Michael Kelly, a household name within Accenture’s public-sector team, has been promoted to managing director.
Kelly came to the company more than a decade ago from the advertising and marketing world, where he worked with large corporations to develop their voices and digital strategies, but he said he discovered a new passion point after joining Accenture and working with government clients to improve outcomes.
“Within Accenture, we talk about in public service, doing work that matters, that you can help residents, you can help your fellow citizens in public service, and that really reinvented my career. I just ran into public service, and I've never looked back,” he told Industry Insider — California.
The self-described futurist said the challenges facing government today require out-of-the-box thinking, putting him precisely where he excels — in a position to ask, “what if.”
“It's just how my brain works, and I love that part of my job, working with clients to collaborate and get in front of a whiteboard just to throw up ideas and try and make a better outcome,” he said.
The accelerated pace of technology and increasing constituent demands — not to mention ever-present budgetary constraints — require new approaches to old problems. For Kelly, the only way forward is pushing for innovative ideas with a competitive mindset.
“Everybody is so mission-focused on making things better for residents. How do you adapt and how do you keep up with the pace of change is kind of the common theme,” he said.
Kelly has been in various positions with Accenture for the last 12 years in both California and Chicago. Prior to that, he worked with Acquity Group, which was acquired by Accenture in 2013, and digital marketing firm Robinson & Maites, which is now Radiant 1.
He holds a Bachelor of Science in business administration and finance from Marquette University.
When he’s not trying to solve the complex problems facing government, he and his wife enjoy spending time with their two daughters, grandchildren and son-in-law in Southern California. He also enjoys golf and exploring California.
Accenture’s 'What If' Guy, Michael Kelly, Promoted to Managing Director
Kelly, who has been with Accenture for the last 12 years, says his superpower is pushing the limits of convention and finding innovative solutions to age-old government problems.
