Alumni Profile: Katia Passerini of the New Jersey Institute of Technology
At Booz Allen: Rome-based Associate working with Information Technology clients from March 2000 to April 2003.
Katia Passerini
Current position: Tenure-track Assistant Professor of Management Information Systems at the New Jersey Institute of Technology's School of Management.
What, in a nutshell, did you learn at Booz Allen? In addition to cross-functional and project management skills, I learned how to interact with high-level managers at major corporations, gain their trust, deliver results, and obtain buy-in and consensus. This is an amazing experience because Booz Allen enables you to work at the high levels of organizations, interfacing with directors and key decision-makers. The projects are both challenging and rewarding, and the close interaction with the clients is the key ingredient for mutual learning and success.
What was your best Booz Allen moment or experience? I recall working with a European team under a very tight time schedule. Our deliverable was due to an official government agency and the competition was fierce. We worked for several consecutive hours to shape our best product. We were all there, 100-percent committed and motivated: team members, project manager, principals and, vice presidents.
It was amazing to see such a coordinated and willing team effort, and it was typical. There was no hierarchy or boundaries between colleagues and you always found individuals committed to doing their best in every situation.
How has the Booz Allen experience contributed to your career? I am pursuing an academic career and have a passion for research in information systems. Having been exposed to the issues and concerns that impact key IT decision makers in different industries has shaped my understanding of IT management.
I will be a more effective researcher because I will be able to focus on issues that are relevant to the community. Because of my Booz Allen experience, I am determined to pursue the integration of IT industry and academic research streams vigorously. There is a concrete need for applied research — and Booz Allen has showed me many avenues to contribute to it.
How would you describe the Booz Allen culture and people? At Booz Allen, you work in a collegial environment all the times. I believe that roles are formally defined and structured mostly to clarify career paths and support personal development needs. When working on deliverables, everybody's opinion counts, and there is no barrier to your contribution based on your seniority in the organization.
What I loved the most in working at Booz Allen was the opportunity to call any colleague in any of the firm's offices worldwide and obtain an answer to questions within a few hours. Knowledge sharing is in the culture of the organization and spontaneously goes beyond the formal tools and systems implemented to foster company communication.
I'm new at Booz Allen do you have any advice for me? Be open to jump into a completely new adventure. My Booz Allen colleagues are among the brightest individuals you will meet, and you will be continuously eager to improve and self-develop. Everybody will help you grow, and your work will likely shape the course of many organizations faster than what you can imagine. What you do really counts.
profile posted October 30, 2003
