NAVNEET SINGH NARULA
Accenture
Management Executive
Age: 29

Navneet Singh Narula has accomplished much in his 29 years—not just professionally, but for the world. A consultant in Accenture’s financial services practice who specializes in systems integration and technology for mergers and acquisitions, Narula has advised many of Wall Street’s heavy hitters. He also serves as the chief diversity lead at Accenture’s Michigan practice and co-leads the Asian Americans Committed to Excellence diversity group in Atlanta.

But Narula’s commitment to excellence knows no borders. As the director of humanitarian relief and community empowerment at UNITED SIKHS, he has participated in, and in some cases led the formation of, schools and relief shelters throughout the world. He also aided in disaster relief in India, New Orleans and Kashmir.  The 30 Under 30 distinction is one of many for Narula, who was honored by Sen. Clinton as one of 2006’s Outstanding 50 Asian Americans in Business. He’s also received distinctions from the Minorities in Business Foundation and the American Business Awards, among others.

His long-term plan focuses on balance. “I hope to become an effective individual, a catalyst for a better living, a simple, fun, family man and a top leader at a world-class organization or a tycoon businessman. Most importantly, I pray for self-contentment, a healthy lifestyle, and a happy, secure life surrounded by my loved ones.”

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MEAGHAN BOUCHOUX
BearingPoint
Manager
Age: 29

Not everyone can say a big part of their job is to help save U.S. taxpayers money. But Meaghan Bouchoux, a manager at BearingPoint, can. Bouchoux has worked in IT consulting for seven years and spent most of that time dedicated to public service, doing work for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Federal Aviation Administration and the U.S. Postal Service. “I feel great doing that work,” she says. “I feel like I’m giving something back by working in the public sector. I’m a civilian, and while I don’t actually work for the government, I’m contributing by helping it save money and work more efficiently.” An example is her current role leading 25 resources on a newly won $3.8 million strategic project for the National Science Foundation. Bouchoux helped to revamp NSF’s approach to systems maintenance. And the structure can serve the same functions with four fewer resources.

What she likes most about the profession is “having a different challenge and opportunity every day to help a client solve his business problems,” she says. “It’s such a fulfilling job; you see the results of what you do every day, whether it’s cost savings or improved efficiencies.” Bouchoux says she plans to stay with BearingPoint and take on a bigger role in business development short term, as well as helping to  develop the overall strategic direction of the company over the long term.

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JOHN MADERA
BearingPoint
Senior Consultant
Age: 26

Every  consultant works hard, but not every consultant can prove it the way John Madera can. Madera, a senior consultant in BearingPoint’s energy practice, set a firm record with a whopping 164 percent utilization rate last year. While it’s not a record he’s necessarily looking to repeat in 2008, he says it’s just a part of who he is. “Well, the company would never expect any employee to work the hours I do, but it’s just my personality,” Madera says. “This is my style, and I’m enjoying every minute of it. I’m having way too much fun for the work to take a toll on me.”

The work that Madera does, teaching his clients how to use a new supply chain technology and processes, certainly contributes to the long hours he works. But where he works probably impacts it even more. Madera’s client work has taken him to some unusual locations—Kuwait, Kosovo and even Iraq. “When you’re doing client work in an area like Iraq, things are very fast paced because of the situation over there,” he says. “We’re looking to get in and get out as quickly as possible. So when I’m there, I’m pretty much working seven days a week to get the job done.” Madera says both the client and the U.S. military do a “terrific job of keeping us out of harm’s way, but I can’t say that it’s the safest place I’ve ever been.”

Even though he gets a lot of recognition within the firm for his trips to Iraq, Madera says for him the satisfaction comes from delivering outstanding work to clients everywhere—not just in Iraq. “I guess I get some extra credit points because I’ve been to Iraq, but that particular client has offices all over the world, and I hope I’ve been able to exceed expectations everywhere I’ve worked,” he says. “At  the end of the day, I hope I’m being recognized for all the client work I do, and not just because I happen to do some of it in Iraq.”