What did you do prior to The Parthenon Group?

I worked as a consultant focused on technology and innovation for a large consulting firm. My work involved surveying the technology landscape to understand which emerging technologies would have an impact on our clients, and then making sure our clients were properly positioned to take advantage of those trends.

Why did you select The Parthenon Group?

I remember being inundated my first year at business school with recruiting efforts from every consulting firm imaginable. From just about every firm that came to present, the work seemed basically the same: strategic, challenging, and varied in nature. I also was coming from a very large consulting firm that had felt very impersonal to me. I was looking for a place where I could have deeper connections with my coworkers, and one where I could start to shape the direction of my career and possibly the company.

Parthenon was the only firm where I felt I genuinely connected with the members and where people genuinely connected with each other. You could see it by how much the presenters joked with each other during recruiting events. It also was a place where I heard and met surprisingly young and entrepreneurial individuals who had started a new office (e.g., Mumbai) or grown new practice areas (e.g., Education, Private Equity).

The three months I spent over that summer and the three years I have spent at Parthenon since have just reaffirmed my initial feelings. It really does feel more like a family than a company some times. And it really is a meritocracy where entrepreneurial individuals can start and grow new areas.

What stands out about the type of work you are engaged in at The Parthenon Group?

I am probably the epitome of the consultant who couldn’t make up his mind. Some of my peers have decided to focus in a particular area whereas I have spent the past three years experiencing a variety of projects all over the globe.

After requesting “some international work,” I was given the opportunity to work and live in India, Australia and London. Not only have I had exposure to many geographies, I have also worked on everything from private equity due diligences to private college five-year strategic plans to corporate sales force optimizations.

For someone who came into consulting wanting to sample many different areas, Parthenon did not disappoint. In fact, I’m typing this right now from a train in Paris on my way back to the London office!

What can you tell us about the people and culture at The Parthenon Group?

I have the notorious distinction of being the only Parthenon employee to work out of all four Parthenon offices: Boston, San Francisco, London and Mumbai. As such, I believe I can universally say: “this is a great place to work with terrific people.”

Settings certainly differ from office to office. Boston associates tend to provide fanatical support to all things Red Sox; San Francisco has a healthy, active vibe (think lots of team cycling and outdoor activities); Mumbai epitomizes a work hard, play harder attitude (I’m not sure when their associates find time for sleep); and London has an international flair where everyone regularly converses in other languages at the lunch table.

No matter where I go, I have been awestruck by the individuals. While all of my strategy consultant friends are smart, I really believe we get the most balanced people out there. One minute your coworker can be telling you about life on the Board of the Women’s Tennis Association and the next they can be rolling up their sleeves and diving into a financial model with you. Without a doubt, people are the best part of Parthenon.

What was your favorite case?

I spent three and a half months working with a private post-secondary college in Melbourne, Australia. The college had just been purchased by a private equity firm and we were brought in to help on the short- and long-term growth strategy. The case was one of the most difficult I have worked on: data was scarce and tended to be incorrect, the government was in the middle of putting severe restrictions on international students (the lifeblood of the college), and morale was incredibly low at the client. Needless to say, hours were exceptionally long.

However, we had an amazing team with Parthenon representation from our San Francisco, Boston and London offices. There was a “no man left behind” attitude where even if one person had to stay late everyone would pitch in to help. The client CEO ended up becoming a good personal friend and he still writes me, even from abroad. Better yet, the company is slowly starting to turn itself around and is doing so because of many of the findings we produced.

Oh, and it helps that at the end of the case I spent a week diving the Great Barrier Reef and driving down the Gold Coast!

What do you like about your home office's location?

I transferred to our San Francisco office in July 2010 after having worked in Boston. I noticed two things immediately:

• San Francisco is a naturally beautiful and very active city. Out of our offices at 555 California Street, we have breathtaking views of Alcatraz Island and the beautiful scenery in California. I think the natural beauty is a large part of the city’s appeal. At between 55 and 70 degrees every day, the climate is perfect for outdoor activities. Within a few hours drive, you can get to Yosemite for some hiking and camping, Tahoe for its namesake lake (or the nearby casinos), the beach for some surfing, or to the mountains for some skiing. Whatever you want to do, it’s there. And chances are you can find one of your coworkers enjoying the same activity (e.g., Friday morning cycling is a regular office event).
• The office is smaller than Boston, but that really lends a start-up feel. Though numbers have grown, the office had approximately 20 people when I transferred. The nice thing is that it lends a very cozy, familial environment to the office. Vanessa has her annual holiday party. Mark has an end of summer barbecue. Everyone participates in the Habitat for Humanity event (and of course the post-event drinks). The office certainly is smaller, but if you prefer getting to know a few people very well, then that can be a good thing.

What is your favorite quality about The Parthenon Group?

My favorite thing about Parthenon is that it feels very personal—almost like a family—and that feeling starts at the partner level. If someone in your family is sick, you can be certain you will be allowed a lot of flexibility around your work schedule. If you are stressed, someone will notice and take you out for a drink to talk about it. And if it’s your birthday, you can always expect a gift from Bill, our Chairman and Managing Partner, Parthenon is growing, but it has not lost that small-firm feel. Everyone still knows everyone else on a first name basis. I think because we know each other as individuals, we are more willing to go out of our way to make sure that we are treating each other as individuals and not just “that associate I manage” or “that partner I report to.” As someone who has previously worked at a very large firm, I really value the personal nature of Parthenon. You will work hard and you likely will have late nights, but you are sure to be treated fairly and respectfully along the way.