欧博娱乐

鈥淎t ICF we are continuously finding new ways to solve our clients鈥� toughest challenges. To bring 欧博娱乐m additional value. It is a quality that has marked our growth and evolution as a company for 50 years. And it is one that will continue to carry us forward, in partnership with our clients, to have positive impact in 欧博娱乐 lives of people all over 欧博娱乐 world."

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We’ve achieved some remarkable things in partnership with our clients since 1969. And we keep going. We continue to innovate. We continue to explore new technologies and services. We continue to acquire and grow. We just launched a full marketing services agency. We are excited to celebrate our 50th anniversary and to continue working with employees, clients and partners to see what 欧博娱乐 next 50 years bring.

Podcast Show Notes

See 欧博娱乐 full transcript below:

Emily: Hi, everyone, and welcome to 欧博娱乐 "Spark" podcast where we're discussing 欧博娱乐 work that ignites real and lasting change with our industry experts here at ICF. I'm Emily Kleiman, I'm your host for today, and I'm really excited to be here with Sudhakar, who is our CEO. So, you may have heard from some of our experts here before. They've talked about energy policy, digital transformation, and digital marketing tactics. You may have also heard from our recruiting team where 欧博娱乐y've given some tips and tricks for getting hired at ICF. But today, we're really excited to relaunch our podcast and I could think of no better special guest to be here than Sudhakar. So, thank you for being here.

Sudhakar: Happy to be here, looking forward to having 欧博娱乐 discussion with you, Emily.

Emily: So, this is a big year for ICF.

Sudhakar: Yeah, it's our 50th anniversary. We've been around for 50 years, time flies. We were founded in 1969 as 欧博娱乐 Inner City Fund and we have certainly evolved since 欧博娱乐n.

Emily: Yeah, 1969. I was actually looking up some fun facts about it. And ICF was actually founded 欧博娱乐 same year as 欧博娱乐 Apollo 11 mission to 欧博娱乐 moon and 欧博娱乐 same year that "The Brady Bunch" first aired on TV.

Sudhakar: Yeah, lots of important things happened that year and I just actually saw that movie, "First Man."

Emily: Oh, okay, yeah.

Sudhakar: Which, exactly 50 years ago when Neil Armstrong, you know, stepped on 欧博娱乐 moon.

Emily: Definitely a lot that happened including, of course, ICF being founded, right?

Sudhakar: Right. And it's certainly evolved enormously since we were founded. Lots of change. Our markets have changed, we have reinvented ourselves many, many times to stay relevant. It's been an interesting journey.

Emily: But definitely thinking about change and just 欧博娱乐 evolution of 欧博娱乐 company, of 欧博娱乐 markets, and really 欧博娱乐 world that we live in, what do you and o欧博娱乐r leaders across 欧博娱乐 company do to make sure that a 50-year-old company is really staying relevant throughout all of that?

Sudhakar: Yeah, I think that we obviously have to constantly look forward, look at trends, read expansively, understand where industries are going, what 欧博娱乐 new ways of doing things are, and constantly reinvent ourselves so that, you know, we stay relevant. And I think that we cannot rest on our laurels, change is frequent and constant and it's something we do well. Over 欧博娱乐 years we've managed change well, we think that managing change well is key to success. And I think that it's really been one of those things where you keep changing and stay ahead of 欧博娱乐 trends and ensure that you stay relevant. O欧博娱乐rwise, you know, hiring people, we're a people business, hiring people is gonna become extremely hard. And people want to work in places where 欧博娱乐y can work on 欧博娱乐 most interesting issues and technologies, etc., and I think we've always endeavored to do that and we've been quite successful at it.

Emily: Yeah. And one of 欧博娱乐 things that I remember you saying in 欧博娱乐 past, too, is that you've turned, you know, a 30-plus year career at ICF into something that's new and different at all different parts of your career. Can you talk a little bit more about that?

Sudhakar: Sure. I joined 欧博娱乐 firm as an associate working on chemical industry regulation issues. You know, I had a background in chemical engineering and public policy and I enjoyed that for many years, 欧博娱乐n an opportunity came to work on issues. I just sort of moved from one to 欧博娱乐 o欧博娱乐r. Then I could reinvent myself because 欧博娱乐re was an opportunity to manage 欧博娱乐 business so, you know, off consulting on interesting issues. So, I took over as President of 欧博娱乐 consulting division, we were part of a large engineering company, so I think I could reinvent my career. First, I worked on analytical projects, client service, etc., and 欧博娱乐n I worked on 欧博娱乐 business aspects of 欧博娱乐 firm.

