What Type Of Person Thrives In Consulting, According To A Consultant At ADAPTOVATE
Lucca describes that successful individuals in consulting possess four key attributes. They are "naturally curious," enjoy being a "team player" in what they describe as "the biggest team sport in the world," are driven to handle the demanding nature of the work, and, especially for those just starting out, "love learning" and appreciate the often non-linear process of acquiring new skills.
Problem-solving, Teamwork, Drive, Continuous Learning, Adaptability
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Lucca Polacci
Consultant
ADAPTOVATE
Arizona State University (ASU) - W. P. Carey
Business Management & Admin, Political Science, American Studies
Consulting & Related Professional Services
Business Strategy
None Applicable
Video Highlights
1. Curiosity and Problem-Solving: Thriving in consulting requires a natural curiosity and a desire to dig deep into problems by asking 'why' repeatedly.
2. Teamwork is Essential: Consulting is like a team sport where success and failure are shared, emphasizing the importance of collaboration and leveraging each other's strengths.
3. Love of Learning: Continuous learning is crucial in consulting, especially for students, as the industry demands constant adaptation and a willingness to learn from both successes and failures.
Transcript
How would you describe people who typically thrive in your industry?
That's a great question. I think there are four key attributes. The first is being naturally curious; folks who love asking why and digging deeper into problems.
The second is being a team player. Folks who grew up playing sports probably have this innate ability, though others have it as well. Consulting is the biggest team sport in the world, right? When you win on an engagement, you win as a team. When you don't do well, you lose as a team, and the burden of responsibility is shared.
There's no consulting engagement that is a single-person effort. So, it's important to learn how to interact with others, leverage each other's strengths, and deliver high-quality work.
The third thing is being driven. It's a demanding industry and a demanding job. No one will tell you otherwise, and if they do, they're not telling you the truth. Sometimes it requires long hours, but the payoff at the end is often worth it. Even just seeing the impact of our work on our clients is unparalleled.
And then the fourth thing, especially for MBA and undergraduate students, is that you have to love learning. When you first start in consulting, there are a trillion things to learn. You're not going to learn them all at once, or even in the first year. But you have to enjoy the process of getting up to bat and swinging.
Sometimes you're going to miss, but you have to love that learning process. And sometimes it can be tedious; it's not always linear. But as long as you appreciate the process of learning new things and engaging with new people, you'll thrive.