In the dynamic and ever-evolving realm of business, certain leaders emerge as beacons of inspiration and change. One such exceptional individual is Jean-Michel Felix, the visionary CEO of MCB Consulting. With an unwavering commitment to innovation, a profound understanding of industry trends, and an innate ability to steer organizations towards unprecedented success, he has left an indelible mark on the business landscape.
Under his astute leadership, MCB Consulting has witnessed remarkable growth and expansion, solidifying its position as a frontrunner in the consulting domain. His dedication to fostering a culture of excellence and empowering his team to reach new heights has garnered admiration from peers and industry stalwarts alike. With his extraordinary achievements and impactful contributions, The Enterprise World is proud to introduce him as one of the Most Influential Business Leaders in 2023.
A Journey of Transformative Leadership
Jean-Michel Felix embarked on his career within a renowned audit and consulting firm in Mauritius during his early 20s, a pivotal period that shaped both his character and expertise while affording him invaluable international exposure. He says, “I still recall my first assignment at the age of 23 in Rwanda, just one year after the genocide, an experience which has been a game-changer in my entire life.”
Over the subsequent decade as a consultant, he cultivated a mindset of challenging the status quo, positioning himself to lead the building and rebuilding of businesses, fueled by a passion for innovation and a profound commitment to providing value for the company’s customers. For Jean-Michel, his work became more than just fulfilling job positions; it became a purpose-driven journey, guided by a genuine love for his craft.
Within the esteemed MCB Group’s leading financial institutions across the African region, he continued to exemplify his ethos of transformative leadership. He assumed roles as the Managing Director of the group’s leasing company, Finlease, and later as the Group Head of Audit, where he masterfully led successful restructuring endeavors. Additionally, he spearheaded a major business transformation program through the implementation of a new core banking system.
Driven by a genuine desire to serve and create impactful experiences, he was entrusted with launching and leading MCB Consulting Services Ltd in 2014. Since then, Jean-Michel has honed his adeptness in navigating complex challenges, connecting the dots, and crafting optimal solutions to drive tangible outcomes for clients.
Restructuring Success
In 2004, Jean-Michel embarked on his journey with the MCB Group, assuming the role of Managing Director at Finlease Co Ltd. Over the span of approximately three years, he demonstrated remarkable leadership skills, spearheading a comprehensive restructuring initiative that laid the groundwork for the company’s future success. This early accomplishment earned him recognition, leading to even greater responsibilities within the organization.
Subsequently, he took charge of reengineering the MCB Group’s internal audit functions, initiating a transformative process that ushered in significant improvements in strategy, methodology, scope, and depth. Within two and a half years, he successfully transformed the Inspection Business Unit into a cohesive and effective Group Combined Assurance function. Concurrently, he was entrusted with overseeing the ongoing implementation of a core banking system for MCB, a pivotal project that prompted the establishment of a group project management office.
It was during this transformative period that the seeds of MCB Consulting were sown. This venture marked the true beginning of the consultancy’s journey, as his expertise, leadership, and commitment to excellence laid the foundation for what would become a trailblazing force in the industry. Through his visionary approach, Jean-Michel would go on to shape MCB Consulting into a driving force of innovation and impact in the business landscape.
Building a Foundation
MCB Consulting operates as a renowned international management consulting company, specializing in providing strategic and customized business solutions across various industries. Since its establishment in 2014, the company has been at the forefront of delivering exceptional business advisory services, technology-centric solutions, and comprehensive training programs to a diverse clientele spanning 45 countries, amassing a remarkable portfolio of around 100 satisfied clients.
Central to the company’s enduring success is its unwavering commitment to maintaining trusted relationships with clients. The firm’s humane and professional attitude in conducting business has earned it the distinction of being the preferred partner for world-leading brands and solution providers seeking collaborative ventures.
Clients entrust MCB Consulting to navigate them through intricate transformations, with the assurance that the support team remains dedicated to providing assistance beyond the mere delivery of solutions. This steadfast dedication and customer-centric approach are ingrained in the company’s ethos.
