From data analyst to strategy consultant: Mattias

After two years of building expertise in data consulting, Mattias was ready for something broader. In this blog, he talks about his career journey and why he felt Addestino’s business challenges were the right next step.

Consulting was a deliberate step for Mattias. From early on in his business engineering studies, he was drawn to questions that combine hard data with real-world impact. “I wanted to find out how businesses actually work and how they’re embedded in the global economy,” he explains. “Just as I was wrapping up my studies, AI, data science and large language models had moved from academia and niche applications into mainstream conversation. Combining those developments with my personal interest in business was an obvious choice.”

“Deciding on a first job is always a bit of a wild shot,” Mattias says. “Job fairs helped me get a feel for different company cultures, but my decision came down to a few key criteria. I wanted to end up somewhere I’d be able to learn fast, with a clear growth path that matched my ambitions. A supportive work environment with like-minded colleagues was also high on my list.”

That line of thinking quickly pointed him to consulting. Over the next two years, Mattias learned the ropes in data analysis and data governance, drawing up operating models and shaping data landscapes for major organisations.

Two years in, Mattias considered himself ready for the next step. “I wanted to move away from my hardcore focus on data projects and start exploring the more business side of end clients,” he says. “I’d built a lot of deep experience and I wanted to expand my range a little further. Coincidentally, that’s when Stephani from the Addestino HR team reached out.”

“Right from the start, the transparency throughout the entire hiring process stood out. Everyone on the team was very clear about how the company worked and how they differentiated themselves from more traditional consulting firms, both towards clients and internally. The distinct career tracks were a clear differentiator. Rather than an up-or-out career ladder, the team are serious about giving consultants clear choices about the direction they want their career to take.”

The hiring process itself felt different too, Mattias recalls: “I got to speak openly with a future colleague to ask any questions I had and get a feel for the day-to-day. My final interview with Addestino co-founder Dominique was focused almost entirely on personal growth, team fit and the kind of projects I saw myself best suited for. Definitely not a standard interview.”

Mattias didn’t have to wait long for his first work challenge. “I was assigned to a client project on my very first day,” he says. “Out of my comfort zone right from the start, just the way I’d wanted. I joined an existing business transformation engagement for a long-standing client of ours in the telco sector.” (You can read about a previous proposal management project for this client here.)

The work involved product modelling in an industry Mattias was new to. “It taught me so much in my first few months,” he continues. “Not just about product modelling itself, but also about how the telco sector operates.”

For Mattias, some of the most valuable personal development has happened not on client sites, but in the room with his Addestino colleagues. “Explaining business constraints, complexities and possible solutions is a versatile skill that takes time to build,” he points out. “I’m getting plenty of new input and tips from my colleagues here. The variety of backgrounds and profiles means we can challenge and pick apart any idea, in the best possible way. The speed with which some of my teammates can sketch out an entirely new framework with just a pen and paper is beyond belief. This is one of the less visible but most crucial things a consulting firm can offer an experienced hire: genuine peer-level learning, and not just exposure to new clients and industries.”

As Mattias’ initial project wraps up, he already considers himself a fully-fledged member of the Addestino team. What would he say to someone looking for a new challenge? “I’m probably not the only person who finds project variety and diversity in business challenges to be the key differentiator in a consulting job,” he replies. “I keep learning from more experienced colleagues who are equally driven and always willing to help. Combined with a healthy respect for work-life balance and the Addestino methodology, there’s plenty of room to grow and shape your skill set at your own pace.”