The 10 Best Consultants to Follow in 2023

Cover Story

EDITOR’S NOTE

TOP CONSULTING PIONEERS SHAPING THE BUSINESS WORLD

The Inc. Magazine is very excited to release its awaited edition, where we proudly feature “The 10 Best Consultants to Follow in 2023.” In this read, we uncover the fascinating field of consulting, bringing top-notch consultants into the limelight who have caught our eyes with their extensive expertise, innovative approaches, and successful track records.

Over a century ago, the field of modern business consulting was born. More profit and efficiency were becoming necessities for companies, which increased the demand for creative problem solvers who could mentor these organizations' executives to success.

There are still plenty of consultants in the field today to be inspired by, but many of the most well-known consultants from that era still have a lasting impact on companies through their set strategy frameworks and business models.

We have scripted the stories of some of the most famous consultants, who have revolutionized the business community and helped make history. Even though consultants are usually thought of as the unsung heroes who support well-known CEOs and business titans, we have highlighted the success stories of a few of them who gained notoriety and recognition through their work.

They are the legends who lead the way in the consulting industry, in no particular order. All those who aspire to be in the industry or are interested in business find inspiration in their passion and perseverance in the face of adversity. Do not forget to read the entire edition and share your thoughts.

Furthermore, we want to congratulate all the consultants featured in the issue for their remarkable journeys and achievements so far. Finally, thanks a lot for being a part of this journey. We truly hope this edition will provide inspiration and guidance for your professional career. Let’s Read...!

A Magni cent and Dynamic Digital Business Leader, Empowering Organisations, Teams, and People to Protect Transform and Sustain at dss+.

Neeraj Singh

The Inc Magazine is back with the success stories of some phenomenal enterprises that are being led by outstanding leaders who are determined to make a difference in the world in the best possible manner. dss+ is one such company that paves the way for worldwide management consulting in saving lives and creating a sustainable future with its Digital Consulting on Operational Risk Management and the thought leadership of Neeraj Singh who leads Digital for India.

With over 21+ years of global experience working with Fortune 500 companies, Neeraj is bringing in his expertise in digital strategy, innovation, and emerging technologies to drive transformative solutions to help organizations Protect, Transform and Sustain.

Beginning towards a Victorious Journey

Emphasizing a commitment to driving innovation, Neeraj stated, 'I am on a mission to introduce digital transformation and cutting-edge technologies with Artificial Intelligence, to our clients, with an aim to bolster organizational and individual capabilities, mitigate risk, achieve sustainability alongside ESG objectives, and promote responsible operations.

A consultant, thinker, and seeker specialising in transformative solutions for organisations, teams, and individuals. Neeraj’s expertise encompasses

digital, strategy, innovation, and the application of emerging technology (AI, ML, data analytics, the Internet of Things, AR, VR) in enabling advancements in risk management, safety, sustainability, and operations excellence.

Neeraj has extensive experience advising clients on industry 4.0 and 5.0 as a former Big 4 professional, leader of digital agendas at KPMG, and leader of numerous global digital practises at well-known IT services companies, including L&T Technology Services and ITC Infotech. He has an established track record of successfully building digital twins, Industry 4.0, digital threads, and PLM practice. Through his expertise, the inspiring leader helps organisations use data across the board, deal with challenges, and pursue excellence. This fosters responsive and flexible operations.

dss+: Saving Lives and Creating a Sustainable Future

The mission of dss+, a DuPont-founded worldwide operations management consulting organisation, is to save lives and build a sustainable future. dss+ enables organisations to build organisational and human capabilities, manage risk, improve operations, achieve sustainability goals, and operate more responsibly. Its vision is to improve the world by safeguarding people, property, the environment, and future generations.

Hurdles on the Way

In today's business landscape, organisations encounter a myriad of dynamic operational risks that demand careful attention.

● Organisations face a wide range of dynamic operational hazards in the business environment of today that call for careful consideration. Ineffective risk management can have serious and expensive implications.

● The poor identification, evaluation, and mitigation of risks, which can lead to poor outcomes, is one of the major difficulties.

● Understanding the crucial role people play in accelerating the digital transition and lowering risks is another issue that many people struggle with.

