An MBA Student’s Perspective on Campus Hiring and Consulting Careers

Paul Koch is a Senior Associate with Alvarez & Marsal’s (A&M) Private Equity Improvement Practice (PEPI) in Austin, Texas. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Rollins College and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Texas McCombs School of Business.

In the following Q&A, Paul shares his experiences during his MBA program, his involvement in campus recruiting for PEPI, challenges he faced early in his career and his approach to staying organized and current with industry trends. He also talks about his biggest career accomplishment, advice for university students interested in consulting and his career goals for the next few years.

What skills or experiences did you gain during your MBA program that have been valuable in your career thus far?

I joined A&M after pursuing my MBA at the University of Texas at Austin. During my time in the program, I was able to refine many skills that have been valuable in my career with A&M so far. The most beneficial skills I refined were my communication and people skills. Much of my coursework required me to communicate, work and present to people with various backgrounds, highlighting the importance of driving how my findings impacted them. This is a process and skill that I use daily with both clients and team members.

What led you to pursue your chosen field of study?

Seeking continuous growth and development, I embarked on an MBA journey to bolster my communication, analytical and decision-making prowess. Before this, I had gained invaluable experience in early-stage investing and a commercial real estate family office, which fueled my passion for business and shaped my path toward an MBA.

Why did you choose to intern at A&M?

I was eager to intern with A&M because of the firm’s people and unique positioning within the larger consulting market. During the recruiting process, I met several of my future coworkers with impressive backgrounds who were genuinely happy with their work and connected to the firm’s core values. A&M’s PEPI Mergers and Acquisitions Services/Software, Technology and Services (MAS/STS) group also allowed me to work on transaction and performance improvement problems for private equity clients, which is something I knew I wanted to continue in my career.

Why did you choose to join A&M full-time?

The unique experience and amount of care that the firm put into my internship experience greatly influenced my decision to join A&M in a full-time role. The careful planning by practice leadership allowed me to work on a project for almost its entire lifecycle.

Tell us about your involvement in the firm's campus recruiting and how it's shaped your perspective on talent acquisition and the next generation of professionals.

I am involved in the campus recruiting program for PEPI MAS/STS. My biggest takeaway from participating in the recruiting process is how much work goes on behind the scenes to be involved. From preparing materials for information sessions to rebooking travel to ensuring they are in attendance, everyone makes great efforts to be there and present for the process.

Overcoming Early Career Obstacles

How did you start your career, and what were some of the biggest challenges you faced early on?

I entered business school close to the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic. During my career before school, collaboration software (i.e., Teams, Slack, Live files) was used but was far from as critical as it is today. During my internship, I struggled a bit with how to best use and adapt to the tools. Thankfully, I was able to get up to speed quickly and am now appreciative of what these tools enable us to do daily.

How do you stay organized and manage your time effectively, especially when faced with competing priorities and deadlines?

I maintain lists and try to overcommunicate with internal stakeholders. I’m known to share my list with relevant people through a Teams chat and cross off items or provide status updates in line. Providing unprompted updates to stakeholders helps me prioritize what needs to get done in collaboration with my teams.

How do you stay current with industry trends and developments, and what resources do you rely on for ongoing learning and growth?

I rely on a wide roster of different resources to keep current. I read the Wall Street Journal, New York Times and Barron’s for broader news and information. To keep up to date on more specific items, such as real estate, I read trade publications such as The Real Deal, Bisnow or The Business Journals.

What do you consider to be your biggest accomplishment so far in your career?

One of the biggest accomplishments of my career has been earning the right to lead a workstream and deliverable. This required the trust of both my team and the client, which I was particularly proud of because it helped finalize our scope of work on the project and greatly impacted the client’s organization.

Navigating the Transition from School to Work

What advice would you give to university students looking to work in consulting?

Approach the industry with an expectation of being flexible in time and skills and a willingness to learn. No two engagements are exactly alike! From a practical perspective, spend time building your analysis skill set and improve your financial acumen while in school. This can be as simple as reviewing 10-Ks of public companies that interest you or taking more advanced data analysis coursework.

In hindsight, what advice would you give to your college self or other recent graduates about navigating the transition from school to work?

A&M is a great place to begin a career. The firm has put together some great training programs for junior hires to help them get up to speed and learn on the job. The style of work that we do is conducive to consistently pushing one’s skill set. Take advantage of the opportunities that are presented to you as you join the firm.

Creating a Framework for Career Development Success

What are your career goals and aspirations for the next few years?

My goal for the next few years is to continue to provide quality work to clients and lead additional workstreams on projects. I am passionate about producing good work product and deepening our client relationships through exceptional performance.

What are the most important qualities for success in your field, and how do you cultivate those qualities in yourself?

Flexibility. Every engagement I’ve been staffed on has required a level of flexibility in my work style and role on the project. I try and cultivate this by consistently pushing myself to take on work outside of my comfort zone.

The Importance of Mentorship in Professional Development

Can you tell us about a mentor or advisor who has influenced your career development, and what did you learn from them?

I’ve had several mentors throughout my career at A&M and before my time with the firm. Prior to my time at A&M, one of my former managers saw my interest in pursuing transaction-related work in a variety of industries and pushed me to pursue M&A consulting when I had outgrown my role with them. Several years out, we are still close and speak regularly. At A&M, everyone in the Austin PEPI office has been an incredible resource to me. We try to spend regular time in the office when we are not traveling, which is a way to get informal and formal career advice and learn the ins and outs of different engagements.

How do you approach networking and building professional relationships, and what tips would you offer to others starting out?

People at A&M generally want to be helpful, so don’t be afraid to get time with people and ask thoughtful questions. Take advantage of the first few months at the firm to schedule time with the managing directors, engagement leaders and peers to learn about what they are working on and their interests or specialties. Make sure to pay it forward and help those who come after you!

What's your favorite hobby or activity outside of work, and how did you get into it?

I’m an at-home handyman with a bit of a creative streak. I enjoy whenever I can get my hands dirty such as woodworking projects, hanging drywall or fixing cars. Nothing’s off limits in my attempt to fix it, and I occasionally have some success.

If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?

I’d like to have super speed. I like super speed for two reasons. First, I can get more done. Second, no more wasting time in traffic!

If you had to eat only one type of cuisine for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?

I live in Texas, so I think the only correct answer is barbeque. In all seriousness, though, barbeque is a great expression of food, and a variation of it can be found in every culture. There’s something great about food, smoke, heat and time!

What are some fun facts about you?

• I renovated my own home in business school.
• I have two young children.
• I’ve been lost in the Everglades.
• I greatly enjoy cooking!