Most Important Skills For A Strategy And Management Consulting Principal At RSM US LLP
For a career in strategy and management consulting, Jake from RSM US LLP highlights that while technical expertise in areas like data analytics, finance, or supply chain is "table stakes," the ability to project an "executive presence" - commanding a room, leading discussions, and guiding stakeholders to a desired outcome - is critical for being truly impactful. This second skill, while partially inherent, can be learned and grown through experience.
Consulting, Technical Expertise, Executive Presence, Communication, Leadership
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Jake Winquist
Principal, Strategy & Management Consulting
RSM US LLP
College of Charleston
Boston University - MBA
Business Management & Admin
Consulting & Related Professional Services
Consulting
None Applicable
Video Highlights
1. Technical expertise in areas like systems, data analytics, finance, accounting, supply chain, or human resources are fundamental.
2. Executive presence, including confidence and the ability to lead discussions with client stakeholders, is crucial for success.
3. While executive presence can be developed, some aspects are inherent, suggesting a blend of learned and natural abilities is beneficial.
Transcript
What skills are most important for a job like yours?
In consulting, the most important skills are table stakes: your technical expertise. This can be systems-related, data analytics, or developer skills. It could also be a specific domain, like finance, accounting, supply chain, or human resources.
That technical expertise is what I think is the table stakes to be truly effective, successful, and impactful as a consultant. It's also about having executive presence.
Executive presence is the level of confidence and the ability to walk into a room with client stakeholders and command that room. It's about owning the discussion and leading them through a workshop to a desired outcome. I believe that's a critical skillset.
While you can learn and grow this skillset, some of it is inherent.