Felix Zerbib

Business Analyst, Bachelor of Engineering (Hons), Bachelor of Commerce
The University of Sydney

What's your job about?

Partners in Performance is a global management consulting firm that solves some of the most complex problems faced by business leaders. As a Business Analyst I support my team with analysis and problem-solving to support insights and recommendations that are made to our clients to address a range of strategic and operational priorities.

My work primarily involves analysing our clients' data and operations, as well as conducting interviews and workshops. The output of my work is often used to drive conversations or further problem-solving sessions to eventually support a decision or recommendation made to our client.

An exemplary week of mine would begin with a kickoff meeting with our internal team to review and define the scope of the problem we are being engaged to solve. We use “hypothesis-led problem solving” – which means starting with a hypothesis (which we work to validate or invalidate) rather than a blank canvas.

To develop supporting evidence and guide the narrative of our recommendations, we engage in a variety of interviews and analyse client data throughout the week. We prefer to engage with our clients actively throughout the process, ensuring that we incorporate the insights and perspectives of those who are most familiar with the addressed problem.

What's your background?

I grew up in Sydney’s Inner West. I spent a lot of my university breaks interning overseas in France or in Southeast Asia, which drove my love of working in new, dynamic environments, meeting new people, and working on interesting projects.

I also spent a lot of my time volunteering and working for a social enterprise, as well as working for a policy think tank, which drove my passion for working on problems affecting people on a daily basis and driving tangible impact.

I naturally gravitated to management consulting as a result, and was particularly interested in Partners in Performance, which aims to differentiate itself as a firm for driving lasting impact for clients.

Could someone with a different background do your job?

Absolutely. While my quantitative background has helped in some of the work we do, there are parts of the job that I am less equipped for compared to some of my peers who come from other backgrounds. What is most critical in our work is openness to experience, a natural curiosity, and work ethic. I think each of these can be developed from any educational and working background.

What's the coolest thing about your job?

The coolest thing about my job is that we get to work with smart people to solve real and challenging problems. I get to work on issues that execs are laser focused on, which means that I get to experience and learn from the insights that they have gathered throughout their careers.

What are the limitations of your job?

The work can at times be tough work-life-balance wise. We often travel to clients’ offices, which can mean leaving your home city early on Monday and getting back home Thursday night, sometimes for multiple months. As a junior, we also bear a significant amount of responsibility to support the team with our work which can be stressful at times.

3 pieces of advice for yourself when you were a student...

Try lots of different things – at the time my various experiences felt a bit random at best, but hindsight is 20:20 and I have brought different perspectives and insights into my team as a result.
Be curious – on each engagement / assignment / team you work with, remember that there is something you can learn from each person no matter who you are.
Remember that you don’t know what you don’t know – identify what you assume to be true whenever you are working through a problem and test those assumptions.

Stefani Anastasieska

Senior Associate, Bachelor of Pharmacy, Master of Management

Tell us about your background

I was born in Macedonia and came to Sydney at the age of 8 not being able to speak any English. I picked up the language very quickly and by the time I had finished high school, I had a passion for health, which led to my time in University studying a Bachelor of International Pharmacy and a Graduate Certificate of Pharmacy Practice. During my time in university, I was lucky enough to participate in a semester abroad in Boston, USA studying pharmacy for the last semester of my degree. I worked as a pharmacist in charge for 2 years and became curious about other ways to use the skills that I had acquired, so I pursued a Master of Management from the University in Sydney. Throughout the degree, I discovered consulting and deemed it the perfect way to use the soft skills I had acquired in an interesting career.

I applied to Partners in Performance and after going through the interview process, I received my offer in April 2019 and started as a Business Analyst in February 2020.

Why did you choose Partners in Performance?

I had done a lot of research about consulting firms to decide which one would be right for me, and Partners in Performance stood out for three main reasons:

The culture – Throughout the interview process, the people I had met and their experiences in the firm showed a team culture of inclusiveness and looking out for each other. Everyone had a great relationship with their other colleagues, being closer than they normally would in a very large consulting firm. Everyone champions those around them while challenging them at the same time to make them the best possible person and consultant.
The clients – Being able to interact with clients even as an entry level employee was really appealing to me. Having the opportunity to help them unleash the potential within their companies was very fulfilling as well as being a part of the positive impact.
The development – One of the most appealing things about Partners in Performance was the development aspect. Each employee gets their own development leader to help them along their path, feedback is timely and gets delivered straight away, and every new starter is required to complete an apprenticeship which allows them to get to know every aspect of the firm in the first six months.

What does your job involve?

My role as a business analyst is incredibly varied. I am responsible for supporting my team through analysis, developing models, building presentations and helping clients implement ideas to improve their operations. At Partners in Performance every project is for a different client, industry and team, so you really get to be a part of a wide breadth of experiences.

