Why did you choose Escient?
I chose Escient because there was a clear difference in how they treated their people and their willingness to respect and value my input as a graduate. In my first two interviews, I was told in very clear terms that my ideas would never be discounted just because of my experience level. The company greatly values the courage to speak up and the creativity of different ideas, placing importance on giving its people the confidence they need to flourish within the business – regardless of where you sit on the scale of a graduate to a director!
Tell us about yourself- passions, interests, etc.
I have always thought of myself as someone driven by a passion to discover and understand new ideas – I grew up with a family encouraging me to make sure I ‘learned one new thing each day.’ I take great pride and feel fortunate to be able to turn that passion into motivation for further university study and a career in solving problems with new ideas. This passion for discovery drives most of my hobbies, too, so I love to lose myself in good books and new adventures that broaden my horizons.
What did you like about the Graduate recruitment process?
When I was facing down my last year of study and endless graduate applications, the entire process with Escient stood out in making me feel comfortable and welcome, regardless of the potential outcome. Every conversation was genuine, warm, and open.
How was the transition from student to consultant?
The graduate program at Escient offers you the chance to step into the shoes of a fully-fledged Consultant and complete real work while removing the commercial pressure in your graduate year. You are free to work within engagements that align with the practice areas you are most interested in and have the support of the entire team across Australia in offering you their invaluable experience and learnings to ensure you succeed.
What has been your biggest achievement so far in the Graduate Program?
My most significant achievement has been supporting the management of integrating an acquired business into a client. During a critical planning phase for the integration, I had to step up to take a higher-level role in directing the different project leads to ensure they were challenging their scope and reporting consistently back to their stakeholders. Early on, I took pride in learning that client engagements may differ from day 1, but I could also adapt and take on responsibilities that ensured the whole team met their targets while a new manager was identified.
What are you most looking forward to in the future?
I look forward to developing deeper analysis skills in my upcoming engagements, focusing on business strategy and data analysis. Escient offers the opportunity to seek work that aligns with this goal through other consultants already engaged in these kinds of engagements and are part of internal initiatives or communities that focus on developing specific skill sets or capabilities.
What do you think makes a good Escient Graduate?
A willingness to step up and be brave—Escient is passionate about hearing the voices of all its employees and using the team’s diverse skills and knowledge, so I think it is important that graduates feel courageous and empowered to offer their input. Escient provides the support and gives you the space to make mistakes as a graduate but engages you in real work and is genuine in its goal of allowing you to contribute directly to the business, irrespective of the graduate role title.