Flavio Tosi has always been passionate about technology. From his aeronautical engineering beginnings, he has always been curious about the latest developments in machine-learning and artificial intelligence and, more importantly, how the latest technology developments affect emerging business models in the industrial sector.
“Becoming an independent consultant has always been in my make-up, and making the decision to leave the corporate world was a natural evolution for me. I have always been one to look at new ways of doing things, new ways to approach challenges. Even my development into strategic marketing was about understanding how to penetrate new markets and introduce new products that will ultimately help clients”, he says.
Flavio’s interest in new product development and the LEAN business approach started when he was asked to help a contact launch a new cloud-based platform to market – awakening a long-term path of business innovation. Having also spent a number of years working for General Electric, Flavio had the opportunity to work with a number of functions throughout the business, both locally and internationally, before deciding to act and so began his independent consulting journey.
“I’ve always had a passion to study new things. I guess that’s why I decided to further my career by doing my MBA. I realised that an engineering degree alone was not complete. You couldn’t just be an engineer if you didn’t know the purpose that your creation was going to serve. So decided to swim upstream in search of purpose. And at the end of my search, and the origin of all innovation, I found The Client”. And so, at the age of 33, Flavio pursued his MBA with the intention to add to his collection of business tools, a new understanding of business. And that he did.
The idea of independent consulting was one that Flavio had nurtured for many years. “I knew what it looked like. One thing you notice, when you decide to work independently, is that you suddenly become an entity on your own that has to face the challenges that are usually deflected from you in the corporate world. Whether it’s a crisis or an opportunity – you, as an independent worker, face them directly and have to deal with them directly. Sometimes, the turbulence you feel is similar to opening the door of a house and stepping outside into a very windy street. The best way that I have learnt to deal with challenges in the independent consulting world is to learn from those who have done it before – and develop solid foundations by learning from consultants and business leaders who share their knowledge and experience, and by developing a network of people who support and guide you”, he says. “Without the guidance of these people, you’re simply a leaf in the wind outside”.
Flavio sees himself within the independent consulting field for as long as possible and hopes that in 10 years time, he will be more developed, more experienced in helping business people all around the world realise their own business innovation and visions.
