The importance of collaboration and diverse teams

Q: Can you tell us about your journey from Econometrics to strategy consulting?

A: My journey from Econometrics to strategy consulting has been an exciting one. While my background in Econometrics may not have been directly related to strategy consulting, it provided me with a strong analytical foundation that has been valuable in my role at Strategy& Amsterdam. I've always had a passion for problem-solving and a curiosity about how businesses operate, so strategy consulting seemed like a natural fit for me.

Q: Can you share with us one of your most notable achievements at Strategy& Amsterdam?

A: One of my most notable achievements was being involved in a project that required a comprehensive solution addressing both strategic and financial aspects. This project involved convincing banks and health insurers to support our client's plans. It was a complex challenge that required collaboration with experts from PwC. Together, we were able to provide a holistic solution that met the needs of our client and the stakeholders involved. The collaboration between PwC and Strategy& was crucial in delivering a successful outcome.

Q: Tell us more about the project and what the collaboration with PwC looked like

A: Our client was a Mental Health Institution. They had poor financial performance for a couple of years and an urgent need to invest in their real estate. Understandably, banks didn't want to provide them with a loan given their financial performance. We helped the client write a "Herstelplan" (Rescue plan) consisting of a strategy and a financial model. The strategic part focused on topics like which type of patients to specialize in and which type of care facilities to build. The financial part included a top-down and bottom-up financial model with which they could convince banks and health insurers to respectively provide loans and make investments.

We worked closely together with PwC's Business Restructuring Services (BRS) Team (part of PwC Deals). In some projects, PwC and Strategy& work quite separately on separate topics, engaging in different workstreams with weekly check-ins for alignment. However, this project was a perfect example of a fully integrated team approach. Both a BRS and Strategy& partner were involved, and the project team of approximately 4 consultants was led by a manager from BRS. In this project, we brought together expertise from the two teams into one solution. Coming from Strategy&, I supported on the strategy part of the engagement, could bring in health-related knowledge (gained by previous projects), and helped design the top-down financial model. Our BRS colleagues are super skilled in making high-end, detailed financial models, so that's where their focus was.

Q: What have you learned from this project and the importance of collaboration?

A: This project taught me the importance of collaboration and leveraging the expertise of different teams within PwC. By working together, we were able to provide a comprehensive solution that addressed both the strategic and financial aspects of the client's challenges. It also highlighted the value of having a diverse team with different backgrounds and perspectives, as it allowed us to approach the problem from various angles and come up with innovative solutions. Collaboration is key in strategy consulting, as it brings together different skill sets and perspectives to deliver the best outcomes for clients.

Q: What advice would you give to someone considering a career at Strategy& Amsterdam?

A: To be open-minded and willing to learn. Strategy& Amsterdam offers a dynamic and challenging work environment where you will constantly be exposed to new industries and business problems. It's important to have a strong analytical mindset and the ability to think strategically. Additionally, being a team player and having good communication skills are essential, as you will often collaborate with colleagues from different teams within PwC. Overall, it's a rewarding and exciting career path for those who are passionate about strategy consulting and enjoy working in a collaborative and diverse environment.