Bring your passion to Strategy&’s Winter Program and create impact
Karan Dhamija
March 5, 2018
Having completed Strategy&’s Winter Program, Karan Dhamija discusses how he was able to bring his own unique passions to work every day and create meaningful societal change.
Karan Dhamija has long held an interest in public policy and international relations, along with a passion for all things tech-related. This is why joining Strategy&’s Canberra office to work for a government sector client couldn’t have been more opportune! The projects he worked on he describes as something that “you don’t get to do everyday as a student”, helping to solidify Strategy Consulting has his career of choice, Here are his key takeaways from our immersive four week Winter Program…
What are you most passionate about? And were you able to apply this to your work?
I am passionate about way too many things! This includes social inclusion and a lot of other causes, but one thing that was relatable to my work in Strategy& is that I really believe in public policy to foster society and also technology. It was really interesting working with a client who wanted to be part of change and help foster the rapid explosion of technology in the field. A very popular thought amongst some people is that government bodies are always an impediment to innovation and business, but I really believe that we can foster and achieve the best for society by tailoring initiatives to foster industries.
Did you see your work with Strategy& make an impact on your client and society?
I have been very lucky to work for a client in a rapidly changing industry that I already held a lot of interest in. It’s been fascinating incorporating really cool industry changes and technologies that I was reading about for the last few years into a strategic plan for an organisation that plays an outsized role in its particular industry here in Australia. What’s been really interesting is looking at how we can incorporate and foster new innovation in the sector and things that are going to be used by everyone in Australia, and you don’t get to do that everyday as a student. It’s not just hypotheticals debates, but actual planning for things we only have talking about in abstraction.
What would you say to someone wanting to know if they’d suit the team?
I don’t think there is any one particular thing. They were all very capable and very smart people, but they also were keen to help you learn and guide you through the work. All members of the team I worked on really appreciated initiative and a willingness to throw yourself into the work you were doing. They were also very inclusive and appreciated when you felt comfortable contributing in team meetings and nothing was ever ‘above your level’.
One thing about the team that struck out to me how diverse it was and the different backgrounds people came from. It was a nice real cross-section of the type of people you might be working with at the firm.
Since starting your internship has anything surprised you about Strategy&?
The most surprising thing has been the magnitude and the high level work you have the ability to get involved with. Some of the deliverables and issues I was working on were not only intensely interesting but quite important and the most gratifying part of any work is doing what really matters and it never felt like that my work wasn’t important - not just to the client, but how we can foster exciting new technologies.
What has the Strategy& scholarship meant for you?
On a practical level, it has been a great way to learn new skills and experience strategic consulting. The financial support will also allow me to focus on some of things I really love and my studies for the next little while.
But on a more principled level, being part of any initiative that furthers the cause of a more inclusive and accessible corporate sector is something I am proud to be part of.
And the things I have learnt and the people I have met have all also been absolutely amazing.
