What’s your background?
I joined Oliver Wyman in 2021 as a Senior Consultant, after a bit over 2 years in economic consulting. My old job was all about analysing the past, weaving technical analyses into tight narratives about what did, or should have happened, typically in the context of a legal dispute. I came to Oliver Wyman with nimble Excel skills, some decent coding experience, and broad professional services experience (essentials like aligning objects in PowerPoint…). These skills certainly come in handy in management consulting, but the nature of our work means someone from almost any background can make for a great fit.
Why did you move to Oliver Wyman?
There are a couple of key reasons. First, I saw an opportunity to accelerate my professional development. Consultants at Oliver Wyman are given the tools and the responsibility they need very early on to learn key skills—hard and soft. Second, I wanted to work on projects that make a real impact on clients. At Oliver Wyman, we take on challenging, meaningful work that brings with it opportunities to make a change and that we believe no one else can do as well as us. Finally, the Oliver Wyman culture really stood out to me during the interview process and since. The people I’ve worked with here have some important common traits—they’re curious, humble, straight-talking, and always supportive of one another. They also know how to have fun as a team.
How would you describe consultant development opportunities at Oliver Wyman?
You really can forge your own career path at Oliver Wyman, and the firm is very focused on development. Through day-to-day project work, consultants have opportunities to push themselves and perform at a higher level in an accelerated fashion. We have an expanding client base in Australia, which means more opportunities to be staffed on projects that align with your career interests. Throughout the year, there are optional training events and programs—from local practice-specific workshops to a global climate and sustainability training program. This is all on top of compulsory training programs for new and continuing consultants. I’ve found myself growing faster than I ever have before, professionally and personally.
What are you most looking forward to in 2022?
I am very excited to spend more time in person with my colleagues and our clients. It’s going to be great to get back to working at the client site, and to seeing more of my colleagues from our various offices in Australia and the region.