A ten-month business analyst program at Strategy& Middle East

Q: What were you doing before you started the Qadat program at Strategy&?

A: Prior to joining Strategy&, I was working as a junior financial analyst at a private equity and VC firm. Before that, I studied economics and finance at the University of Surrey.

Q: Tell us about your experience at the firm so far.

A: My experience has been very positive and very valuable! Through the Qadat program, I’ve already had many chances to develop my core consulting skills, which I know will benefit me in the future. Just as one example of the interesting and high-impact projects I’ve worked on, I recently developed benchmarking best practices and helped build a new operating model for a client in KSA.

Q: How is Qadat preparing you for the next step in your career?

A: The Qadat program offers you exposure to a world-class consulting firm, which in turn connects you to a global network of driven individuals. Working at Strategy& through the Qadat program has definitely helped me expand my critical thinking capabilities and my emotional intelligence. I think this kind of on-the-job training really helps you learn how to deal with different types of colleagues and clients with different demands.

Q: What personal or professional benefits of this program have meant the most to you?

A: The personal benefits are endless! I’m particularly grateful for having access to an endless array of training and development programs which have all been extremely valuable at this early stage in my career.

Q: What led you to join the Qadat program at Strategy&?

A: At the time when I applied, I was working as an analyst at a cryptocurrency exchange and I was ready for my next step. I remember I felt particularly motivated and inspired by Saudi’s Vision 2030 to make more of an impact on the region, and the Qadat program seemed like a clear way to start doing that.

Q: How would you describe your experience so far?

A: My experience with Qadat has been outstanding! I am learning at an exponential rate and rapidly growing my network. The program's value lies in its robust prospects for self-development.

Q: How is Qadat preparing you for the next step in your career?

A: Qadat enables me to work with top government officials, which aligns with my goal of helping Saudi Arabia establish cryptocurrency regulations and become a hub for innovation. More specifically, given my interest and expertise in cryptocurrency, Strategy& is an ideal fit for me because of its strong ties in the region and its work on impactful crypto projects. I feel very fortunate to be working here.

Q: What personal or professional benefits of this program have meant the most to you?

A: I’ve truly valued the diverse learning experiences, professional growth opportunities, and collaboration with top-tier industry thought leaders. I would advise interested candidates not to hesitate, to apply to the program and focus on excelling in the interviews.

Q: What are some of your personal interests outside of work?

A: I enjoy running, playing strategy games, watching anime, and hanging out with friends. I love what I’m doing for work, and I like that I can keep a healthy balance in my life through proper nutrition, exercise, and spending some time relaxing.

Q: What were you doing before joining Strategy&?

A: I studied industrial engineering at King Saud University and then I worked in the communications consulting field for about a year. When I read about the Qadat program, I quickly realized that I wanted to apply, and I was thrilled to be accepted.

Q: Has the Qadat program been valuable for you?

A: This program gave me valuable opportunities to build relationships with top-tier professionals, and the chance to improve my business skills. I learned how to take ownership of my work, collaborate with my colleagues, and receive constructive feedback. It has been a great experience.

Q: How has Qadat prepared you for the next step in your career?

A: Working with such talented and capable people at a world-class consulting firm helped me to significantly expand my capabilities and the experience boosted my confidence.

Q: What  were some of the specific skills you learned during the program? 

A: I learned how to be agile and flexible, while working with clients in both the government and private sectors. I also developed my critical thinking skills, presentation skills, and project management skills. And, of course, as a business analyst, I learned how to build and grow relationships, both with people on my assigned work teams at Strategy& and with clients.

Q: Outside  of work, how do you like to spend your time?

A: I’m passionate about keeping active, and I play padel at least once a week if not more often. I was really grateful that Strategy& was supportive of outside interests and disciplined about making time for them.

Q: What drew you to Strategy&?

A: After graduating from Alfaisal University, with my degree in business administration and finance, I wanted an opportunity to learn more about different industries. I’m particularly interested in health, education, telematics, and building quantitative financial models.

Q: How’s your experience going?

A: In all honesty, I’m having a great experience! I’m learning so much as I work on different projects with different teams from all around the world. I value the inclusive culture and the respect toward one another here. The Qadat program prepares you to work with team members in a real consulting setting and makes you feel included.

Q: Why do you think this program is valuable?

A: Many benefits come to mind, but if I had to summarize the top three, I’d say that this program teaches you how to be more emotionally intelligent, it exposes you to so many different areas of business, and it helps you understand how to benchmark best practices.

Q: What has been your favorite thing about the Qadat program?

A: I’ve had the opportunity to constantly tackle new problems, alongside extraordinary teams of people who are committed to establishing a mutually supportive and caring environment. Due to the nature of our varied and frequently changing projects, I’ve had the chance to contribute to projects from different industries, functional areas, and even geographies. That experience has helped me discover what I enjoy early in my career.

Q: Why did you choose Strategy&?

A: Strategy& is among the top-ranking consulting firms in the Middle East, and it offers significant opportunities for growth and learning. In my experience, this was exemplified by the diversity within the firm. The consultants at Strategy& bring different mindsets to the table, with their wide range of educational and professional backgrounds, cultures, languages, and skills.

Q: How has Qadat prepared you for the next step in your career?

A: As I work on developing my expertise in digital strategy and analytics, I feel prepared because I already have cross-industry knowledge and I’m much more comfortable facing uncertainty. Qadat also provided me with mentors who will continue to help me navigate future career choices, challenges, and opportunities.

Q: What were you doing before you joined Strategy&?

A: I took on a couple of energy-related internships at the University of Tokyo and King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), while pursuing my bachelor’s degree at King Saud University.

Q: How has your experience been with the Qadat program?

A: I’ve already had the chance to work on many interesting and high-impact projects across different fields, including the energy practice. I’ve definitely been developing my core consulting skills, and I’ve also contributed to a pro-bono project that focuses on environment protection and sustainability.

Q: Why do you think this program is valuable?

A: The learning curve is steep, as every day I get exposed to new challenges. I find this both refreshing and exciting. I also have extremely supportive colleagues and encouraging team members, ranging in seniority from partners to fellow business analysts. Everyone, including the firm’s leaders, has been very approachable, and keen to ensure we’re getting the best out of the program. Overall, this program has helped me push out of my comfort zone, and expand my professional skills as well as my network—by connecting both internally with my colleagues and externally with clients.