To paraphrase a very famous rock and roll critique from back in the day: "We've seen the future of the consulting profession, and they are named the Rising Stars of the Profession." It was 1974 and that critic was Rolling Stone's Jon Landau. He was talking about a relatively unknown N.J.-rocker named Bruce Springsteen. And, he was; Landau was dead on. About a year later, Springsteen was on the cover of Time and Newsweek.
We wouldn't, of course, be so bold to assume any of our Rising Stars were poised for such greatness and fame, but we think it's safe to say that we've also seen the future of the consulting profession, and it is strong. But don't take our word for it, see for yourself. In a special 20-page section that begins on Page 10, we highlight the best and brightest—and youngest—in consulting in this, our fifth Rising Stars of the Profession.
It's impossible not to be impressed with their accomplishments, their impact… and their individualism. Yes, the profession is in good hands. As usual, they are redefining the traditional rules as they go. And, believe it or not, a few of these award winners were born in 1990s. How is that even possible?
What did we learn? Well, they're eager and well educated. They know what they want, and are not about to settle. They don't like the status quo; in fact, they will—quite enthusiastically—challenge it. They are not afraid to take chances. They expect their jobs to be fulfilling. They expect to be fulfilled; if they're not, they'll move on. In simplest terms, they want to change the world—or at least leave it in much better shape than how they found it. They are, in a word, redefining the consulting profession.
Are these generalizations? I suppose they are, but they are based on examples culled from the hundreds of nominations, and more specifically, from interviews with the 35 award winners. I challenge you to think differently after you read their stories. And hey, things worked out pretty well for Bruce.
Joseph Kornik Publisher & Editor-in-Chief jkornik@alm.com
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