The 2019 Global Leaders in Consulting: Stephen Newton

So, what is he most proud of? The firm's growth. "We have achieved a CAGR of 33 percent since we were established without compromising on quality, he says. "Through this, our reputation has grown too, and our clients view us in the highest regard." 

Over the last 10 years, the firm has managed to attract outstanding talent such that the quality the work gets better and better every day, Newton says. "Our clients love what we do for them and want to continue working with us," he says. "That's what I'm most proud of in fact, in a recent client survey, our clients rated us 35 percent better on overall performance than our competitors."

Newton says he's always wanted to build a successful business and even after three failures, he kept going and that tenacity is what he's proud of, and it's what he and the Partners instill in the team every day. 

"The first time around I was left with no money, so I had no choice but to go back to the 'corporate' world—most people wouldn't want to approach the cliff edge again, but I never gave up," Newton says. "It still took me another two tries before finding success with Elixirr, but that resilience and determination to succeed kept me going and I'm so glad I did because the talent at Elixirr, and the work we do with our clients, blows me away every day." 

It's no surprise then that he says "resilience, bloody-mindedness, a never-say-die attitude and not giving up" are the keys to his success. "I like to think I have the ability to get the best out of people. know what the Elixirr team is capable of and that exceeds our client's expectations every day," he says. "This is what Elixirr is built on and the reason why our clients keep coming back."

The fact that consulting is never the same means it's always exciting, Newton says. It's a place where you can work across a range of projects, always on the move, with very little routine. "I like things to always be different. It's exciting to work with incredible clients and amazing, super smart people- all making a difference," he says. "Teamwork and building something together are incredibly satisfying. I love my sports—and I love my sports metaphors—therefore, I believe collective success is more meaningful than individual success. It's all about people and people are our business." 

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

"Being an individual doesn't do it for me. I've achieved this because I have a great team. It's an award for the success of the firm. Bringing it back to sport, my team, Liverpool had seven players nominated for the best football player last year. Are these seven people suddenly brilliant? No, they play on a brilliant team. They get to showcase their skills because there's other people around them who let them shine. This is an award for Elixirr, not for me."