One of my most interesting engagements was for a utility company in Wellington, New Zealand. Having lived in Australia for the last 19 years, I always considered New Zealand too close for a holiday and had never visited. Luckily with Partners in Performance, I got the opportunity to do some work there. Our team spent a few weeks interviewing key stakeholders and analyzing data to identify and quantify potential improvement opportunities. At the end of the project, we had a whole pipeline of improvement ideas and a trained up, capable client team to be able to execute them. Having spent most of 3 months with the clients, you get to develop some interesting professional connections that would be unimaginable if we didn’t get to travel.

Travel is a large part of the job, as a consultant you need to be where the client is, which can be quite a different lifestyle than you may be used to. The beauty of travelling for work is being able to experience new cities, new environments and new client teams, all while learning something new every day.

How have you adapted to consulting during the pandemic?

My first three months of consulting included travelling and working on client sites. Quickly that became impossible due to COVID and I have spent the last 10 months working from home. Getting used to a remote environment may be difficult at first especially when you are newly learning, but what it does provide is a good level of independence that you learn from early on. Having time in the mornings and evenings at home became a dedicated time for exercise and spending time with my family, which has been great for dealing with the multiple lockdowns we’ve endured.

Three pieces of advice for anyone considering a job with Partners in Performance

Don’t be afraid to apply! Consulting can be a career path for anyone if you possess the ability to communicate, willingness to learn and can solve a problem. Coming from a health background, I initially thought that my chances were limited, but I quickly found out that there is a wide level of backgrounds in the firm, from doctors, engineers, pharmacists, lawyers and many more.
Practice, practice, practice. Knowing how to do a case study is one of the most important things through the interview process. Research how to best answer questions (using the STAR method) and present yourself in the best light possible.
Get ready to work hard and have fun! One of the best things about Partners in Performance is the people you meet and the relationships you form, even after a long day on a project, knowing the people around you well really make a difference.

Arthur Huang

Senior Associate, University of New South Wales

Your Job Title: Senior Associate
University Attended: University of New South Wales
Degree qualification: Bachelor of Economics / Advanced Mathematics (Hons)
Year of graduation: 2019

What's your job about?

Partners in Performance is a management consulting firm that excels in providing operational and strategic help to its clients around the world.

I started my journey with the company as a graduate Business Analyst in 2020, and over time, I have risen to the role of Senior Associate. As a consultant, I engage in diverse tasks such as conducting interviews, data analysis, facilitating workshops, and creating/delivering impactful PowerPoint presentations – all of which are similar to what you would expect in many consulting firms.

However, one of the things I truly appreciate about working here is our inclusive and collaborative work environment. I actively participate in problem-solving discussions, alongside the senior leadership team and clients. This flat hierarchy structure allows me to contribute my own ideas and learn from more experienced professionals, fostering both personal and professional growth.

What's your background?

I had the privilege of growing up in Australia, raised by immigrant parents who instilled in me strong values and a diverse perspective. My schooling years were proudly in New South Wales, and along the way, I tried my hand at a few jobs before joining Partners in Performance, such as interning at a data science firm and working part-time as an academic tutor at my university.

What ultimately led me into the world of management consulting was the allure of collaborating with like-minded, driven individuals – all passionate about making a difference. The prospect of continuous field-based learning and working within a fast-paced work environment also stood out as enticing to me. Whilst at university, I volunteered for a group which provided pro bono consulting, which furthered by interest in the field. Since joining Partners in Performance, I have found great joy in the work I do, and there is no place I would rather work at.

Could someone with a different background do your job?

Absolutely. A role in management consulting presents itself as an inclusive opportunity for individuals to thrive from a diverse range of backgrounds and industries. To enter this field, all that is truly essential is a positive attitude, genuine humility, and a willingness to learn. Moreover, a Senior Associate position provides plenty of opportunities for people of diverse backgrounds to acquire new skills such as corporate level analysis, presentation creation, and stakeholder engagement whilst on the job.

What's the coolest thing about your job?

What I love most about being a consultant is the opportunity to rapidly learn about diverse industry trends and other topics, all while collaborating with highly motivated and experienced colleagues. While initially challenging, being thrown into the deep end ultimately proves very rewarding. For instance, I had the opportunity to learn about medical device operations and then understand emerging markets in the Asia Pacific regarding income inequality, GDP per capita, and migration patterns within the span of a month. The best part of my job is constantly learning about the industries we serve.

What are the limitations of your job?

In management consulting, rapid learning is undoubtedly appealing, but it can also be challenging – especially when starting out. The high-pressured environment and characteristically tighter deadline schedules will differ to the extent of comfort you had at university (when you could take the time to learn things properly). However, I've found that managing this newfound stress is possible through balancing work with exercise and my other hobbies. This approach has helped me find a sense of equilibrium and handle the demands of my role at Partners in Performance more effectively.

3 pieces of advice for yourself when you were a student...

Don’t be afraid of trying new things. Often, the most uncomfortable challenges lead to the greatest sense of accomplishment. If it were easy, you would have already achieved it.
Keep the bigger picture in mind and don't sweat the small stuff. Life will present numerous stresses but focus on what truly matters and let go of what you cannot control.
Reach out to others for connections and advice. Just as you are willing to offer guidance to those less experienced or younger, don't hesitate to tap into your community for advice on unfamiliar territory.

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