"I'm always working on
new projects and new challenges."

Frank Burdette

, Associate

Why did you choose Booz Allen?

When I was looking for a new employment opportunity, I wanted a company that was willing to invest in me professionally and to encourage my development. After talking with people I knew at Booz Allen and going through a series of interviews here, it was clear to me that Booz Allen puts a high priority on professional and personal development.

Why have you chosen to stay at Booz Allen?

My reasons for staying here have a lot to do with why I chose Booz Allen to begin with. In the years I’ve been here, the firm has continued its commitment to developing staff and to helping people become well-rounded professionals who can do more than simply talk about their functional expertise. The firm puts a lot of emphasis on developing communication skills, presentation skills, people development skills—skills that create great consultants and
great employees overall.

What type of work do you do at Booz Allen?

As a project and program manager for Information Services, the firm’s internal technology group, I manage technology-related projects and programs. If Booz Allen decides that it needs to support its consulting staff with new applications or to help consultants work in the field with laptops upgraded to the latest technology, then I help deliver those capabilities by deploying new products and services for up to 20,000 people worldwide.

What excites you about your work?

I’d have to say that the variety of the work is exciting for me. Booz Allen relies very heavily on the organization I’m part of to develop and deploy new technology products, as well as all the back-end services that run the firm. As business needs change, our technology, infrastructure, and processes need to change along with them. This means I’m always working on new projects and new challenges.

Do you have a mentor at Booz Allen?

I have several informal mentors on my team, in my peer group, and in management who I look to for advice and support. I think the real benefit of my mentors has been their different perspectives and insights. When I get mired in my own views and convictions, I find it very helpful to seek out alternative viewpoints.

What differentiates Booz Allen from other companies that you could work for—what makes Booz Allen special?

The firm’s commitment to me as an employee and to continuing to develop my skills is what makes Booz Allen special. Working here is always a learning experience, not just because of the value the company puts on training and professional development, but also because of the value it places on learning from peers, mentors, and one’s own professional network.

How has Booz Allen helped you be ready for what’s next in your career?

Booz Allen has helped me be ready for what’s next in several ways. First, the firm is continually challenging me, never letting me rest on my laurels. Second, the company is looking for me not only to improve myself, but also to help my team and other individuals improve their performance.

How do you help Booz Allen be ready for what’s next? How do you help clients be ready for what’s next? How has your and your team’s work made an impact for the firm?

I help Booz Allen be ready for what’s next by focusing on elements of the products and services I deliver that I feel have the biggest impact on the firm. I also help our clients prepare for what’s next by providing our consulting staff with tools to do their jobs more efficiently and effectively.

Can you talk about a time when you saw one or more of our Core Values displayed?

I recently saw a great example of excellence in our organization. One of our team members had an idea for helping our project and program managers learn from one another and use each other as sounding boards—because we typically work very independently, managing our individual projects. This person created a peer mentoring program to address this issue and put formal structures and guidelines in place to encourage us learn from our peers. This is a great example of how one individual’s pursuit of the Core Values brought value to our entire team.