A L U M N I S P O T L I G H T: C O N S U LT I N G
F R O M B U S I N E S S S T R AT E G Y T O B O A R D I N G
P L A N E S : L I F E O F A C O N S U LTA N T
Rajat Saxena (MBA, 2011) tells us how the fast-paced environment at Hult and a global outlook helped him
to prepare for a demanding career in consulting, as Senior Associate for professional services giant PwC.
Starting off his career working for consulting powerhouses such as
Oracle and Capgemeni, Rajat tells us about the challenges faced by the
industry, and what he finds most rewarding about his job.
What attracted you to a career in consulting?
I started out in my consulting career working for Oracle and Capgemini Consulting. Working for these internationally renowned companies
gave me great exposure to doing business in a global arena, and I have
remained a management consultant.
What does your daily job entail?
As a member of the strategy team in the financial services advisory
practice, I assist our clients in translating strategy into action, and advise
clients on everything from business strategy to large transformations and
strategic program execution.
What challenges do you think the consulting industry faces
at present?
Clients are looking for one trusted partner that can help them not only
develop strategies, but also stand beside them in executing said strategies. The industry is moving toward consolidations, and the consulting
arms of the ‘Big 4’ accounting firms are taking over traditional strategy
houses. PwC’s acquisition of Booz & Co. and Deloitte’s acquisition of
Monitor group are great examples of this.
What is the most challenging, and also the most enjoyable,
aspect of your job?
Traveling is the most enjoyable, yet also very challenging, part of being a
consultant. Until now, I think I have taken almost every mode of transport
to work—including a private helicopter! The pace and challenge that
comes with a global role is exciting, but sometimes, extensive travelingwith a growing family can prove tough.
How did your time at Hult help prepare you both
professionally and personally?
A large part of being a management consultant is being analytical,
dynamic, versatile, and willing to take the lead as and when a situation
demands it. The positive, ‘pressure cooker’ environment at Hult certainly
prepared me to face some of the toughest challenges at work. I practice
the skills I acquired during my time at Hult, mostly the lessons I learned
around strategy, innovation, and leadership, on a daily basis.
What advice would you offer someone looking to make a
career in consulting?
The changing face of the consulting industry requires management
consultants to have a broad understanding of business that goes beyond
just strategy—such as operations, technology, risk, etc. My advice would
be to remain open-minded, and to be versatile. Also, acquire as much
global experience as possible, such as the Global Rotation at Hult; or
learn a foreign language, if you can.
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