The 2017 Global Leaders in Consulting: Jonathan Burnett

Being a part of making the world safer, more secure, honest and transparent is something Jonathan Burnett is most proud of over the course of his consulting career. "Whether it is helping protect our data, detect financial crime, ensure organizations work with reputable partners or simply that they manage their risks appropriately and respect the law and good business conduct," he says. "I take a lot of personal satisfaction in knowing that our team's services and advice are really appreciated by our clients and can also make an impact on humanity."

Burnett has over 25 years of professional experience in the areas of governance, risk management, auditing and internal control. Formerly a partner in Arthur Andersen leading the enterprise risk consulting and Internal Audit practice in the UK, France and then EMEA, he subsequently founded the European operations of an independent global consulting firm, and now leads Crowe Horwath's Global Risk consulting practice, overseeing operations across several continents.

"I have been consulting for over 25 years and looking back, I take the most pride in thinking that I have contributed to the personal development of some amazing people," Burnett says. "Whether they are clients, colleagues in our team or part of the business ecosystem generally, I have seen people I work with grow personally and professionally and sometimes I think I have been able to contribute."

And what's been the biggest factor to his success? "Luck!" he says. "But apart from that, I have consulted to global companies in many markets around the world and that has taught me that diversity and inclusion are the key to success and well worth the investment. I strongly believe we can't take the best decisions for ourselves or help our clients without looking at a situation from different perspectives."

That diversity and the team of consultants is what he enjoys most about consulting. "It's the people and the relationships," he says. "I learn every day from the people I work and interact with, no matter where they are, what level they are or their skills set. We use a lot of technology and leverage a lot of data to help our clients but we are fundamentally in a people business so building trust and relationships is really important and very rewarding."

As for being a Global Leader, he says that "we all need perspective on how we are doing and having an external, reputable organization provide that perspective and confirm that you are doing the right things is important and very flattering for me as an individual and for all the consultants at Crowe."

Q&A: What motivates you to excel?

Burnett: "I don't consider that I excel. I work in Risk Consulting, which often means helping clients who are not in a comfortable position. They are under pressure to predict a future, which is inherently uncertain, react quickly to complex unexpected events and make sure their actions are sustainable. I relish the opportunity to help people who are faced with challenges like this and who sometimes do not know where to start. As we work with our clients we see their stress levels reduce and their confidence rise. That is really motivating for me and for the team at Crowe."