Fast-tracking the learning curve: Jaël & Jef

Finding the right team and project fit is essential to our personal development tracks at Addestino. In this interview, our consultants Jaël and Jef share how they balance personal autonomy with team coaching in their current joint assignment in the banking sector.

Fostering effective personal development in the workplace relies not only on regular HR feedback and a flexible career path, but also on assigning our consultants to tasks that push the boundaries of their comfort zone in line with their individual ambitions. One of our current client projects, for a major player in the banking industry, exemplifies this approach.

The client is enrolled in a strategic enterprise management programme, which includes a significant data management component. Our Addestino consultants joined this initiative in 2022 to lead a master data management project aimed at enhancing overall data maturity and expanding the existing data catalogue. Additionally, our team assists in transitioning from on-premise data storage to cloud storage.

Two key members of this team are Jaël and Jef. “I joined Addestino after completing my PhD in photonics,” Jaël begins. “At first, I worked on several short-term projects in the telecom industry.” Jef chimes in: “After graduating, I initially spent time at a different management consulting firm. After almost two-years, the allure of Addestino’s ambitious and high-impact consulting projects became too strong to resist, so I decided to make the jump.”

The project team that Jef and Jaël work on together has grown significantly over time. “What began as a relatively small-scale assignment has turned into a seven-person endeavour,” Jaël explains. “This requires our lead consultants and principal supervisor to run a tight ship. A large part of my personal growth has happened within this project. Initially, I focused on analyses, but my role gradually expanded to include preparing workshops and engaging in bigger-picture strategic thinking. Earlier this year, I was asked to take on the role of co-team leader for this assignment, supported by another team lead and company partner.”

Jaël wasn’t alone in his transition to a more senior leadership role, he explains: “When I started taking on more planning assignments and mentoring other team members, I joined our separate Addestino senior coaching track, which consists of a series of additional training sessions. In this track, our most experienced principals and team leads share tips from previous projects and pitfalls to avoid. I was glad to have this structured framework for growth to fall back on.”

Jef highlights the importance of his personal learning experience: “Compared to my previous management consulting role, I feel like I can dive much deeper into the technical aspects of our tasks here. At my old job, there was less connection with my area of expertise. At Addestino, HR and the management team put great effort into matching me with roles that suit both my strengths and my interests.”

Jef also appreciates the various feedback loops in place. “I can count on different people for project feedback and concerns, each bringing their own experience to help me grow further in my role. It doesn’t stop there, though: our HR structures are well-developed, allowing me to freely express the direction I’d like to take on the Addestino career track. This way, I can continue to develop my skills and explore the industries that suit me best.”

“The current project is ambitious on multiple fronts,” says Jef. “Creating leverage within different teams to develop a high-level roadmap and action plan requires a lot of trust from the client. This is where our team’s expertise truly shines. Our past experience enables us to boil things down to the essence more quickly, and demonstrating this to the client out of the gate goes a long way in inspiring their teams.”

Jaël continues: “When I first joined Addestino after my academic career, I wasn’t entirely sure yet where I’d fit within their diverse range of projects and industries. The team has been instrumental in finding the perfect project fit for me, and I always have confidence that there will be a project well-suited to my learning curve. Combined with our tried-and-tested methodology, which provides a solid framework for all our assignments, we’re always able to create a career development track for ourselves while providing actionable results for our end clients.”