Jennifer
Q: Let's start at the beginning. What first pulled you toward consulting, and why Strategy&?
A: I've always been wired for a challenge. That mindset goes all the way back to my days as a competitive swimmer, where I was no stranger to pushing past my limits. So, when I started thinking about my career during my undergrad, consulting felt like a natural fit. It promised constant learning, complex problems to untangle, and the chance to work across industries, clients, and teams without ever really settling into a routine.
Strategy& stood out for two big reasons: its strong footprint in the Middle East and the kind of transformational work happening here. This is a region I'm deeply connected to. I speak the language, understand the culture, and genuinely believe it’s where I can make the biggest impact.
Q: What kind of work shaped your early years at the firm?
A: I was lucky to work across a really diverse mix of industries: Telecom, Energy, the Public Sector, and Sports and Entertainment. The sports projects, though, hit differently. As a former competitive swimmer, stepping into that world felt personal. I got to swap my goggles for a strategist's lens and see sport from a completely new angle: how strategies get built, how ecosystems come together, and what it really takes to grow the industry from the ground up. It was a full-circle moment I didn't see coming.
Q: Tell us more about your passion for swimming.
A: Swimming has been a big part of my life. For many years, I trained an average of 3-4 hours a day. My greatest swimming achievements include setting the under-18 Arab record in 2015, representing Lebanon in the Swimming World Championships, Swimming World Cups, Arab Championships, World University Games, and many other regional and international competitions, and being named team captain of my university’s swimming team.
Even today, I still make sure to dedicate a portion of my day to keeping active.
Q: You recently pursued an MBA, what drove you to that decision?
A: I felt ready to widen my lens. Technically, I was growing fast, but I wanted to sharpen the human side of leadership: communication, influence, and building real relationships. Those are the skills that separate good leaders from great ones, and an MBA at LBS felt like the right environment to develop them.
Q: Looking back, what were the standout moments of your MBA, academically, professionally, and personally?
A: Academically, the MBA gave me a much richer understanding of business, especially through direct exposure to seasoned leaders, founders, and CEOs who shared what really happens behind the scenes. But if I'm honest, the moments that defined the experience were the ones where I reconnected with the athlete in me.
Whether it was competing with the touch rugby team in Madrid, hiking through the Lake District, summiting Kilimanjaro with the Expedition Club, or representing LBS and winning events at MBAT in Paris, those experiences brought me back to what I love: pushing limits, competing, and doing it alongside people who care just as much as you do. Those friendships and shared adventures are what made the journey unforgettable.
Q: How has it felt coming back to consulting? What's energizing you most right now?
A: It's been genuinely exciting. I've come back with a broader perspective, stronger leadership instincts, and a clearer sense of what I want to contribute to. What excites me most is putting all of that into practice: reconnecting with brilliant teams and clients and getting back to meaningful work in a region that's moving fast and that’s full of opportunity.
Q: In what ways has the MBA changed how you show up for clients and teammates?
A: It's made me much more intentional. I think more carefully about how I lead, how I bring out the best in the people around me, and how to build team dynamics where everyone feels heard, motivated, and aligned on where we're going.
It also reinforced something important about client work: delivering a strong output is just the baseline. The real value comes from trust, clear communication, and genuine relationships. That's what turns a successful engagement into a lasting partnership.
Q: Any advice for colleagues thinking about going for their MBA?
A: Do it. An MBA is genuinely life changing. It pushes you to expand your horizons, get uncomfortable, and rethink the way you see the world. More than anything, it gives you the time and space to pause, reflect on what you want from your career, and surround yourself with people and ideas that will reshape how you think. If you're considering it, take the leap; you won't regret it.
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