Associate Partner | OC&C Strategy Consultants

Nic

Associate Partner

Before joining OC&C, I did a 4-year Physics degree at St John's, Oxford.

I chose strategy consulting because I strongly believe it's the most interesting job in the world (as well as being nicely remunerated!) and I chose OC&C very simply because, of all the people I met at recruitment presentations, they were the ones I got on with best.

I would describe work life at OC&C as fascinating, eclectic, at times a bit hectic, and always stretching - every week I learn new things. I spend about 75% of my time running projects: leading the team, working out the answer, persuading the client and helping them think about how they actually go about doing it. The other 25% is split between firm development (making OC&C an ever-better business) and supporting the Partners in selling work.

What’s the best thing about working at OC&C?

- the virtuous circle of culture and people. A culture in which everyone cares about doing an excellent job, which makes work a pleasure and which encourages eclecticism of interest turns out to appeal to the brightest and best undergraduates and MBAs who join OC&C
- being a part of OC&C's growth and development: we've come a long way, but there are still so many things which anyone in the firm could take an interested in and make the company even stronger

Leonie

Associate Partner

After studying History at university, I joined a retail graduate scheme and four and a half years later joined OC&C as a Consultant.

Strategy consulting has delivered against everything I was hoping for when I moved from retail. The work is fast-paced, intellectually challenging and enables you to gain a level of insight into business strategy that would otherwise be impossible to achieve within the industry at the start of your career. Also, the people are incredibly bright and committed to performing to the best of their abilities.

OC&C offers a client list and a standard of work that is equivalent to the other top strategy consulting firms, yet is of a size that means the associate consultants and consultants are far from anonymous. Work life at OC&C can be tough, but is always rewarding. The work consistently stretches you, ensuring that your learning is maximised, and the team-based approach to project work means you can make a big contribution at all levels within the organisation.

Timocin

Associate Partner

I had experience in several areas before joining OC&C, including consulting, entrepreneurial ventures and the automotive industry.

OC&C's unique appeal is that it is a both a global firm with presence in nearly every major economy in the world while at the same time being an entrepreneurial, fast-growing organisation. All young professionals should try to gain international experience at some point and I’m very glad that we’re able to offer excellent opportunities to do that.

At OC&C, no matter what the title or the level, from Partner to Associate Consultant everyone is intensely involved in getting to the right answer and developing the best recommendations for our clients. This is one of the things that really drives the culture of the firm, something that makes it such a valuable place for young professionals to learn and gain experience.

Whether you decide to stay with OC&C or pursue other options, you will take with you the ability to make a significant impact.

Anthony

Associate Partner

I've found work-life at OC&C alternately interesting, amusing, stretching and tough - but above all enjoyable. During the tough times the people around you help to get you through. Plus I feel I've developed both professionally and in terms of the perspective I have on what's important in life - and what is less so!

I recently spent six months on secondment at a large supermarket chain, primarily looking at the effectiveness of their marketing activity. This provided both a chance to apply the consulting 'toolkit' to a non-standard problem, but more importantly an opportunity to get exposed to, and involved with, day to day activity across the business - an invaluable series of learnings to apply to consulting as I return to OC&C, and indeed for my career more generally.

What is the best thing about working at OC&C? The people, hands down. I made a lot of good friends when I joined OC&C, many of whom are still with OC&C and some who have since moved on to other things, but all still remain genuine friends.

Advice for prospective applicants? Read slightly behind what the brochures tell you. Get talking to the staff and find out what they are working on. If you like them and what they're doing, you've probably found the right fit. Remember, there's no 'one size fits all' company; different companies suit different people.

Julia

Associate Partner

For me, the greatest thing about OC&C is the people – genuinely interesting, smart, reliable and enthusiastic individuals who are very much committed to delivering quality, and with a strong sense of fun! This is what makes my work at OC&C challenging and enjoyable at the same time.

From the very first day of my internship at OC&C, I felt that strategy consulting was a fascinating and exciting job. However, I assumed I would have to give it up some day for something more important, like family. But I now have two children and, thanks to OC&C, manage to combine an exciting and fulfilling job with family life.

Gregor

Associate Partner

After earning my master’s degree in Economics from Cologne University, I had a university career in mind, and so became a research fellow. But after my Ph.D., I decided academic life was a bit light on excitement, so I headed for strategy consulting.

When I was looking for a firm to join, I visited the usual roadshow presentations of all the major players, but became increasingly concerned about the total focus on intellectual superiority – and nothing else. OC&C was the first and only company that seemed to combine brilliant minds, nice and relaxed people, and a good sense of humour.

Consulting is a people business. While other companies also offer interesting jobs, I don’t know of any that offer OC&C’s unique blend of bright, friendly and sometimes a bit crazy people, who work hard to deliver highly professional results but still know how to party. OC&C is also a very dynamic place that offers a lot of freedom: there are few formal procedures, no limiting ‘yes, buts’ when you come up with ideas, and virtually no limits to what you can achieve. What else could you ask for?

