9. Kurt Salmon
At the end of 2011, Kurt Salmon put a new strategy in place that's providing the firm with a positive trajectory for its business, says Madison Riley, Managing Partner of Kurt Salmon's North American Retail and Consumer Products Group.
"When people feel there's a strategy in place to help the company grow that's being implemented effectively and with clear direction, that only adds to morale," he says. "And the morale at Kurt Salmon is high right now."
The firm's immediate goal, he says, is to continue to implement and drive that strategy, which includes continuing to bring on great new people at the senior levels, as well as at the college, university and military levels.
"It also means we're looking at appropriate strategic acquisitions, investing in professional development and in two new service areas: analytics and digital."
What excites Riley, he says, is that there is such dramatic change underway in healthcare, financial services, retail and CIO advisory services. "Our clients have a real opportunity to transform themselves," he says. "It is an incredibly dynamic and exciting environment to be consulting in, and we are very well positioned to help our clients ride this wave of change to greater success."
On this year's survey, the firm scored highest in the areas of career development & client engagement, ranking eight overall in both categories. The firm has invested heavily in professional development, he says. Meanwhile, a renewed sense of client engagement—helping turn organizations' operations into a strategic advantage—was part of the strategic shift of 2011.
And that new strategic direction may have led to another positive result for the firm: After four years of not being one of the Best Firms to Work For, Kurt Salmon re-emerged in 2012 as the No. 10. This year, the firm does that ranking one better.
The ranking is a source of pride, but it also helps the firm attract and retain top talent, he says. "When you're listed as a Best Firm to Work For, the best graduating students and the best people in industry, they take note. They want to work for a firm that not only has a clear sense of where it's going, but is well run and is comprised of a collection of stellar individuals. That's Kurt Salmon," Riley says. "We're honored to once again be named as one of the Best Firms to Work For, because we're growing every day and this honor affirms how committed we are to providing an environment where the smartest and most innovative experts can grow with us."
WHAT IS UNIQUE ABOUT YOUR FIRM? WHAT SETS IT APART FROM YOUR COMPETITORS?
Madison Riley, Managing Partner of Kurt Salmon's North American Retail and Consumer Products Group, says: "We are all about making operations a strategic advantage for our clients. So in addition to our expertise in corporate strategy and IT implementation, we are experts in process, organization and behavioral change. Firms look to us to make major changes to their operating approach where we help not only define new business processes but show client associates how to change their behavior and embrace the new operating model so that it ultimately becomes a competitive advantage. It's the core of our success."
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