UCS: Could you provide a brief overview of your career journey after graduating from the Kelley School of Business? What positions or roles have you held?
Abigail: I graduated from Kelley in May 2019 and began my career at a boutique consulting firm, The Claro Group. I started with the firm as an analyst, progressed to consultant after two years, and now hold the position of senior consultant (~4 years experience). In the fall of 2022, The Claro Group was acquired by a global advisory firm, Stout Risius Ross
UCS: What inspired you to pursue a career in your current industry? Was there a specific experience or moment that sparked your interest?
Abigail: I identified my career path through process of elimination. I majored in business economics and knew I wanted to be in a dynamic and challenging field. I quickly ruled out traditional finance and marketing roles. I was drawn to the problem-solving nature of consulting work and intrigued by working in a constantly evolving space. I knew my Kelley education would provide a strong foundation and the critical thinking framework from my economics background would be well suited for a career in consulting.
UCS: How has networking and building connections played a role in your career advancement? Any tips for students on effective networking?
Abigail: Intra-company networking does not have to be complicated. People tend to remember how you make them feel, so come to work with a positive attitude and be engaging when you are interacting with peers or superiors. Join an internal initiative as a way to get to know people outside of your immediate team (i.e., plan a quarterly happy hour, join the newsletter committee, spearhead a beach volleyball team in the summer).
UCS: Can you describe a typical day or week in your current role? What are the main tasks and responsibilities you handle?
Abigail: A day in my life tends to follow a general framework. My team will have an internal meeting in the morning to discuss ongoing workstreams and allocate responsibilities. We will also meet with our client to provide a status update on our work or strategize on next steps. Then, I’ll have the remainder of the day to focus on my work – I could be preparing a deliverable in excel, working with large datasets in SQL, or preparing a deck for a client presentation. As a senior consultant, I manage two analysts staffed on my client, so I will also spend part of my day delegating tasks and reviewing work product prepared by other team members. Additionally, I am involved in the Women’s Resource Group and Seasonal Events Committee at my firm. One day a week, I will have a committee meeting to plan and prepare for upcoming events.
UCS: How do you maintain a work-life balance in a demanding industry? Any strategies or tips you would like to share?
Abigail: The best tip I can share is to find a company you enjoy working for and people you enjoy working with. We spend most of our lives at work, so it’s important to feel good about the people you’re surrounded by day after day. I look forward to my days in the office because I have interesting and kind coworkers that value me as a person. I would encourage students to tune into office culture and employee interactions when interviewing with companies.
