Jim Arnold / North Highland
Excellence in Client Service
Jim Arnold loves a challenge. When people think that something can't be done, that motivates him to want to do it. And, he says, the opportunity to influence opinions about what is possible is what gets him out of bed in the morning. "As a leader, this is especially important because it sets an example for our teams to stretch themselves and strive to do what they didn't think they could," Arnold says. "This is how we grow our people, help our clients to solve their most difficult problems and achieve their aspirations."
In addition, he says all consultants must love change. "Change is one of the reasons I made the move to consulting and is one of the things I enjoy the most about the consulting industry," he says. "Change brings new challenges, which leads to knowledge and experience for continued growth."
Arnold currently serves as Managing Director and President at North Highland. He has extensive experience in management consulting with specific areas of expertise, including strategy & advisory, strategic planning, management consulting operations, process improvement, merchandising, assortment planning, budgeting and forecasting, store operations and product development.
"North Highland is committed to client focus by evolving to a structure that leverages the collective knowledge of the firm across all our geographies, capabilities, industries and services bringing the best combination of expertise to our clients," he says. "This also allows us to ensure our people are working on challenging, compelling client engagements aligned to their interests and expertise."
Watching individuals on his team grow from analysts to consultants to the current and future leaders of the firm is something that makes him proud, he says. "Enabling each of them to achieve their goals and develop into strong leaders is what I'm the proudest of from a career perspective," he says. "On a personal note, I've learned the importance of being able to adapt to the changing needs of our growing firm, while remaining focused on what is in the best interest of our clients and our people. This adaptability and willingness to take on new challenges has benefited me throughout my entire career."
Arnold says the No. 1 factor to his—or anyone's—success is the team around him. "The most enjoyable part of consulting is being surrounded by team members that are smarter than me and challenge me daily," he says. "Each project brings a different mix of talent and personalities to challenge my thinking and help me grow as a leader."
Q&A: What does winning the Top 25 award mean to you, your firm and your clients?
Arnold: "Winning the award is an acknowledgment of the great team I work with daily. In this industry, now more than ever, an individual cannot achieve success without a great team leading them. I believe that it is my North Highland team that leads me through their knowledge and insights. My job is to be a servant leader to them and give the tools they need to be successful. The award is an acknowledgement of the success we are having as a firm and that our clients believe in us."
© Arc, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to TMSalesOperations@arc-network.com. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.