Breaking into Management Consulting with Simon Kucher

Breaking into Management Consultancy with Simon Kucher

Do you want to learn how to get into management Consultancy? Find out by reading our interview with Isabelle van Keulen, manager at Simon Kucher. 

• Name: Isabelle van Keulen

• Study: Physics at VU Amsterdam

• Current occupation: Manager at Simon-Kucher

Could you please introduce yourself and share your journey into the field of consultancy? What motivated you to pursue a career in this industry?

My name is Isabelle van Keulen and my journey to consulting was not so typical. During my studies in physics at VU Amsterdam, I realised that I did not want to work in a lab. However, I also did not know what I did want to do. I applied to many jobs, and ended up at Simon-Kucher. During the round of interviews I felt a great fit with the organisation. At first, I just wanted to work there for a short period, but after 3.5 years I am still here and don't plan on leaving anytime soon.

Consulting is a great environment to work in because you can learn obtain both more skills and broader knowledge in a very diverse environment. Besides, I really enjoy working with colleagues who give their best, which is completely different from working on a group project at university and having that person in your group who never does anything.

Of course, there are many more reasons to choose a career in consulting. If you want to hear them, feel free to contact me!

In your view, do you observe any noteworthy changes in the current trends within the consultancy sector? What implications might these have for aspiring consultants, especially students?

AI is of course a topic, but not that note worthy for aspiring consultants. A key tip is to always check if there are no [company] or [name] fields left after you have copy-pasted.

For students aspiring to enter the consultancy field, what piece of advice would you offer to help them launch their career in consultancy?

Don't think too much about which firm is a perfect fit for you, I think in the end they all offer the opportunity to grow and learn. The key is to feel where you fit best!