What did you do prior to The Parthenon Group?

Before joining Parthenon I spent one year (post MBA) raising venture finance for a start-up luxury eyewear company. In addition to raising the equity investment, I was involved in the implementation of operational systems ranging from sales to ordering and logistics. Prior to my MBA I purchased, turned around and subsequently sold a retail pharmacy in Ireland.

What are the leadership opportunities at The Parthenon Group?

I believe that the leadership opportunities at Parthenon are superior to those at other consulting firms. This is true at all levels and I have seen Associates as well as Principals be given varying leadership opportunities as early as they can handle them. This reflects the entrepreneurial spirit of the firm as well as its success in recruiting smart people who are driven to exceed expectations. The firm culture is very much one that attempts to offer opportunities to people as they progress and I have always enjoyed and invited a learning curve which is steeper than that of my friends at other consulting firms.

What internal roles have you played at The Parthenon Group?

One of the great aspects of Parthenon is the opportunity to shape the future of the firm through internal roles. I am in charge of the London associate programme as well as the Summer programme. I also have been very involved in recruiting at both the Associate and Principal levels. All of these roles offer a genuine opportunity to shape the development of the office and its people while offering a more rounded/balanced work and learning experience.

What was your favorite case to date?

My favourite case was a vendor due diligence on behalf of a Private Equity client for a school travel company. As a vendor due diligence the team had much exposure to the management team and had time to understand the business in significant detail. The work was varied and included secondary research, site visits, customer interviews, management interviews and also third-party expert interviews. Our work essentially provided a detailed overview of the market and players in a sector where data was lacking so we had the opportunity to become “sector experts.” Finally, we demonstrated this expertise through numerous Q&A sessions with prospective buyers.

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

I have several friends within the office from before and since I joined. Parthenon offers many socializing opportunities that are a lot of fun and offer team building. Although I take advantage of some of these offerings, my life outside of the office remains quite separate from my life inside the office.

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

London is a great city. The London office is located on Sloane Street which is one of the most up-market parts of the city. If you like fashion you can’t find a better place to work. It is easy to get to for people living in various parts of the city and is right on the doorstep of Hyde Park. Finally, it is relatively easy to get to London airports and given the variety of destinations from London that means that you can leave the office on Friday evening and with minimum stress eat dinner in Paris, Lisbon, Barcelona, etc.

What is your favorite quality about The Parthenon Group?

My favourite quality about Parthenon is the people. There are times when you work really hard but I have always found comfort in the knowledge that I am surrounded by smart people who will help me over the line, usually accompanied by lots of fun and laughter.