Senior Associate at Partners in Performance
What's your job about?
As a Senior Associate at PIP, I work closely with our clients to make sure they can sustain what we’ve implemented after we finish our engagement. What makes my day to day exciting is there is no such thing as a typical day. In the morning I could be coaching my client on how to set goals and targets, and in the afternoon I may join the frontline staff in order to benchmark current operations against standard industry practices. The next day I might present data and analytics to the client’s executive team to make sure we’re aligned.
If I worked at a traditional consulting firm, I would visit a client, deliver reports and then leave before the organisation changes the way in which they operate. At PIP, I’m able to step into a client’s everyday environment, understand how they operate and then work with them to change their behaviour. I feel like I’m delivering real results.
What's your background?
I was born and raised in Jakarta, Indonesia. My parents started and still own a very successful supermarket chain back in Jakarta. Their determination and passion for entrepreneurship always inspired me. Growing up, I didn’t know what I wanted to do for work, but I did know I wanted to be like my parents and make a difference in a business. I’ve always been good at math, and that led me to choose a degree in Commerce at University of Melbourne.
Being in University really shaped who I am today. It helped me figure out how to best interact with other people, how to respond to stressful situations and acknowledge my strengths and weaknesses. I put myself out there when I was in Uni (I was part of AIESEC and participated in multiple competitions). I worked two part-time jobs during my final year as a Project Officer and Research Assistant and that’s how I discovered consulting. I love the adrenaline rush when you have to solve a complex issue and to get things done within certain period of time.
When it came to deciding which company to work for, I had a tough choice to make because I had offers from three very prestigious consulting firms. What really made me choose PIP over the others was the people that I spoke with during my interview. They were all really nice, smart people and I felt genuine connections with them. Since I joined PIP as a Business Analyst, I have been promoted twice and love the work that I’m doing.
Could someone with a different background do your job?
Definitely! I know people who studied Medicine, Engineering, Science, Law, Physio, Geology, Arts, Math, etc. who are now my colleagues. That’s the beauty of consulting - the more diverse you are as a team, the more advantageous you are when working on an engagement because there are several different perspectives. I think we embrace that very well as a company and that’s when backgrounds and skills get to really shine.
However, to be successful at PIP, it’s important to be an excellent problem solver, have a results-driven attitude, be good with numbers, have a strong work ethic, be good under pressure, have top grades and be a great communicator.
What's the coolest thing about your job?
There are two main things that really stand out to me. I definitely feel a strong sense of achievement when I see my clients using the tools that I coached them on and then see their results chart going way above targets. I’ve been a part of implementing tools and systems that not just affect the company, but the people who work there as well.
Another cool part of my job is definitely the travel and the different people I get to work with. I’ve had the privilege of working in Malaysia and built great friendships while I was there. We are still in touch today and I see them whenever I make it back to Malaysia.
What are the limitations of your job?
Sometimes work-life balance can be difficult when I’m traveling. Over time this is something that I have learned to actively manage. I usually set up time to meet with friends a couple of weeks in advance. I also make sure to call my family often when I’m away, and always let my engagement leader know if I’m feeling under the weather. I’ve also found that building good relationships with my work colleagues helps.
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