The 2023 Rising Stars of the Profession: Alvaro Lara

Alvaro Lara is an Associate Director in Guidehouse's Energy, Sustainability and Infrastructure practice. Alvaro is currently based in Abu Dhabi (UAE) and has eight years of experience supporting electric and gas companies, governments and regulators across North America, Europe and the Middle East. His experience includes net-zero electricity and gas infrastructure planning, integrated energy system modeling, electricity grid modernization, demand side management and demand response.

Alvaro's experience also includes the electric mobility space, as an Electrification Operations Manager at Uber, where he led the implementation of Uber's Clean Air Plan strategy in London. Alvaro holds a BEng. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Toronto (Canada) and an MSc in Climate Change, Management and Finance at Imperial College Business School (UK).

What would you say has been the biggest factor in your success so far?

The most important factor in my career has been the people around me, left and right. I cannot emphasize enough how important my colleagues, and friends have been. Not only have they taught me how to be a consultant or how to develop good Excel models and PowerPoint slides, but they have also taught me that it is perfectly fine to mix work and life, to show the real me at work, to take work personally, and to be super proud of the work I do.

My colleagues have been there for me in sticky situations and challenging ones, both professionally and personally. They were patient with me in my early years in the business, as I learned the ropes of consulting, and they have continued to be there more recently, as I continue to become a better and more refined version of myself.

Guidehouse could very well have a different name, but ultimately, its people, the people to my left and right, who have made it such a great place to work and the biggest factor in my professional journey so far.

What do you enjoy most about your career in the consulting industry?

What I enjoy the most about consulting is how dynamic my role is. While it may seem like my job is very narrow – since I focus exclusively on the electricity and gas industry – my job is constantly evolving and changing. Sometimes, it is the clients that are changing, from policymakers to regulators to electricity and gas utilities. Other times, it's the topics that are changing, from new ambitious energy policies and regulations to the development of new hydrogen infrastructure to enabling increased integration of renewables. And if it is not the clients and the topics that are changing, then it is the geographies, from US and Canadian clients to European or Middle Eastern clients.

To some, this constant change may seem chaotic and unnerving. To me, this is the reason why I find my job – and the industry – so fascinating and so interesting. The constant change keeps me on my toes, it keeps me learning, and it keeps me developing.

What is your proudest achievement to date?

When I think about one of my proudest moments, I'm not drawn to think about personal achievements or milestones. Instead, I'm more drawn to think about my small contribution to other people's achievements. One of my proudest professional moments, and from very recently, was the promotion of a group of young consultants from across a number of Guidehouse offices. I saw this group of consultants being hired. I saw them evolve into mature and strong consultants, and I saw them develop a strong toolkit of analytical, communication and presentation skills. I was lucky enough to be part of their journey and their development, and I would like to think I also helped steer them along the way and contributed to their evolution as consultants. While I have seen many people get promoted over the years, this was the first time I felt such as a high degree of pride.

What's the best advice you've ever been given?

The best advice I ever received is a reference to a collection of hiking routes called the Camino de Santiago, or the Way of Saint James. There are hundreds of different "caminos" traversing all over Europe, and all end at the same location – the Spanish city of Santiago. So the advice given to hikers is to not worry about getting lost or getting on the wrong route because "there are a million ways to Santiago." Some ways will be longer and more challenging than others, and some will be more rewarding, but ultimately, all routes lead to the same destination.

Over the years, I have adopted this philosophy to heart, both in a professional and personal context. For example, when faced with a big decision, we can worry about making the right one. While we will always have doubts and will never be certain, I take comfort and confidence in knowing I will get to where I need to be. Sometimes this may take longer than I would like, and maybe more difficult than I would like, but I will get to where I need to be.

What does this recognition mean to you?

I'm extremely grateful to have been nominated for this recognition. I am also extremely grateful for the trust, support and guidance I have received from my managers and directors at Guidehouse over my seven years with the firm. This recognition tells me that I'm doing things well; it tells me that my commitment to projects and clients does not go unnoticed and that my contribution to the development of my colleagues is valued