● To achieve thorough risk mitigation, it is crucial to close gaps in governance and risk management systems.

● By recognising these challenges and implementing robust risk management strategies, businesses can safeguard their operations, optimise performance, and foster a culture of continuous improvement.

Under Neeraj’s leadership, dss+ revolutionises the perspective and management of operational risks within businesses. They give organisations the ability to efficiently monitor and manage crucial operational and sustainability key performance indicators (KPIs) through the strategic use of digital tools. By utilising cutting-edge technology like artificial intelligence (AI), they give senior management the insights they need for forward-looking governance, enabling them to make wise choices and proactively manage risks. Their system enables "critical risk management," allowing firms to overcome obstacles and implement effective risk mitigation plans for long-term success.

An Innovtive & Healthy Work Environment

The inspired leader uses a two-prompt strategy to foster innovation and creativity while maintaining a positive work atmosphere.

1. Setting High Performance Expectations: He utilises the "Pygmalion effect" to set high performance expectations. You can use the Pygmalion Effect to consider how your expectations of others may affect or inspire them to perform. High performance expectations can inspire improved performance from the people you lead and manage if they are clearly communicated to them.

2. Provide Autonomy and Ownership: His emphasis is on empowering teams by giving them control over their tasks and initiatives. Give them the tools and assistance they need to realise their ideas, and let them take responsibility for those ideas. This sense of ownership fosters innovation and creativity.

Neeraj’s distinctive approach towards leadership

Neeraj is a firm advocate for the significance of purpose-driven behaviour.

● It is actual effort and dedication, not just empty platitudes, that actually motivate people to achieve their goals.

● When people's work and their purpose are in harmony, they are inspired to work harder and achieve higher standards.

● In addition to enhancing their own motivation, this alignment improves teamwork and knowledge sharing, which fosters innovation.

The team fosters a culture of trust by creating a purpose-driven environment, which enables the growth of higher-trust organisations and people who realise their full potential and contribute to the organisation's overall success.

Painting the Future Canvas

In the next five years, the visionary leader will have significant personal and professional ambitions:

His goals include advancing his expertise in his domain, staying updated on industry trends, and exploring ways to expand his capabilities. With the

introduction of Industry 5.0, a new paradigm shift is happening. While Industry 4.0 is still focused primarily on economic objectives to be achieved through digital transformation and automation of monotonous work processes, Industry 5.0 will also bring in social and ecological objectives. The production of value that is holistic, sustainable, and human-centred is the main focus. Thus, the deployment of direct human-machine collaboration is increasing the complexity of digitalization.

A few prioritised areas.

● More collaboration shifts the focus to better health and safety in the age of collaborative work between humans and robots.

● Taking action to achieve sustainability goals is essential. The idea is to concentrate on preventing waste and demonstrating care for both people and the environment.

● Neeraj believes that they can improve their adaptability and resilience with the aid of technology, maintaining and strengthening their competitive edge.

● Businesses that can successfully and swiftly adjust to change will prosper in the long run.

Neeraj is actively involved in ongoing research on a personal level, examining various mental and cognitive models through philosophical and scientific perspectives, particularly in the field of neuroscience.

His goal is to explain the complexities of the human experience and provide insightful advice for navigating the challenges we encounter. It is essential to challenge traditional thinking paradigms and adopt new, innovative thinking models in the age of ChatGPT, AI, and technological breakthroughs.

Words of Wisdom

● We constantly strive for more - whether it's from our jobs, our bank accounts, our lifestyles, or our relationships with friends and family - but it's critical to clear the clutter and concentrate on just one activity at a time.

● Distractions are reduced as a result, and quicker results are obtained. concentrating on one item at a time. Read Gary Keller and Jay Papasan's "The One Thing" if you haven't already.

● Always invest in yourself. This means continuing education and learning new things in an ongoing way to stay ahead of the competition.

● Remember, entrepreneurship is a journey, and every step along the way contributes to your growth and success. It’s a process, not a goal. Stay resilient, embrace challenges, and keep pursuing your entrepreneurial dreams with passion and determination.

