Firm: BearingPoint
Years in Consulting: 8
Job Title: Manager
University: European Business School London
Degree: BA International Business with French
Location: London
Tell us a bit about the firm you work for…
BearingPoint is a European firm with global reach. We specialise in both management and technology consulting, creating adaptive solutions to meet our clients needs.
I was first attracted to consultancy because…
I have always been a great advocate of change and having a career where I can constantly be challenged with new clients, new solutions and new projects was something that massively appealed to the Change Manager in me. The idea of a 9-5 role doing the same thing in the same office was not my ideal – consultancy proved to be the perfect path!
What’s the first thing you do when you sit at your desk in the morning…
I used to check my emails, however, now I sit and look at my to do list and prioritise tasks according to importance, deadlines etc. I then get on with those more difficult high priority tasks in the morning and do things like check email in the afternoon.
What makes a good consultant?
Someone who is adaptable, empathetic, and can really get inside the shoes of the client to understand what makes them tick and work collaboratively with them to get the job done. Oh, and people that don’t mind travelling during the week.
The website I visit most…
Probably LinkedIn – it’s a great tool in so many ways – networking, checking profiles of clients that I am meeting, keeping abreast of movements in my sector of interest – tons of things!
If I could change one thing in consultancy it would be…
More of a work – life balance. In the advent of the digital age, so much of what used to be face to face is now accessible via video conferencing etc. A lot of time is spent away from home on client site, but not always with your key clients. Whilst maintaining presence and rapport with your client is absolutely paramount, it’s also essential to keep yourself grounded, happy and healthy.
Tell us something about your company that we don’t know…
In 2015 there were a select number of staff who slept on the streets, in collaboration with CentrePoint to raise money for the charity. The goal was to showcase some of the challenges that young people on the streets of London were facing.
My 5 year goal is…
I’d like to think I will have developed my specialism around all of the elements of transformation – not only change management, but everything else that goes with it. Above all, I want to be happy in what I’m doing.
I am most passionate about…
People – working with people, bringing down resistance to change and building trust and rapport with people, getting into their hearts and minds – that’s my real passion.
This interview was published as part of the Young MCA Update.