We interviewed Veronika Bitter who has recently been elected as the Vice President of the EADA Consulting Club 2020, together with President Kasper Laumann Hartlev. Veronika is from Austria and currently enrolled in the International Master in Sustainable Business & Innovation at EADA. She speaks German, English and Spanish and holds a Bachelor of Science in International Business Administration, specialized in Transportation & Logistics from Vienna University of Economics and Business. Veronika first came to Barcelona for an internship experience, and returned one year later to complete her masters at EADA.
What made you want to be elected to represent the Consulting Club at EADA?
During my time at high school, I have always enjoyed being involved in organizing events for other students. As part of my bachelor’s, I took part in various conferences and networking events, which triggered my excitement for exchanging ideas with like-minded students.
Representing the EADA Consulting Club together with the Club President Kasper, allows me to combine my motivation for building a community for fellow students to connect and to prepare for the job interview process. Furthermore, I see this as a great opportunity to develop my own skills in terms of organization, coordination and communication. Finally, the EADA Consulting Club brings together many students with diverse backgrounds from all of EADA’s International Master programmes to work together towards a common goal, where we can challenge each other along the way.
How does the Consulting Club relate to your career goals?
During my studies and internships, I developed a great interest in the consulting industry because of the high impact project-based work, the steep learning curve and the challenging, international work environment that allows for personal growth.
I believe the EADA Consulting Club is not only a good preparation for the consulting selection process but is relevant for any career start. The Club community strengthens the students’ team spirit with a can-do attitude and practices analytical problem-solving approaches.
What was the most important thing that you learned about case study interviews, the most common form of selection in consulting, from the Consulting Club training?
It is important to fully prepare for such a case study interview, strengthening the capability of problem solving while clearly communicating the thought process. There are different types of case interviews that require various skills: math skills, identifying the underlying structures of business problems, and making recommendations effectively. Apart from that, as there is no one-fits-all solution, it requires abilities to listen carefully to your interviewer (or client) in order to understand the problem. Most importantly, you have to practice, practice and practice the process.
In consulting, it is important to be hard working and disciplined, to stay curious with a problem-solving attitude and have a good eye for detail without losing the overall picture.
What do you think are the most important qualities in a successful consultant?
For a consultant to be successful, it requires a broad set of skills with an open, growth mindset. Since there is no ‘standard day’ in a consultant’s life and it is a very competitive industry, I believe it is essential to demonstrate flexibility, ambitiousness and drive. Apart from having excellent grades, I think it is important to be hard working and disciplined, to stay curious with a problem-solving attitude and have a good eye for detail without losing the overall picture. To me, the consulting industry is a people business. So, besides analytical skills you will also need high communication and people skills (such as leadership and persuasion) with a strong team spirit.
The Consulting Club equips members with the right tools to solve a client’s problem and support with getting one-step further in the selection process.
What do you think is the most challenging part of a career in consulting? How does the Club prepare you for this role?
Especially in the beginning of a career in consulting, I think it will be challenging to cope with the high workload, tight deadlines and many new things to learn in a short time period, while being prepared to make mistakes.
Entering the consulting industry comes with fierce competition and pressure to perform with excellence. However, the Club’s sessions equip members with the right tools to solve a client’s problem and support with getting one-step further in the selection process. In fact, the Consulting Club works through case cracking workshops, group discussions and offers opportunities to connect with fellow students, alumni and professionals experienced in the consulting industry.
