From Buenos Aires to Boardrooms: The Ascent of Horacio Rozanski

In 1968, in the vibrant yet politically volatile city of Buenos Aires, Argentina, a boy named Horacio Rozanski was born into an era of turmoil. Argentina’s military dictatorship gripped the nation, suppressing voices and sowing fear. While many grew up with silence and uncertainty, young Horacio grew up with questions—questions about leadership, justice, and resilience.

This early exposure to authoritarianism didn’t weaken him—it hardened his ideals and sparked a lifelong pursuit: to lead with integrity, vision, and purpose.

Chasing the American Dream: Education as Escape and Empowerment

In 1988, with little more than ambition and belief in a better future, Rozanski immigrated to the United States. His destination: the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire. There, he earned his Bachelor of Business Administration, graduating summa cum laude. But his hunger for knowledge didn’t end there.

He was accepted into the prestigious University of Chicago Booth School of Business, where he completed his MBA with high honors in 1992. Education, for Horacio, was never just about degrees—it was his weapon against uncertainty, and the foundation for meaningful change.

A Foot in the Door: From Intern to Strategist at Booz Allen Hamilton

Even before his MBA graduation, Rozanski found his way into Booz Allen Hamilton as a summer intern in 1991. What seemed like a temporary opportunity became the launching pad for a career that would reshape the company itself.

In 1992, he joined full-time as a strategy consultant. Quietly, diligently, he climbed the ladder—not by stepping over others, but by lifting them. His leadership style was collaborative, his thinking sharp, and his passion contagious.

Over the next two decades, he served as:

• Chief Personnel Officer
• Chief Strategy and Talent Officer
• Chief Operating Officer

Each role tested and refined his belief in people-first leadership and innovation-driven growth.

The Visionary CEO: Leading Through Transformation

In 2015, Horacio Rozanski became the CEO of Booz Allen Hamilton. But he didn’t settle into the chair—he redefined it.

He introduced Vision 2020, a radical growth strategy focused on technology, engineering, cybersecurity, and advanced analytics. Under his guidance, Booz Allen wasn’t just a consulting firm—it became a pioneer in solving complex government and business challenges through innovation.

By 2024, he was appointed Chairman of the Board, capping a 30-year journey from intern to the firm’s most senior leader.

VoLT: A New Language of Growth

Rozanski’s leadership didn’t rest on legacy thinking. He introduced VoLT—short for Velocity, Leadership, and Technology—a growth mindset designed for a rapidly changing world.

VoLT wasn’t a buzzword—it was a strategy to help Booz Allen move faster, think smarter, and innovate better. It empowered teams to adapt, lead, and build solutions with agility and precision.

Purpose Beyond Profit: Championing Innovation for Public Good

Rozanski is more than a CEO—he’s a policy advocate and public servant at heart. In interviews, including one with TIME, he emphasized the critical need for public-private partnerships.

He championed Booz Allen’s collaboration with federal departments, notably:

• Developing AI tools for the Department of Defense
• Modernizing systems for the Department of Veterans Affairs

His goal? To ensure technology serves society, not just shareholders.

A Voice of Conscience: Board Memberships and Philanthropy

True leadership extends beyond the office, and Horacio lives this truth daily. He lends his time and voice to several esteemed organizations:

• United States Holocaust Memorial Museum’s Committee on Conscience
• Kennedy Center Corporate Fund Board
• Children’s National Medical Center Board of Directors

In 2020, he was inducted into the Horatio Alger Association, joining a league of leaders recognized for rising from humble beginnings to achieve greatness.

The Lifelong Learner: A Curious Mind and a Humble Heart

Behind the accolades and authority lies a deeply curious soul. Rozanski is married, with two daughters, and known for his fascination with quantum physics—a subject he explores not to impress, but to understand the world more deeply.

He attributes his success not to ambition alone, but to a simple mantra:

“Focus on learning—not just to advance, but to understand.”

The Legacy in Motion

Horacio Rozanski’s story is not just about rising to the top—it’s about lifting others as you climb, transforming systems with empathy, and holding onto your humanity in the face of corporate complexity.

From the streets of Buenos Aires to the helm of Booz Allen Hamilton, he reminds us that leadership is not inherited—it’s earned through vision, resilience, and purpose.