I recently attended the PROI Global Summit 2025 in Stresa on the shores of Lake Maggiore in Italy a few weeks ago. For context, PROI Worldwide is a global partnership of independent consultancies across 72 countries and 165 cities with a combined 2024 revenue of over US$1.128 billion.
The three-day agenda was packed and to say I learned a lot from some of the greatest minds in the industry would be an understatement. There is something humbling yet energising at the same time being around so many smart, experienced practitioners. But they are not just practitioners. They are entrepreneurs who have all started and grown their own businesses into, in some instances, highly successful, multinational consultancies.
But besides all the learnings, the conference experience was like no other for one simple reason – generosity. Overwhelmingly, from the largest and the most profitable to the smaller, younger consultancies, everyone willingly shared information, offered support, genuinely connected, brainstormed and had heart to hearts – there were even a few tears in one of the sessions.
The support I witnessed and personally experienced, the willingness to learn and grow as individuals and consultancies, the level of trust and mutual respect at a time of heightened global polarisation was unexpected, uplifting and emotionally nourishing.
‘Connecting for Growth’ may have been the theme but the feeling I came away with was that this was more like ‘Connecting for Life’ because of the strength of the values and the support this amazing organisation called PROI and its members offer.