The global big data analytics market was valued at $307.52 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow to $745.15 billion by 2030. The data analytics IT Consulting Market is forecast to grow at a CAGR of 32.3% from 2023 to 2028. Data analytics is projected to remain in very high demand in the future.
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But while these industries are constantly in dire need of seasoned, experienced professionals, there’s a lot more that goes into consulting than just black and white knowledge. It takes extraordinary technical skills, great leadership skills, an entrepreneurial mindset, and exceptional abilities to execute large and complex IT projects for enterprises’ needs.
So they’re looking to geniuses like Maulik Shah – and for over 23 years, he has delivered. He’s renowned in data analytics and IT consulting, having honed his extraordinary skills in enterprise data management and analytics and the development of complex IT solutions. Throughout his career, he has excelled in critical technical leadership roles, successfully guiding large-scale projects and teams with a strategic focus on innovation and efficiency in data-driven organizations.
Today we sit down with Mr. Maulik Shah to get his expert insights and understand his unique experience, extraordinary skills, and remarkable abilities to deliver which brought so much success, transformation, and significant business value to many enterprises.
Interviewer: Maulik, your career has been extremely diverse, and the companies you’ve served have enjoyed major success due to your efforts. Your work blends technical expertise with leadership. How did you start in data analytics?
Shah: Deep in the trenches, basically! I have a bachelor’s degree of engineering in IT and an MBA. While studying, doing my IT project work and writing software programs during college, I knew that I had exceptional technical abilities in complex data logic, and with experience, I could make them really count to make data-driven organizations to achieve their business goals . My career started in databases in 2001, and I was able to cultivate a profound understanding of enterprise data management. This foundational phase was critical in developing my technical abilities in big data analytics and cloud technology. It also helped me to develop a strategic mindset that goes beyond conventional IT roles.
Interviewer: What inspired you to start your own IT consulting firm in the future?
Shah: I have worked with many top IT consulting firms like Comsoft, Cognizant, Wipro, and, currently, with RCG. I’ve worked in many countries across the globe, and have always been very successful with clients, no matter how large or challenging project tasks were. I noticed a major gap in the market. Here’s the thing: there is a disconnect between cutting-edge technologies and practical business innovation. Per LinkedIn, up to 85% of IT projects fail; and according to Gartner, 80% of IT projects are considered failures by the business. But throughout my career, I’ve always managed to successfully deliver large and complex IT projects in time, within the budget, to meet all requirements and standards to achieve the business’s goals. Using my experience, I want to build a team of experts to help clients always succeed.
Interviewer: Your extensive experience will play a key role in your preparation for this venture. Could you elaborate on that?
Shah: Absolutely. I’ve been involved in analyzing, designing, and developing IT solutions tailored to specific business needs, tackling complex data management and analytics challenges. This exposure, especially in large-scale projects, was really what taught me how to identify and respond to market needs effectively. My career has also involved team leadership, talent acquisition, and project management, which are vital for running a successful consulting firm. Unlike a typical IT service provider, while running a resourcing business, I want to be honest and focus on the business outcome for the customers and its impact, rather than focusing on building a network and personal relationships – and getting the consulting revenue and growth going.
Interviewer: How do you handle the challenges and opportunities in the IT consulting landscape – and how would you define them?
Shah: The IT consulting field is dynamic, with rapid technological advancements. You always have to stay curious about the new possibilities and explore them. You find yourself thinking – I just have to keep up! But that isn’t enough. You have to anticipate these changes. You have to acquire a deep knowledge of both technologies and the business to communicate the facts confidently and bring new ideas. Because most of the time, the decision makers in organizations are non-IT people; and how to communicate, what to communicate, and how to understand the audience is very important while communicating.
I know that I can deliver critical needs; however, it takes soft skills to get the opportunity. You have to build solid trust with tons of deep knowledge with subject-matter expertise and use appropriate communication techniques with the decision-makers. You must be the one shaping decisions by influencing the leadership of the business. Sometimes you have to take calculated risks, accepting challenges by trusting your knowledge and abilities. And that’s one of the top challenges – staying ahead of the game.
Interviewer: Assembling a team of professionals seems to be a critical aspect of your vision. How do you plan to approach this?
Shah: Absolutely – assembling a team of 200-500 very top-level industry professionals in the US is a key part of my future vision. And yes, I know it’s an ambitious goal. But it’s really necessary to maintain a strong commitment in making a significant impact in the IT consulting industry. During my career, I have always seen that there are few exceptional individuals who make a big difference in the outcome. These individuals bring ten to twenty times the impact to projects compared to others – however, they never get paid ten times the compensation.
I want to build a diverse and talented team capable of addressing a wide range of IT challenges, including data engineers, cloud specialists, business analysts, and IT strategists. I don’t want employees. I will be looking for partners with a similar vision of mine. My focus is not running IT staffing companies – I am mostly looking to do fix-priced IT projects very efficiently to bring significant values and innovations for clients, to transform and scale their businesses. I believe that my experience in team building will be instrumental in creating a cohesive and effective workforce.
Interviewer: You’ve worked for many major global IT consulting firms like Cognizant, Wipro, RCG, Comsoft, and more. Can you tell us about some of your recent successes?
Shah: I have led teams on very challenging projects, played some critical roles, and received recognition after successfully building business-critical IT project solutions at different client organizations like Georgia Pacific, Elavon, Cox Communication, and Citigroup. In my 23-year career, I’ve done projects through IT consulting firms. I was employed full-time with a company called TMX Finance; however, all other projects I did for those organizations I mentioned were through IT consulting firms.
These weren’t staffing companies – they were true IT consulting entities, where we executed and delivered the projects in a fully end-to-end capacity for the clients. I prefer working with IT consulting firms because it always brings new challenges with new projects. I can work with different clients, new technologies, different challenges, new environments, new businesses, and new goals.
I’ve also learned so much – which I might not have been able to do if I had settled down in a full-time job with a direct business company. Yes, there have been recent great successes with clients like with Georgia Pacific and Elavon, where I played a critical role to successfully deliver the results. For both Georgia Pacific and Elavon, I worked through my current employer, RCG Global services, which is an IT implementation partner with them.
Interviewer: Finally, what impact do you foresee your consulting firm having on data-driven organizations?
Shah: I hope to have a substantial impact, of course. We’re going to be providing specialized services in data management, analytics, and cloud solutions – and that is how we will help organizations optimize their operations and enhance their decision-making processes. When we’re offering solutions, we will always keep the bigger picture in mind by providing simplified, long-term, sustainable solutions which use automation to generate value without a large maintenance overhead.
About Maulik Shah
Maulik Shah is certainly an IT leader to keep an eye on. There’s little doubt among his colleagues and collaborators that in the future, he will make good on his goal of creating a leading IT consulting firm. He has that combination of tech smarts, strategic thinking, and – critically – the heart of an entrepreneur, not to mention vast experience in data analytics and IT consulting, with many inspiring success stories under his belt.
Shah’s work has been crucial in enhancing data processing and integration, creating significant business value, and enabling organizations to leverage data-driven opportunities for a competitive advantage. His invaluable expertise has made a profound influence on both the technological advancement and strategic orientation of the companies he has collaborated with.
Shah’s vision is to bring technology and business innovation together, to set the stage for an entirely new chapter in IT consulting. He’s making strides toward this, and he never fails to inspire everyone watching his progress. IT pros and aspiring entrepreneurs should keep a close watch on Shah. After all, he is proof that with the right skills, experience, drive, and desire, one individual can make a major impact in the tech world.Learn more: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maulik-shah-4260usa/