October 2025
Brief
Headlines
Updates from the consulting industry + the world's biggest problems
Accenture has laid off over 11,000 employees who were viewed as too difficult to upskill in AI. -Business Insider, archive
A spike in deaths from malaria in Cameroon has been attributed to USAID cuts. -Reuters
"Biothreat hunters" at Microsoft intercepted dangerous AI-generated DNA before it got made. -Washington Post, archive
Subway has committed to using 100% cage-free eggs in its US locations by November 1, 2025. -CT Insider, archive
"Lifeboat crew" of ex-USAID staff has successfully restarted or sustained 79 projects in over 30 countries. -The Guardian
Quick wins
Courses, tools, and other impact hacks
Create or update your profile in our Network Directory to get matched with new roles and expand your connections!
Curious how your donations add up? This Impact Calculator shows the difference your contributions can make. -One for the World
FIG's winter fellowship offers hands-on experience in AI governance and safety, along with opportunities to grow your professional network. Applications due October 19. -Future Impact Group
Use this tool to see what your career in alternative protein could achieve in just one year. -AltProtein.Jobs
Prepare for a career in global mental health, including work in neglected regions through the Global Mental Health Fellowship. Apply by October 24. -Effective Mental Health
Deep reads
Nuanced takes worth your time
Our CEO, Sarah, on founding Consultants for Impact, connecting consultants to roles tackling global challenges, and AI's role in the future of consulting. -CXO Outlook
Read how member Justin Portela left consulting to break free from the elite college pipeline that funnels grads into high-status, but miserable, careers. -Mother Jones
What happens when AI goes rogue? The MechaHitler story and lessons for AI safety. -AI In Context, 80,000 Hours
Why we care more about feeling helpful than our actual impact when tackling global problems. -Behavioral Scientist
What's mirror life? Scientists released a report detailing its serious risks. -Paris Conference on Risks from Mirror Life
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Coming up
Events worth changing your Slack status to OOO for
October
- AI, Animals, and Digital Minds NYC, October 9-10
- World Health Summit 2025, October 12-14
- AI Governance Online 2025, October 22
- Reducetarian Summit, October 24-26
November and beyond
- American Public Health Association Annual Meeting, November 2-5
- The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement Annual Conference, November 4-6
- Effective Animal Advocacy Meetup: Berlin, November 18
- Foresight Institute: Vision Weekend USA 2025, December 5-7
- International Association for Safe and Ethical Artificial Intelligence, February 24-26 (Apply by October 20)
Meet the member
When visa restrictions prevented Kamil Burkhanov from pivoting to high-impact work full-time, he found another way to maximize the value of his time: strategic donations combined with designing pro-bono projects for some of the world's most effective charities.
How can consultants with visa constraints make a difference? Constraints should be treated as normal - everyone has them. Yes, I couldn't simply join some dream organization and work exclusively on meaningful causes. But that didn't mean I had to do nothing. I could help with my money and with my time. The real question was: how could I maximize the good I could do under these circumstances?
Any advice for your younger self? Connect earlier! For too long, I was trying to do this alone. Now that I've connected with others through Consultants for Impact, I see so many people pursuing the same goals and eager to support each other - not only globally, but within my own firm.
Jobs
Get paid to solve the world's most pressing problems!
AI safety & policy
- Sourcing Partner - UK Government, Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (Apply by October 12)
- Development Assistant - Americans for Responsible Innovation (Apply by November 30)
- Go-To-Market Lead - Goodfire (Rolling)
Global health & development
- Program Manager - High Impact Medicine (Apply by October 13)
- Executive Assistant, Global Health Office of the President - Gates Foundation (Apply by October 21)
- Research Analyst, Commons - GiveWell (Rolling)
Multiple cause areas
- Community Manager - NYC Impact Hub (Apply by October 19)
- Recruitment Manager; Research Manager (x2) - Ambitious Impact (Apply by October 19)
- Impact Advisor - Regeneration Group (Apply by October 19)
- Chief of Staff - Impact Ops (Apply by November 1)
Exit Interviews
Ex-consultants open up about their career pivots
Exit Interviews is a new series about consultants who stepped off the partner track to tackle the world's toughest problems - from global poverty to AI safety. Among them: David Conrad, who left BCG to train the next generation of AI policymakers across the UK and Europe.
These unfiltered stories are rarely predictable (and not always pretty), but instantly recognizable to anyone who's worked long hours on a client project and wondered, "Why am I doing this?"
Want to talk jobs?
With 15+ years of consulting experience and hundreds of professionals advised, our team is ready to help. Share your goals in our updated Career Conversation form to get started!
