“Profound transformation processes can only be successful if they start from people…’’
This week we chose to introduce you to the CEO of HLB International — Marco Donzelli. Marco has a passion for the world of consultancy and entrepreneurship, which has enabled him to explore the world of technology.
Tell us a bit about yourself and your company.
I am the Global CEO at HLB, a global advisory & accounting network with presence in 160 countries. I joined HLB in 2012 with a Cambridge MBA after working with Deutsche Bank, several consultancies and entrepreneurship initiatives. In fact, as far as entrepreneurship is concerned, I never lost contact with technology start-ups and currently serve as a mentor at the Cambridge Judge Master of Entrepreneurship and at the Techitalia incubator in London.
How do you see your industry grow over the next 5–10 years?
Professional services industry is going through major changes in terms of service diversification, technology and people. We will see more integrated and diversified organisations in the future, with technology playing a crucial role especially in regard of automation. Profound transformation processes can however be successful only if they start from people, so with attracting and retaining the right sort of talent (a big challenge) and with the transformation of the existing workforce in a more digital and commercial world.
Which markets are you most excited about?
In terms of geography, Africa will present significant opportunities. This will potentially become a large market because of its large and young population.
What have been the biggest challenges for you and your company?
We have embarked on a large transformation programme to achieve our strategic objectives and this entails a dramatic cultural shift, which presents of course its very own challenges but also a good dose of excitement.
What did you have to change in your business to respond to Covid-19 pandemic?
Mostly, we all needed to adapt to a more virtual world but we have not encountered any specific difficulties in this regard. On the other side, we definitely had to accelerate our digital transformation process.
What are some key moments in your career?
The Cambridge MBA had a significant impact on my career, and allowed me to see the world under a completely different standpoint and to have the courage to explore new avenues. Similarly, the start-up which I launched at the end of my MBA programme and my brief experience in external management consulting perfectly prepared me for my experience and growth in HLB, which culminated in my appointment as a CEO in 2017.
Do you have any advice for young professionals looking to make a career in your field of work?
I can only give advice based on my own personal experience and based on that I would say that to succeed in a role and in an environment similar to mine, it is crucial to have been able to live and work in different cultures, types of companies and sectors. Being able to see the bigger picture, maintaining flexibility and applying a situational leadership style alongside a smart use of diplomacy are the best recipe.
What consulting services have you used and how have they helped you in achieving your business goals?
We are diversifying our business into advisory services, which our clients require more and more in addition to the typical compliance offering. Our efforts are in areas which however are closer to our main competences, such as financial advisory (above all M&A and wealth management) and technology advisory (cybersecurity advisory and predictive data analytics are the main examples)
Innovation Founders Series
Global CEO @ HLB International
September 2020
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Global Support Capital is an international growth company focused on delivering corporate finance, management consulting, strategy and execution solutions to businesses and investors worldwide.
September 2020
