Celebrating 10 years: Q&A with Alex, our Senior Director

Q: Can you describe your current role at Lancia Consult, and how your role has evolved over the past decade?

A: In my current role as Head of Solutions & Technology, I am responsible for ensuring that the solutions we recommend are not only the right fit for our clients but also future-proof. Additionally, I oversee our team’s readiness to successfully deliver these solutions.

Over the past decade, my role has naturally expanded beyond client delivery. It now includes People, Capability, and Business Development responsibilities. A typical day might involve participating in design workshops as a Solution Architect in the morning, followed by reviewing solutions and scoping new project opportunities in the afternoon. I also actively develop existing or new technology partnerships over lunches and dinners. A crucial aspect of my role is mentoring the team and implementing the necessary tools, methodologies, and career paths to support their focus on solutions and technology-related work.

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Q: What was one defining factor that led you to join Lancia Consult ten years ago?

A: This factor is called Jeffrey Cronkshaw, Lancia Consult’s co-founder! I knew Jeff from a common project that we worked together on, at a large consulting firm. I was sharing the same vision as Jeff, that consulting should go back to its original intent of advising with the client’s best interest in mind. I’ve also always wanted to start something from the ground up. It was the right timing for me then, without family responsibilities ten years ago, to embark on this entrepreneurial path.  

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Q: Could you share 1-2 of the most memorable or valuable experiences that you had with us?

A: One of my most valuable project experiences at Lancia Consult was living in Prague for 8 months to lead the rollout of a regional Transport Management System (TMS). The client, a global logistics firm, wanted to standardise their TMS platform across their Europe offices, and the goal was to ensure a successful implementation with minimal disruptions to business operations. This was a valuable experience for me due to the project’s regional scale, involving multiple vendors, geographies, and cultures. It was also good exposure for me to collaborate with senior stakeholders.

Another memorable highlight was at one of our leadership retreats in Norway where we participated in a unique activity – digging a shelter under the snow and cooking dinner while listening to inspiring stories from a polar explorer. He drew parallels between pole expeditions and entrepreneurship, and there were a few fascinating takeaways that have stuck with me.

The first key takeaway was the importance of proper planning and preparation, yet the recognition that unforeseen challenges are inevitable. When challenges and unexpected circumstances arise, how you mitigate and resolve them, doing the right thing one step at a time, is crucial for achieving goals. It is usually not one single poor decision, but a series of poor decisions that accumulate and lead to a bad ending.  

The polar explorer also drew comparisons between ancient expeditions
(without technology) and modern expeditions (with technology). While technology e.g. GPS can enhance efficiency, challenges will still be present. The human element and decision-making remain paramount to success.

Lastly, the polar explorer described how different countries were competing to be the first to conquer the Pole. However, the race was not just to be the first expeditor to reach the Pole but to also return and claim the reward. This underscored the importance of long-term thinking and winning the entire race, as opposed to short-term gains.

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Q: What is one key leadership lesson that you’ve learned over the years? And how have you applied it to mentor your team?

A: A fundamental lesson I've learned over the years is that “it’s all about the process”. By consistently implementing the right small actions daily, we significantly increase our chances of achieving success. This journey is often accompanied by unexpected outcomes, more often positive than negative. Embracing the process and maintaining a forward-looking perspective is essential. I frequently emphasise this principle when I observe signs of frustration, impatience, or low morale within the team.

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Q: How has the consulting industry changed in the past decade and what do you see as the most critical trends shaping the future of our business?

A: The nature of consulting has evolved with technological trends. In the early days of my career, digital transformation projects often involved workstreams focused on infrastructure, procurement of servers, network setup, security, etc. The introduction of cloud platforms in the late 2000s simplified many aspects of these projects, enhanced cost-effectiveness, and accelerated their timelines. With such technological advancements and the “as-a-service model”, we now need to adjust to today’s client expectations, for example, more iterative approaches and shorter implementation timeframes which lead to faster adoption and realisation of ROI.

Companies today also possess a higher level of technological sophistication and primarily seek assistance with complex matters. As IT services become increasingly commoditised, the consultant's value lies in his/her ability to address complex challenges. By demonstrating our capacity to deconstruct problems, simplify them, and devise solutions that enhance business resilience and agility, we can maintain our position as a valuable consulting firm.

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Q: What advice would you give new employees joining Lancia Consult to help them build a successful career here?

A: Roll up your sleeves, go into the details, and take any project that comes your way as there is always something to learn from it. But while it's essential to immerse yourself in the details, it's equally important to maintain a clear focus on the broader objectives you're striving to achieve. Lastly, enjoy the process and stay passionate!