Shoshana Burgett Fostering Creativity and Change

Meet Shoshana Burgett, a seasoned thought leader and industry consultant with an impressive track record of over two decades in diverse fields, including market research, market intelligence, on-demand manufacturing, personalization, and customization.

Shoshana has held leadership positions throughout her career at organizations like X-Rite, PANTONE, Danaher, and Xerox. She expertly aids businesses in integrating Voice of the Customer (VoC) insights into their operations, whether product development, marketing, sales, or innovation. Her approach inspires companies to aim for excellence and prioritize customer-centricity in all areas of the business.

In 2019, Shoshana embarked on her entrepreneurial journey. First, she launched , an online site dedicated to helping designers improve the execution of their work and scale them into manufacturing. Simultaneously, she launched her consulting business, Today, Shoshana is pivotal in assisting manufacturers, creatives, and suppliers to improve their products and streamline their processes. By leveraging her expertise, mid to large-sized companies can unlock the potential of their customers and devise powerful strategies that lead to exceptional growth. For example, one of her clients achieved an astonishing 300% growth in three years.

https://colorkar

https://colorkarma.com/pink-elephant/ . Pink Elephant Consulting Colorkarma.com

About Colorkarma

Colorkarma has two components. The first is consulting, where Shoshana works with companies to understand their challenges. Initially, customers seek assistance with market intelligence and insights to establish a strong strategic foundation. Shoshana assists companies with validating product requirements and developing customer-focused messaging. She is a master collaborator, partnering with clients to gain deep understanding of their customers' needs. As a skilled 'customer whisperer' or customer therapist, she listens intently, gathering qualitative and quantitative feedback and translating those insights into actionable improvements for products and services. Her work inspires teams to strive for excellence and deliver the best possible customer experience. With her expertise in lean, agile, marketing, and product development, she effectively leads and trains teams to ensure the organization's continued growth and success.

The second is the Colorkarma platform, which is an educational and news resource for designers and suppliers. Shoshana’s transform industry knowledge into real-world examples that creatives and manufacturers can easily comprehend and act on. Colorkarma is a community for creatives and their supply chain, that is impartial towards technology and tools. It is here that Shoshana and industry

experts discuss and share their experiences. The site provides curated content that helps designers comprehend the capabilities and limitations of today's technology and showcase best practices, services, and capabilities that unleash creativity.

Bringing Change

Shoshana is a creative problem solver adept at crafting a strategic vision. Shoshana recognizes that evolution can sometimes constrain unconventional ideas in many organizations, making them risk-averse for even small step changes. In her view, the foundation of strategic planning is focusing on the customer and removing complex jargon. This forces teams to drill down to the core value drivers, benefits and trends. By focusing on

the ‘what’ and not the ‘how’, Shoshana is able to remove internal barriers and help teams align on a clear strategy. This framework empowers decision-makers to navigate the intricacies of their multifaceted world and make strategic decisions.

Shoshana's clientele are large and medium-sized public, private, and government organizations. They each inherently know change must occur, and they seek outside counsel, like her, to help them sift through the layers of noise and understand the various market trends. Shoshana is a master of taking complex ideas and jargon and breaking them down into tangible actions and messaging for C- levels, leadership teams, and to the customer. Shoshana works with clients to build and/or validate their value props with customers. Employing her

proprietary Comprehensive Benefit Global Solutions (CBGB) methodology, Shoshana and her team assist clients in disentangling their internal value from the benefits perceived by customers.

"Having served in many roles, I understand product development, marketing, and customer expectations. I have strategic foresight and am inherently inquisitive. I can identify patterns, take overarching trends, and see where the possibilities are. I had one individual say I had 'fox ears'; I could pick up on small changes in trends and communicate that up and down the organization in an understandable and actionable manner. This allowed the client to capitalize on the opportunity and grow their business,"- Shoshana states.

Tackling Challenges

After working with various technology companies, manufacturers, and suppliers, Shoshana envisions a future where brands and suppliers can engage quickly with enhanced efficiency. Too often, businesses focus on front-end systems or user design to stay modern and create customer engagement. Shoshana emphasizes the importance of backend systems, which often receive less attention but can significantly impact customer experience and team communication. Improving backend systems and understanding data empowers teams to develop better products and support for customers, resulting in an enhanced customer experience.

