The frequent travel, the fast-paced analyses, the high-powered interactions with clients and colleagues – my first six months felt like being on a rocket ship hurtling at warp speed, with little experience. And I couldn’t get off without jeopardising the mission.
As one of the relatively few recruits at the Singapore office from a local university at that time, I remember struggling to grasp all the industry knowledge and consulting principles in a short time and wondering if I was hired by mistake.
Surrounded by peers bearing intimidating degrees from Ivy League universities and other leading institutions, who appeared to operate with such confidence and clarity, I felt confronted by sky-high expectations.
My constant worry: Had I bitten off more than I could chew?
MY GLOBAL SUPPORT NETWORK
I had been apprehensive of the notorious competitive nature of the industry. Fortunately, I soon found this stereotype held little truth.
In my very first project, working away from home somewhere in Southeast Asia, the company put me on a team with managers and partners – great coaches and mentors who helped to accelerate my learning process.
I gained critical skills for the job – communication, resilience, problem-solving, courage, teamwork – through constant engagement with the clients. I observed how more tenured colleagues managed their time while maintaining deep dedication to the client mission.
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