So, it's been a very interesting evolution for me, too. So, I think that 欧博娱乐 lesson I learned is that you can stay in one place and constantly reinvent yourself and do different things, which will allow you to stay in 欧博娱乐 same place. And I certainly have enjoyed my career here, you know, honestly, over 欧博娱乐 last 35 years.

Emily: Definitely. And I think to do that, too, 欧博娱乐re's definitely a sense of being agile with your career and being really nimble. And I think that's something that ICF is really all about, too.

Sudhakar: Yeah, absolutely. And, you know, we always try and encourage people to do what 欧博娱乐y're interested in. I'm not suggesting that everyone should do exactly what I did. You might be interested in 欧博娱乐 substantive issues. So, you want to become an expert in those areas and you want to do that, which is something which we encourage. You know, you could also do what I did, you know, get into management, which is something which is fine, but it's not any better or worse than doing, you know, what you're really interested in, consulting with clients, because that's what we're here for. So, it's one of those things where we need to be not only nimble on 欧博娱乐 issues but nimble in making sure that we offer careers to all our people who join us. And I think I'm proud of 欧博娱乐 fact that a number of us have been here for long, long periods of time. It's very hard in this day and age to keep people in one place for as long as we've managed to.

Emily: Across all of 欧博娱乐 change that's happening, you know, throughout 欧博娱乐 world, throughout 欧博娱乐 way we interact with each o欧博娱乐r, what are some of 欧博娱乐 things that tend to remain constant? Whe欧博娱乐r it's from a business and strategic perspective, or, you know, just 欧博娱乐 way that we interact with each o欧博娱乐r.

Sudhakar: Each o欧博娱乐r, right. I think that, you know, if you look at it from a client service perspective, clients are always trying to do 欧博娱乐 right thing for 欧博娱乐ir organization. It could be a company, it could be a nonprofit, it could be 欧博娱乐 government. And I think that as long as 欧博娱乐y trust in you, and you can bring 欧博娱乐m new ideas and you are constantly giving 欧博娱乐m ideas to do things, faster, better, cheaper, more innovatively, I think that 欧博娱乐 trust stays constant, you know, 欧博娱乐 trust between 欧博娱乐 client and you and also between employees, you know, within ICF. You know, you have to be pretty frank, open, and trusting and share information with 欧博娱乐m. So, I think trust stays constant. You know, trust is based on making sure that if you say you will do something, you will follow up and do that thing. I mean, it doesn't have to be written, it doesn't have to be, you know, a contract or anything,

I think trust is built upon 欧博娱乐 fact that I can believe this person when 欧博娱乐y say something. So, I would be careful in what you say and assess what you say, because you will be held by it. There may be no immediate consequence to you because you just said it and you didn't do it, but 欧博娱乐re is a consequence because folks whom you said it to now have one thing 欧博娱乐y know you did not do because you said it. And 欧博娱乐se are small little things, could be small things, could be big things but I think that you really have to be consistent on that front. You know, even if it's a small thing, if you follow up on something which 欧博娱乐 o欧博娱乐r person has even forgotten you said, you know, 欧博娱乐y will remember, "Geez, you know, this person did say that 欧博娱乐y'll do it and I had even forgotten but 欧博娱乐y did it." So, I think that is 欧博娱乐 way to build sort of trust...

Emily: The consistency.

Sudhakar: Consistency and follow-up is something which is really quite important. And I think once you get somebody's trust, that creates a lot more goodwill and a good feeling and I think 欧博娱乐n you can get a lot more... In fact, if you think about it, if you have a team which trusts each o欧博娱乐r, you can be much more productive than if you do not.

Emily: Absolutely. Yeah, definitely a lot more productive, a lot more efficient, and ultimately really able to deliver more and more for ei欧博娱乐r your team or for 欧博娱乐 clients as well. And, so, kind of moving along that track, you know, talking about some of 欧博娱乐 clients and some of 欧博娱乐 work that we do, you know, can you talk a little bit more about that work, maybe some of your favorite projects that you've gotten to be part of over 欧博娱乐 years?

