As a principal you will play a critical leadership role in all of this firm's work. Parthenon has a very flat structure which will allow you to become actively involved in many levels of client work. You will often be the primary contact for clients, responsible for developing and executing work plans and managing Associates. Given the demands of such an accelerated role, your skills as a principal are highly tuned in the areas of analytics, communications, teamwork and leadership.

Analytics

Driving customized and actionable insights is critical to the success of any client engagement. These insights are supported by the collection and synthesis of data to support the underlying assertions. On a typical case, your role as a principal on a team would include the following:

• Structuring and planning the analytical process to drive insight
• Overseeing the process through to completion, addressing any challenges which may arise
• Synthesizing the results into actionable insights for the client

Communications

Principals will often manage multiple relationships/roles on a case such as:

• the day-to-day liaison between the client and the case team
• the orchestration of case work
• the generation of important  communications documents for the client
• the presentation of materials at internal and client readouts

Through formal as well as informal training and mentorship, you will develop these skills quickly to maximize your effectiveness as a consultant and an advisor. A solid foundation in oral and written communications skills is vital.

Teamwork

Parthenon promotes a collegial environment which we believe best serves our clients’ needs. As a principal you will be required to build strong relationships with both clients and team members to generate the best solutions for our clients. Egos are checked at the door, and teams work together to achieve superior results.

Leadership

Principals enter Parthenon in a leadership role, which quickly escalates in scope. At first you will have oversight over one or two associates within a work stream.  Based on your individual career trajectory, this typically will expand quickly into managing client relationships and broader case teams.  Read through our section on Career Track to find out more about the leadership responsibilities of a principal and how those will evolve throughout your tenure.

Internally, you will have leadership responsibilities in areas like recruiting, training, charitable giving, etc.  In addition, you typically will get involved in key strategic initiatives such as the establishment of new practice areas, new offices, and the generation of proprietary intellectual capital.