What does diversity, equity and inclusion mean to us?
At Strategy&, we are dedicated to fostering a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) that not only reflects the diverse and dynamic world of business, but also drives innovation and excellence in our daily consulting work for our clients. Our commitment includes:
- 1Embracing diversity: We celebrate and value the unique perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences of our employees, clients, and partners, knowing that diversity enriches our solutions. We are a diverse team with a variety of personalities, backgrounds, skills and views. We hire people with exceptional talents, abilities and potential, and create a collaborative environment where you can become the best version of yourself.
- 2Promoting equity: We actively promote fairness and equality in all aspects of our operations, from hiring and promotion to project assignments and decision-making. We acknowledge differences in skill and experience. We believe in strengthening strengths. We support equity in all core strategy consulting skills, whilst nurturing specialist experience in areas where we can make a difference. We actively support a variety of work models to attract a diverse pool of talent and provide excellent strategic consulting advice.
- 3Collaborating inclusively: We create an environment where every voice is heard, encouraging open dialogue, and ensuring that everyone has an opportunity to contribute their best. We welcome everyone for who they are. We foster a culture of belonging. We help each other, we value each other, regardless of the background or role in the organization. We treat each other fairly, with respect and on eye level.
Furthermore, we invest in education and training to raise awareness, challenge biases, and foster a culture of continuous growth in matters of diversity, equity, and inclusion. We engage with our communities to support initiatives that advance DEI, knowing that our success is intertwined with the well-being of society.
By championing these principles, we aim to not only strengthen ourselves as a leading strategy consulting firm, but also make a meaningful impact in shaping a more equitable and inclusive world.
Key elements of our diversity, equity and inclusion agenda 2030
Here are three examples of actions and programs that we have in place to demonstrate our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Diversity
Family and Career program
Our Family and Career Program offers flexible support and empowers our employees to individually shape their careers while starting a family, independent of their role at home. Our offering covers the journey from starting a family, through parental leave, to returning and progressing (part-time) in consulting. Apart from our firm’s investment in compatibility, a chosen Family and Career Coach supports (expectant) parents in developing a tailored work model, building the bridge to colleagues during absences, maintaining client relationships, and continuing their career progression. This support is further enhanced by Must Have Conversations (MHC), which ensures proactive guidance throughout the parenting journey.
Equity
St. Gallen Mini MBA
In collaboration with the University of St. Gallen, we offer a 'Mini MBA’ course for Strategy& colleagues who have not completed a business administration or economics degree. In the class, participants learn about the interaction of companies and markets and get an overview of the most important business terms. They learn how to apply the most important strategy tools, hone their strategic thinking, and learn about financial control variables. In addition to that, we offer further tailor-made trainings for every colleague in line with their educational backgrounds. These programs aim to equip participants with practical skills and knowledge which they can apply to their next projects in order to fully exploit their abilities as strategy consultants.
Inclusion
Tipping Point Leader workshops
In order to educate our employees on diversity, equity, and inclusion topics, raise awareness, and maintain workplace sensitivity across the organization, we have launched a workshop series called ‘Tipping Point Leaders’. Physical workshops in our European offices as well as regular virtual morning sessions on DEI topics such as unconscious bias, group dynamics, language, desired behaviors or LGBTQIA+ set impulses and inspire to change patterns of thinking and behavior. Our staff network of around 120 members to date facilitates peer exchange, cascades activities and regularly shares best practices.
Interview about our firm’s DEI targets
Learn more about how our team around our partners Gülbahar Tezel and Andreas Pratz is committed to making the Strategy&’s ambitious diversity, equity, and inclusion targets a reality by 2030. In this interview, they share their own career journeys and discuss why they are so passionate about Strategy&’s innovative approach to DEI.
Unequaled support during pregnancy and beyond
Life outside of work is important, and so is the balance between work and private life. Consequently, almost all strategy firms offer flexible work arrangements. These arrangements provide consultants with the space for family, personal ambitions, or simply relaxation. At PwC Strategy&, we realized that just having a policy is not enough. With a policy, the initiative remains with the employee, who may not always have the time to think about what they need — let alone delve into policies and what they can mean. Through our Must Have Conversations, we proactively support consultants experiencing a life event: personal, structured, and real support, without you having to ask for it.
Must Have Conversations (MHC) is an initiative by Brecht Gijsbertsen, Director at PwC Strategy&. Inspired by her own experience with balancing pregnancy and work, she began thinking about how to organize 'structured involvement' for those who need it. She explains:
Meet our colleagues who make up Strategy&’s unique and diverse culture
Sierk Hannema
Amsterdam
Sierk is an Associate at Strategy& Netherlands and has worked on projects in the healthcare practice and the public sector. He joined Strategy& in February 2023 and holds a master's degree in Philosophy of Law.
“The Mini-MBA in St. Gallen taught me a great deal about the fundamentals of business and strategy. The program provided me with a well-rounded set of abilities necessary for addressing any type of problem consultants face in their daily work. Together with consultants from all over the world and from various levels of seniority we cracked multiple typical consulting cases. Working together with these colleagues and exchanging best practices was what stuck to me the most about the program.”
How Ayanna started in consulting with a non-traditional
How Ayanna started in consulting with a non-traditional study background
Ayanna is an Associate based in the Amsterdam office. She joined Strategy& in 2023 after completing her master's in philosophy, a rather uncommon academic background in this field. She chose consultancy because it involves logical reasoning and continuous learning, both of which she enjoyed in philosophy. Ayanna's experience has been positive, with colleagues appreciating her unique background and focusing on her skills and insights gained from her studies.
How Stephanie pursues her ambition with a healthy
How Stephanie pursues her ambition with a healthy work-life-balance
Stephanie is a Senior Manager based in the Amsterdam office. She has been with Strategy& since 2009, originally based in the MENA region and transferred to Europe in 2022. She supports our retail and consumer clients on large scale transformations and new capability built. She is also a wife and a mother of a 6-year-old girl and 4-year-old boy and while she is not working or mothering, she enjoys yoga and baking.
How Maik combines his consulting job with his role as a
How Maik combines his consulting job with his role as a parent
Maik is a Senior Manager in the Berlin office and has been with Strategy& since 2014. He works in the digital and technology strategy as well as retail and consumer practices with a focus on digital business models, innovation, data and AI. As a father of an infant son, Maik benefits from our Family and Career program. In his free time, he loves to run and travel the world.
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