We’re pleased to present a new feature, Consultants Collective Profiles to introduce you to our member consultants and advisors, executive coaches, clients and other extraordinary people. These profiles go beyond the professional bio to provide a more personal glimpse and offer an opportunity for us to get to know each other better as people as we strive to create connections and build community. This month we feature one of our senior consultants, Gurmeet Ahluwalia, an expert who helps organizations in different industries and geographies progress along their transformation journey.
What is a favorite hobby of yours?
I enjoy reading: books, long-form magazine articles, or even tweets to keep up with current events.
What is the last book you read?
I just re-read Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson. It was written more than 20 years ago, but this story about code-breaking, spies and WWII almost predicted Bitcoin.
Who is your favorite hero in fiction?
Owen Meany, from A Prayer for Owen Meany, by John Irving. From the beginning of the book, his dialogue is in ALL CAPS and I thought it was a weird gimmick. By the end of the book, it was clear that he HAD to speak in all caps, because what he said was so powerful.
Who is your favorite composer?
I’m not really knowledgeable about classical music. I guess, like Homer Simpson, I’d have to say John Williams for his Star Wars and other movie scores.
What is your favorite quote?
It’s the second half of a sentence, but in an essay Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote, “… but God will not have his work made manifest by cowards.”
Forgetting the religious aspect of it, the fact that “God’s work,” or any important work, can only be driven by people of courage. The right thing to do is often the hard thing – and courage means doing that hard thing.
What would you say is your chief characteristic?
I’d say I’m pretty fast on my feet, and able to understand issues, people and situations fairly quickly. This allows me to help my friends, teammates and clients problem-solve right away, and think about solutions that might not have occurred to people who had been immersed in the situation.
Why do you do what you do?
I love thinking about different ways of doing things — both in my professional and personal life. Working on strategies to accelerate growth or help manage costs through transformation is very energizing!
What is your latest accomplishment?
I just joined the Board of Directors for a FinTech here in Canada, and I feel good about the contributions I’ve already made in driving strategy, and helping push forward a new growth opportunity that is not within the wheelhouse of other members of the team. I think if we can successfully move into this space, it could have a tremendous impact on the growth of the company.
What makes you happy?
Making a difference!
