A transformation leader, Lijo Joseph brings over two decades of experience in leading strategic and transformational projects. Currently, as the Associate Director of Protiviti Member Firm (Middle East), Lijo leverages his multi-sector expertise to lead the company forward. From being a national-level advisor to driving strategic transformation for national infrastructure organizations, Lijo Joseph’s leadership has set new standards for professionals in the field of advisory and consulting.
The Beginning
Lijo Joseph’s leadership values have been shaped early by his parents, by the environment he grew up in, and by his years at Kendriya Vidyalaya Pattom, India – a school that gave him both discipline and curiosity. He reflects, “I was never a topper in academics or sports, but I was always deeply observant. The world around me fascinated me far more than textbooks ever did. After completing high school and moving into my undergraduate years, I found myself increasingly curious about how organizations function, evolve, and deliver value at scale. That curiosity pulled me toward roles in operations, customer service, shared services, and eventually into large-scale transformation and strategy execution across the UK, Europe, the US, Asia, and the Middle East.”
During his early career path, Lijo decided to formalize his interests and broaden his horizons, driving him to pursue a Master’s in Business & Management from Strathclyde Business School in the UK, with a specialization in strategy, operations, and business management. That experience not only shaped his analytical thinking but also strengthened his passion for strategy realization, PMO, and business excellence.
Lijo even mentions, “One early lesson I learned in industry was simple but powerful: you differentiate yourself through knowledge and expertise. Over the past decade, I’ve invested heavily in continuous learning—earning certifications like PMP, PRINCE2-Agile, ITIL, Six Sigma Black Belt, EFQM, TOGAF, and multiple ISO Lead Auditor/Implementer credentials (9001, 22301, 27001, 37000, 56000, 14001), along with PMI-RMP.”
With a plethora of experience, from starting humbly as a reception assistant and bell boy during his internship period, learning the meaning of service, discipline, and resilience, to being in the current position, Lijo has come a long way. From the early days of carrying bags and greeting guests with a smile, he slowly climbed, step by step, and challenge by challenge, guided completely by hard work, faith, and an unwavering belief that every small beginning has a story waiting to unfold.
Today, with over 21 years of cross-industry, multi-geography experience, Lijo have had the privilege to be a national-level advisor, contributing to strategies that shape the future of a nation, leading extensive teams, core operations, advisory engagements, enterprise PMOs, and strategic transformation programs for some of the region’s most critical institutions, government agencies, airlines, financial institutions, healthcare providers, and national infrastructure organizations.
“Every role reinforced my belief in structured thinking, disciplined execution, and human-centered transformation. I have always kept my inner calling personal, aiming to create opportunities for the growing professionals, mentoring and coaching the new generation aspirants. The contrast is dramatic. The journey is personal. And the transformation is my greatest source of pride,” he reflects.
Regional Presence of Protiviti Member Firm (Middle East)
A global consulting firm known for its deep expertise across internal audit, strategy execution, transformation, risk, technology, digital, and business performance improvement, Protiviti Member Firm (Middle East) reflects a unique culture—a boutique mindset delivered with global strength. The firm remains agile, practical, and collaborative, while being supported by a vast global network.
In the Middle East, Protiviti Member Firm (Middle East) has grown into a trusted advisor for governments, semi-government entities, regulators, and private-sector organizations across Qatar, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman. It’s one of the most dynamic consulting landscapes in the world, driven by national visions, mega-projects, and rapid transformation.
In Qatar, Lijo leads the Business Excellence & Transformation Advisory Practice, which brings together Strategy Realization and Execution Office (SRO), Enterprise PMO and Portfolio Management, Operational Excellence and Process Re-engineering, customer experience and service excellence, governance, risk, and national transformation programs. “Our ambition is bold and clear: to establish Protiviti Member Firm (Middle East) as the most trusted partner in Qatar and the wider GCC for strategy execution, operational excellence, and customer experience transformation.
At the heart of our work is a simple belief: people come first. Advisory is not only about frameworks or reports – about delivering real, visible, on-ground impact. Our clients value us because we don’t just advise; we stand with them through implementation, ensuring our work drives measurable outcomes and long-term value,” Lijo explains.
What Defines Successful Leadership
Leadership in advisory and consulting, especially in transformation and business excellence, demands a blend of mindset, character, and discipline.
Lijo mentions, “In my experience, successful leaders embody several qualities, including strategic clarity with practical execution which can turn vision into tangible results. Also, transformations don’t fail because of methodology; they fail because people are not aligned. Listening deeply and understanding context makes all the difference, so having empathy is equally crucial.
Moreover, integrity and objectivity are non-negotiable. As clients trust us with their biggest challenges, transparency, honesty, and evidence-based thinking help build long-term credibility. Also, being adaptable to the fast-paced consulting field is inevitable. With digital disruption, regulatory change, and customer expectations evolving constantly, leaders must stay curious and ahead of the curve.
Additionally, consulting is a people-centric business, so coaching, mentoring, and empowering teams is what truly scales a practice. And finally, real transformation requires leaders who aren’t afraid to question assumptions and push for bold change.
For me personally, leadership comes down to creating clarity, removing complexity, and enabling others to succeed.”
Embracing Innovative Practices
Protiviti has embraced digital and AI-driven transformation with both ambition and humility. In Qatar and across the region, the firm partners with clients to help them adopt digitized corporate governance models, enterprise digital strategies, and target operating models, AI-enabled transformation, automation at scale (RPA, IPA), digital PMO, and real-time portfolio governance, data-driven decision intelligence, digital CX and service excellence, and cybersecurity and digital risk management.
Lijo shares, “From my own leadership experience, whether setting up strategy execution offices, building enterprise PMOs, leading Agile units, or driving customer experience transformation, I’ve learned how critical it is to balance technology, people, and process. This aligns strongly with Protiviti Member Firm (Middle East)’s mission: turn digital ambition into measurable, sustainable impact.”
In Qatar, Protiviti Member Firm (Middle East) always inspires from and aspires to the National Vision 2030 objectives and National Development Strategy NDS 3 goals to support all organizations that actively contribute towards the realization of priorities like digital first, digital adoption, AI, ML, and digital transformation. In this region, digital transformation is more than a corporate initiative—it’s a national development priority, aligned with Qatar National Vision 2030 and NDS3. “Our role has always been to help organizations move from aspiration to execution through structured governance, capability-building, and real-world implementation,” he adds.
Insights of an Expert
Addressing the aspiring professionals in the field of consulting, Lijo shares, “For anyone starting out in advisory, transformation, EPMO, or business excellence, here are the principles that have guided me: become a lifelong learner, because methods evolve, but curiosity stays with you forever. Focus on building strong analytical foundations; whether it’s a strategy, process, or customer journey—structured thinking is your superpower.
Master communication skills, because consulting is storytelling, and simplifying complexity is an art. Also, don’t chase titles—chase experiences. The toughest assignments often shape you the most.
Additionally, build relationships and credibility as people remember trust and delivery long after a project ends. Ensure understanding of the GCC context as this region is transforming rapidly, and understanding cultural and national priorities gives you a real edge.
And lastly, stay humble and grounded; transformation is a team effort. Success comes from collaboration, not individual heroics.”
Connect with Lijo Joseph on LinkedIn to gain industry insights.
Find Protiviti Member Firm (Middle East) on LinkedIn and visit https://www.protiviti.com to learn more.
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