The 2021 Global Leaders in Consulting: Sri Manchala

His vision and execution have paid dividends for the firm, with Trianz growing 25 percent year-over year for five years running, even during the pandemic. Manchala's formative years in the military and at USC Marshall School of Business (where he's now a corporate advisory board member) taught him about delivering winning outcomes for clients on the first attempt.

Ask him what being named a Global Leader in Consulting means for Manchala, his firm, and his clients, and he'll say it's a "significant nod to our collaborative approach in which various practice communities can come together and innovate for  the clients, as opposed to traditional, siloed practice models."

He also says the recognition is "an acknowledgement of our focus on a "business first" strategy, which, from the beginning, has disrupted the status quo and  ensured that commitments from the client's leadership teams and partners are fulfilled."

As for what he considers his greatest professional achievements in his career, Manchala says although many focal points spring to mind, he chiefly points to his unconventional approach to founding a first-of-its-kind data company in Trianz, and building it into the global consulting and services conglomerate it is today.

"I have always been interested in understanding  the big picture while approaching a challenge from the business point of view. When I founded  Trianz in 2001, I'd focus on a problem area's business element and then look into how technology  and IT could deliver these capabilities. This was unconventional at the time," he says.

"Today, Trianz  leverages the industry leading cutting-edge technology solutions and has strong partnerships on  various levels with multiple technology leaders in the industry. The firm has been reaching new heights with our strategic focus on digital transformation – gaining significant traction in client  engagements and high-profile wins." 

Q&A: What has been the biggest key to your success so far? 

"I think my passion for meticulousness and the discipline I developed in my career's formative  military years have been the anchor for my success, reflected by effective execution of engagements  and my penchant for the road less traveled. This combination of the right execution and innovation  can be very a powerful tool.  

In addition, one of my guiding principles related to innovation is to leverage its value in enabling business transformation and market success. Tapping into my natural persona to create calm and an  innovative focus during the ongoing pandemic crisis has helped me provide round-the-clock  management support."