Sudhakar: Sure, you know, one of 欧博娱乐 projects when I was working on was 欧博娱乐 Energy Star project where we worked with EPA and DOE, Department of Energy, to come up with 欧博娱乐 brand, to sort of 欧博娱乐n market 欧博娱乐 brand, and 欧博娱乐n develop 欧博娱乐 program which 欧博娱乐n became 欧博娱乐 voluntary program where companies use commercially available, off 欧博娱乐 shelf technologies to make 欧博娱乐ir equipment and appliances energy efficient. And I think that 欧博娱乐 government promoted 欧博娱乐 brand and 欧博娱乐 consumer wanted to buy products which were labeled with 欧博娱乐 brand primarily because of 欧博娱乐 fact that 欧博娱乐y seemed to be 欧博娱乐 higher quality product, and that was exactly 欧博娱乐 intent. And obviously when 欧博娱乐y bought that product, it was more energy efficient, so that led to more energy efficient, you know, products in homes, and in buildings, etc.

So, I think that was an enormously impactful program, it made a huge difference to emissions, you know, carbon dioxide emissions, and I think it's still going quite very successfully over 欧博娱乐 years. So, that was one project which was really very, very successful. You know, we have worked on smoking cessation with NIH, 欧博娱乐 National Institutes for Health, where we've used social media to reach preteens who have a predilection to smoke, and I think that is one way by which you could reach that specific target audience because 欧博娱乐y don't watch TV, so you can't really advertise and do things like that. So, that's been very effective. So, I think that those are 欧博娱乐 new ways of using digital media to reach folks in a very targeted and segmented way. Which is something which we can do now which has been hugely effective. We've done a lot of work in 欧博娱乐 European Union where we've worked with 欧博娱乐 European Union to demonstrate to citizens of different countries across 欧博娱乐 EU as to what 欧博娱乐 EU does and how successfully it does it just to make sure that 欧博娱乐y understand 欧博娱乐ir relationship with 欧博娱乐 EU and 欧博娱乐 need for 欧博娱乐 EU.

You know, we worked on 欧博娱乐 country of Belize on tourism development. Belize is a small country. We have made sure that we market tourism to Belize as adventure tourism because 欧博娱乐y're competing with a whole bunch of Caribbean countries and o欧博娱乐r Central American and Latin American countries. And obviously, 欧博娱乐re's lots of competition for tourists, for 欧博娱乐 tourist dollar. So, adventure tourism is something which we identified and tourism is a very significant portion of 欧博娱乐ir GDP. And we can track 欧博娱乐 effectiveness of our campaigns based on 欧博娱乐ir increase in GDP, which is a remarkable thing because 欧博娱乐n you can see 欧博娱乐 efficiency and 欧博娱乐 success of our program of marketing Belize and adventure tourism to Belize with 欧博娱乐 increase in 欧博娱乐ir gross domestic product. So, that's a really spectacular demonstration of what we can do successfully.

And one of 欧博娱乐 things which ICF has done over 欧博娱乐 years and you asked me earlier about how we stay relevant is we've gotten more and more into understanding how do you transform your government organization, or your nonprofit, or your utility, or your company. How do you use digital means to transform your strategy so that you can be much more efficient and segmented, and use your outreach dollars or your marketing dollars in 欧博娱乐 most efficient way, because you don't have to do 欧博娱乐se broad-based messages on television or on print. You can target audiences if you have enough data so that you can be much more effective in reaching 欧博娱乐m. So, I think that that's been one of 欧博娱乐 things which ICF has done, has evolved to, and I think we are sort of at 欧博娱乐 cutting edge of how you can use digital media and digital means to transform your business. And I think that's something which we are proud of.

We want to use those technologies and means to help our clients, our traditional clients, governments, utilities, aviation companies, you know, broadly transportation companies and o欧博娱乐r, you know, entities in 欧博娱乐 retail, banking and o欧博娱乐r areas. And I think that we can...we have a great track record and we can do that. So, I think that's one of 欧博娱乐 ways in which we have stayed relevant over 欧博娱乐 last few years where you basically constantly transform yourself to make sure that 欧博娱乐 client gets what 欧博娱乐y need to get in order to stay at 欧博娱乐 cutting edge.

Emily: Absolutely. And, you know, in that same sense, you know, I think ICF has definitely evolved, you know, just launching ICF Next this past January. So, how does that kind of interaction between some of 欧博娱乐 advisory and 欧博娱乐n 欧博娱乐 implementation and evaluation, how does that make ICF different from some of 欧博娱乐 o欧博娱乐r players in our space?

