From Engineering to Consulting

"I study Engineering, so how do I fit in Management Consulting? Isn't it only for Business students?" ?

We had a chat with Bernadette, Consultant in NORTH, to better paint a picture of the surprising synergies between what she did then and now, as well as what was missing from her first-chosen career path to make her choose a different direction.? ???

As she graduated from DTU this year, she went from working part-time as an analyst at NORTH to working as a full-time consultant. However, this followed a shift in her initial plan for her career.? ???

With a bachelor's degree in Human Life Science Engineering and a master's in Bioinformatics and Systems Biology from DTU, Bernadette was ruling out the option of ever becoming a consultant, even when her friend suggested she should give NORTH a try.? ??

What were your thoughts about Management Consulting in the beginning??

"I was sceptical in the beginning. I didn't know what management consulting was and how my technical skills could be applied.? ??

I worked in research for two years as a student, where I assisted on a children's cancer project – truly an exciting project. But the work atmosphere wasn't a fit for me.?I was missing teamwork, collaborating with my colleagues on projects and having a more dynamic everyday life with versatile tasks.?And even though the research topic I worked on was interesting and more in line with my studies, I wasn't motivated. In research, you are working on things that will be implemented in 10-15 years, who knows – and I was missing that my work had a more direct and visible impact here and now".? ? ??

What was then the link between your education and what we do in NORTH???

"In NORTH, we work at the intersection between business and technology. Our projects typically begin with a commercial strategy phase and conclude with a technical implementation. This ensures a natural transition between the two phases and prevents miscommunication.??

During the implementation phase, I can really use my logical thinking and ability to break down complex problems from my educational background in engineering."? ?

In the end, Bernadette found that being a consultant is about problem-solving – an ability she brings with her engineering background. But there were more than the unexpected synergies between her studies and the consulting ways of working that positively surprised Bernadette when switching tracks and joining NORTH.???

"Another appeal to me is the size of the company. NORTH is a smaller consultancy, so you are not just another piece of the puzzle stuck doing one repetitive task. Each employee is valuable and will get the opportunity to take the lead.?Even when I was just a student assistant, I got a lot of responsibility – always being brought to the frontlines with my more senior colleagues meeting our clients at an early phase.? ??

Responsibility can sound like a negative word, but for me, it is more about the opportunity to be ambitious and take part in the decision-making. At NORTH, I am involved with some of the projects' essential and exciting aspects.???

And the best part is that I get to collaborate in diverse teams, where I benefit from varied perspectives and skills among my colleagues".?