What's your job about?
Nous is an international management consultancy that works with leaders in the private, public and community sectors on issues that have a substantial positive influence on people’s lives. Nous offers a broad consulting capability that ranges from strategy and design through to transformational change and organisational performance and leadership.
Describing management consulting is difficult because it is so broad and depends on the client and their needs. This lack of description is actually a good reflection of consulting. Often Nous projects centre on a deliverable, which might be a review, an evaluation, a report with recommendations or a proposal – but there are many more deliverable types. Developing the deliverable requires structured thinking, careful quantitative and qualitative analysis, and frequently stakeholder engagements, which can include interviews, workshops and meetings with the client.
As a consultant I contribute to all stages of the project. Throughout the project I attend and contribute to internal team meetings and external client meetings. At various times I either facilitate or take notes during stakeholder consultations. I spend time thinking about how to structure our reports, make them easy to read and compelling for the client and then of course develop them. I am often on more than one project at a time so my day has lots of variety, especially when Nous office meetings, social events and coffees with colleagues are included. Between all of these commitments and to stay up to date I always have my calendar, email and Microsoft Teams chat open.
What's your background?
I grew up and still live in North Perth, WA. After finishing primary school, I moved to a different high school and recall being very nervous on my first day and greeted by fresh new faces. The day didn’t start well when my Mum’s car boot fell on my head – but things got easier from then.
Some of my favourite memories of high school were when I was able to travel as a part of the hockey and volleyball team. It was during these trips where I made some of my best friends. At school, I found a passion for business, and studied economics and accounting in my final year, which I then continued as my two degrees at university.
At university, I filled my time volunteering at a Perth-based social enterprise that aims to break the stigma surrounding homelessness by providing channels for artists to sell their artwork and connect with the community. I kept in touch with my high school through tutoring, volleyball coaching and teaching an entrepreneurship program.
In my second year at university, I completed a handful of internships and joined a management consulting club that provides free consulting to Perth businesses; it didn’t take long for me to realise that I wanted to be a management consultant. In my final year, I applied for Nous, which involved an online application, phone call and two interviews. I graduated as Valedictorian, which was exciting, and I enjoyed giving a rather memorable speech.
I have been at Nous as a consultant for a little over one year. I remember my first day at Nous as clearly as my first day of high school – thankfully without the car boot falling on my head.
Could someone with a different background do your job?
Absolutely. Given the variety of sectors and types of work, Nous does it is important to have a mix of personalities and backgrounds. We very much encourage and focus on having a diverse team and workplace. One thing that is common for all people at Nous is that we care about making a positive impact on the lives of others. Graduates aren’t expected to know any consulting skills – they’re all taught in a comprehensive induction – rather, having strong soft skills is far more valuable. Being organised, having good written and verbal communication skills and working well in a team environment are crucial to being a good management consultant.
What's the coolest thing about your job?
I love all parts of my job, but I especially enjoy the thrill and challenge of facilitating workshops and conducting stakeholder interviews. I have enjoyed travelling to regional and remote parts of WA to do so. Regardless of whether it is one person, ten people or a room filled with a hundred, I always learn something new and get to hear unique perspectives from a range of people.
What was it like joining during COVID-19?
Joining was seamless. I was fortunate to join at a time when the office was open, so I had a relatively normal experience and got to meet all my colleagues immediately. Usually, all graduates at Nous fly to Melbourne for a two-week induction program, but sadly for me it was virtual. Nous is a very connected workplace, and many projects involve teams that have people in different offices. Our technology and systems make it very easy to work from home and work with people in other offices – some of my best friends at work are in Sydney!
What’s it like working with senior people on projects?
Nous places relatively little emphasis on titles and has a very flat hierarchy. This means that senior people spend more time ‘getting their hands dirty’ and are very involved and approachable. In team meetings, graduates are encouraged to challenge assumptions and contribute to strategic thinking. As a result, graduates have more responsibility, faster career growth and learn more.
What are the limitations of your job?
Working at Nous is both professionally and personally enjoyable. There is a big focus on self-management, honesty and teamwork. Nous trusts employees and allows them to dictate how and when they work. The working hours at Nous are more than 9-5 but are flexible and very manageable. Nous is not for people that are selfish and take advantage of the leniency offered.
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