Consulting Magazine - September 2016

Slalom just keeps rolling along. This year’s ranking on the Best
Firms to Work For list marks seven straight for Seattle-based
Strategy and IT firm. And it shows no signs of slowing down.
The firm now has 4,000 billable consultants, which is up 800
from last year and a whopping 3,640 from when it made its
Best Firms debut back in 2007.

John Tobin, Co-Founder and President, Slalom North America, says being recognized as one of the Best Firms to Work For is an honor.

“We believe that employees and cli-
ents seek us out because of this rec-
ognition, and that it sets a high bar for
what they can expect from us,” Tobin
says. “At Slalom, we want to be
learners every step of the way as we
continue to build our company. We
take all the positive and constructive
feedback we receive seriously and it
is encouraging to be placed among
the best of consulting firms.”
Tobin says that people love being
at Slalom because the firm actively
promotes a healthy balance between
work and everyday life—making it
personal for all employees by really
getting to know and understand them.

“We provide infinite opportunities to
do meaningful work, which in turn
creates career growth and the most
motivated, efficient, and productive
people,” he says. “More than that, we
genuinely like each other and we like
working together.”
Slalom is now located in 24
markets and five delivery centers,
and the firm is fast approaching
the $1B company milestone. “I am
excited that even at scale, we have
maintained our intimate model
and a common culture grounded in
our core values,” Tobin says. “We
believe we have only scratched the
surface of what’s possible as we
work to help our people, clients
and communities reach for and re-
alize their visions through greater
love of work and life.”
As Slalom continues to evolve
as a company, Tobin says the firm
is focused on doing more as one.
Given Slalom’s size and breadth,
Tobin says he believes there is a
tremendous opportunity to harness
the collective thought leadership and
experience of its teams.

Tobin says Slalom is actively working on its 2020 Strategy and the desired outcomes within it. “Our plan encompasses a wide array of topics including alliances, collaboration, creating a culture of connected learners, culture of feedback, delivery, brand messaging, operational excellence, packaging our solutions, sales, and more,” he says. “Every Slalom employee is invited to participate in our com-pany-wide strategy development,” Tobin says. “Our unique and highly inclusive process begins with our team members sharing their unique perspective and insights, which in turn informs long-term vision and strategic initiatives for our firm.” WHAT’S UNIQUE ABOUT YOUR FIRM? WHAT SETS IT APART?

TOBIN: “We take our Core Values very seriously. Our culture is inextricably intertwined with our values, and dependent on the continual evolution of the work we do and in the people who call Slalom home. What we hear from our clients is that we care. We pride ourselves on this ability to care about our clients, our initiatives, and recognize how each project can connect to a strategic initiative for our client.”