The Young Executive Program (YEP). of ConQuaestor welcomes talented starters who want to develop quickly in the management consulting profession. The right guidance is important here. Experienced senior consultant Gwen van Heijst enjoys mentoring her younger colleagues. "Seeing people grow is the best thing there is," she says.
Before joining ConQuaestor, Gwen worked as a consultant at the Big Four, among other firms. She chose boutique consulting firm ConQuaestor because of the good click she felt with the team. She was also attracted to the entrepreneurial spirit that prevails in the organization. "You get the freedom to pioneer and do the things you like."
Developing yourself arrowily
The YEP offers starters with zero to two years of work experience a complete training program focused on management consulting. The junior consultants receive various skills training and content courses. They immediately apply what they have learned in practice, as the consultants start immediately with a challenging assignment. That's when Gwen comes into the picture. "The Young Executive will fill his or her role independently as much as possible within the project team and with the client. As a senior I am the first point of contact for questions and sparring partner for complex issues. It is nice to have such a back up, especially when you are just starting out. Over time, the Young Executive will work more and more independently. By combining working and learning at the same time, you see that starters develop at lightning speed. "
Personal guidance
Exactly what the supervision looks like in practice depends on what the person in question needs. Gwen explains, "It happens that I take on two different projects, with a Young Executive on each project whom I supervise in their daily work. I support them in exploring the best approaches to our clients' issues. Together we evaluate the development of specific content and I provide targeted feedback on their work. I'm there to help the Young Executives take the steps needed to achieve their ambitions."
Space to do what you love
One of the characteristics of ConQuaestor that Gwen chose is the freedom you get, both in your work and in your development. According to Gwen, startups can benefit greatly from this. "Because you get room to do what you like with the right tools, you develop at a fast pace. There is a nice culture in which you are given room to learn. In addition, our consulting branch has a nice growth ambition. It is incredibly fun and educational that you can contribute to this from the beginning. There is room for your own input and ideas, giving you the opportunity to help build our beautiful organization."
According to Gwen, you don't always necessarily need years of work experience to do this. Especially as a starter, you add a lot of value with new knowledge, trained soft skills and the fresh perspective you bring. "Especially the latter keeps me as a senior consultant alert and critical of my work. And that only benefits the quality of our services."
Fine working atmosphere
Gwen is pleased with the working atmosphere at ConQuaestor. "I like the fact that we find each other easily within ConQuaestor. Even for starting colleagues, this personal contact feels nice and safe. Another advantage is that we have a close-knit team with little hierarchy. This allows you to quickly communicate with your manager and your colleagues. Everyone knows you and you know everyone. It soon feels like coming home."
Socially engaged
"As ConQuaestor, we like to contribute to a better society through our work. This is regularly reflected in the type of assignments and clients. We are increasingly being asked for support in compiling the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD).. We also support customers with data insights To map their organization's footprint. Our clientele includes not only commercial companies but also public institutions. Working on assignments where you contribute directly to society makes your work at ConQuaestor not only fun, but also meaningful."
Do you want to boost your consulting career? Then click here for more information and opportunity to apply for the Young Executive Program.