A couple weeks ago, I spoke with my good friend Mike about his transition from teaching to the world of consulting. Mike is an engaging speaker and a wonderfully bright young professional; as accomplished as a chess player as he is on the rugby pitch. For those students in the School of Management or seeking to go after a career in the high-paced world of business, this is an article you won’t want to miss.

1) What do you do as a consultant at EY-Parthenon? What other roles have you had and what was your career path that led you there? 

I’m a Business Strategy Consultant at EY-Parthenon, which is the strategy consulting arm of Ernst & Young. My work typically falls into two main categories:

• Private Equity Commercial Due Diligence: When private equity firms are considering buying a company, they hire us to evaluate the business and its market. We analyze data, run surveys, and interview industry experts to answer questions like: Is this a good investment? How fast is the market growing? Who are the competitors?
• Corporate Strategy: We work with large companies (usually $100M+ in revenue) to help them figure out how to grow, enter new markets, or restructure their business.

My career path started by teaching high school special education through Teach For America. While I loved the experience, I realized teaching wasn’t my long-term path. I pivoted into consulting by joining a small boutique firm in Cleveland, Ohio, where I learned the ropes. A few years later, I transitioned to EY-Parthenon, which is a much larger, global firm.

2) What was your educational background and how did it influence your career path?

I studied Film and Economics in college. Film taught me to think critically and creatively, while Economics gave me a foundation in applying quantitative reasoning to real-world problems. Neither major was directly “technical” for consulting, but both helped me develop problem-solving and communication skills—which are essential in anything you can do. Most technical skills in consulting are learned on the job.

3) What organizations, clubs or internships were you involved in during college?

I was active in club rugby, club ski racing and helping make student films. While these weren’t directly related to consulting, they taught me teamwork, resilience, and time management—skills that are surprisingly relevant in a demanding career like consulting.

4) Looking back, what, if anything, do you wish you would have known when you were just starting out?

Where you start isn’t where you finish. I stressed a lot about landing the “perfect” first job, but careers are rarely linear. If you work hard, build skills, and stay curious, opportunities will come your way—even if your first role isn’t your dream job.

5) What are the biggest challenges that you typically face in your career?

Work-life balance: Consulting can mean 12+ hour days for weeks at a time. Setting boundaries and making time for things I enjoy—like rugby and seeing friends—has been critical.

Keeping perspective: It’s easy to take feedback personally and get emotionally invested in work. Learning to view feedback as a tool for growth rather than a judgment is key.  Also, keeping perspective that my work isn’t life or death has been important to let mistakes go.

6) What advice do you have for anyone that would want to pursue a career in working in consulting or corporate strategy?

Just get your foot in the door: Don’t get intimidated by the mystique around consulting. It’s not rocket science—it’s about structured thinking and clear communication.

Prepare for case interviews: Practice, but don’t overcomplicate it. Focus on logical problem-solving.

Network: Many opportunities in consulting come through connections, so start building relationships.

7) What should interested students know about EY-Parthenon? 

EY-Parthenon is a strategy-focused arm of EY, so you get the benefits of a smaller, specialized team within a massive global firm. That means exposure to cool strategy-focused projects and access to EY’s broader resources.  

8) If a UB student wanted to talk with you, what is the best way to reach you? 

Reach out via email through the Employer Relations team—I’d be happy to connect.

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