The 2019 Fastest Growing Firms: Maven Wave

Consulting: What were the main factors that contributed to your firm's exceptional growth?

Jennings: Since inception in 2008, Maven Wave has been doubling in size at least every 20 months. Our #1 asset is truly the team we've built. We've brought together a group of people who deliver a coveted combination of technology skills, industry expertise and an "X Factor," —what we call general like-ability, charisma, and professionalism that encourages everyone around them to work harder. In fact, everyone we hire has this "X Factor"—from consultants to management to developers. Our relationship with Google Cloud has also been a factor of growth for Maven Wave. We entered the Google channel in 2010, and every year since then, we've been recognized by Google for excellence in one way or another. For the last two years, Maven Wave was named the Google Cloud North America Services Partner of the Year.

Consulting: How is this year shaping up for your firm?

Jennings: We've been riding an exponential growth wave since mid-2015, this year included. A major part of our 2019 story is our continually deepening relationship with Google Cloud. Maven Wave has earned eight Google Cloud Partner Specializations, demonstrating our depth of expertise. We've also taken home several awards for our services and corporate culture, including the Google Cloud North America Services Partner of the Year recognition for the second year in a row.

Consulting: How would you describe your firm's outlook for 2020? 

Jennings: We're headed toward the era of "smart everything." The devices around you are going to know more about what you want, need, feel, and think, which is going to create a wide range of opportunities (and fears). Alongside that is the burgeoning world of data analytics and machine learning, which involves a complicated process of "data wrangling" to pull usable information out of silos and unleash its real potential. Machine learning will soon be built into everything that we touch. 

Consulting: What are your firm's biggest challenges in 2020?

Jennings: Many enterprises are large, awe-inspiring businesses rooted in an antiquated industrial model. We help organizations like that overcome the silos and barriers that keep them from their true potential in today's digital world. It's an ongoing challenge to make large-scale change a reality for thousands of employees at a single organization in a short period of time, but our proven model combines change management with the latest technology. It's true that we're operating in a volatile market right now, but that works in Maven Wave's favor; change is our business. We're always chasing the horizon when it comes to the enterprise technology space. 

Consulting: What does being named a Fastest Growing Firm mean to your firm, employees and clients?

Jennings: We've been fortunate enough to land on Consulting Magazine's Fastest Growing Firms list for the past four years and it's truly an honor. It helps to boost our brand's reputation, but also it improves our employee acquisition and retention efforts, which is a top priority. Everyone—clients and employees included—wants to be a part of a success story, and this recognition contributes to that story for Maven Wave!