Meet the Staff

Our consultants come from a wide variety of backgrounds. Here are some of their stories.

Paul: Keeping the Entrepreneurial Spirit

I joined Bridge with an entrepreneurial background, having run and held ownership positions with small to mid-sized manufacturing and retail companies. Throughout my time at Bridge I have been able to nurture my entrepreneurial spirit while learning and developing in a unique environment.

I was looking for a firm where I could make a positive and lasting impact on clients by developing creative and flexible solutions to their business problems. Bridge is just such a firm. Each engagement includes the required fact-based and analytics needed to solve our client’s highest priority issues. But, our solutions are not constrained by “standard” approaches. Rather, we utilize both our and the clients’ experience, knowledge and creativity, along with proven frameworks, to develop implementable solutions specific to the client and its situation.

Working closely with Bridge colleagues and the leadership at our client organizations on a day-in day-out basis supports my development in ways I hadn’t experienced in my entrepreneurial life. Bridge consultants are at the forefront of their areas of expertise and I have the opportunity to work closely with and learn from them every day. This has allowed me to develop further as a problem solver, a consultant, a business manager, and as an entrepreneur providing me the ability to have even greater impact on both our clients’ business and our business.

Mike: Leveraging Industry Expertise

Prior to joining Bridge Strategy Group, I was on the client side of consulting projects. As a manager in various operating roles, I valued consultants who could provide structured and fact-based analysis, recommendations that were creative, yet actionable, and implementation that was tailored to my business needs and timeframes. I chose to leave industry and join Bridge because it is a firm that shares these values.

Knowing what it is like to sit on the "receiving end" of a consulting study, I am proud to be part of the hands-on approach Bridge brings to strategy consulting. I enjoy working with experienced consultants and fellow industry-transplants like myself as we strive to deliver tangible results quickly. I believe our work approach is truly distinctive. The blend of experienced consultants and people with operating experience gives us a unique perspective on a variety of business issues. And it is always refreshing to hear a client comment on the value we are adding to the situation at hand. In many ways, I get the best of both worlds. At Bridge, I can experience the "rush" of helping clients succeed without losing that feeling of being close to the front lines.

Manisha: Making Change Happen

I came to Bridge with a background in change management and organizational effectiveness. Having worked previously in a large consulting firm, I was becoming disillusioned with the effectiveness of large transformation efforts and was seeking a firm that could help clients really make a difference. I came to Bridge because I identified with the firm's philosophy on how to add value.

Bridge believes in delivering results quickly. Quick results imply two things:

(1) a practical solution and
(2) organizational buy-in

Bridge will not deliver a solution to the client that does not demonstrate practicality and consider potential organizational ramifications. We address an organization's needs as a part of the solution and not as an afterthought.

For example, I recently worked on a project focused on expense reduction at a direct insurance writer. The solution for this client consisted of a rapid sourcing effort combined with a transformation of its procurement organization. Bridge's small, experienced team transferred knowledge and skills to the client organization through formal training and informal coaching. Client personnel emerged with better analytical and change management skills. In a few short months, client personnel had not only grasped the concepts of strategic sourcing but were well on their way to operate successfully without the need for consulting support.

Bridge's approach ensures satisfaction for all: the client obtains enduring results while Bridge consultants come away from each experience taking pride in a job well done.

Bernardo: Building a Differentiated Consulting Model

I came to Bridge with a Consumer Products background after having worked as a Manager for one of the top-tier management consulting firms in Chicago. Not surprisingly, one of the most frequent questions I get from candidates is: “Why did you decide to switch from a large to a small consulting firm?” Here are a few thoughts…

Although my consulting career was on the fast-track, I had become disenchanted with the business model employed by most large consulting firms: over reliance on junior consulting resources due to the lack of meaningful partner involvement in project delivery, emphasis on pre-packaged solutions to the detriment of thoughtful business advice, and an often impersonal and politically-charged work environment, among others. As a result, I became interested in finding a smaller consulting practice whose business model could provide answers to these challenges, while allowing me to continue to work on solving intellectually-stimulating strategy-related issues. That firm was Bridge Strategy.

At Bridge, I found people with a passion for creative problem-solving and with an uncompromising commitment to delivering the highest value to all clients. I found extremely talented individuals representing a rich blend of knowledge and experience from different top-tier management consulting firms. I found a vibrant and unwavering culture, where ideas superpose hierarchy and where all collaborate towards common objectives. I found a dynamic and collegial work environment conducive to learning and to personal growth. And I also found a sense of accomplishment in helping build a successful entrepreneurial consulting business.