News & views
CMC Stories with our Junior Consultant, Stephanie.
18 July 2024
CMC Community
We like to do things a bit differently at CMC.
We don’t believe that a one size solution fits all the needs of our clients. And we don’t believe that one size fits all when it comes to our people. We positively encourage and embrace the diversity of thought, backgrounds, educations and industries that shape our team, and which bring different and valuable perspectives to both our company and our clients.
To celebrate our talent and showcase that you don’t need to have a traditional management consultancy background to be a successful management consultant, meet one of our junior consultants, Stephanie.
When Stephanie first joined CMC, her background was in the education sector as a teacher, but through our trainee pathway she has grown into a confident, skilled junior consultant and transferred across all of her valuable experience gained within teaching.
Below she shares her story of her professional growth, which has led to her supporting our clients with her brilliant business analysis skills.
Why did you want to become a management consultant?
I have always been innately driven by a desire to be better – so a career in which I could put this drive to good use and positively contribute to an organisation’s transformation goals seemed fitting. I am interested in how people’s behaviour drives change, which is how I knew that CMC’s people-centred approach would suit me.
What was your background before joining CMC?
Before CMC, I was a teacher, dealing with ever-expanding project scope and relentless to-do lists that sprouted three new tasks for each one completed. Not to mention that every stakeholder is required to be ‘constantly, actively managed’ according to a power interest grid – and I’m not just talking about the children!
What skills have you been able to transfer from your previous role?
I learnt to be adaptable and to see challenges as an opportunity to think creatively. These skills mean that I am resilient in the face of a problem, flexible in my ways of thinking and able to quickly adjust to meet the needs of those around me. This means that I tend to excel at connecting with people, and tailoring strategies to meet client needs.
What 3 things have you learnt about Business Analysis?
1) Keep a birds-eye view – maintaining a high-level perspective, that you dip in and out of, allows you to see the entire situation and keeps the project on track.
2) Think holistically – understanding the root cause of a problem is essential in order to find the right solutions and make informed decisions.
3) Be creative – always try to think about alternative paths, make connections and explore innovative solutions.
How has your background benefitted our clients?
My background as a teacher uniquely positions me to drive improvement and adaptability as a consultant. Having adapted to constantly changing landscapes, I learnt to stay agile, continuously embrace new methods and always stay ahead of the curve.
