Tyler

Senior Consultant, Retail and Consumer Products Group, Private Equity Practice

Office:

San Francisco

Degrees:

M.S. in management science and engineering, Stanford University; B.A. in economics, Stanford University

What did you do before joining Kurt Salmon?

In 2007 I was the director of Stanford’s Educational Program for Gifted Youth in Beijing.

Why did you choose Kurt Salmon?

Among consulting companies, Kurt Salmon has a uniquely personal and supportive culture. Additionally, while many companies claim a non-hierarchical structure, Kurt Salmon has proven itself so. I work closely with the partners on most projects and have consistently benefited from their informal input.

What is the best part of consulting?

There’s a lot to learn, and you have no choice but to learn it quickly.

What has been your favorite project?

In my first year I was on a strategy project for a leading beauty care retailer. Our task was to project market trends, then analyze drivers of store performance to understand the levers our client could pull to drive revenue. After two weeks of research and analysis, we spent three days with the company’s C-suite leadership. The results of those sessions are driving new growth for the company today.

What is the hardest lesson you’ve learned?

There is a tradeoff between speed and quality in everything. You need both, and the trick is to know how much of each to apply to your task.

What is the best piece of advice you have for applicants?

Do some research on the company and have a customized answer for “Why do you want to work here?” Convey that answer in your cover letter and in your interview.