What was your professional background before consulting?
Before joining Fairgrove, I worked as a Financial Analyst at Goldman Sachs in the Wealth Management Division, on UK Sales Desk. We managed portfolios for Ultra High Net Worth Individuals, Family Offices, Foundations, and Charities, providing investment advice and execution across asset classes including Fixed Income, Equities, and Alternatives (Private Equity, Private Credit, Real Estate, and Infrastructure). I also helped manage non-discretionary accounts and facilitated trading on a brokerage basis.
Which aspects of consulting surprised you most?
What’s surprised me most is the level of depth you can reach – even in seemingly niche industries. There are always numerous factors and drivers influencing business decisions, and nothing is ever as simple as it first appears. That’s where we can really add value. I’ve especially enjoyed digging into the detail through expert interviews, speaking with multiple industry specialists to inform our recommendations.
What advice would you give to others considering a similar switch?
Go for it – but do your research. Make sure you understand what the role actually involves, what a typical day looks like, and how your work fits into the bigger picture. Without this clarity, it’s hard to know whether you’ll enjoy the role. Getting these answers can be difficult; people aren’t always clear when you speak to them, so I’d recommend speaking to as many people as possible across different seniority levels and firm sizes.
