manuel abat

With over two decades of international consulting experience, Manuel is an expert in driving large customer-centric transformations and digitalization programs, specializing in AI, process improvement and automation, advanced analytics, big data, machine learning, and data visualization. He has lived and worked across the globe: in Spain, Switzerland, Sweden, Portugal, Colombia, the United Arab Emirates, and beyond.

Prior to joining Oliver Wyman, Manuel worked at two other leading consulting firms, serving as the founder and Managing Director of business in the Middle East for one. He had planned to move to the UAE for just three months but ended up making it his permanent home. “I realized I loved living in the Middle East and being part of a chapter in history, a country and region transformation where you can make an impact. It’s a dream come true.”

Manuel’s advice to those entering consulting is to think about Bolzano’s theorem. “No success, no career is achieved overnight, and consulting is extremely demanding. You have to go through all the different intermediate phases and steps. Make sure where you are today is in the right path towards your goal!”

Away from his desk, Manuel is passionate about eating healthy food and exercising. “I love the profound feeling of being alive through shared music and art with your loved ones,” he adds. He has an MS and BS in telecommunications engineering from the Polytechnic University of Catalonia, a business degree from the IESE Business School, and attended a management program at INSEAD. He is currently pursuing a Doctor in Business Administration at the Warwick Business School.