Hannah Blatherwick, Corporate Value Associates
Senior consultant Hannah Blatherwick works for Corporate Value Associates (CVA). She studied law and French LLB at the University of Bristol.
What made you choose management consulting?
Despite really enjoying my degree in law, I was keen to learn more about how the business world operated. I didn’t want to specialise at an early age in any particular area, however. As a consultant I get to work with many different clients from a wide range of industries.
You did an internship with CVA – what did it involve?
As an intern I was given similar work to that of a graduate, meaning that I gained a good understanding of what my full-time job would be like – initially undertaking research and analysis tasks on an adhoc basis for projects going on at that time, and then fully staffed as a member of the project team for a financial services client, based at their offices Monday to Thursday. I was offered my graduate position following my internship.
What does your firm do?
We look to provide strategic support to corporate organisations to help them deliver sustainable value for their customers, owners and stakeholders.
What is your role?
As a senior consultant, my role usually involves taking responsibility for a discrete module of work within a project, reporting to the case manager.
What tasks does that involve?
Typically my work will involve some sort of research – either gathering information from the client through data requests and interviews, and/or external research. I will then analyse this and draw conclusions, which I put into an understandable and clear presentation format for the client.
The majority of training takes place on the job – through personal learning and through mentoring and teaching from other members of the team
How’s your work/life balance?
There is a real feeling of trust between the consultants here – everyone knows that when you have to work hard, you will do. There are times when work can seem to take over your life, but this also means that when you are a bit quieter there is no need to be seen in the office after 6.00 pm.
What’s the best thing about being a consultant?
The variety of projects you can be involved in and the number of clients that you get to work for – it’s great to feel that you are constantly learning.
Any downsides?
We like to work collaboratively with our clients. It can sometimes be difficult to go into an organisation where you haven’t worked before as it can take a while to build up trust and an effective working relationship.
What gives you a buzz?
It’s really exciting to be part of developing a strategy for a company which will change the way that certain things are done, especially when you see it being implemented in the world around you.
What’s your training been like?
The majority of training takes place on the job – through personal learning and through mentoring and teaching from other members of the team (who are all very approachable). This adhoc training is complemented by informal training sessions between consultants, where someone will explain a particular skill or technique, and more formal weekly training events with consultants at the same level across all the European offices – for graduates this includes an induction week at the very beginning and the ‘CVA Challenge’ which happens around once a year (usually somewhere exciting!) for those with about a year’s experience.
What skills in particular do you think you’ve developed?
I’ve learnt so much since starting here – hard skills such as the application of our methodologies and how to use certain software packages, as well as soft skills such as presentation and communication skills.