Campus Spotlight: Danielle Collett
Patience, Perseverance and Practice: An Analyst's Tips for Early Career Professionals Entering the Consulting World
Danielle Collett is an Analyst with Alvarez & Marsal’s (A&M) Healthcare Industry Group (HIG) in New York, New York. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Emory University, double majoring in Neuroscience & Behavioral Biology and English.
In this Q&A, Danielle discusses her career growth at A&M and the impactful mentorship she's received from colleagues like Stu McLean, Jon Masoudi and Lauren Wysocki. She emphasizes the importance of embracing change, authenticity and resilience in healthcare consulting. Danielle's proactive networking approach centers on curiosity and learning from others.
Reflecting on your college experience, what unexpected lessons or insights have you gained that have significantly impacted your career?
Change often occurs slowly, then suddenly. In college, I would find myself studying a particular subject for hours, and it just wouldn’t click. Then, all of a sudden, it would come together. This is a lesson I have taken with me into my professional career. With enough time and effort, practice, repetition and hours, it will eventually come together. Be patient and keep going because progress and change will come.
Why did you choose to intern at A&M?
I chose to intern at A&M because I was looking for an opportunity to work in a fast-paced environment with hardworking individuals. Many people at A&M spoke highly of its “entrepreneurial spirit,” which resonated with me, as I was looking for a firm to support my growth and development in the consulting field.
What motivated your decision to join A&M full-time?
The people. Even during my fully remote internship amid COVID, I quickly realized the people at A&M were passionate, intelligent and personable. The senior leadership of the healthcare practice generously invests the time and effort to mentor the junior staff, regularly providing client-facing experiences. Even as an Analyst, I have had the opportunity to present to C-suite executives at client sites across the country.
Which office are you based in, and how would you describe the office culture?
I am based in the New York office. I mainly work on travel projects, so I spend limited time in the office and more time with different teams in person at various client sites. However, I always enjoy catching up with other HIG colleagues during end-of-year reviews or when a group of NYC Analysts chooses a day to work in the office!
Navigating Challenges by Leveraging Mentors and Embracing Change
Reflecting on your career's early stages, what unexpected challenges did you encounter, and how did you navigate them to emerge stronger?
In college, I studied neuroscience—an increasingly important area within the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) world. I was challenged when joining a consulting firm where most of my peers entered with previous finance and business experience. The learning curve was steep and pushed me outside my comfort zone. I tried to navigate this with patience, perseverance and practice. This has allowed me to develop new skill sets applicable across various fields.
How do you stay updated on industry trends and developments, and what resources do you rely on for continuous learning and growth?
I love reading the Morning Brew, which covers all latest business news, first thing in the morning. I also subscribe to the Healthcare Brew for the latest industry developments, providing insight into everything from pharmaceutical developments to healthcare startups. I am part of the Hospitals and Health Systems group within HIG, so I also like to read Becker’s Hospital Review to stay current.
Who are the individuals at A&M you consider your closest mentors, and what valuable lessons have you learned from them?
At A&M, Stu McLean, Jon Masoudi and Lauren Wysocki are my closest mentors. At the most recent healthcare group offsite, Stu shared the following quote from Allan Watts: “You’re under no obligation to be the same person you were five minutes ago.” This quote truly resonated with me. It’s important to embrace change and always be looking forward. You are neither chained to your past self nor your previous ambitions. That’s important to remember, especially early on in your career. Try new things and embrace new possibilities. Stu has not only shaped my perspective but has fueled my passion for learning and leading.
Jon was one of the first people I met at A&M who truly exemplifies one of A&M’s most important core values: fun. Our work at A&M is often serious and intense, especially when trying to help a client in a challenging position. However, Jon inspires me to be genuine, authentic, and light-hearted. He has enabled me to achieve some of my best work because of this. His charisma is infectious, and he has empowered me (and many others) to navigate challenges and seize opportunities with confidence and grace.
Lauren has mastered the art of balance, from client work to business development efforts, she always finds the time to invest the effort and energy to help me grow personally and professionally. She has made HIG better by continuously investing in the group’s culture, fostering an inclusive and supportive environment. She has helped turn my aspirations into tangible results and inspires me to be my best.
I feel incredibly fortunate to call Stu, Jon and Lauren lifelong mentors.
Best Practices for Building Relationships Effectively in the Consulting Industry
What personal attributes or traits are essential for success in your field, and how do you continually nurture and develop these qualities within yourself?
Flexibility, resilience and authenticity are essential for success in the healthcare consulting field. Project responsibilities constantly change, so it’s important to be flexible and adapt quickly. Often I will be doing something for the first time and have no idea where to start, so it’s crucial to be resilient and perseverant, especially when it doesn’t come easily or naturally. And finally, but most importantly, I believe authenticity separates good consultants from great ones. The best leaders have all three of these traits, and I am constantly working to nurture these qualities within myself to grow personally and professionally.
How do you approach networking and building professional relationships, and what tips would you offer to others just starting?
Be proactive and ask questions! I believe it’s important to be curious about people. Where have they been? What have they learned? Where do they want to go? Asking questions always provides the opportunity to learn something new. So, reach out to someone you’ve wanted to connect with. Ask for some time on their calendar or to grab coffee!
What are some notable perks or benefits you've experienced working in the consulting industry?
We have an incredible network of people. Our group of consultants comes from myriad backgrounds and previous professional careers. I am thankful to have connected with the people at A&M and learned from their wealth of knowledge and advice.
Another notable benefit of consulting is learning to efficiently tackle exceptionally challenging problems that clients face. Working with the A&M team has taught me to deliver actionable results quickly under tight deadlines. Clients have high expectations (rightfully so) concerning deliverables from consulting firms they engage with, and learning how to execute has been an important lesson and benefit to my overall growth as a problem solver.
What's your favorite hobby or activity outside of work, and how did you get into it?
Recently, my favorite hobby outside of work has been pickleball! My apartment overlooks a few pickleball courts, so after a few weeks of watching, I finally decided to try it. I’m no Ben Johns, but it’s super fun and a great way to make new friends in the city.
