Amyn Merchant
Boston Consulting Group
Excellence in Leadership
Amyn Merchant says he had no idea what consulting was until late in his junior year of college, when he joined Penn's Small Business Development Center (SBDC). He enjoyed engaging with teams and helping advise companies on growth, funding or market-driven opportunities. "I wanted to seek out more of the same and I applied to several management consultancy firms." He says. "I really enjoyed my BCG interviews and have been at the firm ever since."
Today he is a Senior Partner and Managing Director in BCG's New York office where he is active in the firm's healthcare and operations practices. Among his leadership roles, Merchant has been the Managing Director for the Northeast System, Regional Leader of our Operations practice, and he has led global initiatives on BCG's operating model. He has led global efforts on network and supply chain redesign, plant and network complexity reduction, portfolio strategies, and plant and organization restructuring in the US, Europe and Asia.
"I think, interestingly, the first part of my career was proving to myself that I'm worthy of both being here, and of being able to engage and lead client interactions. It was about continuing to keep a very high bar for myself, to ensure I'm delivering and succeeding in my own right," he says. "And, quite frankly seeing the amazing talent around me, demonstrating to myself that I belong in that talented group."
The latter half of his career, he says, has been about having the opportunity to make a real difference for clients and teams, ensuring the results play out pretty quickly and tangibly.
It's always been the team that has led to the successes, he says. "No single individual, without a broad multi-faceted team, can be successful in delivering real value to our clients," he says.
Over the next 12 months, Merchant says he is most looking forward to finding new ways to reinvent himself, and BCG, to "continue to deliver amazing value to our clients, and our people," he says. "I'm now in a position to reinforce activities that deliver and add value in a world that's rapidly changing—this is both my own capabilities as well as BCG's as a global firm."
As far as winning the Top 25 Consultants award, Merchant says that it's a tremendous honor. "I was looking at the list of those that have won this award before, and it's a truly impressive group," he says. "It is humbling to be recognized by my peers both within and outside of BCG, as we, in our own small way, continue to make a difference for us and our clients."
Q&A: What professional achievements/accomplishments are you most proud of over the course of your career?
Merchant: I can think of two things. First, tangible value delivery for my clients. My team and I were able to help shape our client's operations and organization – engaging the leadership (both formally and informally) and the broader organization, including the 'shop floor' colleagues to become industry leaders. This journey took significant effort but the end result was a proud moment for our entire team. Second, being able to make a difference with my teams and our people across different parts of BCG. Seeing mentees within BCG become leaders in their own right has been very rewarding. Enabling others to develop, succeed and flourish is energizing and immensely rewarding for me.
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