The Unsung Olympians of L.E.K.’s European O&P Team

With the 2024 Paris Olympics approaching, athletes from around the globe are gearing up to showcase their peak performances. But at L.E.K.’s Organisation & Performance (O&P) practice, we have our own Olympians — individuals whose dedication, versatility and excellence mirror the spirit of the Olympics. To celebrate the performance, diversity and passion they embody, we asked them to explain what they like about their own favourite Olympic sport.

Enjoy the read!

Meet our Olympians!

Tessa Sandford-Bondy, London — balancing speed and patience in badminton

Tessa’s interest in badminton reflects the balance of agility and patience she brings to her consulting work. In this sport, there is an interesting tension between fast and slow, which can also be borne out in consulting and business more generally. When seeking to effect change within businesses, there is a need to strike a balance between agility (for example, quickly capitalising on opportunities) and patience (for example, in developing long-term strategy or allowing an organisation time to transform).

“Badminton requires quick reflexes and patience. This balance requires discipline and adaptability to achieve success.”

Claudio Molinaro, Paris — running the marathon of life

Claudio embodies the marathon spirit. He recently registered for his first marathon, despite having started running just two years ago, showing that anyone can push their limits. He believes marathons showcase performance and diversity — key elements for successful teams. Marathons drive athletes to deliver ‘peak performance’, pushing their boundaries of endurance, speed, strength and technique. Diversity is also evident; Claudio signed up at age 44 with limited sporting experience. The sport requires little more than trainers and time, with success not tied to financial means. The Olympics have shown that developing nations can compete successfully against more developed ones.

“Marathon running showcases peak performance, diversity and the fighting spirit. It’s not just about competing against others but also against oneself. Every step is a testament to hard work, planning and continuous improvement.”

Jacky Banh, Paris — climbing new heights

Jacky’s passion for climbing reflects his approach to consulting. He is constantly pushing boundaries, taking risks and striving for excellence. Scaling mountains and enhancing organisational performance both demand a blend of strategy, resilience and teamwork. Just as climbers meticulously plan their route, L.E.K.’s O&P consultants chart detailed roadmaps for their clients, identifying areas for development and setting clear milestones.

“In climbing, as in consulting, the real competition is within ourselves. We take on new routes, innovate and support each other through challenges. Together, we scale new heights.”

Marina Smith, London — excelling in modern pentathlon

Marina excels in various consulting roles, much like the multi-talented athletes in modern pentathlon. Just as in many strategic projects, when clients require consultants to respond to a myriad of requests, completing a pentathlon is a balance between endurance and precision. Like a pentathlete, to be successful as a consultant, individuals must practise across a variety of activities and find ways to optimise their performance in areas where they are both talented and more uncomfortable compared to their competitors.

“Both pentathlon and consulting require diverse skills and adaptability. Success depends on balancing different competencies and delivering results under pressure.”

Jean-Christian Derouin, Paris — mastering equestrian eventing

JC appreciates the versatility required in equestrian eventing given the three disciplines involved. One constant in this sport is the role of communication and trust between rider and horse. Both eventers and consultants rely on strong partnerships. A rider’s subtle cues guide the horse’s responses, revealing an unspoken dialogue built over time and based on deep trust. Similarly, communication and trust between JC and his clients is key to a successful outcome. Listening is as important as active communication via speech or the written word, and this skill is nicely exemplified in equestrian eventing.

“Eventing combines elegance, bravery and technical prowess. It’s about mastering multiple disciplines, much like consulting. Success demands strategic thinking, adaptability and resilience.”

Marc Seipp, Munich — transforming through triathlon

Marc’s passion for triathlon is fuelled by the same source as his passion for strategy consulting: his continuous drive for excellence and improvement. Like competing in a triathlon, developing strategy for and executing on corporate transformation requires making strategic decisions, persevering and focusing on the end goal. There is a certain amount of process to both the sport and the race: measured and practised fuelling plans and handoffs between activities mirror the routine checkpoints in a transformation project. Both environments require precise tracking and execution to achieve goals.

“Just as I analyse every stroke, pedal and stride to push beyond limits, I delve into data and client insights to craft impactful, value-adding solutions.”

Jean-Philippe Grosmaitre, Paris — serving up success in beach volleyball

JP has enjoyed playing beach volleyball and sees this as a comprehensive sport that requires fitness, strategy and teamwork — qualities he brings to his projects. Again, as in other Olympic sports, teamwork and communication — often through simple hand signals and short verbal cues — are essential and enable players to anticipate each other’s moves and coordinate a game strategy. This ability to communicate effectively and anticipate changes or feedback is key for developing strong client relationships and delivering sustainable value.

