The 2018 Best Firms to Work For: Slalom

Consulting Service Lines:  IT, Strategy 

It's not easy to be one of the Best Firms to Work For nine consecutive years, but that's exactly what Slalom has done. The firm is a perennial powerhouse on the list, and this year is no different. 

John Tobin, Co-Founder and President, Slalom North America says being recognized by Consulting magazine as one of the Best Firms to Work For is an honor because it represents the collective voice of Slalom's employees. "We believe that employees and clients seek us out because of this recognition, and that it sets a high bar for what they can expect from us that is aligned to our core values," Tobin says. "It reaffirms the choice that each of us made to come to Slalom as employees and distinguishes us as a great firm to work with for our clients."  

People love being at Slalom, he says, because the firm actively promotes a healthy balance between work and everyday life. "We understand that depth of relationship is at the very core of our business and invest in really getting to know and understand each person who calls Slalom home on a personal as well as professional level," Tobin says. "We provide infinite opportunities to do meaningful work, which in turn creates career growth and motivated, efficient and productive people."

Slalom has been a rapidly growing firm for some time now. A decade ago, the firm had fewer than 500 employees. Today, Slalom is now home to more than 5,500 employees worldwide, including 25 markets and seven delivery centers. 

"We are a $1 billion company and continue to grow. I am excited that even at scale, we have maintained our intimate model and a common culture grounded in our core values," Tobin says. "The close connections our people have to each other, our clients, and the communities in which we live and work are an important part of the equation. We believe we have only scratched the surface of what's possible."

To that end, Tobin says the firm is working on a series of "bold" moves established by the senior leadership team as well as local bold moves that will help the firm realize them. They are focused in these key areas:  Uniting and accelerating capabilities across analytics, machine learning, strategy, industries and technologies; Creating a culture of customer love through greater transparency, sharing our knowledge at a deeper level and facilitating valuable connections; and, Leading the way in growing experts and leaders with a commitment to become one of the world's best learning organizations for our people, clients and communities.

On the survey, Slalom excelled in the areas of Client Engagement and Career Development. Why? 

Tobin: "In our 2017 client survey, we introduced the Customer Love Index—a manifesto by which we expect our clients to hold us accountable. The index includes ten key elements:  understanding your business, active listening, ultimate candor, innovation and thought leadership, making connections, your success, being a challenger, growing experts and leaders, exceptional delivery, and our values. Meanwhile, professional development at Slalom means being the architect of your own career. We have an experience-focused and flexible toolkit that supports the unique and varied aspirations and goals defined by each employee. Our Career Development Framework guides our people as they pursue their passions and work to develop their mastery."