Shoshana's vision is to create a future where all aspects of a business are crafted with equal care and consideration for internal and external stakeholders. By doing so, product managers can develop unique products while genuinely supporting their customers. This approach fosters innovation and promotes seamless interactions throughout the entire business ecosystem, aligning the needs of all parties involved.

Mission and Vision

Under Shoshana’s leadership, Colorkarma aspires to pass it forward and make life easy for the next generation of creatives. Over the years, Shoshana

has seen a consistent trend between creatives and their supply chain. Designers feel limited by the constraints of the process and want to be free to choose color or materials with no implications. Manufacturers and suppliers see creatives as ‘quirky’ and quick to make decisions without understanding the cost or time implications. Neither speaks the other's language and too often points blame at the other. Guardrails play a valuable role and should not be seen as a constraint, but as rules of the road that both creatives and suppliers follow.

“Knowledge sharing is vital for growth, and if we want the next generation to improve and flourish, we should provide them with the tools and language for success. My goal is to share knowledge, mistakes, and lessons learned so that people don’t make the same errors, and if they do, they should have a safe place to know they are not alone,”- she explains.

The Future

Shoshana envisions Colorkarma as a thoughtful and impartial community for creative professionals and their suppliers to share best practices, innovative new ideas and lessons learned. Shoshana envisions a space that is easy to use, engaging, and offers collaboration between creatives and their supply chain.

10 KEY MOBILE APP SECURITY

BEST PRACTICES

We are in an interconnected world, where mobile phones have become an integral part of our daily lives. The global smartphone market size was valued at USD 457.18 billion in 2021. The ripple effect is that mobile apps are now a popular way to deliver efficient, direct, and customizable products and services to customers, particularly in the business world. On the flipside, there are also mobile app security concerns you ought to keep in mind as you create and use mobile apps owing to the growing number of cyber attacks. Well, this article highlights key mobile app security best practices that you should follow to protect user data and maintain the trust of users.

Secure Coding Practices

The best place to start is to follow secure coding practices throughout the mobile app development process. For example, you need to write code that is easy to read and understand by following consistent naming conventions, indentation, and formatting. You should also use meaningful variable and function names to enhance code readability and maintainability. Following coding practices will help you avoid flaws in the app that might lead to cybersecurity vulnerabilities. The bottomline is that using tested and proven secure coding practices will help you mitigate the risk of potential security vulnerabilities.

Strong Authentication and Authorization

You should also implement robust authentication and authorization mechanisms to ensure that only authorized users can access the app and its resources. You can do this through enforcing strong password policies including a combination of alphanumeric characters, symbols, and a minimum length.

Additionally, implementing password hashing with strong cryptographic algorithms in your software development life cycle. Some of the common algorithms you can use are bcrypt or Argon2, to protect sensitive information like passwords stored in your databases. You can also use salted hashing to add an extra layer of security.

It is vital to educate your mobile app users about the importance of using unique and complex passwords and encourage them to regularly update their passwords. Research has reiterated the importance of educating users on password security. Most password security studies have found that many individuals still use weak and easily guessable passwords, putting their accounts at risk of being compromised.

However, when users are provided with education and guidance on password security best practices, there is a significant improvement in their password choices. It has also been found that user-friendly guidelines and persuasive messages can motivate users to select more secure and memorable passwords without overburdening their memory.

Generally speaking, password security education can help individuals understand the risks associated with password reuse and the importance of using unique passwords for different accounts. Promoting password security education can help you empower your mobile app users to take an active role in protecting their online identities and sensitive information, contributing to a more secure digital landscape

Tip: Encourage the use of multi factor authentication like text and email on top of email authentication, and technologies like biometrics for enhanced security. It will also help to implement session management techniques to handle user sessions securely.

Secure Data Storage

Protecting sensitive user data is also very crucial as you develop your mobile apps. Remember, there are phone hacker for hire who can use plan-text data to access sensitive information. This is why you will need to encrypt data at rest using industry-standard algorithms to prevent unauthorized access in case of data breaches.

Again, always avoid storing sensitive information like passwords in plain text and consider implementing secure key management practices. Ideally, employ

secure file storage techniques and ensure that file permissions are properly configured.

