Why did you choose Booz Allen?
I had an interest in the big ideas of academia with the real-world challenges facing businesses and government. Booz Allen provides the best of both worlds. I work with incredibly talented colleagues with technical, business, and strategy expertise. We’re solving on some of the most complex, challenging problems across business and government, and I’m proud to be part of the team.
How has your background/education helped you be successful at Booz Allen?
Much of what I studied in philosophy doesn’t seem immediately relevant to our work at Booz Allen, but it is. In the end, all areas of academia are about taking complexity and breaking it down into manageable parts. That’s the core of all problem solving, and that’s the business we’re in.
Discuss some of your career highlights.
I’ve been fortunate to work on projects that made real contributions to national security, counterterrorism, and cybersecurity. More recently, I’ve been part of the firm’s reemergence in the high-tech manufacturing space. It is incredibly exciting to see our team helping clients navigate a rapidly evolving business landscape.
Why is Booz Allen an ideal firm for someone with expertise/skills in your field of work?
Our firm empowers smart people to solve hard problems. Position, tenure, background—none of it matters as much as bringing innovative concepts and creative problem solving to the table. If you want to argue over big ideas and then figure out how to make them come to life, this is the right firm for you.
What differentiates Booz Allen from other technology companies?
Many other organizations separate their technical expertise from their strategy and management consulting groups. Not Booz Allen. We deliver as one integrated team. There is no cookie-cutter approach or product to repeatedly sell; what we offer clients is a unique opportunity to partner with us to solve big problems.
At Booz Allen, we care about Missions That Matter. Discuss a “mission that matters” that you are involved in.
My best projects have been when we connect new insights and capabilities to make an impact on the ground. I built risk analysis models for securing international aviation, developed content for a book on how organizations can collaborate in new ways, and guided an automaker in re-imagining their product. In each case, I was a part of team that worked hard to understand the nuances of the challenge and build customized, innovative solutions that made a real difference.
What projects have you had the opportunity to work on at Booz Allen where you have used your technical skills?
My colleagues have an impressive range of technical expertise, and my job is to help translate their ideas into reality. I make sure technical innovations are aimed where the client needs the most help. For one counterterrorism client, my team designed and deployed a risk analysis portal that has over 1,000 users spread across several offices around the world.
What excites you about your work?
Working with an incredibly smart, diverse team who is unafraid to challenge the status quo and find solutions to the most difficult challenges our clients face.
