Jacqueline Duley
, Senior AssociateWhy did you choose Booz Allen?
I was looking for an organization where I could have an impact in aviation, and I was attracted to the honest broker feature of Booz Allen. We tell our clients the truth, even if it could mean less money. I also like the variety of work, which means I’m constantly learning. I learn about the aviation industry—about air traffic controller competencies—but I also learn new functional skills, such as change management, by working with other Booz Allen people.
Why have you chosen to stay at Booz Allen?
A big part of it is the flexibility I’m given. Booz Allen treats me like an adult—measuring my impact, not how much time I’m physically at my desk. When my kids are sick—I have 5-year-old twin boys—I can work from home, and many other companies wouldn’t do that. Another reason I’ve stayed is that our organizational structure is quite flat, and I like having access to our leaders, whether it’s for mentorship or thought leadership. In most companies, you can’t walk down the hall and have a very open discussion with a vice president, but I’ve done that since starting as a Level 2. Titles don’t matter here—what’s important is having the best people solving the problem for the client.
What type of work do you do at Booz Allen?
I love aviation—that’s where the fun is, for me. I’m focused on civil aviation specifically, and my piece of that market is based on people: pilots, air traffic controllers, airline mechanics, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) safety inspectors, and other FAA personnel supporting these front-line operators. I look at the technology that’s provided to this workforce—is it supportive of their jobs? I look at the organizations’ processes and leadership competencies. And I look at how this support promotes aviation safety and efficiency.
What excites you about your work?
It’s the people. I love standing alongside air traffic controllers in the tower, talking with them, listening in, and seeing them think through the decision of letting the next aircraft take off. I wouldn’t want to just manage numbers, because there’s no aviation in that. I also like the fact that consulting lets me draw on my teaching skills. And I like the competitiveness of writing proposals, the whole no-stone-unturned process of proposal strategy, which I wouldn’t get in academia. To me, it’s fun to go up against other companies—to find out who’s the smartest, and who can write the best solution—and it’s fun to win.
Do you have a mentor at Booz Allen?
I don’t have a formal mentor, but my management provides mentoring. Usually, I seek out mentoring on a case-by-case basis, asking my Principals for contacts or going to industry conferences. And I mentor others as part of a mentoring circle, sharing lessons learned.
What differentiates Booz Allen from other companies that you could work for? What makes Booz Allen special?
Our culture is very different in that it’s an organization of perfectionists. It’s never perfect, it’s never good enough, and we keep pushing each other to get better. It’s also a flat organization. We put titles aside, beat up the problem, and come up with a fantastic solution. And during that process, you don’t have to worry about speaking your mind because there’s a vice president in the room. That’s not true of other companies.
How has Booz Allen helped you be ready for what’s next in your career?
I’m ready because I know where I can find help and functional expertise within the firm. With the economy where it is, with the regulatory challenges coming, and with the technological challenges the industry is facing, we need to bring the right mix of capabilities and smart people. Currently, I’m reaching across the firm to find those experts, whether it’s in healthcare or another heavily regulated industry, and we’re leveraging what they’ve done.
How does the work you do help your clients be ready for what’s next? How has your work and your team’s work made an impact for your client?
We are working with a client that is redesigning the way safety oversight is conducted for the air carrier industry. We’re doing job design for the air safety inspectors and recommending supporting tools. Helping the client comply efficiently with the International Civil Aviation Organization mandates for safety management will improve overall safety for the flying public.
Can you talk about a time when you saw one or more of our Core Values displayed?
There was a time, early in my career, when a client was deploying a system and wanted to know if it was getting the expected benefits. Our assessment showed that it wasn’t. By telling the client to stop deployment, we ended our work, but we gave the right answer. And today, we’re still supporting that client in a different way. This points to Booz Allen’s commitment to client service and its ability to serve as an honest broker.
