The Global Leaders in Consulting: Florian Teleaba

"We solve big strategic issues or priorities on CEOs' agendas at A.T. Kearney. But what I truly enjoy is, no matter how big or small the problem is, the actual problem solving – finding what someone did not find, finding a smart, simple, effective solution. And the simpler and shorter the final recommendation/solution is, without losing its quality and fit-to-purpose, the happier I am."

Teleaba is Manager in A.T. Kearney's Bucharest office and an important member of the company's Global FIG practice. Having an extensive 8-plus years of consulting experience, he has also previously also worked for Mastercard Advisors and BCR, a leading Romanian bank, as part of their Retail Strategy team. 

Teleaba says there are several factors that have contributed to his success. "I believe first it's my ambition to do the right things in the (essentially) right way – and I am quite relentless in doing this. I also care more about accuracy than precision, and that has a tremendous contribution many times even without realizing it," he says. "I care about theory as much as I care about practice—even when working on topics I know very well and have done multiple times before, I'm still reading, wanting to learn more." 

Yet, without sounding cliché, he says none of it would've possible "without the great team I work with in A.T. Kearney, which is also why I came back to the firm after a brief hiatus," he says. "It's because of our team, and our firm's culture that I can be successful in the engagements I lead and with the clients I serve."

He also wants to excel at what he does, have a certain consulting prowess—either in terms of the "content expertise, or those consulting skills that are needed in this profession, like: problem solving, structured thinking, what-if thinking, systems thinking, connecting the dots, putting it all together in an actionable convincing plan," he says. 

Q&A:  What does being recognized as a Global Leader in Consulting mean to you? Your firm? Your clients?

Teleaba: I feel honored and proud to receive such an award and distinction, I would say early in my career, but also humbled especially since I am sure there are others who deserve it more—people to whom I look up to. This also meant that my wife kind of understood "OK, he is good at and recognized for what he does", since she tells me I am stubborn and too teacher-like and connects it to the fact that I'm a consultant. To the firm, I believe it's a recognition of the way we do our work—relentlessly looking to do an excellent job for our clients. To my clients, I do hope that the relationships of trust I currently have, and I will have, will remain unbiased by this award.