The 2019 Rising Stars of the Profession: Taylor Traficanti

Age: 32

With the support of NTT DATA, Taylor Traficanti found his niche within consulting, he says, and that he's truly passionate about helping his clients. "There is always more to learn, and colleagues to share experiences with, and there are endless opportunities to explore," Traficanti says.

Traficanti's passion for Change Management led him to pursue specific skills that would better serve his clients, and he was hand selected and sponsored for certification. "The recognition and training significantly improved my acumen and better equipped me to guide current and potential clients in that area," he says.

What's been the biggest factor to his success so far? Learning from each colleague, client and interaction, he says.

"Regardless of with whom I am interacting, my challenge is to listen, thoughtfully and respectfully question, and in the end, learn as much as possible from each situation," Traficanti says.

He says he once got some great advice to "read the room." He says: "A great consultant knows, for example, when to let your personality shine and when to blend in, when to challenge the system and when to yield. There is often a right and wrong time, and it is essential to have an understanding of your audience."

As far as winning a Rising Stars of the Profession award, Traficanti says that "it demonstrates the importance of active and engaged leadership that Rising Stars ought to emulate."

Great leaders are always "looking for the next upcoming talent to mentor and grow, and as the Rising Stars continue in their careers, it is incumbent on them to likewise coach new talent to find their niche in consulting," he says.