Jodi Constantino
, Senior AssociateWhy did you choose Booz Allen?
I first became acquainted with Booz Allen when I was working as a summer associate. I came away from that experience impressed—above all, by the people. There was such a high average. Everyone I met was so smart. I was also impressed by how hard everyone worked, and even more by how the company valued and recognized that hard work. And finally, as a summer employee, I expected to be treated differently; instead I was integrated into the group and was treated with great respect right off the bat. In the end, though, it was really all about the people. That’s what sold me on Booz Allen.
Why have you chosen to stay at Booz Allen?
What has kept me here is that it is possible to have multiple careers at Booz Allen and to find new challenges in other parts of the company. I began my career at Booz Allen as a commercial-side consultant in a job that required a lot of travel. By the end of my second year, I realized I didn’t want to travel so much and wanted a different work-life balance. I considered leaving the firm, but then, just a week later, I saw a posting for a position on the GO Team that asked for experience in line with my own. I applied, was interviewed, and got the job. I was thrilled that I could stay with the firm in this way.
What type of work do you do at Booz Allen?
I lead the Qualitative Analysis Group within the Office of Strategy Management. We are a small group that works with the firm’s senior leadership to help develop strategic vision, planning, and actions for Booz Allen. I manage projects that help solve strategic questions for the firm and support the annual strategic planning process.
What excites you about your work?
What I love about my work is that it’s very high impact. Coming from a background in science, I realized that if I stayed in my field, most of my time would be spent working on things that might not have an impact for more than a decade. My position at Booz Allen is very different. It allows me to have a very high impact right now because we are helping to drive discussions and decisions that often help set the firm’s direction. When leadership asks me to look into something, it’s because they want to do something about it now. We don’t create work that sits on the shelf; the things we create get initiated and rolled out and folded into the DNA of the company.
Do you have a mentor at Booz Allen?
I have informal mentors who I talk with and who help guide me. When I knew I would be assigned staff, for example, I sought advice from a Principal who has led a team for some time. My manager, who also is a mentor to me, always takes time to talk with me when I need help. And I have another senior staff leader who I talk with specifically about keeping my career on track.
What differentiates Booz Allen from other companies that you could work for—what makes Booz Allen special?
The people and the benefits differentiate this firm. The people are just amazingly smart, and everyone here truly does want to lift the whole organization and make it better. No one tries to push anyone down or off the ladder—you just don’t see that. People here want everyone to do well because they realize when that happens, the entire firm does well.
The benefits here are great—and I don’t mean just the traditional ones, but the intangible benefits as well. The flexible work arrangements the company supports are just fantastic. Booz Allen doesn’t just talk the talk, this company really walks it—I know many people, including myself, who have flexible work arrangements and who are moving ahead with their careers.
How has Booz Allen helped you be ready for what’s next in your career?
I would say that Booz Allen has really helped me “spread my wings” and grow professionally—quite significantly considering the few years I have been with the firm. The company has helped me develop my communication and project management skills and has allowed me to practice my consulting skills every day. I feel that these three skills are the true basics required for succeeding professionally anywhere; Booz Allen and the type of work my team does have helped me develop and fine-tune them.
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 have the opportunity to work with senior leaders across the firm on high-visibility projects that often help set the direction for the future. For example, my team and I have been able to support the firm’s strategic planning process over the past several years. Helping leaders think critically about challenges in their markets by guiding them through the process and helping them mold their ideas into real action plans is very rewarding. We help them think about what’s going on in the market, what’s coming next, and what capabilities and services the company has to serve its clients.
Can you talk about a time when you saw one or more of our Core Values displayed?
I can give many examples for the Core Value of client service. Our team has to practice this every day as we work hand in hand with the firm’s leadership in the strategic planning process. It is critical to be consultative—to provide excellent service—inside the firm to create a strong infrastructure to support Booz Allen’s work for clients.
