We sat down with Duvessa Bandeen to find out about her journey so far at Plural Strategy (Plural).
How did you first become interested in strategy consulting?
I studied English Literature at Cambridge, and I hadn’t initially considered a career in strategy consulting, but conversations with people in similar roles made me realise how closely the skill set aligned with both my strengths and areas I wanted to develop. The combination of creativity, critical thought and technical skills is what drew me to this path.
As an Analyst, I had the opportunity to do a 3-month client secondment, which was invaluable in developing my consulting skills.
What has your experience of the career path at Plural been, starting as an Intern and now as a Senior Associate?
Starting out as an Intern was fantastic, as I really got to understand Plural’s culture. You get to work with very intelligent, interesting people, and there is a real opportunity to take on early responsibility and develop hard skills early on.
As an Analyst, I had the opportunity to do a 3-month client secondment, which was invaluable in developing my consulting skills. Seeing recommendations implemented firsthand really helped me better understand how our findings impact clients long after our projects have finished.
Before becoming a Senior Associate, I had the opportunity to take part in the New York rotation and spent six months in our office there.
Now, as a Senior Associate, I get to manage projects and shape storylines, which has been great for my development.
Could you tell us about your rotation from London to New York?
As the London and New York offices work as one team, moving to New York didn’t feel like starting over with a whole different set of people or a brand-new job, which made the transition feel super smooth. It’s been great to experience working with a different set of clients and understand the subtle differences between New York and London consulting styles. It was a great learning opportunity, and I’d recommend it to anyone else at Plural who is interested.
How would you describe the culture at Plural?
The culture at Plural is very team-focused, and all ideas are valued and listened to across all levels within a team. We get to work with different teams on every single project, so we develop close working relationships with everyone. Also, senior management are highly invested in ensuring team members have the opportunity to gain exposure to new workstreams and develop hard skills.
What’s been the most memorable part of your journey so far?
While my first 12-18 months were really focused on developing new skills (e.g., Excel, slide production), the following months were focused on developing my critical thinking and ability to tell a story. I now understand all the layers and motivations behind our work, and it has really helped me progress my thinking on how everything fits together.
What advice would you give to someone considering a career at Plural?
Ask as many questions as you need, even if you think the answer is obvious. It’s great to see when someone is curious and inquisitive, and asking lots of questions means you can develop and cover a lot of ground quickly. This proactive approach also helps to develop trust with your project manager; it shows them you’re thinking about every angle of the work.
What’s next for you?
I want to continue to progress my abilities and move through project management roles. As a Senior Associate, I manage the storyline and day-to-day of the projects. In the future, I would love to work more closely on managing client relationships.