Always on the Run at Accenture

I am currently a manager in the strategy division of the financial-services group for Accenture, the global management consulting firm. Based in the company's London office, I have been developing solutions that can be implemented -- rather than devising theoretical ideals -- for our clients on a number of interesting projects. I am also the manager responsible for recruiting and resourcing for Accenture's strategy division.

Back in my final undergraduate year at Cambridge University, I did an internship in Accenture's (ACN ) strategy practice. I enjoyed it and joined the firm upon graduation. I worked on a variety of projects, such as business-change programs, post-merger integrations, and pre-merger analysis for our clients. My interest in mergers and acquisitions led me to join Goldman Sachs (GS ) as an investment banker, where I was able to hone my financial skills (see BW Online, 2/10/06, "Making the Grade at Goldman"). After earning my MBA at Saïd Business School at the University of Oxford, I made my way back to Accenture.

Here's a typical day in my life:

7:58 a.m. -- Alarm goes off on my mobile phone. I turn on my radio to hear the news of the day. I still haven't learned how to set the timer on my radio.

8:08 a.m. -- After listening to the day's headlines, I emerge from under the sheets and draw the blinds. The sunlight hurts my eyes, and I escape into the darkness of the bathroom. I hate mornings.

8:40 a.m. -- Staggering from the shower, I throw on a suit and swallow some vitamins. I am running late. I'm glad I live in the city. Otherwise I'd never make it to work on time.

8:59 a.m. -- Arrive at the financial-services client in a flush, having run the whole way. I log onto my laptop and check my voice mail. I have one new voice mail telling me to submit my time and expenses, or the Accenture Police will get me.

9:10 a.m. -- The client and I walk off to get our bagels and cappuccinos. When I return to my desk, I learn that we have an emergency meeting with the CEO and CFO in 20 minutes. I start frantically amending the PowerPoint presentation: creating boxes, writing straplines, fiddling with numbers, changing graphs, reducing font sizes, and all that good stuff.

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