7. Exavalu
Headquarters: Costa Mesa, Calif. Number of Billable Consultants: 43 Client Industries Served: Insurance, Healthcare & Financial Services Consulting Service Lines: Strategy, Operations, Enterprise Architecture, Digital Transformation, Data Privacy & Security
Costa Mesa, Calif.-based Exavalu is this year's highest-ranking newcomer to the Best Small Firms to Work For list. The ranking "validates our belief we're building an organization that attracts and retains the best talent, which is core to us providing value to our clients," says Saurav Basu, President of the firm.
For the employees, the ranking represents a sense of pride in being part of an organization that's earned this recognition, he says. "For our clients, it's a sign that we take care of our employees. Happy consultants perform better and help our clients in ways to add more value," Basu says. "It's critical we engage with our employees to find what motivates them and provide an environment where they can excel in their area of expertise."
Refik Ongun, Principal of the firm says that morale is high within Exavalu and the associates are brand ambassadors and champions of the firm. "There's positive energy and high engagement," Ongun says. "Our principals take active responsibility in mentoring and guiding associates. Our associates genuinely believe in the mission of the firm, trust the leadership and are motivated to succeed and make our clients successful."
Ongun says the firm's priorities are on rapidly growing the firm built on the foundation it's established but keep the core. "We want to expand our benefits program, provide flexible work arrangements, hire more women and improve diversity while retaining the core around employee engagement, mentorship, quality of work, work-life balance, and being centered around our values," he says. Given the firm's growth rate, Ongun says there are many opportunities for consultants to add value and be successful. "Additionally, we try to provide an environment where our consultants feel acknowledged and challenged," he says.
Basu says part of the key to Exavalu's success has been that virtually every industry today is being disrupted by "Digital" through newer market entrants, shifting consumer needs/preferences, innovation in products, active M&A, increasing compliance needs, and technology pervading the value chain.
"It's leading companies to fundamentally rethink their products and markets as well as ways they add value to their customers," Basu says. "We're seeing this within the industries we focus on—i.e. Insurance, Healthcare and Financial Services. It's an exciting time where clients need us to help them understand and guide them to be successful. Due to our twin focus on business strategy/operation and Digital technology-based transformation, I believe we're well placed to add maximum value for our clients. It's also a great learning opportunity for our associates."
On the survey, the firm excelled in the areas of Work/Life Balance and Leadership. Why do you think that is?
Basu: On the Work/Life Balance, our formula is very simple. We are currently a regional consulting company, serving clients predominantly in California. Many within the firm came from large consulting organizations where consultants used to travel several hours a week, which is totally unproductive. Cutting out the excessive travel gave our associates the ability to focus on our clients while providing the required amount of time for family and other personal needs. On Leadership, we've been careful to hire senior folks who've had exceptional client and team leadership experience.
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