True to its promises, MCB Consulting exemplifies integrity by walking the talk and stands prepared to stand by its clients as true partners in change. The company is driven by a strong belief in embracing an integrated world, where success is consistently achieved through the alignment of humane and professional values, in addition to the nurturing of enduring partnerships with world-leading solution providers cultivated over the years.
With a rich history of impactful solutions and a commitment to excellence, MCB Consulting continues to be a trusted and reliable partner for businesses seeking transformative success on a global scale.
Inspiring Achievements
“In everything I do, I am particularly motivated by passion and a strong feeling of purpose.”
From playing pivotal roles in successful restructuring exercises during his leadership tenures to his most significant feat of founding and leading MCB Consulting on multiple impactful missions across the African continent, Jean-Michel has been nothing short of awe-inspiring. He takes immense pride in the remarkable achievements he has amassed throughout his illustrious career.
Among his proudest accomplishments stands the establishment of the esteemed MCB Institute of Finance, a visionary endeavor born through a strategic partnership with a major education player, Uniciti Education Hub. Through this collaboration, the institute has flourished, offering top-notch executive education programs that fuel the growth and development of professionals in the financial industry.
On a deeply personal level, Jean-Michel finds his greatest drive and empowerment when key success factors converge harmoniously. This alignment includes conducting business with integrity and transparency, instilling unwavering passion within his team, fostering trust among clients and partners, and nurturing a fervent enthusiasm for both work and sports.
While his passion fuels his journey to success, he candidly acknowledges that at times, it can be a double-edged sword, requiring a delicate balance to avoid becoming overwhelming, and/or expecting the same passion across the board. Nevertheless, his relentless pursuit of excellence continues to be an inspiration to all who encounter his visionary leadership to make a positive impact in the world of business.
A Blueprint for Business Growth
“Innovation plays a crucial role in the success and growth of businesses in today’s highly competitive world.”
According to Jean-Michel, innovation holds the key to unlocking business growth, serving as the catalyst that propels companies forward while safeguarding them from the stagnation that could jeopardize their long-term survival. Embracing innovation empowers businesses to set themselves apart from competitors offering similar products or services, forging a distinctive path towards prosperity.
From a broader perspective, innovation in business encompasses the capacity to conceive, develop, deliver, and scale novel products, services, processes, and business models, all tailored to cater to customer needs. Successful innovation holds the promise of substantial net new growth for companies, serving as a means to venture into untapped markets, allure more customers, and fortify revenue streams.
Jean-Michel believes in the foundational essentials of innovation that warrant attention. These essentials encompass a well-defined innovation strategy, leadership support, a culture that fosters and champions innovation, seamless cross-functional collaboration, customer-centricity as a guiding principle, an unyielding commitment to continuous improvement, adaptability, and a dedicated focus on nurturing talent and capabilities.
He says, “By wholeheartedly embracing these core elements, businesses can create an environment that not only encourages but also sustains and supports innovation in its diverse forms.” Ultimately, this approach positions them for triumph in the ever-evolving landscape of industry and commerce.
Adapting to Uncertainty
The global pandemic has brought significant challenges for individuals and organizations worldwide, prompting the need to re-imagine business strategies. The shift towards digitalization emerged as a major trend, accelerated by the pandemic’s impact. Jean-Michel says, “Adapting to the pandemic’s limitations, we had to rethink ways of working, embrace technology, and reinvent management and communication practices while ensuring high-quality and excellent work for our clients.”
Resilience emerged as a crucial aspect of business strategy, emphasizing the importance of flexible operations, supply chain diversification, and robust risk management. Additionally, the company recognized the significance of good employers, focusing on providing conducive working conditions, proper compensation, and a positive work environment for employee well-being and long-term success.
The pandemic has challenged the traditional growth models, leading MCBC to explore sustainable and inclusive growth strategies, none of which could have been made possible without the acknowledgement and support of Jean-Michel’s former Group CEO Pierre-Guy Noel. MCB Consulting has considered environmental and social considerations and fostered innovation to meet evolving customer needs.
Navigating Challenges, Building Strength
“I always say it’s not about the destination, but the journey.”