Don’t forget to protect data stored locally on the device, such as caches, databases, or local storage.

Secure Network Communication

Secure network communication is also an important facet of protecting user data while it is transmitted over networks. In this regard, utilize secure communication protocols like HTTPS/TLS to encrypt data during transit, preventing eavesdropping and tampering. HTTPS encrypts the communication between the mobile app and the server, ensuring that data transmitted over the network remains confidential and cannot be easily intercepted or tampered with by attackers.

HTTPS essentially verifies the authenticity of the server, establishing a secure and encrypted connection. This safeguards sensitive user information, such as login credentials and personal data, from being compromised during transmission. HTTPS also helps prevent man-in-the-middle attacks, where attackers intercept and modify data exchanged between the app and the server. Using HTTPs can help you provide users with a secure and trustworthy environment, protecting their data and privacy while fostering trust in your mobile application.

Tip: Always verify server certificates to prevent man-in-the-middle attacks. Also, implement certificate pinning to ensure communication only with trusted servers.

User Input Validation

The other way to protect against breaches targeting your mobile apps is to validate and sanitize all user input to prevent common security vulnerabilities such as SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), or command injection attacks.

XSS attacks occur when malicious scripts are injected into a website or web application by exploiting user input fields. Well, validation mechanisms should include checking for special characters, such as angle brackets, quotes, and script tags, and ensuring that user input is properly encoded or sanitized before being displayed or stored. This essentially helps in effectively lowering risk of XSS attacks, as it blocks the execution of malicious scripts and prevents them from being rendered on mobile apps.

Input user validation is also a very good defense against SQL injection attacks. SQL injections occur when attackers manipulate user input to inject malicious SQL queries into the application’s database. Now, input validation including measures such as parameterized queries, input sanitization, and strict validation of user-supplied data types ensures that only expected data is accepted and eliminates the possibility of malicious SQL code being executed.

Proper input validation also helps safeguard the integrity and confidentiality of data stored in the database, mitigating the risk of unauthorized access and potential

data breaches. It is a critical step in securing web applications and protecting against SQL injection vulnerabilities.

Secure Error Handling

As a rule of thumb, ensure you implement proper error handling mechanisms to provide minimal information to users when errors occur as they use your mobile app. This should help you avoid exposing sensitive system details or error messages that could be exploited by attackers. Instead, log errors securely only for internal use, assisting in identifying and resolving issues without exposing sensitive information to malicious users.

Regular Updates and Patch Management

It is also recommended that you stay vigilant about vulnerabilities and security updates related to the libraries, frameworks, and components used in the mobile app development.

Regularly update and patch the mobile application to ensure that known security vulnerabilities are addressed promptly.

Ensure that you update the libraries used in building your mobile app. This has several benefits for security. Most libraries often release updates to address vulnerabilities and security weaknesses identified in previous versions. Your apps will also be fortified with the latest security patches, reducing the risk of exploitation by attackers.

In fact, updating libraries enables you to take advantage of new security features and improvements that enhance the overall security posture of the app. These updates may include strengthened encryption algorithms, improved authentication mechanisms, or enhanced data handling practices.

Regular updates on the mobile app libraries will also help to maintain compatibility with other components and frameworks, reducing the likelihood of compatibility issues that could introduce security vulnerabilities.

Ultimately, staying up to date with library updates demonstrates a commitment to ongoing security and reduces the likelihood of falling victim to known cybersecurity vulnerabilities that attackers may attempt to exploit.

Tip: You can make this easier using automated update mechanisms whenever possible to streamline the update process for users.

Keep an Eye on User Privacy

You ought to also respect user privacy and handle personal data with care, particularly with stringent regulations like the GDPR that stipulate this. In fact, it is always good to clearly communicate the data collection and usage practices through a comprehensive privacy policy. Better even, obtain user consent for collecting sensitive data and provide users with granular control over their data. Also, implement data anonymization and pseudonymization techniques to minimize the exposure of personally identifiable information.

