Consultant: TTEC’s Dave Seybold

In this episode, we speak with Dave Seybold, CEO of TTEC Digital. Dave leads TTEC Digital’s customer experience consulting and technology services business, focused on contact center platforms, CRM, and AI-enabled customer interactions.
Dave brings more than 30 years of experience in consulting and technology services. Before joining TTEC Digital, he held senior executive leadership roles at IBM, Avanade, and Atos, leading global teams while living in Bangalore, Madrid, and the U.S. He became CEO in 2022, following TTEC Digital’s expansion into CX consulting and technology services through a series of acquisitions.
TTEC Digital was recognized by The Consulting Report as one of the Top Consulting Firms of 2025.
TTEC Digital provides customer experience consulting, systems integration, and managed services to organizations across industries.
Dave supports Moveable Feast. To learn more about this organization click here.
I am your host RJ Lumba. We hope you enjoy the show. If you like the episode, click to follow.

Top M&A Consultant: Sikich’s Kurt Estes

In this episode, we speak with Kurt Estes, Principal and Head of Corporate Development at Sikich.
Kurt focuses on M&A strategy and execution for Sikich’s growth initiatives. Since joining the firm in 2008, he has overseen more than 20 acquisitions and has led dozens of transactions through Sikich’s investment banking practice. His background spans corporate development, investment banking, venture capital, and innovation, and he holds more than 25 patents.
Kurt was recognized by The Consulting Report as a Top 25 M&A Consultant and Leader of 2025.
Sikich is a professional services firm providing consulting, technology, and compliance services to public and private sector organizations, with approximately 2,000 team members and operations across North America, the UK, and EMEA.
I am your host RJ Lumba. We hope you enjoy the show. If you like the episode, click to follow.

Top Life Sciences Consultant: Accenture’s Petra Jantzer

In this episode, we speak with Dr. Petra Jantzer, Global Life Sciences Lead at Accenture. Petra oversees one of the firm’s largest industry groups, spanning work across the entire life sciences value chain. She also leads Accenture’s services for a major multinational pharmaceutical client, managing a broad portfolio of engagements across R&D, operations, and commercial functions.
Petra began her career as a molecular biologist and oncology researcher before moving into consulting. She spent many years at McKinsey working across R&D and corporate strategy, later joining Accenture, where much of her focus centers on how data and intelligent technologies influence scientific processes and business performance.
Petra was recognized by The Consulting Report as a Top Life Sciences Consultant and Leader in 2023, 2024, and 2025.
Accenture is a global professional services company operating in more than 120 countries, combining technology capabilities with industry expertise to support clients across sectors.
I am your host RJ Lumba. We hope you enjoy the show. If you like the episode, click to follow.

Top Insurance Consultant: EY’s Chris Raimondo

In this episode, we speak with Chris Raimondo, Americas Consulting Insurance Leader at EY. Chris oversees the full suite of consulting services EY provides to insurance carriers across property and casualty, life and annuity, reinsurance, and brokerage.
Chris has more than 20 years of global experience in the insurance industry, with work spanning business consulting, technology and data implementation, actuarial and risk services, and workforce consulting. He has led large-scale transformation programs for major domestic and international insurers, including multi-year efforts to move core systems from legacy platforms to modern cloud technology. 
Chris was recognized by The Consulting Report as one of the Top Insurance Consultants and Leaders of both 2024 and 2025.
Chris supports Little Kids Rock. To learn more about this organization click here.
I am your host RJ Lumba. We hope you enjoy the show. If you like the episode, click to follow.

Top Private Equity Consultant: Oliver Wyman’s Apurva Nair

In this episode, we speak with Apurva Nair, a Partner at Oliver Wyman, where he leads post-deal value creation within the firm’s Private Equity practice.
Apurva works with private equity firms and their portfolio companies to improve operational and financial performance, often focusing on cost, pricing, and EBITDA growth. Most of his projects take place immediately after an acquisition, helping portfolio companies strengthen margins and prepare for exit. Before joining Oliver Wyman, he served as Partner and COO at a boutique consulting firm with operations across the U.S., Europe, and Asia.
Apurva was recognized by The Consulting Report as one of the Top Private Equity Consultants and Leaders of both 2024 and 2025.
Oliver Wyman is a global management consulting firm advising clients across industries on strategy, operations, and organizational transformation.
Apurva supports Taproot Foundation. To learn more about this organization click here.
I am your host RJ Lumba. We hope you enjoy the show. If you like the episode, click to follow.