Biggest Challenges for a Supply Chain and Operations Manager at Big Four Consulting
Renee's biggest challenge transitioning to consulting was adapting from "execution side" industry roles to "advisor side" consulting, requiring a shift to actively pursuing internal projects and "branding" their skills through networking. This involved learning to "interview internally for the different projects" and intentionally sharing expertise, a contrast to the simpler job execution in previous roles.
Overcoming Challenges, Networking, Career Development, Project Management, Communication
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Renee Williams
Manager, Supply Chain & Operations
Big 4 Consulting Firm
University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad & Tobago.
Arizona State University (ASU) - W. P. Carey - MBA Supply Chain Management; MS Business Analytics
Engineering - Mechanical
Consulting & Related Professional Services
Consulting
International Student, Scholarship Recipient, Immigrant, Worked 20+ Hours in School
Video Highlights
1. The biggest challenge transitioning into consulting is understanding the difference between working in industry (execution) and consulting (advisory). In consulting, you must continuously interview for projects internally to align your skills with available roles, unlike a traditional job with a fixed description.
2. Building your professional brand is crucial in consulting. It's not enough to just do the work; you must intentionally share your skills and strengths through networking and other forums to ensure senior leaders recognize your capabilities.
3. Successfully navigating a consulting career requires adapting to a dynamic environment where continuous learning and adjustment are essential. The initial challenges eventually become integrated into your daily work style through experience and deliberate effort
Transcript
What is your biggest challenge in your current role?
The biggest challenge when transitioning into consulting was understanding the differences between working in industry and working in consulting. Industry means organizations that I would consult with on their operations, versus being on the advisor side versus being on the execution side.
It's not a challenge today, but coming into this role, I had to overcome the challenge of learning that I wouldn't simply come in with a job description and execute on it day in and day out. I had to adjust to the norm of interviewing for different projects within the company.
You think you interview, you land the job, and it's "hit the ground running," but it doesn't quite work that way. You actually have to interview internally for different projects to make sure your skills align with the roles that become available. That was something I had to learn and adjust to.
Another important thing to learn and adjust to was understanding the importance of branding. This means making sure you were known for something. Whenever your name comes up, senior leaders and different members of your team should immediately recognize your strengths and skillset.
This comes from stepping out of just doing the work and hoping someone notices. Instead, you need to be intentional about sharing those skills in different forums, through networking, and so on. These were the nuances of working in consulting, but over time, it becomes the norm, and you learn to adjust. It becomes a part of your daily way of working.