The 2021 Best Firms to Work For: Systems Evolution Inc. (SEI)

Client Industries Served: Automotive & Transportation, Consumer Products, Leisure & Hospitality, Retail & E-Commerce, Utilities, Media & Entertainment, Professional Services, Financial Services, Government & Higher Education, Healthcare & Life Sciences

Consulting Service Lines: Concept to Delivery, Data & Analytics, Strategy & Operations, Technology Enablement, Security & Compliance

CMAG: How would you say you've managed to stay among the industry's Best Firms to Work For amid these unprecedented times?

The past 18+ months were unprecedented, but our fundamental approach hasn't changed from the pre-pandemic years: It all still comes down to our employee ownership model and mentality through which we expect, encourage, and receive consultant participation in every aspect of our business. Without the burden of a large bureaucratic hierarchy, we find it easy to spark innovation, promote thoughtful decision-making, and foster active, collaborative involvement from our team of over 350 consultants. And this all naturally leads to a high level of job satisfaction and employee retention.

Of course, the pandemic and subsequent reopening process have brought plenty of new challenges. In response, we've developed new ways to support our employees and help them deal with isolation and other work-from-home challenges. Specifically, our HR and Services teams are constantly assessing what individual employees need — be it more technical support, more guidance on how to consult virtually, relief for pressing family issues, or just someone to listen — and consequently providing necessary resources. Additionally, I've been so impressed by how many consultants across all of our offices have stepped up to support each other through these challenging times.

CMAG: Were there any specific programs or initiatives (internal or external) that contributed to you being a Best Firm to Work For?

From everyone's first day on the job, we make it clear that our talent, their careers, and their families are our priority. That commitment to each other and the firm finds its way into every corner of the business and contributes greatly to a sense of shared purpose and responsibility for SEI's success.

Of course, we've had to rethink what it means to work with and for each other since the start of the pandemic. Like so many other firms, we've spent the better part of 18 months collaborating virtually — and navigating the limitations of doing so (e.g. "Zoom fatigue", lack of body language cues). However, because collaboration is so ingrained in our company culture and DNA, the transition to these new working styles was extraordinarily smooth.

One specific program I'd like to call out for its benefits to our success in remote and hybrid contexts is our use of formal DISC assessments to measure each employee's communication style. By leveraging them in new hire orientations and then regularly referring back to the results throughout each employee's tenure, I believe we've sent a strong message that we're as committed to the individual consultant's success as we are to that of the entire firm.

CMAG: What is unique about your firm? What sets it apart?

This one is easy: our employee ownership model and mentality are unlike anything else in the consulting space. And at the risk of revealing our secret sauce, it makes us not only unique but also remarkably successful as a partner to our clients and employer of topline consulting talent.

CMAG: What's the top priority over the next 6 to 12 months?

To put it simply, we need to hire more great consulting talent! The pandemic has revealed both how resilient our business is and how much we can help our clients navigate their "new normal" — as evidenced by the fact our Washington D.C., Chicago, Dallas, and Boston offices were all individually recognized by Inc. Magazine this year as some of the country's fastest-growing companies. To maintain our current pace of growth and support our national client base, we will need to continue hiring topline consulting talent in all of our 10 local markets. I would also add that we are continuing to prioritize diversity, equity, and inclusion across all of our offices. Our new DEI Council deserves a ton of credit for launching countless new internal and client-facing initiatives in just the last year, but there's always more we can do to foster a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive culture inside our organization.

CMAG: When you look at the remainder of this year and 2022, what excites you? What opportunities do you see in your markets?

So far, 2021 has been a year full of exciting opportunities for us all to grow as individual consultants and we at SEI are planning to ride that momentum into next year. While I see plenty of uncertainty ahead when it comes to areas like hybrid work models, a distributed talent base, and rapidly changing consumer habits, I'm excited by the opportunity to address those challenges head-on in support of our clients and our own consultants.

CMAG: What impact do you think being a Best Firm to Work For has on the firm? Employees? Clients?

It's always an honor to be named a "Best Firm to Work For" by one of the top brands in the consulting space. It sounds a little obvious, but being a consultant is so integral to the culture of our organization. As a result, any recognition of our success as an employer of consulting talent means a lot — to say nothing of being recognized by a name that has become synonymous with great consultants (yes, I'm talking about you guys). In terms of day-to-day impact, it feels like every time I talk to a prospective or new hire, they mention this award. The fact that we've garnered that recognition year after year makes it clear to new talent that our collaborative culture and commitment to employee success is not a new initiative, but rather a sustained, decades-long commitment and something that's intrinsic to our business model.