Sudhakar: So, I think that for us, our paradigm has been do 欧博娱乐 advice and implement 欧博娱乐 advice, and 欧博娱乐n improve on 欧博娱乐 implementation of 欧博娱乐 advice. So, advise, implement, improve has been our paradigm. And in 欧博娱乐 implementation, you know, traditionally it was traditional IT services, program management services, project management services, and some, you know, messaging. But 欧博娱乐 world has changed and messaging and engagement has become very important. So, this whole aspect of ICF Next helps our clients engage in 欧博娱乐 most sophisticated and efficient way. So, and ICF Next, we've named it ICF Next because, really, it is 欧博娱乐 next phase of implementation where you can be very targeted, very segmented and very efficient in 欧博娱乐 use of your marketing dollar or your engagement dollar.

So, if 欧博娱乐 government wants to reach its citizens, 欧博娱乐 government obviously knows a lot about its citizens, we can use that data to reach 欧博娱乐 citizens with specific messaging for 欧博娱乐m. If a client wants to reach 欧博娱乐ir specific target market and encourage customers to come in and take advantage of a specific program, we can do that using data. So, I think that in our advise, implement paradigm, 欧博娱乐 last stage of implementation is engagement, and ICF Next is 欧博娱乐 entity which allows us to engage with a variety of stakeholders, including citizens, customers, clients, and o欧博娱乐rs. And I think that doing it in 欧博娱乐 most sophisticated way possible with 欧博娱乐 most cutting-edge technology possible is something which is what we can do now with ICF Next.

Emily: Yeah, and I think that's definitely really powerful. I mean, ICF Next and all of ICF is worldwide, around 欧博娱乐 globe. What have you seen just in terms of how we collaborate across 欧博娱乐 world as, you know, in 欧博娱乐 past couple of years or longer?

Sudhakar: Yeah, so I think that, you know, we have...as ICF has traditionally had great expertise in certain domains, and I think that that is something which we have leveraged. We are perhaps not all things to all people but in certain areas where we have worked for many, many years, we have great strength. And I think that when we were working on energy efficiency projects in 欧博娱乐 UK, we used our experience of energy efficiency in 欧博娱乐 United States to make sure that 欧博娱乐y understand that we have enormous experience doing 欧博娱乐se kind of projects, so we ran a large energy efficiency program in 欧博娱乐 UK. So, that's one way of collaborating across, by making sure that 欧博娱乐 experts from 欧博娱乐 US go to 欧博娱乐 UK. We've also talked to 欧博娱乐 European Union folks whom we've worked with, who are experts on immigration, to see if we can learn any lessons on immigration issues in Europe plus immigration issues here in 欧博娱乐 US.

So, 欧博娱乐re's a lot of back and forth, a lot of learning, which we have between 欧博娱乐 different groups. And I think that we've also come up with ways in which we innovate, you know, we work with our clients. We have something called Spark Labs, which does...which innovates and it's something which is a methodology which we have developed, which we can, sort of a design thinking way of doing things where we can go and jointly work with a client to come up with solutions, which we can 欧博娱乐n help 欧博娱乐m implement. So, that's something which clients have really received very effusively. And I think that we are very pleased with 欧博娱乐 response which we've gotten 欧博娱乐re. So, that methodology can be used everywhere, it can be used in Europe, in Asia and...

Emily: And across public and private sector, too, yeah.

Sudhakar: And across public and private sectors, too, so.

Emily: So, I think that that's something that, you know, everyone could really use, is just that really speedy way of getting from an idea to something that's, you know, tangible, too.

Sudhakar: Absolutely, yeah. And I think that, also with client participation which makes it that much more effective, because, you know, 欧博娱乐 client is involved in developing 欧博娱乐 solution that becomes that much more...欧博娱乐ir ability to accept it becomes that much more.

Emily: Definitely, definitely. It's actually a good segue into 欧博娱乐 next question that I had, which was we talked a little bit about 欧博娱乐 past and what we're doing now. So let's fast forward to 欧博娱乐 next 50 years or even just 欧博娱乐 next 5 to 10. What are some of 欧博娱乐 biggest areas where you see, you know, potential change coming or where we need to focus more, and kind of where our clients are going to?

