Turning inefficient and painful processes and structures to ones that flow smoothly is one of my passions.
What do you wish you knew before entering consulting?
I wish I knew the importance of trust for being a good consultant. Your work needs to be strong and stand on its own, of course. But that’s only one piece of the puzzle. As a consultant at a client site, many of the people you’re interacting with won’t know who you are and won’t necessarily trust you. Being able to build trust quickly is essential to executing efficiently. As well, building trust with the client is what ultimately enables us to deliver the real and sustainable solutions The Poirier Group (TPG) is known for.
What made you get into consulting?
I’ve always been interested in project-based work. I like the variation of experience. Every project has a different set of challenges and a lot of learnings to be gained. On top of that, turning inefficient and painful processes and structures to ones that flow smoothly is one of my passions. So, consulting was a natural fit for me. What first drew me to TPG was the company values. When I interviewed, I found them to be truly reflected in the company and not just something stated on a web page.
What are some of the main things you have learned in your role?
I’ve learned so many things I can’t even begin to list them. But one of the main things I learned is the value of good communication, internally and externally. Internally, communicating effectively within your project team and the wider company greatly multiplies your value to the client. What you’re able to deliver is greater than the sum of its parts. Externally, effective communication is key to ensuring we fully understand the current state and the requirements of our client for the future. A solid communication plan is also required for our solutions to stick.
What has been your favourite part of working with TPG?
Having access the brains of TPG has been awesome. We regularly exchange knowledge on lots of subjects. This gives me the chance to learn from experts in their field and keep current on knowledge across different industries. In addition to that, we have an open culture where everyone is encouraged to reach out to co-workers or the wider TPG network for expert advice and to talk through any issues we’re facing.
What has been your favourite project experience?
My favourite type of project is where we uncover potential opportunities for the client. We call this an “initiation study” and it’s one of our signature offerings. We tackle a wide range of functional areas and find and assess valuable opportunities within those areas. The opportunities range from quick wins to multi-phase projects. Uncovering brand new opportunities the client didn’t know about and verifying what they did know feels very rewarding and has a high ROI for our clients.
Communicating effectively within your project team and the wider company greatly multiplies your value to the client. What you’re able to deliver is greater than the sum of its parts.
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