OLLI VALIKANGAS
KPMG
TITLE: Managing Director, Transactions & Restructuring
AWARD CATEGORY: Strategy Consulting
AGE: 32
At just 32 years old, Olli Valikangas already has 10 years under his belt at KPMG. And what a decade it's been. Starting out in the UK in 2004, Valikangas played a lead role in starting the firm's Operations Strategy and performance improvement business, helping drive growth from five members to more than 100 in just five years.
While there, Valikangas focused on developing performance improvement modeling and analytics frameworks for transactions and other cost-optimization applications for multi-billion dollar clients.
"Being a part of the growth of the UK team while developing its Operations Strategy and performance-improvement business projected my career development forward at a rapid pace, and allowed me to develop the unique experience that I have now been able to apply in the U.S. practice," he says.
Following his success in the UK, Valikangas crossed the pond to establish KPMG's U.S. performance-improvement hub, where he oversees up to three engagements simultaneously, managing teams of up to 25 members. It's the members of his team he credits for keeping him at his sharpest.
"The general hard work I contribute to every project I have led or played a role in, and striving to always raise the bar for the services provided by KPMG, have bolstered my professional success tremendously. However, the support of my team members, who mirror my work ethic, has also been invaluable through my career."
Valikangas calls the Rising Stars Award "a huge milestone."
"That my work has been recognized with such a prestigious acknowledgment is extremely gratifying and has only added to the sense of pride I have in what I do."
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