Consultant Spotlight: Eric Radzan, Senior Strategic Consultant

Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore. Bali, Dubai, Belgium. France and the Netherlands.

Recently, Senior Strategic Consultant Eric Radzan embarked on an extensive journey, touching down in each of those remote destinations along the way. Eric’s odyssey came in the wake of a three-year, multi-million-per-annum project that he spearheaded for a prominent international client. It’s no surprise that during this demanding commitment, he had little time to pursue his passion for world travel.

Eric at Rice Terrace in Bali, Indonesia

And so, once the project was completed, all outcomes were achieved, and all deliverables were successfully handed off to the client – Eric took off. Around the world. For three months.

Talk about making up for lost time!

During a recent conversation with our far-flinging colleague, Eric discussed the parallels between his work as an exceptional strategic consultant and his know-how as an experienced globetrotter. Turns out, many of the same skills are fundamental to succeeding in both areas.

“When you travel, there’s something amazing about everywhere you go, but it’s up to you to find it,” says Eric. The same goes for strategic project management. Eric is hired to help his clients land in the best possible place. And whether traveling or consulting, he makes the journey from here to there while staying within fixed budgets and time constraints. 

Before taking the first steps on a 10,000-mile voyage, Eric looks ahead to mitigate risks, such as weather disruptions, safety concerns, and health issues. Likewise, he starts any consulting endeavor by looking ahead and identifying weak links that could impact the successful completion of the project. Yet, as even the most adept risk-mitigator (and the most experienced traveler) knows, stuff sometimes goes sideways (e.g., ever get to a hotel you reserved months prior, only to find it’s been torn down?). After 30-plus years in the field (and many travels far and wide), Eric’s got flexibility in his toolbox, as well as a keen ability to make strategic decisions amid the chaos.

Neither traveling nor completing a project can be done without effective communication skills. When traveling, Eric works with locals, fellow travelers, and service providers to smooth the path; when project managing, he maintains open communication with project leaders, team members, and all stakeholders to ensure everyone is aligned and informed. In both cases, he’s a pro at sifting through, synthesizing, and prioritizing all kinds of disparate information and intelligence.

Eric concludes every journey with a thorough evaluation. He reflects, assesses, and gathers feedback for future trips. For his consultancy work, he reviews successes, documents lessons learned, and hands over deliverables to clients or stakeholders.

To learn more about Eric and how he can help you with your business’s own epic journey, check out his professional bio.