In the pursuit of success, MCB Consulting embarked on a challenging journey. Starting with just a handful of resources in startup mode, the company faced the difficulty of securing quality talent for the ambitious projects it sought to deploy. Despite these challenges, the team embraced the greenfield situation, recognizing it as an opportunity to build trust, credibility, experience, and expertise from scratch. The company’s dedication to understanding the nuances of diverse markets, although initially challenging, eventually emerged as a source of strength.
Over the years, MCB Consulting has earned a proven track record of success, successfully completing over 710 assignments across 45 countries and 5 continents, with a significant presence in 30+ African countries.
Nevertheless, the global pandemic posed unprecedented challenges, impacting the company deeply. However, MCB Consulting demonstrated resilience, navigating through the storms that came its way and emerging stronger.
Amidst the pandemic’s aftermath, the company continues to harness its resilience while undertaking projects and forging robust partnerships worldwide. The journey of MCB Consulting exemplifies the belief that success lies not solely in reaching a destination but in embracing the challenges and opportunities encountered along the way.
Fostering a People-First Culture
In the present era, diversity and inclusion are acknowledged as essential drivers of business growth. Understanding this, MCB Consulting embraces diversity in terms of age, gender, race, geography, and culture and fosters an inclusive environment where individuals’ differences are valued and respected.
It has a human-centric approach and acknowledges the significance of people-focused culture in today’s fast-paced digital era. With a workforce consisting of 115+ individuals from 10 distinct nationalities, including millennials and Gen Z, the company is prepared for exponential growth as it onboards new skill sets to tackle new challenges and projects.
“We believe in creating a culture of excellence, performance, and quality-driven results while providing a conducive ecosystem to thrive.”
To meet the needs of an ever-demanding workforce, the company invests in promoting work-life integration through various benefits, such as an on-site gym, dedicated sports coaches, and hybrid work possibilities. It leverages on sports as a special purpose vehicle to instil resilience, performance and team work. However, catering to different age groups in close collaboration can be challenging, necessitating a total experience approach, where the company focuses on delivering overall experiences and breaking down silos for clients, collaborators, and employees alike.
Solutions for Success
MCB Consulting has evolved into a prominent global management consulting firm, establishing a robust presence in English and French-speaking Africa, while also undertaking numerous assignments in the Asia Pacific and Middle East regions. Since its inception, the company has utilized its expertise and battle-tested experience to offer clients sustainable solutions, guiding them towards achieving their innovation and business growth objectives.
Its comprehensive advisory services encompass strategic planning, execution, risk management, business process, and organizational reviews, as well as assistance in selecting, implementing, and maintaining Information Technology solutions. Furthermore, it delivers essential training services to empower clients with the necessary skills and knowledge to thrive in the competitive landscape. While the company’s services are diverse and adaptable to various sectors, it proudly possesses a distinct competitive edge in the financial industry, owing to its unique motto, “banker-user-implementer.”
With a strong global footprint and a commitment to providing long-term solutions, MCB Consulting continues to serve as a trusted partner to its clients, empowering them to thrive in an ever-evolving business environment.
Client Experiences that left a Mark
Over the course of the last 25 years and a multitude of missions, Jean-Michel encountered several profoundly striking client experiences that left a lasting impact on him. One such experience unfolded during his first visit to Palestine, where he met with a client amidst a backdrop of historical significance, leaving him with a profound sense of reflection.
Another poignant assignment took him back to Rwanda, two decades after the devastating genocide, evoking a dense emotional experience as he witnessed the nation’s progress and resilience. Recalling one of his earliest years as a consultant, Jean-Michel embarked on a journey to Kosovo.
He navigated through bombarded areas, seeking to fulfill the project’s objectives under the protection of the United Nations’ Blue Helmets. This assignment presented challenges beyond the professional realm, shaping his perspective on the significance of his work.
Finally, a trip to Malawi holds special meaning for Jean-Michel, as he had the opportunity to deliver an entire corporate strategy to an esteemed audience of 70 high-profile finance professionals. This experience underscored the impact and significance of his work, further fueling his dedication to delivering excellence in every endeavor.
These compelling client experiences have indelibly shaped Jean-Michel’s journey as a consultant, instilling in him a profound sense of purpose and dedication to making a meaningful impact through his work.
The Quote that Inspires Felix
“If you want to move swiftly, go alone. Go together if you want to go far”
