One on One

PRTM’s Global Managing Director Scott Hefter knows what he’s looking for in an applicant: “pragmatic brilliance.” So how does one go about finding that quality? Here, Hefter opens up about his quest for those who fit in well with the culture at the Waltham, Mass.-based operational strategy firm, and aren’t afraid to embrace all the elements of consulting: heavy travel and the following the partner track among them.

Dean Fischer, president and co-founder of Chicago-headquartered West Monroe Partners, heads a firm that focuses on getting a good “gene pool.” According to Fischer, that means people who fit into the positive culture at the firm, typically have a good deal of technical knowledge and probably do not have an MBA. The result? Nonstop growth— the firm, which opened in 2002, now boasts 220 billable consultants. Growth also includes a new office opening in Dallas in just a few weeks and big-name clients like Merrill Lynch and Bristol-Myers Squibb. Here, Fischer opens up about his surprise at the talent challenges before him and how happy employees in turn create happy clients.

As director of North American recruiting for newly formed Oliver Wyman, Matthew Bennett has a pretty big challenge. Oliver Wyman, which broke off from Mercer in May, is growing so rapidly these days that the new-talent pipeline has to be constantly flowing. And a new brand means a new story to tell to each recruit. Is Bennett worried? Nope. Here, he discusses the new brand as it applies to his stomping grounds: recruiting and retention.

Acquity Group, a digital services and technology consulting firm based in Chicago, with offices in Irvine, Calif., Dallas, Kansas City and Phoenix, has been trailblazing in the fields it serves since 2001. CEO Chris Dalton has been spearheading an impressive growth plan—the firm currently has 250 employees and is slated to add 50 by year’s end. talked to Dalton about starting what would become a very successful business in a year that marked the beginning of an economic slide. One of the primary differences between then and now? Talent, he says, was easier to find then.

Paul Laudicina took over as CEO of A.T. Kearny last fall. We sat down with him to get his take on the future of the business.

Mercer director Adrian Slywotsky is the coauthor of (Crown Business, May 2007). He says that companies should be on the lookout for big risks that can kill their business model.