Husna Islam’s Post

What makes you stick at one job for 10+ years? Learning. I met Pramil Govil, who is working as a Director at Bain & Company, overseeing strategic initiatives, and leading an analytics CoE. His role entails working with senior leaders at Bain and supporting the CEO, COO and CFO office with analytics for decision making. We discussed a lot of things and he gave me some valuable advice on Consulting, Switching Jobs, Startups etc. 1. Coachability, receptiveness to feedback, a gratitude-driven mindset, teamwork ability, problem-solving skills, and structural thinking are essential for success in a consulting role. Interestingly, these non-technical skills are not dependent on your college or degree. 2. If you’re considering switching jobs and have an offer in hand, think about the apprehensions you might face a few months after switching. If those concerns are more daunting than your current role, don’t make the switch. 3. Working in startups early in your career is like investing in stocks (high risk), whereas working with established brands is like investing in mutual funds, which is less risky. Work with a brand, accumulate capital, be in a position to take risks, and then consider joining a startup. It’s rightly said, Invest in your skills and mindset early, and the dividends will pay off throughout your career. #Consulting

I spent 5 years at McKinsey before startups and I often get asked for advice by consultants considering startups. here's what i say: (this is more for seed/series a/founding) You need to unlearn the following: - Powerpoint slides as the work product - Process for its own sake - Caring about office politics But you should keep the following: - Customer/Client obsession - "Walking the halls" - Project management (useful for B2B sales) And there’s no substitute for practical experience. Many people in “steady and sure” career paths like consulting would be better served being less risk averse and just taking the leap. The skills you gained in talking to customers and organization will serve you but also much of what you've been trained to do is worthless at an early-stage company.

🌟 My SXSW Sydney speaking debut went pretty well! In case you missed it, here are some of the things I shared... 🔎 #Curiosity I'm a life-long learner. I always want to learn new things, try new things, do new things; understand why and how things work; experiment with what else you can with things. My curiosity created strong engagement with others and with the world. The passion and drive that I brought to those engagements saw me take on leadership roles time and time again, from a very young age and on into my career. The primary aspect underlying my curiosity is: how can I make the world a better place? 🙌 #Mentorship I had two notable colleagues who were impactful in my career, although I would refer to them as sponsors or advocates rather than mentors. They recognised my potential, my ability to execute and my capabilities in cross-functional collaboration for better outcomes. Mostly, though, I had to learn what career development meant on my own. Eventually I found external mentorship structures that I leveraged - Women on Boards being a key one in my earlier leadership development. With their program I was enlightened on broader options around directorship - finding organisations aligned with your passions, advisory boards and more. Crucially, I learned how to reframe my engineering skills and experience in the context of corporate governance and relevance to board skills. When I came to BizCubed, I was passionate about ensuring employees get the experience I wish I had had - access to a professional development framework to support their professional goals, input of ideas they may not have considered, structures to bring their goals to life, and frequent opportunities to ask questions and explore. We now have a robust program of regular catchups, career paths, job rotations and leadership opportunities. 💡 #Innovation My long track record of building world-class systems has proven that the pattern to long-term success is to build a repeatable foundation, enable everyday users on how to apply that foundation to their unique situation, and support them to reap the benefits of insights, improvement and innovation. Over our 18 years as a strategic data engineering partner, BizCubed has honed our data engineering methodology - first innovating it into a product, then innovating into a tech-agnostic service. Most recently we've innovated again to solve a specific and urgent customer problem - mandatory #ESG reporting from 1st of January. Our new service "ESG123" simplifies #sustainability reporting to enable businesses to outcompete in a changing world. 🤩 What a fun panel it was! Robyn Foyster of Women Love Tech kept the conversation flowing well, and my co-panelists Chiara Longhi and Myles Lawlor were friendly, supportive and inspiring - so glad to have met you! #SXSWonLinkedIn

🚀Is management consulting really that good for exit opportunities?   Many people enter management consulting for the incredible career prospects it offers. After 2-4 years at a top firm like McKinsey, BCG, or Bain, consultants often transition into senior-level roles across a variety of industries. Our research of 1,000+ former consultants reveals that they land in: 🔹        Tech (Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Meta) 🔹        Strategy roles outside tech 🔹        Investment management 🔹        Entrepreneurship (startups, VC) 🔹        Non-profits Why? With their diverse skill set, problem-solving experience, and the credibility of working at top firms, former consultants often enter new fields at executive levels.   #CainMann #careeradvice #exitingconsulting  

Wondering where to work - a Corporate or a Startup? This is a question that troubles a lot of fresh graduates and early professionals. To help you make the choice, we have collated a detailed pros and cons guide of both the worlds below. Hope this helps! Follow us (Career Edge) for more such content on careers in management consulting and business school preparation, if you found this helpful! And to relaunch your career, build your strategy toolkit & make a switch to Consulting through live mentorship & placement assistance by folks working with McKinsey, Bain, BCG, Dalberg, you can become a part of our Consulting Fellowship (Application link is in the comments)! #careers #corporate #startups

🚀 From Bain to Chief of Staff: My Startup Journey 🎓 Graduating from NSIT and starting my career at Bain, I quickly set my sights on a Chief of Staff role. Here's how I made the leap: Embrace Chaos: Startups are fast-paced, with every decision impacting the bottom line. Embrace the chaos; it's where the excitement lies. Choose Your Industry: Direct-to-consumer brands and marketplaces intrigued me. Choose an industry that aligns with your passion and growth goals. Craft Your Pitch: A tailored cover letter and detailed CV highlighting your achievements set you apart from the crowd. Be Proactive: Cold calling shows initiative and willingness to work. In a startup, hustle matters. 🤝 If you're on a similar journey or need guidance, reach out. Let's connect and unlock new opportunities. #StartupJourney #ChiefOfStaff #CareerGrowth Gaurav VermaSayan Ghosh🦄Prateek Agarwal (Pre-seed investor)Rajvardhan Mohite