Susanna

Associate Partner

Being an Associate Partner of a start-up office is exciting and challenging. Besides working with the team on project delivery, client management and client development, I involve in office administration and people development on a day-to-day basis. Time management and multi-tasking become essential skills.

I have worked on a vast diversity of projects among different Asian countries in past months and we receive full support from the Germany and Paris offices and the reality of being in a truly international partnership with supporting colleagues is comforting and assuring.

We are shaping the office and its culture from all aspects including recruiting the right people and coaching and developing the junior members. The Shanghai office is expanding, and I am sure that there will be opportunities for interesting work and more challenges in building the new office. I am looking forward to it!

Bram

Associate Partner

“Solutions bigger than a drawing board”

Bram Kuijpers has a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Delft University of Technology. He specialized in logistics, working as an intern for a Swedish shipping company. He liked engineering very much, but he opted for strategy consulting.

Technology has always fascinated me: from large-scale plants and machineries to the mechanics of my own car. During my internship, however, I realised I simply could not picture myself in the drawing room - For me, strategy consulting is the way to both develop and apply my analytical skills, beyond engineering.

Now, I spend my days twisting my brain, with lots of thinking and calculating, but the questions are totally different. Products, processes, cost structure: everything is turned around. The end result is bigger than would ever fit on a drawing board.

I received several offers from consulting firms. My choice for OC&C is based on the people and the atmosphere. I am learning a lot from my OC&C team members, but they see me as equal. That openness and equality decided it for me.

Chris

Associate Partner

I started my career in consulting after completing my bachelors degree at the University of Pennsylvania. I took a slight detour and left consulting to pursue a product and business development role at a then-startup called Harmonix Music Systems, the creators of the Guitar Hero and Rock Band video games.

I was drawn to OC&C because the U.S. group had a startup feel, a strong team, and a compelling vision. I have stayed with OC&C for more than five years as we have successfully grown the firm because the talent and character of the people and the overall firm culture are second to none.

The associate partner role can be extremely diverse in its responsibilities. Success means learning how to delegate, motivate, and evaluate the efforts of the talented associates and consultants that OC&C hires - The upside is that you spend more time focused on your clients, understanding their concerns, interpreting their feedback, and growing into the role of trusted advisor.

In my view, consulting is most rewarding when I achieve that level of interaction with my clients and share in their professional success.

Dan

Associate Partner

After two and a half years at OC&C, I decided that I wanted to get a taste for what life would be like in a ‘real’ job. When the opportunity arose to join Manchester United, the club I have supported all my life, it was too good to miss. I was seconded to work at Old Trafford for four months, working closely with the commercial director to help determine United’s business strategy, and to implement various projects to drive forward the club’s off-field performance. The whole experience was absolutely fantastic, teaching me a lot about life on ‘the other side of the table’ – and helping me to fulfil my boyhood dream of playing a game on the hallowed turf!

The job is constantly changing, and it evolves as quickly as your skills do, so you are always learning. In general, you go from answering a specific problem to answering the broader question, and I am now responsible for presenting and delivering the project answer, rather than an individual piece of analysis. As a Manager, I typically have a team of other consultants working for me, and it’s my responsibility to guide them on the analysis and problem solving they do.

What is the best thing about working at OC&C? There are so many good people here; people who you’d always want on your team and, at the same time, who you’d want to have a beer with after work. That’s what defines an OC&C consultant.

Experienced Managers may become Associate Partners, en route to election as a full Partner.

Every Associate Partner is a top consultant, albeit one whose skills will continue to develop. You will work directly with clients at the most senior levels, building close professional – and typically also personal – relationships, and addressing their concerns in the broadest sense. Though your fields of expertise will become ever more specialised and clearly defined as you progress through the firm, you will always also remain an all-round consultant, simply one with a fully developed, and clearly defined, personal profile of core skills.

Over the course of your two to three years as an Associate Partner you’ll also be expected to help push content-leadership to the next level, while acting as a mentor to project teams and Managers; while they look to you for guidance, you will also be actively involved in helping build the firm’s base of intellectual property, contributing to high quality internal and external publications.

Based on your expertise and experience, client leadership and intellectual ‘public persona’, you will increasingly support Partners in developing client relations, and identifying and capitalising on commercial opportunities. You will be expected to play your part in continuing to build our international profile, contributing to global sector and functional teams, developing our capabilities, and helping build our client networks, wherever we operate. As we continue to expand globally, your support abroad may well be essential.

With partnership in prospect, Associate Partners are systematically coached, mentored both nationally and internationally, and trained in specific areas identified as key to their particular strengths and capabilities. The only way is up: we are firmly committed to helping you find your path.