maconda at the German Consulting Day 2025 in Düsseldorf
maconda News November 2025
Recalibrating consulting between volatile markets and technological shifts" – this was the core theme of the German Consulting Day 2025 in late November, hosted by the Association of German Management Consultants (Bundesverband Deutscher Unternehmensberatungen – BDU). Dr Rainer Mayer, Managing Director of maconda and BDU member, joined industry leaders to discuss the evolving role of advisors. The central (albeit not entirely new) message of the event: In an environment of high uncertainty, consultants must help reduce complexity while simultaneously providing the implementation strength that actually delivers in day-to-day business. This specific combination of complexity reduction and implementation power served as the common thread throughout the event, spanning a wide range of topics and speakers.
One of the most impactful sessions was delivered by General (ret.) Eberhard Zorn, former Chief of Defence of the German Armed Forces. He provided a clear, sharp analysis of how geopolitical tensions – involving Russia, China, and Ukraine – are reshaping German supply chains and social systems. “His unique perspective on geopolitics was outstanding. He spoke without reservation about where Germany needs to change, stressing that we must decide and act much faster to stay resilient,” observed Rainer Mayer.
The economic outlook was equally sobering. As Rainer Mayer from maconda noted, no amount of newspaper coverage can replace a well-grounded presentation that condenses the facts so clearly and convincingly. Professor Dr Michael Grömling from the German Economic Institute (IW Köln) presented data showing a gradual but steady decline in German industry. While these trends are often discussed in the media, seeing the data presented so clearly made the consequences for the German economy and its political landscape undeniably evident.
Many organisations are currently facing a convergence of challenges, from global pressure and fragile value chains to investment hesitation and a shortage of skilled labour. While maconda cannot change the political environment, it helps businesses navigate it by providing reliable assessments and robust implementation. This involves delivering resilient opinions – even when they are uncomfortable – backed by the experience of a highly qualified team.
Based on the debates in Düsseldorf, the BDU derived three expectations that maconda fully supports:
(1) Orientation that enables action – Companies do not need more glossy “PowerPoint truths.” Instead, they require realistic scenarios and clear professional stances on what the current situation means for their budgets, personnel, supply capabilities, growth, and ultimately, their business location. The Consulting Day deliberately opened with a reality check on geopolitics and the economy to establish this essential foundation.
(2) Implementation that reaches the core of the company – Demand for consulting remains high, not because strategies are lacking, but because execution under uncertainty is difficult. Planning budgets is equally challenging, including the necessary funds for helpful advice by experienced consultants. Ultimately, success is measured by whether actions work in day-to-day operations, including roles, processes, management, communication, acceptance, and long-term sustainability.
(3) AI is important, but as a means to an end rather than an end in itself – Artificial Intelligence was a major topic in Düsseldorf, but the consensus was that AI changes a great deal, but does not replace everything. Human leadership, quality, and guidance remain the decisive factors. This was highlighted indirectly by a closing keynote from a self-proclaimed “AI guru” who seemed to get carried away with a fair amount of showmanship and self-promotion. According to his presentation, his company is managed almost entirely by over 30 “AI assistants” and practically runs itself. Presumably, the revenue also generates itself, or perhaps, in the end, it is “only” earned through eccentric presentations where tools like ChatGPT are undoubtedly useful. While the “guru” was certainly entertaining, he didn’t quite manage to convey the supposed benefits of AI for business in a practical, real-world manner.
Also for maconda, AI is not the focal point of client discussions. Bertram Stähler of maconda puts it clearly: “We use AI where it saves time, supports better decisions, and accelerates implementation – with sound judgement and clear expertise. But it is not yet possible today without our own quality checks as well as a great deal of reflection and experience”.
Ultimately, the 2025 Consulting Day reinforced that clients need honest, pragmatic consultants who create real perspectives rather than chasing trends. AI helps, but the difference is created through clarity, methodology, communication, empowerment, and experience. maconda: customer-focused, pragmatic, effective.
About maconda
For more than 20 years, maconda has supported company acquisitions, performance improvement, and restructuring. With over 800 advisory and implementation projects and more than 450 transaction-related mandates, maconda has extensive experience to pragmatically support even demanding projects. Its clients include medium-sized companies, business units of large corporations, as well as international private equity investors and family offices.