The 2022 Top Consultants: Alex Vadas

Alex Vadas is a Managing Director and Partner in L.E.K. Consulting's Life Sciences practice. Alex focuses on diagnostics, precision medicine, research tools and bioprocessing. He joined L.E.K. in 2000 and works with corporate, financial and not-for-profit clients on strategy and transaction support. Alex's expert commentary has appeared in Health Data Management, Life Science Leader, Med Device Online and in the international journal In Vivo. Alex earned both his B.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Chemical Engineering from the University of California, Los Angeles.

What do you consider your greatest personal or professional achievement?

My greatest professional achievement has been building the L.E.K.'s Life Sciences Enablers practice with my colleagues. On the personal side, I'm proud of my family – my wife and two children, Lucian and Astrid. I have a strong appetite for learning new things, whether it's learning to surf or play tennis, or reading fiction and nonfiction.

What advice would you give a professional just beginning a career in consulting?

The job can be difficult, and you really have to love solving problems and helping people to succeed. Look for your niche – building differentiated expertise is critical. And don't take yourself too seriously.

What have you loved most about your consulting career?

I've enjoyed building the Life Science Enablers practice within an entrepreneurial firm. When I first became interested in this area, it was not deemed as viable. I remember being told "Don't do it – that area is too small." But I persisted, and we were able to launch the practice and land in a place where it's viable and scalable.

In addition, I've loved the opportunity to mentor staff members along their career journeys and help develop new partners at the firm. Building culture within the practice has also been an enormous source of satisfaction.

What's the best advice—personal or professional—you've ever received?

I've received two great pieces of advice over the years. First, someone told me to get an engineering degree. That degree has been invaluable. Second, someone once told me, "You should try strategy consulting because I think you'd be really good at it." Consulting wasn't the obvious path for someone with a Ph.D. in 1999 (L.E.K. now has a defined Ph.D. recruiting path); I'd always been interested in the nexus of science and business, and found the ideal job at L.E.K.

What does being honored as a Top Consultant mean to you?

It's a great honor, and very validating after putting more than 20 years into the profession. But as my dad always said, "The minute you start feeling too good about yourself is when you're going to fall." We will continue to build the practice and do excellent work for our clients, and we will continue to learn and innovate. Also, I'd like to say that none of this would have happened without my amazing team, and I'd like to dedicate this award to them. This award is really a testament to the strength of the team and our great work together.