Samantha Pepe is a consultant with Alvarez & Marsal’s (A&M) Corporate Performance Improvement (CPI) practice in New York, New York. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Clemson University.

In the following Q&A, Samantha shares how she benefited from A&M's Advancing and Cultivating Emerging Leaders (ACE) program, how her A&M mentors, Jean Hill and Saurya Risal, have impacted her and considers adaptability the most important quality for success. 

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

Collaboration. In college, there were many times I had to collaborate with peers to meet a common goal, whether it was for a class project or an extracurricular task. Now I apply what I’ve learned from these experiences every day. I collaborate with my project team to meet client goals, whether brainstorming strategies, creating deliverables or planning the next steps.

What led you to pursue your chosen field of study?

In college, I studied economics. I chose economics because I like how it can be applied to every aspect of life. I’ve found this similar to consulting, as many skills can be applied across different industries and in varying capacities.

Why did you choose to intern at A&M?

I chose to intern at A&M because the employees I met all found their job fun, which is one of the company’s core values. I liked how A&M makes enjoying your work and whom you are working with a key part of your job. This was an environment I looked forward to joining. In CPI, I also liked how campus hires began by working on various projects and industries before specializing in a type of work. Everyone I spoke to shared how working on several projects allowed them to grow personally and professionally.

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

I interned with CPI for two summers and was thrilled to join A&M full-time. I returned because everyone I met was extremely helpful and showed genuine interest in my career development. I knew this firm would help me propel my professional growth. I also knew I would enjoy my work and the people I’m working with, and the clients we serve would genuinely appreciate our time and efforts.

What advantages or gains have you experienced as a participant in A&M's ACE program?

ACE has allowed me to build a network that expands outside my local office. There have been many opportunities to gain knowledge from leaders in CPI’s various solution and industry groups, engage with my peers on various initiatives and better understand my path as I progress with A&M.

This year, I am a member of ACE’s Emerging Leaders Board (ELB), a peer-nominated board that bridges communication between CPI leadership and the ACE community. Through this experience, I built closer relationships with my 12 fellow board members, owned and led initiatives and presented to executives.

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

Communication is key. When juggling multiple important tasks, I always communicate to my manager or whoever oversees my work. This allows my A&M team to help me prioritize and find solutions to successfully meet client deadlines and expectations. I keep a task checklist for the day-to-day items in my OneNote that I update daily. This is good for tracking all items and recording what I worked on as time and the project progress.

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

Come prepared to be continuously learning. One of the things I’ve found most enjoyable about consulting is that I am constantly learning something new since each client is different. Knowing how to research and prepare effectively is key to success as a consultant. I would also encourage them to connect with leaders and others. My colleagues are some of my best resources to learn from, so ask your colleagues about their experiences.

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

Over the next few years, I want to evolve my skills with challenging client projects. I want to leave my comfort zone and navigate new and different work environments by working with clients in various industries. Building my skill set will allow me to grow as a leader and owner of my work.

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

One of the most important qualities in my field is adaptability. Projects and work are ever-changing, and you can never predict what you’ll do next. This leads me to my second quality: composure. When something does not go as planned, it is critical to adjust to the change and do so in a calm and collected manner. A clear mind makes it easier to focus on solving the problem and shows confidence in your work. I cultivate these qualities in me by having an optimistic outlook. Recognizing the positives makes it easier to be flexible and composed when the unexpected occurs.

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

I have been lucky to have several great role models at A&M, strong women who have empowered me, starting as an intern.

Jean Hill, Managing Director and Solution Lead for Digital & Technology Services in CPI has influenced my career development. During my first internship, I worked primarily on an internal project overseen by Jean. This was my first true working experience. We met daily, and she advised me on starting my career and how to think like a consultant. Being able to connect with a leader to ask questions and learn from them while at the intern level helped me build a strong foundation for my future roles at A&M. To this day, even when I’m not working on one of her projects, I continue to seek her advice as my career progresses.

Saurya Risal, a manager with Digital & Technology Services in CPI, has been an influential mentor to me since my first day at the firm. During my internships, she took me under her wing and showed me the ins and outs of consulting, CPI, and A&M. It was exciting to learn from a recent graduate what my career at A&M could look like. Since then, we have worked on two client engagements together, where I have seen and learned from her growth, and she has had insight into mine. I can count on her for formal feedback and informal advice as a mentor and friend and I know that I will continue to grow in my career because of what I learn from her.

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

I believe in lifelong networking. When starting out, I set up 15-minute one-on-ones with each managing director in my office. This served as a foundation for future conversations. I also used the opportunities to meet people, like my project work, participating in employee resource groups (ERG) events and A&M University. As my career has progressed, I have stayed in touch with colleagues I no longer work with daily. For instance, I have quarterly check-ins with previous project managing directors and get coffee with peers I have not caught up with in a while. I also will introduce myself to new employees I see at the office. Reach out because you never know where an introduction will lead you.

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

Outside of work, I like to do art, particularly photography. I have had an interest in it since middle school. I minored in visual arts in college, and I even sold a few pieces! Additionally, since moving to New York City, I have taken up Pilates. I’ve found the studio and instructor I like to go to, and it has become part of my routine.

What are some fun facts about you?

I enjoy traveling and have been to 25 countries! My most recent trips were to Madrid, Spain and Tangier, Morocco. I worked as an academic tutor for the athletic department in college and two of the students I worked with now play in the National Football League.

My sister, Alexandra, is an intern with A&M's Transaction Advisory Group (TAG), also in New York.