Roy Lockhart Honored as a Top Consultant 2024 by Consulting Magazine

The on-the-job experience, mentorship, and client exposure that Stax has provided over the years have been the primary drivers of my success so far. The most effective method of learning involves hands-on experience, engaging with clients, understanding their needs, and addressing challenges as they arise. In this profession, client empathy stands out as the most invaluable asset, and it is cultivated through direct engagement with clients and collaborating closely with seasoned leaders who have refined this skill over years of experience.



Stax has afforded me both opportunities, at scale, throughout my time here. Stax also has leaders who seek to empower the junior team below them, as opposed to delegating to them. Throughout my time at Stax, this has meant being challenged to solve difficult problems and understand why clients may be asking certain questions, as opposed to simply executing tasks and answering surface-level questions. I attribute much of my development to the nature of our approach to engagements, which has facilitated development as opposed to being hierarchical and execution-oriented. I also owe a great deal to the strength of the junior team at Stax. We have a wealth of incredibly capable and talented individuals comprising our teams, who have enabled me to take on more responsibility as I’ve progressed through roles.

The constantly evolving challenges that the work itself presents. Every project brings its own unique challenges and dynamics, and the challenge of understanding the situations, stakeholders, external elements, and how to bring all of those factors together makes every project engaging. I especially enjoy the sell-side and exit planning work that I’m focusing on. The collaboration between advisors, management teams, and sponsors isn’t always easy or straightforward, but working together to align on how to best position assets for potential buyers can be incredibly gratifying.

My proudest achievement so far is not a single event or accomplishment, but rather the collective progression of Stax as a whole. Being part of a team that’s grown as much as we have, both in terms of sheer size as well as in breadth, depth, and complexity of work, is very rewarding. It’s fun to think back to when I first started in our Boston office when there were about 15 of us, and to see now just how far we’ve come individually and collectively. Keeping in mind what’s enabled that growth and expansion is important, because keeping that growth-oriented mindset is what’s going to enable our next wave of growth.

Investing in team development is the best thing one can do for their career. As I was developing, one of our MDs explained to me that the best way for me to elevate my contributions within our projects was to focus on supporting the development of my teammates around me. As all of our capabilities grew, we’d provide one another with more stretch opportunities.

I view this recognition as a validation of what we’ve been building at Stax over the years. If someone like me can be recognized for something like this, it’s proof that the approach we’re taking at Stax is resonating across the market and with our clients. I am proud to represent Stax through this recognition, but I sincerely view this as a firm award as opposed to an individual accolade.