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Calix Abat is a senior manager at Infinnum’s Business Process Solutions practice unit. He is also involved in the organization’s business development efforts and in designing and implementing Infinnum’s talent development program. Calix’s passion for continuous learning and development aligns with Infinnum’s ethos: meaningful change in clients only happens if Infinnum talents undergo a similar transformation.
Calix has been with Infinnum since the company's inception as a consulting services provider. Ms. Ana Justo, Infinnum’s founder and CEO, invited him to work with her after he left his previous employer–a stroke of faith.
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I’ve always wanted to become a management consultant because I believe this career path will allow me to pursue my lifelong passion for learning.
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Since joining Infinnum, Calix has experienced a range of roles, eventually building Infinnum’s practice units with the rest of the management team. Initially, his role focused on Management Accounting and Finance and the Accounting Process, where he prepared reports and analyses of Infinnum’s clients. “Over time, I was exposed to business process improvements in operations and technology implementation engagements,” Calix recounted.
Eventually, in 2016, he focused on building Infinnum’s Business Process Solutions team. They help clients sustainably grow by identifying and implementing the business processes that must be redesigned or improved. However, client engagements also require multi-practice unit deliverables, highlighting the degree of personalization that Infinnum provides its clients. “If the project involves multiple practice units, I work with Ms. Ana to initiate the project and determine the type of support that our Icons need to fulfill client expectations,” he explains. Calix’s responsibilities also cover Infinnum’s business development, where he works with other managers to develop proposals and contracts for potential clients. His experience in Infinnum’s various practice units helps him identify how Infinnum can address the client’s concerns.
Besides business development, Calix also handles the onboarding process for incoming Icons.
Our onboarding process is crucial because it is common for incoming Icons to shift from other careers. The training is a chance for us to emphasize Infinnum’s values and practices, especially in getting the work done and engaging with clients.
The Onboarding training these Icons undergo allows them to dive deep into the client or the industry, ensuring they have the capability and competency to fulfill the engagement.
The types of client engagements determine the training and tools provided to the Icons. The development program can be technical training that covers the programs, tools, and knowledge needed for the client and industry or soft skills training that supports Icons in delivering the project scope. “When Icons are on projects that have multi-practice unit deliverables, they are exposed to Infinnum’s different teams and services. This exposure helps them grow and become well-rounded professionals,” Calix explains.
Infinnum encourages Icons to deepen their knowledge about the industry and the clients they work with. Building confidence and competence is a lifelong process that Icons undergo. Calix emphasizes, “Our Icons need to keep building their competency and expertise in the industry because this is how we deliver meaningful change to the clients, and this is what they come to Infinnum for.”
As an advocate of lifelong learning, Calix uses project debriefs to identify areas for further improvement. These sessions are opportunities to learn about client expectations and the type of training the Icons need to fulfill client engagements.
We believe that experience is the best way for our Icons to learn and grow into well-rounded professionals. We help them identify their purpose and encourage them to pursue external training, such as further studies, or to work towards their CPA certification to keep building their expertise.
Occasionally, Icons are hesitant to adapt to new tools or processes, but by focusing on the purpose of the training, Calix overcomes any resistance. “Our training is also there to validate what our Icons think they know, to help build their confidence. We also base the training on the Icon’s developmental plan to ensure that it aligns with their personal goals,” he mentions.
Infinnum invests in building the confidence of its talents by seeking new opportunities and tools that help the team adapt to the new future of work.
Infinnum’s talents are also encouraged to gain global experience. They have the opportunity to travel to other countries to build partnerships with global tools such as Xero, Fathom, and Dear Inventory (Cin7). Calix and Infinnum alumni have benefited from Infinnum’s generosity and gone overseas to study and expand their knowledge because Ana believes that global experience is critical in preparing talents for the future.
Calix’s role in Infinnum goes beyond leading its Business Process Solutions practice unit. His investment in Infinnum’s talent development program is a manifestation of his enthusiasm for lifelong learning. Not only does he want to further his transformation, but he wants to inspire other Icons to embody Infinnum’s ethos of continuous improvement.
Infinnum believes that its Icons can go beyond the numbers. They continuously build their Icons’ competencies and capabilities to enable them along their transformation journey and prepare them for the future.
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