One day, my client came to me and asked "What's a boutique firm?" My answer was "Well, we're different from others in that we deliver something that you won't want to share with your friends, but is just for you." He was perplexed by my answer at the time, but as we headed towards the end of project, he came to understand its meaning. We were delivering a result that was just for "him", a personalized, tailored result that wouldn't be replicated over and over again.
Having spent 4 years in a big consulting firm prior to joining CVA, I was nervous about how a small firm like CVA would be able to position itself with its clients and prove its value. I've learned in the two years since I joined that our clients quickly understand and appreciate the unique value we deliver to them, often moving swiftly to implement our recommendations to see tangible results. Of course there is sometimes a fair bit of pain involved in delivering the outcome, but no matter the challenge it is always worth the effort!
I've also found that people within the firm are like a family. This is the beauty of working for a small firm - there is an interdependence between people rather than a competitiveness.
CVA has become a part of my life and I am certain that there will be many more challenges and new experiences ahead in my career to which I'm looking forward!
