Client Service Award
Michelle Sirott
Practice Director
Point B
Michelle Sirott landed in consulting by accident. She was in college getting a degree in hospitality management with the goal of one day running a boutique hotel. There was a restaurant and hotel on campus that students managed as part of the curriculum, and Sirott was working in the restaurant and struck up a conversation with the husband one of her professors. He worked at a big firm consulting to hotels.
"I was intrigued and excited, and he connected me with an internship opportunity, which I got, and that eventually led to a full-time consulting position," Sirott says. "I joined the audit and business consulting team for a large hotel client. That experience allowed me to expand my consulting breadth to ERP and process improvement, which enabled me to take on consulting engagements outside of hospitality."
That was more than 15 years ago. Today, Sirott is the top-ranking executive for Point B's Phoenix practice. During her tenure, Sirott has increased revenue, headcount and the firm's service offerings for clients… all while maintaining the long-term client partnerships that have served as a foundation for the office since 2004.
"Service is my passion, so at the end of the day, that is what fuels me the most," she says. "Being part of an organization that puts clients first and empowers its employee owners to make decisions in the best interest of the clients, whether they've been at the firm two days or 20 years, is extremely rewarding."
At Point B, service transcends the work consultants do with our clients, she says. "We serve each other in sharing our knowledge and supporting each other." Case in point: Under Sirott's leadership, more than 20 percent of Point B Phoenix consultants serve on professional and non-profit boards, and she hosts two professional peer communities that bring more than 50 local leaders together to deepen their knowledge and expand their networks.
"Having a focus on serving our Arizona market also gives me an opportunity to get involved in my community, and I've had the opportunity to serve on a non-profit board," Sirott says. "Point B also provides financial support for non-profit board work, and my colleagues have participated in volunteer and pro bono activities to support Arizona community organizations, and I feel like our involvement really has an impact."
As for the impact that winning the Women Leaders in Consulting award will have, Sirott says that being honored for client service is the biggest compliment she could receive. "I've worked with so many amazing women (and men) in my career who have taught me so much and have made me a better consultant," she says. "I'm surrounded with a very talented team who deliver for our clients. I share this award with all of them."
What's the best advice that you've ever received?
"The best consulting advice I've received is that "it's all about relationships." This has guided my leadership philosophy… it's the reason we put our clients' best interest first, influences how we recruit new candidates to the firm, serves as a foundation for the collegial environment we have across our organization and the strong community networks we build… both professionally and socially. Strong relationships are the key differentiator for us in our client service and long-term community relationships."
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