The 2020 Top 25 Consultants: Nigel Vaz

"I was drawn to the digital consultancy, now called Publicis Sapient, because it also focused on helping businesses use technology as a strategic differentiator in order to transform businesses, Vaz says. "So while consulting wasn't where I started my career, I was drawn to it pretty early on."

Today, Vaz is CEO of Publicis Sapient and this he will hit his 20-year anniversary with Publicis Sapient (Sapient when he joined).

"When I reflect on my personal accomplishments over that time, I'm proud of being one of a handful of leaders who built our International business from the ground up," he says. "As part of Sapient's executive leadership team, I drove the evolution of the European business and helped to build Sapient into one of the largest digital professional services companies in the UK from a start-up in the space of a decade. Today, that business is one of the fastest growing in Publicis Groupe and sits at the forefront of some of our most transformational client work."

Vaz has been a member of Sapient and Publicis Sapient's leadership team for over 15 years, including holding the role of Chief Strategy Officer prior to becoming CEO.

"I am incredibly proud of the work we did to create a company grounded in purpose and culture," he says. "I'm also proud of being part of the leadership that led the company through multiple successful transformations over our history: from the dot com boom and bust, to the proliferation of mobile, to our role partnering with clients to transform their businesses."

Vaz says what he enjoys most about his work and the consulting profession is the opportunity to constantly learn, then unlearn and relearn. "This is an industry that was born out of the permanence of change. Consulting has always been centered on helping clients navigate some form of change, but today the pace of that change is accelerating," he says. "We are in one of most transformational eras in human history."

And it is no secret that we are currently experiencing an unprecedented situation, Vaz says he is continually impressed with the team's resiliency and drive amid the pandemic. "I am really looking forward to being able to be with my team and meet with clients face-to-face again," he says. "While we are fortunate to have so many digital tools that have allowed us to create a 'new normal' and keep moving at pace, there is a certain energy I miss about connecting with people in person."

Q&A: What has motivated you to excel over the course of your career?

Vaz: I've always been motivated by impact. When working with clients, that translates to partnering with them in how digital can fundamentally change how they create value for their customers and business. As the CEO of Publicis Sapient, it translates to how I work with our leaders and teams to connect our capabilities in a way that enables those new sources of value creation while also evolving how we operate as a business and create meaningful experiences for our people.