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Women in Leadership Profiles
Next in the series of 'Women in Leadership' profiles is Holly Brown .
Role: Management Consultant
Company: Capgemini
A bit about Holly: I studied Public Relations (PR) at university but quickly decided that I did not want to pursue a career in this field. In my spare time I like cooking, hanging out with friends and walking my dog, trying to keep active (albeit difficult in current circumstances).
What is it like working in your company? It is busy, interesting and I am always learning something new.
Why did you decide to go into your chosen field? I ended up falling into it after leaving my PR work, which I did for four years after university. I tried to get into the police which was quite a challenge and ended up coming across management consulting. I have always had an interest in IT and the public sector and this seemed like the perfect fit, a lot of my work so far has been helping government create a digital strategy or implement new technologies.
What qualifications and work experience did you need to reach your current position? I cannot speak for all consultancies, but I joined the graduate scheme and needed a 2:1 degree (in any subject). No experience was required but I definitely found it beneficial having already worked for a few years.
What do you enjoy the most about your job? I enjoy working on different projects, it means you are always learning new things and working on different accounts. I also enjoy the people, it makes such a difference being in a supportive and friendly company.
What obstacles have you overcome in your career? Probably obstacles in my own personal development, I struggle with imposter syndrome and not feeling like I am qualified enough to do the job. I think everyone deals with this to some extent and it is important to work as a team as everyone has different strengths they can bring.
Why do you think it is important to have a strong female representation in your industry? It is really important to have female role models and mentors that can guide you through often male dominated industries. It is crucial to have that diverse representation in C-suites for everyone’s career development and it also discourages unconscious bias that men are superior.
What advice would you give those wanting to take a similar career path? Do your research and have a view of the kind of roles you could be doing, management consulting is very broad, so it is important to be adaptable and be able to work in different environments.
