The 2022 Top Consultants: Enzo Santilli

Enzo Santilli is the national managing partner of Transformation within Grant Thornton LLP's Advisory Services business line. In this role, Santilli is responsible for the development and delivery of a full range of strategic business advisory and enterprise technology solutions.

After 10 years at Arthur Andersen, Santilli and several of his fellow Andersen alums created MarketSphere Consulting in 2002. He served in a variety of roles, including firm president, before joining Grant Thornton, when the firm acquired MarketSphere in 2013. Since then, he has served Grant Thornton in a wide range of leadership roles, including office managing partner of the firm's Pittsburgh office and as an elected member of the firm's Partnership Board. He now leads Grant Thornton's $450+ million Transformation Advisory practice, overseeing more than 1,600 professionals and providing consulting services to public-sector clients, middle-market companies and organizations in the Fortune 100.

Santilli is a CPA in Pennsylvania and a member of the AICPA. He also serves as an adjunct professor of accounting information systems at the University of Pittsburgh. He received his Master of Business Administration degree from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and a bachelor's degree in accounting and information systems from Duquesne University.

What do you consider your greatest personal or professional achievement?

I'm immensely proud of the way my talented colleagues and I have built — and continue to enhance — Grant Thornton's Transformation practice. Specifically, I relish the fact that we've been able to deftly serve both commercial clients and organizations in the public sector. That duality takes a special commitment to knowledge and skill development that is always in ample supply with my incredible team members. Because of that commitment, we've built a practice across the commercial and public sectors that brings in more than $450 million to our firm each year — and we did it all in under 10 years.

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

I would give the same advice I received years ago: "Who you hang with makes all the difference." As I mentor young professionals throughout my firm, I often remind them to fill their personal and professional lives with supportive people who share their passions, interests and commitments. This is especially valuable in today's unique work environment, where we may not have the "water cooler" conversations that used to be a hallmark of work life. I know the success I've enjoyed is a direct result of the kind, hardworking and talented people I've surrounded myself with throughout my career, and I want the same success for my colleagues.

What have you loved most about your consulting career?

What I love most about consulting is that every day is different, and within each day, every project is different. I thoroughly enjoy navigating the nuances and specifics of one project, then being able to dive into something completely different. Plus, the projects and the people are truly global in scale, which means the improvements and changes my team and I help implement reach around the world. As I write this, I just got finished with a call that included professionals from Norway, Sweden, England and the United States. The global possibilities of the consulting profession will always be exhilarating.

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

"Respond, don't react." I received this advice early in life. It has helped me understand why it is important to be thoughtful and to control your emotions. Perhaps it is the professional version of "haste makes waste." I force myself to take a step back, plan what success looks like, and then execute. At times, it means I don't just jump into an email chain, but pull it back and make sure we are having the right conversations — whether internally or with a client.

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

This recognition is a testament to the tireless team around me. They are all leaders in their own right, and I believe their achievements are worthy of ample recognition. They've brought Grant Thornton unprecedented success, they consistently deliver with agility, and any accolades I bring home are their accolades, too. I believe consulting is a team sport, and I am part of the dream team at Grant Thornton.