An introduction to our newest blog series by Founder & Managing Director Sumeet Goel
Over the last couple years, I’ve been sharing a lot of the personal alongside the business side of things on LinkedIn – I enjoy sharing (as those who know me personally are well aware), and have felt great connectivity with friends & colleagues on the personal posts. Especially at the peak of pandemic social isolation, it seems the theme of personal connection became more important than ever (it certainly was for me).
Recently, I’ve realized that this focus on the “human side” of things really reinforces our HPA “corporate culture,” if you will…we’re not your father’s Oldsmobile, not just another consulting firm. We’re all about people – our people, your people, and how we all work together. We aren’t a body shop or staffing agency putting generic bodies into seats or to fill out teams. People and their unique strengths and personalities are at the heart of everything we do and underscore our thoughtful, bespoke approach to client partnerships.
On the occasion of our 20th anniversary, I started thinking about the personal stories of our team here at HPA. Just across the HPA HQ team we are:
- Proud of our international heritage, from South Asian to Eastern European, from Middle Eastern to the Far East – not to mention a team member who grew up in the shadow of Dracula’s castle (yes, in Transylvania!)
- Closer to home, (and to put on my sports hat), our team’s upbringings and affiliations cover the Pac 12, Big Ten, Big 12, SEC, ACC, and Big East (and that’s just the Power Five!).
- Our team is moms & dads (not to mention their kids and pets of all shapes & sizes who both come into the office and join us on our team Zooms!); experienced McKinsey, BCG, and Bain alumni as well as new college grads eager to learn; families with anywhere from 1 to 6 (!) children; the married, single, and divorced; and those living alone or with roommates.
- Among our numbers are folks that did a “great resignation” well before it was en vogue; a pastor; a cultural community leader; a (not-so) amateur pizza chef; and folks living everywhere from Israel to rural-ish Oklahoma.
That’s not even including our group of 800+ consultants! That’s just HQ!
Given the rich and fascinating mix of backgrounds, expertise, experience, and personalities, I’ve asked everyone on our team to share how their personal stories have impacted them professionally here at HPA. I look forward to seeing those and sharing them with you as our friends, colleagues, and clients, in the coming months as we continue to celebrate HPA’s 20th anniversary here in 2022. We hope you’ll enjoy this more personal glimpse into the core of HPA.
Continue reading:
My Personal Great (Un)Resignation by VP of Talent Theo Song
Kathleen Kelly Was Right: A Valuable Lesson from You’ve Got Mail by Sr. Director Mary Haikin
The Intersection of COVID, Family, and HPA by Associate Taylor Seid
A Reflection on Job Longevity by Sr. Director Denise Miyasato
