Flavia Loner on her move to boutique consultancy RiskSphere

After two years with some of the largest consulting networks in Europe, Flavia Loner felt the time was right for a change. She talks to Consultancy Europe about starting a new chapter of her career with RiskSphere, and how she has settled into life at a boutique, in a new country.

“I was drawn to the boutique consulting environment because of its agile mindset and opportunity for deeper personal growth, as well as client engagement,” the senior consultant in sustainability and climate risk explains. “Having worked in large consultancies, I’ve gained valuable experience in handling large projects, but in a boutique firm, I believe I can contribute more meaningfully by working on more specialised, tailored solutions for clients.”

Originally from Italy, Flavia Loner spent completed an MA in green management, energy and corporate social responsibility, at the Università Bocconi, before taking her first steps into the consulting world in 2019. Accepting an internship with Generali in Milan, she went on to spend a further year as an ESG analyst with Sustainable Value Inventors, before joining the Rome office of global professional services network BIP.

“At BIP, I developed a strong foundation in sustainability consulting, working on large-scale projects,” she reflects. “I worked in areas such as carbon accounting, energy transition, and sustainability transformation for global clients. My role involved cross-functional collaboration and strategic problem-solving, which sharpened my analytical and management skills. At BIP, I took on more responsibility, managing end-to-end projects with a focus on sustainability solutions for both financial institutions and the public sector.”

After more than a year working as a sustainability and circular economy analyst, Loner was selected for a position with Big Four firm Deloitte. The move was not only an opportunity to cut her teeth as an ESG and sustainability consultant at one of the biggest consulting firms in the world, it also offered her the chance to move to a new country. 

Looking back on her time at Deloitte’s Luxembourg wing, she recalls assisting clients with building responsible strategies and governance, and getting the change to advise on strategies for monitoring and managing ESG activities. These “highly enriching” experiences allowed her to “build a solid track record of delivering measurable results in complex environments, enhancing client relationships”, and building her sustainability knowledge in the process.

While large consulting firms often attract young talent for these reasons, however, once they have accrued industry knowhow and a broader network of contacts, many then feel the time is right to move into more specialised, boutique firms. That was the case for Loner, too, who decided to use the skills she had learned – and the experience of moving to a new country – to help adapt into a new role with RiskSphere.

Founded in 2023, RiskSphere is a boutique consultancy firm specialising in sustainability risk. The young firm helps companies to manage complexity while making the most of the opportunities sustainability and ESG present across the entire risk management cycle. Services provided include stress testing, ESG reporting, and regulatory change management in sustainability and climate change.

A new role in a new country

A month after moving to the Netherlands to become a senior consultant with the firm, she notes that RiskSphere and its team have been “incredibly supportive” in helping her transition to life in the Netherlands. That has not only seen the firm provide “guidance on the professional front”, but have also “fostered a welcoming  culture” that made her feel at home.

Asked what the main draw was for uprooting herself once more to take on a new role, Loner suggests – as many people on a similar trajectory do – that the “entrepreneurial spirit of a boutique firm” was a big plus, allowing for greater creativity, and the chance to see the direct impact of everyone’s work.”

She concludes, “To me RiskSphere stands out for its direct and transparent approach. There’s a refreshing level of honesty in the way things are communicated – everyone says what they mean, and there’s no unnecessary corporate jargon or bureaucracy. This creates a productive and efficient environment where people can be authentic and focus on delivering results. All of this also emphasises a strong sense of community and work-life balance, which has contributed significantly to my sense of belonging here.”