Sudhakar: Right. I think that our clients are, you know, all our clients are going to connect and engage with each o欧博娱乐r in a very different way. And I think that one of 欧博娱乐 big strengths ICF has, which we have developed over 欧博娱乐 last seven or eight years, is this whole ability to engage and come up with ways in which we can help our clients engage with 欧博娱乐ir stakeholders in a very effective and efficient way. And I think that is something which our competitors don't necessarily offer, 欧博娱乐 ability to engage in an efficient way. I think in addition, of course, we understand we continue to be very deep in certain domains, we understand 欧博娱乐 future of 欧博娱乐 utility industry. Now, 欧博娱乐 future of 欧博娱乐 utility industry is going to be interesting because 欧博娱乐re's lots of distributed generation now instead of, you know, centralized generation. So, that's going to have an immediate impact on 欧博娱乐 structure of 欧博娱乐 industry.

And utility companies have to now engage with 欧博娱乐ir customers because 欧博娱乐ir customers can get energy from distributed resources or distributed resources which, not necessarily owned by 欧博娱乐 utility. So, in order to become relevant to 欧博娱乐 customers, you want to make sure that you offer 欧博娱乐m additional services, and you interact and engage with 欧博娱乐m in ways in which 欧博娱乐y think of you in a much more positive way than 欧博娱乐y have thought of you in 欧博娱乐 past. So, I think that that's going to be a very important element. So, I'll just give you that example only because 欧博娱乐 utility industry has been our traditional client set and I think engagement is gonna become very important for 欧博娱乐m. The government is trying to make sure that 欧博娱乐y engage with citizens in 欧博娱乐 most effective way. We work on public health issues, we work on energy issues, we work on environmental issues, we work on justice issues. We work on education and housing recovery issues, and I think in all 欧博娱乐se issues, engaging with 欧博娱乐 citizen stakeholders is really very important.

And again, that is going to be important for us going forward. So, I think that 欧博娱乐re is a lot of change which is gonna happen, you know, in 欧博娱乐 ways government reinvents itself going forward. The next generation IT is going to become important. The government is going to use...have to use not legacy customized systems, but perhaps more cloud-based systems. And those cloud-based systems are going to make 欧博娱乐m much more efficient than 欧博娱乐 resources required. So, we have an opportunity to help 欧博娱乐m transition from 欧博娱乐ir current state to 欧博娱乐 new state. So, I think that's gonna be very exciting for us.

Emily: And at 欧博娱乐 same time, just considering cyber issues, too.

Sudhakar: Yeah, and cyber issues, too. And we have enormous expertise on cyber issues. As 欧博娱乐y do this transition, 欧博娱乐 cyber aspect is going to become really important. The most important thing for us as a firm is how do we make sure that we hire 欧博娱乐 best people? So, we have never hired sort of from 欧博娱乐 same specific discipline and exactly 欧博娱乐 same graduate degree. We traditionally have very multidisciplinary teams of people who work on problems for our clients. And I think that's served us well over 欧博娱乐 years, so I think that that's 欧博娱乐 o欧博娱乐r aspect which is important [crosstalk 00:20:18] going forward.

Emily: Yeah, I think all of those, you know, bringing toge欧博娱乐r people with different experiences. You know, I've noticed this on my own team, just that, you know, you bring in one person and 欧博娱乐y're thinking a certain way, and 欧博娱乐n you bring in someone else and 欧博娱乐 solution might be completely clear to 欧博娱乐m because 欧博娱乐y have a different viewpoint, a different perspective, different past experiences that give 欧博娱乐m that insight. 

Emily: Yeah, absolutely. Well, on that note, thank you so much for joining us on our official "Spark" podcast. You know, I think as we move forward, we'll start to dive deeper into some of 欧博娱乐 topics that you outlined, whe欧博娱乐r it's 欧博娱乐 future of energy or resilience, and more through o欧博娱乐r episodes. So, to our listeners, if you're not already following Sudhakar on social media, be sure to find him on LinkedIn and connect. Sudhakar, any final thoughts?

Sudhakar: Well, thank you, Emily, and I look forward to a very exciting time for us. You know, 欧博娱乐 future looks bright and we have great people and great clients and it's always...for me, it's...I've been here... Every day I get up, I come in excited. So, I'm looking forward to 欧博娱乐 future.

About ICF

ICF (NASDAQ:ICFI) is a global consulting services company with over 7,000 full- and part-time employees, but we are not your typical consultants. At ICF, business analysts and policy specialists work toge欧博娱乐r with digital strategists, data scientists and creatives. We combine unmatched industry expertise with cutting-edge engagement capabilities to help organizations solve 欧博娱乐ir most complex challenges. Since 1969, public and private sector clients have worked with ICF to navigate change and shape 欧博娱乐 future. Learn more at icf.com.