L.E.K. Consulting

Pharma and MedTech, GL 49A, and other sectors — where to move now, where to lock optionality, and where to wait Key takeaways Venezuela is reopening, but the investment case varies sharply by sector. The study frames the opportunity across three tracks: act now in Pharma/MedTech, lock in optionality through GL 49A for U.S. investors, and wait on heavier-capital sectors. Pharma and MedTech are the most actionable near-term opportunities.

Consumers have no shortage of opinions about what goes into their food. But given emerging health trends and a growing range of claims, which ingredient attributes have the broadest appeal? The answer is surprisingly straightforward: Consumers want ingredients they understand. To better understand how ingredient preferences are evolving, L.E.K. Consulting surveyed 2,000 consumers across the United States.

AI-First Operating Model Definition and Adoption

Education is becoming a more prominent investment theme for investors seeking market-rate financial returns alongside measurable social outcomes. The opportunity is particularly relevant where scalable learning models can expand access, improve affordability, support inclusion or create stronger employment-linked outcomes for underserved learners. This momentum sits within a broader impact investing market that has grown into a sizable global asset class.

The US Trade School Ecosystem: Investment Drivers and Opportunities The U.S. trade school ecosystem sits at the intersection of postsecondary education and workforce training. Trade schools prepare students for skilled occupations through practical programs that are typically shorter and more employment-oriented than traditional degree pathways. Programs often take several months to two years to complete and lead to certificates, diplomas, associate degrees, licensure or certification.

Talent acquisition (TA) is an enduring need. The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) is heavily influencing TA, and the expectation is that it will automate TA tasks and drive lower TA costs and higher speed. However, there are two sides to the equation — processing applicants and the number and quality of said applications — and how they are interacting is challenging the simple expectation that AI will drive down TA costs.

Key takeaways Real-time and programmable money is moving into commercial payment flows, especially where traditional rails are slow, costly or unable to serve customers economically. The opportunity goes beyond cheaper payments. New rails can unlock previously unviable flows and entirely new customer relationships, particularly in cross-border payments and high-friction markets.

Auto-scroll The U.S. remains an attractive but challenging growth market for international K-12 operators, with significant opportunity across states such as California, Florida, New York and Texas. Nikita Rajgopal explains why operators need a more targeted approach to succeed — focusing on attractive local markets, selective acquisitions and differentiated education propositions that go beyond brand recognition alone. L.E.K. Consulting is a registered trademark of L.E.K. Consulting LLC.

Auto-scroll Europe is emerging as a compelling growth market for premium K-12 education, with demand increasingly concentrated in specific cities rather than broad national markets. In this video, Nikita Rajgopal explains how rising wealth, international mobility and growing demand for globally recognized education pathways are creating new opportunities for premium school operators in cities such as Lisbon, Prague, Warsaw, Madrid and Milan. Watch the full video.

BOSTON (September 16, 2026) – L.E.K. Consulting, a global strategy consulting firm, today announced that veteran pricing executive Bernard Kang has joined the firm as a Partner in its Los Angeles office. Kang brings more than two decades of experience in pricing strategy and AI-driven analytics, with a focus on helping B2B companies leverage pricing to deliver sustainable revenue and profit growth.