Sowing the seeds of sustainability

Sustainability has long been on Alex Asselin’s mind. Ever since he was at school in his native France, he has tried to limit his environmental impact.

“I liked the environment, I liked being outside, and I recycled my waste and those kinds of things. I paid attention to what I bought at the store,” he tells MASTERGRADSCHOOLS. “But at the same time it was very, let’s say, on a high level.” (15:19)

Although his interest in sustainability started as a personal concern, it has since become the focal point of his life. Alex now works as a sustainability consultant for the consulting firm Roland Berger. But how did he break into this notoriously competitive industry? 

Let’s rewind to his time at the Darla Moore School of Business to find out.

What attracted Alex to consulting?

Alex spent his undergraduate years at the Darla Moore School of Business, where he was a student-athlete and studied finance. He enjoyed his time in South Carolina so much that he would stay at the school for their Master of International Business (MIB).

The Moore School MIB is a one-year program if you choose to only stay in the US, and two if you join the international Double-Degree program. Students can choose their pathways through the program to find the areas that interest them the most. In Alex’s case, this freedom led to the Double-Degree program where he studied at Bocconi University in Milan. The contrast between the schools was that the Moore School was more hands on.

He recalls one case-study heavy MIB course where he had to work with his classmates to assess the pros and cons of a company entering a new market. It was essentially a consulting project – and it immediately piqued Alex’s interest in the field.

“That was kind of the ‘Aha!’ moment for me where I was like, ‘OK, this is something I like’,” he says. “It’s really cool to find new ways to think about a problem and find solutions. So that was when I decided to really enter the industry.” (17:01)

In general, knowing where you want to specialize early in your career can be difficult. You’re presented with many options after graduating, which can sometimes be overawing. That’s why consulting appealed to Alex. It allowed him to experience several areas of business until he had a firm idea of where to focus.

“The attraction towards consulting came from being able to work on a lot of different topics without really being a specialist in something – at least for the first few years,” he explains. “Also, the feedback I got from people that had entered the industry was that you keep learning skills and developing yourself as a professional in the first few years – and it’s great.” (13:47)

How Alex broke into the competitive consulting industry

Deciding to work in an industry is one thing; breaking into it is another matter entirely. And consulting is exceptionally competitive. It’s the most popular target industry for business graduates, with salaries among the highest of any profession.

For Alex, getting into consulting was simply a matter of preparation. He says that consulting interviews are a “standardized process”, meaning he could prepare his answers and do interview prep in advance. He could do this thanks to his support network at Darla Moore. As a member of the Gamecock Consulting Club, he could run through case studies and take part in mock interviews with his fellow students.

His time in the consulting club meant Alex could get to the crux of what consulting was all about: problem-solving. Once you understand that, you understand consulting.

“When you try to enter consulting, you do case interviews where you’re being described a business problem for a company. Usually, it’s a past project that’s been done by the consultant, and then you just have to think about it with the consultant, ‘What’s the best way to solve the problem for the company?’” he explains. (17:37)

Crucially, Alex also learned that in consulting interviews, “there is no right or wrong answer in the case.” Rather than looking for the correct answer, employers are really looking to see if your argument is well-structured, if you can think analytically, and if you can explain your reasoning when challenged. (18:50)

“I think if you can demonstrate those qualities in the interview, there shouldn’t be any problem to get a job in any consulting firm,” he adds. (19:27)

Shifting to sustainability consulting

Alex was initially drawn to a consulting career because it gave him a taste of several industries within one role. His first few years at the consulting firm Roland Berger was as varied as he had imagined.

After he had completed a few projects with his new employer, he began to get a clearer idea of which area he wanted to specialize in. As a consultant, Alex could see firsthand how companies’ decisions impacted the environment.

“The last push was done because of work,” he says. “The way I’m focused on sustainability now is really because of the projects I’ve done and what I’ve encountered in work more than my education journey.” (16:09)

Preparation has been the key to Alex’s journey. He prepared for his crucial consulting interviews by drawing upon his support network at the Darla Moore School of Business. Then, his first few years in consulting prepared him to specialize in an area that has long been on his mind.

Wherever Alex goes next in his career, you can be sure he is prepared for it.

If you’d like to learn more about studying for a master’s at the Darla Moore School of Business, feel free to reach out to one of our master’s ambassadors.