What did you do prior to The Parthenon Group?

I joined Parthenon following graduation from Kellogg. Prior to Kellogg, I held a variety of roles at Wal-Mart’s online division, Walmart.com. My first role was in the corporate strategy group where I worked on strategic planning, corporate development and new business opportunities. After corporate strategy, I wanted the opportunity to build and operate a business while working with cross-functional teams. Managing several of Walmart.com’s gift related businesses (gift registry and gift cards) and the ISP business afforded me this chance. Before joining Walmart.com, I was a financial analyst in investment banking with Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown’s Technology, Media and Telecom practice.

Why did you select The Parthenon Group?

I chose strategy consulting after business school as an opportunity to gain broader exposure to industries and business challenges / situations. Parthenon stood out for many reasons. Primarily I was attracted to the firm’s entrepreneurial culture and its practice mix of private equity, corporate strategy and education. Whether on the client advisory side or in my corporate role at Walmart.com, it has always been important to me to work someplace where my company and the clients with whom we worked were entrepreneurial. Parthenon stood out as a consulting firm that truly embraces this entrepreneurial spirit both in the way it has built itself over time and in its approach to solving clients’ challenges. Additionally, the two case model at Parthenon was very appealing as it offers the chance to accelerate my learning and exposure to different client situations.

What are the leadership opportunities at The Parthenon Group?

One of the things that drew me to Parthenon San Francisco office was its small size and what that size meant for taking on leadership roles early on in my career. That can mean a variety of things such as more ownership over pieces of client engagements, leading internal initiatives, or spearheading new business opportunities.

What was your favorite case to date?

I recently worked on a very interesting case for a portfolio company of a private equity client in the software space. The company had grown through acquisitions with each business operating relatively independently. We were challenged by both the sponsor and the company itself to assess points of integration for the company in order to better leverage its suite of products. Over the course of this case we looked at all aspects of the business from customer needs, to sales force and product development integration to a reorientation of the entire organization. It was rewarding to see the client almost immediately begin to incorporate our findings from primary research and recommendations.

How does The Parthenon Group fit into your life outside of work?

One thing that has become extremely clear to me since joining is that Parthenon values the lives of its members outside of work. While we definitely work hard, I continue to find time to pursue other interests. However, the people here are so great that I find myself spending plenty of time with Parthenon members socially whether it is monthly dinners with my Principal class, the regular San Francisco Parthenon women’s events or training for a half-Ironman with co-workers.

Do you have any interests or hobbies outside of work?

Outside of the office I love running and competing in triathlons. I have run in races all over but still believe that San Francisco offers some of the best. Escape from Alcatraz is not to be missed. This past summer I convinced a couple of my Parthenon colleagues to join me in the Vineman half-Ironman in Sonoma, CA.

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

San Francisco is a world-class city. It offers everything one would expect from a major cosmopolitan city including the arts, music, sports and great food. Plus, the surrounding Bay Area offers great outdoor activities. There are countless places to hike, run, cycle and surf. Skiing in Tahoe is only a three hour drive.

What is your favorite quality about The Parthenon Group?

First and foremost, the people are my favorite about Parthenon. A major driver in my decision to join Parthenon was the group of people with whom I would have the opportunity to work. The teams at Parthenon bring together a very diverse set of professional and personal backgrounds, challenging each of us to deliver creative solutions to our clients’ problems. With such a diverse and fun set of people, it is always easy to find someone that is up for going on a bike ride or run, grabbing dinner, or whatever you might have an interest in.