Wondering which career path to go ahead with? - Consulting roles or a Startup job. That's a tough call and that's something that a lot of early professionals and college students have to take. To help you out, we have collated some key differences and similarities between the two career paths. Hope this helps you in making the right choice! Follow us (Career Edge) for more such content on consulting careers and business school preparation, if you found this helpful! And to get into Consulting through live mentorship & placement assistance by mentors from McKinsey, Bain, BCG, Dalberg, and Accenture, you can become a part of our Consulting Fellowship (Application link is in the comments). #careers #consulting #startups

Choosing the right career path for your child can be overwhelming, especially during high school when their future feels wide open. That’s why we’re so proud of our student, Aiaru, who found her direction through our PwC Work Experience Program! Through this hands-on program, Aiaru worked on a case study with Tesla, collaborating with industry experts and diving into data analysis. She gained real-world skills that go far beyond the classroom, building confidence and clarity for her future. Now, Aiaru is on track to pursue a career in management consulting. Is your child gaining the right experiences to confidently step into their future career? Let us help guide them. Comment below if you want to know more about our work experience programs designed to support high schoolers in shaping their future! 🙌 #DeltaInstitute #DeltaCareers #WorkExperienceProgram #PwC #Big4 #BigFour #Careers #Careerstalk #CollegeAdmissions

Well, folks, it’s happened. My oldest daughter graduated high school. It’s a proud, nostalgic moment for any father and it caused me to reflect on what I wish I knew at her age and the opportunities that are out there for her and the other students experiencing this next stage in their life. I actually came into my position as Chief Technology Officer Deloitte during grad school. During my Northwestern University - Kellogg School of Management executive MBA (every other Friday afternoon and Saturday for two years; #neededalifecoach), my project in Robert C. Wolcott’s Innovation class was “why Deloitte should invest in an Office of CTO”. I was helping several clients stand up similar capabilities at the time and realized there was a gap in deep tech leadership within my own organization’s C-suite. I saw the opportunity and took it! Pitching the need for a CTO, a role that didn’t exist at Deloitte, and stepping up to the challenge to serve in a very different way, my career has often felt like founding a startup. So, whether you’re graduating from high school, completing college, or simply looking to take on a new career, here are three big life lessons I’ve learned along my CTO journey: • Nurture grit – It can be difficult creating your own path. It can lead to long weeks and late nights - but if you’re passionate about what you’re building, both in your life and in your vocation, that determination will pay off in the long run. • Trust your gut – When you see a gap in your team’s capabilities or a new project you want to take on that’s never been done before – do it! Follow your intuition as it can lead you to all kinds of new adventures and opportunities. •See the potential – Phrased another way: be a relentless optimist. We can only create a better future if we can envision it. Use your fresh perspective to create solutions for challenging problems we’re facing. Positivity and curiosity are superpowers – put them to good use! One of my favorite quotes is “I’d rather light a candle than curse your darkness” (technically from Eleanor Roosevelt, but I give attribution to the Coen Brothers’ masterpiece Raising Arizona). I’m sure many of you reading this post have even more advice for our recent graduates. What other advice would you share? I’ll close with one final quote for my daughter Mae, this one from the poet and philosopher Dave Matthews: “the future is no place to place your better days”. But when it’s as bright as yours, it’s a helluva place to start. #loveyou

4️⃣ Four years ago, I stood at the crossroads of uncertainty, a clueless undergrad with a hunger for something more but no roadmap to follow. The corporate dream? A distant echo. The idea of joining the ranks of industry giants like the #Big4 or #MAANG? A mere whisper in the wind. Fast forward to today, and the whispers have turned into a resounding call to action! 🌪️ 💪 Armed with five years of immersive corporate experience and a master's degree that's as much a testament to perseverance as it is to knowledge, I stand on the precipice of possibility, fueled by determination and driven by purpose. 🗺 My journey from uncertainty to clarity has been nothing short of exhilarating. I've danced with doubt, wrestled with challenges, and emerged not just unscathed but fortified. In the halls of corporate powerhouses, I've had the privilege of collaborating with visionaries, unraveling complexities, and embracing the art of continuous learning. 👀 Now, as I set my sights on the zenith of career success, I am not merely chasing a dream; I am sculpting a destiny. The Big 4 and FAANG? They're not just names; they're beacons of innovation, beckoning me to leave my mark on the world stage. With every step forward, I am emboldened by the belief that the best is yet to come. 🚀 So here's to the journey—the triumphs, the tribulations, and everything in between. I invite you to join me as I embrace the challenge, seize the opportunity, and plunge into the dance of change, for therein lies the path to growth and fulfillment. 💫 Remember to keep your eyes peeled; I'm on a mission to weave my way into the fabric of these fantastic companies: Deloitte, PwC Canada, EY Technology Solutions, KPMG Canada, and Google. 🌊🎉 #CareerAdventure #TrailblazingJourney #BigDreams #FAANGGoals #CorporateOdyssey #EmbraceTheChallenge ❔ Ready to embark on this adventure with me? Drop me a message to connect and explore new possibilities! 📩🌟