“Beach volleyball demands fitness, accurate passing and strong communication. These elements mirror the teamwork and strategic thinking needed in consulting.”

Tom Marshall, London — being agile and strategic in rugby sevens

Tom’s long-held passion for rugby translates into his consulting work, where agility and strategic thinking are key. While the Olympic game of rugby sevens is less physical than traditional rugby, it is more fast paced and requires greater agility to win. In rugby sevens the teams are small, but they are required to cover the same ground as rugby union, so players must excel in various roles on the field. Similarly, in consulting, it is necessary to juggle diverse roles both within one project and across different projects in a consulting career.

“Rugby sevens demands versatility and quick adaptation. Much like consulting, success relies on strong teamwork and strategic thinking.”

Reda Berrada, Paris — navigating success in sailing

Reda navigates the consulting waters with the same precision and flexibility required in sailing. Reda discovered sailing during his master’s degree, which offered a hands-on way to apply the principles of naval architecture and offshore engineering in a practical setting. Just as in sailing, where it is necessary to anticipate and react to fast-changing conditions, Reda’s role requires him to analyse trends and pivot strategies swiftly as required. Separately from his day-to-day work, sailing offers a refreshing escape from the fast pace of Paris with friends and crewmates who share a similar passion.

“Sailing involves understanding wind patterns and precise coordination. It’s about anticipating changes and pivoting strategies swiftly.”

Sebastian Olbert, Munich — tackling the decathlon

Sebastian’s admiration for decathlon reflects his multifaceted approach to consulting. He sees parallels between decathlon and L.E.K.’s O&P work in terms of strategic planning and performance under pressure . Both fields require foresight, resilience and relentless focus. Decathletes plan and pace themselves to excel across all events without burning out, while consultants strategise to tackle complex business problems, managing project timelines and resources efficiently. Olympic decathletes compete in high-stakes events, maintaining calm under pressure; similarly, Sebastian’s team delivers impactful solutions within tight deadlines and high client expectations.

“Decathlon athletes show diverse skills, adaptability and endurance. These qualities are essential in consulting, where we tackle various tasks and industries.”

Sebastien Beausoleil, Paris — mastering tennis

Sebastien’s dedication to tennis mirrors his approach to consulting — perseverance, collaboration and relentless training. The relentless training and drive for improvement that professional players pursue mirror Sebastien’s experience at L.E.K., where significant collaboration and individual effort are pursued each day to uncover the best solutions for clients.

“Tennis players push their limits and collaborate closely with their teams. This mirrors our consulting experience, where teamwork and individual effort drive success.”

Moritz Rainer, London — spiking success in classical volleyball

With the Paris Olympics on the horizon, Moritz has drawn inspiration from volleyball’s balance of individual excellence and collective synergy. In this sport, as in consulting, a diversity of skills and the acknowledgement of individual strengths and weaknesses enable a team to optimise their performance, making the whole greater than the sum of the individual parts.

“Success in volleyball and consulting hinges on coordination and diverse skill sets. Clear communication and teamwork are paramount.”

Theo Koros, London — adopting a laser focus in boxing

Theo’s experience of boxing informs his day-to-day role as the O&P Practice Manager — both require a well-defined plan, sharp focus and the ability to adapt in a constantly changing environment. It is a sport that requires unwavering focus and one where a lapse can cause significant damage in a way that is not so true of other Olympic sports! Theo’s own training has instilled in him the importance of understanding your opponent, creating a plan of attack and then being able to adjust those plans in the heat of the moment as required. These skills carry weight in his day-to-day role, where thinking long term about the strategy of the team is essential but must be balanced against adapting to fast-changing markets and client needs.

“In the ring, a boxer needs to stay focused, adjust tactics on the fly and deliver knockout blows under pressure. Similarly, in the O&P world, we prioritise streamlining processes and eliminating unnecessary work — like a boxer conserving energy by avoiding wasted movements.”

Conclusion

At L.E.K., our team members are our Olympians!

They embody the same dedication, versatility and excellence that define Olympic athletes. Each member brings their unique strengths and passions to the table, driving us to scale new heights and achieve remarkable success.

Ready to work with our winning team?

Learn more about our services and how we can help you achieve your goals.