Significant Career Lesson From a Strategy Consultant at Accenture
Audrey, a Strategy Consultant at Accenture LLP, identified "the art of preparation" as a significant career lesson, noting that thorough preparation, even for presentations, led to eloquent delivery and positive client feedback exceeding that of senior team members. This approach, described as "faking it till you make it," built confidence and proved crucial for sharing ideas effectively throughout their career.
Preparation, Communication, Confidence, Presentation Skills, Problem-Solving
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Audrey DeVaughn
Strategy Consultant
Accenture LLP
Yale University, 2017
UCLA Anderson, MBA, 2023
Economics
Consulting & Related Professional Services
Consulting
Scholarship Recipient
Video Highlights
1. Thorough preparation is crucial for success, even if you don't feel naturally confident. It allows you to sound eloquent, anticipate questions, and even surpass expectations.
2. Preparation builds confidence, which is essential for sharing ideas and insights effectively.
3. Strong preparation can lead to positive feedback from clients and superiors alike, boosting your career progression.
Transcript
What is one lesson you've learned that has proven significant in your career?
The biggest lesson I learned was the art of preparation. I wasn't the first to raise my hand to give a presentation in front of a room full of people.
Because of that, I prepared like crazy before any presentation I had. A lot of the feedback I got was that I sounded so eloquent.
I knew what questions were going to be asked and had answers prepared. I even got better feedback from the client than some of the executives on my team. I'm taking that, and it's relevant for any other path in my career: just prepare, prepare, prepare.
A lot of the time, it's faking it till you make it. You have to be confident to share your ideas and your insights. So, preparedness is the biggest lesson that I learned.