Tip: It is crucial to avoid storing excessive amounts of user data due to the inherent cybersecurity risks involved. Storing large volumes of user data increases the potential attack surface for malicious actors. The more data stored, the more attractive the target becomes, making it more enticing for hackers to breach the system

Regular Security Testing and Auditing

Last but not least, ensure that you conduct regular security testing and audits to identify and address vulnerabilities in your app and other dependencies. For example, do regular penetration tests, code reviews, and security assessments to uncover any potential weaknesses in the app. Again, you can always tap into automated security testing tools to supplement manual testing efforts to get better results.

Tip: You can engage third-party security experts to perform independent audits and provide valuable insights on your mobile app.

Wrapping up : These are just some of the key security best practices you can use to protect your business and customers as they use your mobile app. Remember that ensuring the security of mobile applications is a continuous and evolving process. In other words, you will need to evolve and keep fine-tuning your mobile app cybersecurity strategy if you are to enhance the security posture of your business and customers.

Success Factors: Uncovering the Secrets to Business Growth

Success Factors

In today’s fiercely competitive digital landscape, businesses constantly seek ways to achieve success and distinguish themselves from the competition. The secret to accomplishing this lies in uncovering the success factors that drive business growth.

This comprehensive guide will delve into the fundamental elements that can enable your business to thrive and surpass competitors. From building a strong brand identity to implementing strategic marketing tactics, we will explore the strategies that can propel your business to new heights of success.

By understanding these crucial success factors, you can position your business for long-term growth and establish a formidable presence in the marketplace, regardless of whether you are based in the bustling streets of New York City or elsewhere.

So, let’s begin the journey to uncover the secrets of success.

Branding: Establishing a Strong Identity

Building a strong brand is essential for businesses looking to make a lasting impression. Your brand is the face of your company, conveying your values, mission, and unique selling propositions. By crafting a compelling brand identity, you can foster customer loyalty and set yourself apart. But the question is, how will you build a strong identity?

In such scenarios, consulting a reputable branding agency becomes crucial. Their expertise and guidance can help create a powerful brand that resonates with your target audience. However, it is important to ensure that you hire a skilled team. And to find a reputable branding agency, you can conduct an online search. For example, if you live in New York, you can search for “Branding Agency NYC.” However, it can be overwhelming to decide from numerous options. Thus, it is advisable to hire agencies with a proven track record in building impactful brands. This will help you make an informed decision and propel your business toward success.

Strategic Content Marketing: Engaging and Informative

Content marketing plays a pivotal role in engaging and informing your target audience. By creating valuable and relevant content, businesses can establish themselves as industry authorities and build trust with their customers.

A well-executed content marketing strategy involves identifying the needs and interests of your audience and crafting compelling content that addresses those aspects. This can include informative blog posts, engaging social media updates, educational videos, and more. By consistently delivering high-quality content, businesses can attract, engage, and retain their target audience, driving brand awareness, customer loyalty, and business growth. Embracing strategic content marketing is a vital component of a successful digital marketing strategy in today’s competitive landscape.

Search Engine Optimization: Maximizing Visibility

Search engine optimization (SEO) is a critical success factor in outranking your competitors. Conduct comprehensive keyword research to identify the most relevant and high-traffic keywords for your industry. Incorporate these keywords into your website’s content, meta tags, headings, and URLs. Build high-quality backlinks from authoritative websites to boost your website’s credibility in the eyes of search engines.

By maximizing visibility through SEO, businesses can increase their online presence, reach a wider audience, and ultimately drive more organic traffic, leading to enhanced brand visibility, customer engagement, and business growth.

Social Media Engagement: Connecting with Your Audience

Social media engagement is pivotal in connecting businesses with their target audience. Companies can foster meaningful connections, build brand loyalty, and increase customer satisfaction by actively participating on platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Engaging with followers through interactive content, responding to comments and messages, and initiating conversations creates a sense of community and fosters a deeper relationship with the audience. By understanding their preferences and needs, businesses can tailor their social media strategies to effectively reach and engage their target audience, increasing brand awareness, customer engagement, and business growth.

Last Words

Business success is the result of combining several factors. Embracing the above-mentioned strategies, organizations can thrive, differentiate from competitors, and unlock their full potential.

But remember, continuously evolving and adapting is essential for businesses to grow sustainably.