Pluspunten
Working at this Paris-based strategy consulting firm was a truly enriching experience. The firm combines classic strategy consulting with a very innovative approach: open-minded, entrepreneurial. The ecosystem is supportive and collaborative, with a real spirit of benevolence. Projects are intellectually challenging and often with high-profile clients across various industries. The company also fosters innovation through its in-house incubator and the Emerton Data practice, which bridges strategy consulting and data science, from digital strategy and transformation projects to identifying digital and data use cases, and developing pilot solutions that demonstrate real business value. The team is diverse in both background and mindset. We meet not only consultants from traditional business schools but also international profiles and people from different walks of life. This openness makes the culture far richer than in many traditional tier-1 firms. Compensation is competitive for its category, and the working atmosphere is genuinely one of the best I’ve seen in consulting.
Minpunten
As in many mid-sized consulting firms, the structure and support systems are still developing. There is limited formal training (most learning happens on the job) and internal resources such as knowledge bases/project archives and expert networks are quite underdeveloped. Unlike tier-1 consultancies, there is no centralized research support, slide designer or paid expert network, which means that during projects (especially due diligences), consultants may find themselves cold-calling people on LinkedIn to gather insights. It can be a great learning experience, but also a bit frustrating when compared to the structured support systems of larger firms. Additionally, the small number of partners means relationships can become quite personal, for better or worse; if things don’t go well with your team or manager, it can feel a bit limiting. More importantly, the firm is still finding its balance at the partner level. The way partner revenue are currently divided has created tensions and even led to some partner departures in recent years. This affects the pace of growth in the strategy practice, and a governance adjustment will likely be key to sustaining the huge potential Emerton has over time.