Key Consulting Skills and Proficiencies

I have a unique perspective because I’ve worked in both management consulting and ‘hard’ data.  Sometimes the ‘hard’ scientists throw shade at the ‘softer’ consulting roles. But consulting companies are hugely successful for a reason. Data teams can learn a ton by asking what makes consultants effective. My top 4 observations: 1) Consultants are amazing communicators People can literally make an entire career about being a great communicator. They understand how to make ideas understandable, compelling, and repeatable. Data teams would benefit from prioritizing this skill. 2) Consultants are amazing at breaking down problems McKinsey does this thing where they say ‘ok you have a revenue problem - revenue is driven by (1) number of orders sold, and (2) AOV. AOV is driven by…’ And people LOVE it. These types of metrics trees are becoming more popular in data (s/o Abhi Sivasailam). You can also use Zenlytic’s explain functionality to do this automagically, in seconds. A good data team builds their data assets to be composable. Start at a high level and break things down step-by-step. TLDR: Whenever I'm stuck, the first thing I do I ask: “How can I break this problem down?” 3) Consultants are great at throwing away work When Frank Lloyd Wright (the architect) and his team finished a design one time, they were happy with the output with time left over. Frank took the plans off the table, tore them to pieces, and asked the team to do everything a second time. People don’t realize how much this happens behind the scenes in strategy consulting. They explore every idea and possibility. They flesh out some, throw them out when it's not perfect, and start again. The final output of a consultant is only 10% of everything that’s been generated. They set a high bar and only share the best. Data teams should set a high bar too. When something doesn’t feel right, toss it out. Maybe you don’t quite trust the data yourself. Maybe it’s not quite answering the right question. Maybe you can add additional data from somewhere else. Maybe you can benchmark this. Iterate quickly, and cut ruthlessly. 4) Consultants have great attention to detail Before something gets shipped in a Big 3 consultancy, it gets checked and rechecked by at least 4 people. The inputs and their notes are a mess (sound familiar, data engineers?). But they never let the output appear unpolished or rough. There’s a balance between speed and perfection here. But the cost of silly mistakes is high (your team looks unprofessional), and most issues get caught in the first couple passes. At Zenlytic, we make sure that everything we ship externally gets at least 2 pairs of eyes on it (and in some cases - depending on the mission criticality - up to 5). In summary: • Strong communication • Ability to break down problems • ‘Throwing away’ work • Attention to detail All traits data teams would do well to learn from consultants.

🧭 A Note to Young Professionals Stepping into Consulting Over the years, I’ve had the chance to work with some truly incredible teams across the globe. Professional services is not just about expertise. It’s about mindset, people, and the way you show up every single day. Whether you’re just starting out or a few years in, here are a few lessons which I picked up over the years: 🚀 Consulting is a Team Sport (and a Thinking Game) As many young professionals step into the world of professional services, how you think, engage, and problem-solve is what sets you apart. 💡 Here are a few lessons that stick—early and forever: - Be Proactive, Always Raise your hand. Show up. Anticipate. The best team members don’t wait for perfect instructions—they figure things out, ask the right questions, and stay accountable. - Position Yourself as a Problem Solver Spotting what’s wrong is easy. Solving it is rare. The world already has enough critics—what it needs are people who diagnose thoughtfully and act constructively. 🔍 Don’t just say “this isn’t working.” Ask: How can we fix this? What could work better? This mindset—of stepping into the problem with ownership—is what makes you indispensable. - Engage Across Levels Learn from your seniors, collaborate with peers, and uplift those who work with you. This industry runs on shared learning. No one succeeds in isolation. - Know Your Team Dynamic You’ll often be surrounded by: - People better than you → perfect! Listen, learn, push yourself harder. - People equal to you → effort will separate you. - People not as strong → time for introspection: are you growing, or just coasting? Be Relentlessly Curious and Always Learning Whether it’s accounting rules, tech tools, regulations, or global frameworks—depth and relationships matters. Clients and teams come to you for agility, collaboration, trust, excellence and impact. 🎯 Bottom line: Great careers in consulting are not built by knowing it all—but by thinking constructively, showing initiative, and building teams that win together. What’s one mindset shift that helped you grow early in your career? #ProblemSolvers #YoungProfessionals #ConsultingCareers #TeamMatters #Mindset #LeadershipInAction #Uniqus

Things I’ve learned in the past few years as a consultant: ✅ Value looks different to everyone Every client has a different goal. You need to meet them where they are, not where you think they should be. ✅ Listening is your superpower The best insights come when you stop and really pay attention. Not just to what’s said, but what’s left unsaid. ✅ Always be learning There’s always something new to figure out. Stay curious. Growth comes when you lean into what you don’t know yet. ✅ You’ll wear all the hats Sales in the morning, ops mid-day, content in the afternoon, CS strategy at night. It’s a lot, and it stretches you in the best ways. ✅ A new level of appreciation for teams Wearing every hat has made me so grateful for the teams I worked with in the past. Doing it all makes you realize how powerful collaboration really is. ✅ Use your voice with intention Your experience matters. They brought you in for a reason. Speak clearly, ask the hard questions, and trust what you bring to the table. ✅ Structure helps I used to think process would slow me down. But the right structure actually clears space to think and create. Consulting has taught me to move fast, stay grounded, and keep learning. It's not always easy, but it’s been one of the most fulfilling parts of my career so far. If you’re navigating this kind of path too, I see you. You're not alone. What’s one lesson your career taught you that no one prepared you for? #Consulting #WomenInCS #CareerGrowth #LessonsLearned

The most valuable advice I ever received from a mentor that I didn’t quite grasp until recently is - “cultivate patience, slow down”. As a consultant, patience is arguably the most useful skill in your arsenal as you steer clients to results that only they can execute on. Expect too much too soon, and both you and your client could get frustrated. As a naturally impatient person, I’ve had to work extremely hard on building up patience. Here’s what has helped me - 🔸 Embrace the Process Enjoy the journey, and don’t be in a mad rush to get from Point A to Point B. Break down larger goals into smaller milestones. 🔸Communicate effectively Develop those process maps and clarify to your client and their team what they are responsible for, and what success would look like. Check in regularly to assess things are on track. 🔸Celebrate every small win What may seem like a minor milestone in your long journey, may be a huge deal for someone on the team. Don’t let it pass, shout it out! 🔸Active listening You may know what is needed to get from Point A to Point B. Your client may be in alignment at the top of the ladder, but their teams may not be in agreement. Listen to challenges at all levels, listen to concerns, and priorities and build your plan accordingly. 🔸Learn from setbacks So, you failed. Dust off, do a lessons learned, share them with the relevant team members, and chart out a new approach. How else do you cultivate patience my fellow consultants? Share your comments.