Angela Kalemis
, AssociateWhy did you choose Booz Allen?
At my prior company, I was working on a special project that involved teaming with Booz Allen for several months. I got to know the Booz Allen people during that time, and they seemed different—they were not only career driven but also very people focused. I also saw that they had flexibility in their work as well as variety. So when I decided it was time to make a career move, I thought of Booz Allen.
Why have you chosen to stay at Booz Allen?
Booz Allen is a firm that gives you room to grow in any direction you want to take your career. You really are the owner of your career, and you aren’t micromanaged. There’s also the flexibility I have. Two years ago, after I moved to a different state, my manager allowed me to begin working from home 2 days each week—and that enabled me to avoid several 90-minute commutes. Booz Allen is a great place for me to work because it’s forward-thinking in that way, offering more flexibility than your typical nine-to-five company.
What type of work do you do at Booz Allen?
I do program management work, mostly on contracts with U.S. Army clients. I manage people and different tasks, but I also focus on managing the business—ensuring on-time, on-budget delivery, and meeting client expectations. What we do directly supports our soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan, so I feel that the work we do has real purpose.
What excites you about your work?
There’s always a new challenge, a new proposal, or a new business opportunity to go after, and we’re always looking for ways to improve our customer service.
Do you have a mentor at Booz Allen?
My mentor is an Officer. I talk with her about career advancement, new programs I’m working on, or if I have a major decision to make. She also helps with work-life balance. But it’s not just about my career—we meet for lunch or dinner and have wide-ranging discussions.
What differentiates Booz Allen from other companies that you could work for? What makes Booz Allen special?
It’s hard to explain, but it’s the way Booz Allen values its employees. I’ll give you one example: The senior leaders here never think twice about taking the team out to dinner if we have a success. It’s about giving back to the employees all the time. You really feel valued here.
How has Booz Allen helped you be ready for what’s next in your career?
In addition to the mentoring program, there are front-line leaders who help you with planning your career. Like I said earlier, I love the independence I have here. Because no one is there holding my hand, I’ve seen huge personal growth—I feel that I can manage things on my own. Booz Allen helps you learn to think for yourself, to function independently.
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?
I think Booz Allen tends to be more innovative than its competitors. As strategy consultants, we always try to advise clients of what’s in their best interest to do next. The work we do is very meaningful and has a direct impact on our country—we help keep our soldiers safe.
Can you talk about a time when you saw one or more of our Core Values displayed?
Our Core Values are displayed all the time, but it still always amazes me to see the level of teamwork when we are working on a large-scale proposal to win new work. We usually get only 30 days to prepare and submit these detailed responses, but throughout that time you see everyone come together in an amazing way. It doesn’t matter what level anyone is or who works for whom—when something needs to get done we all, including the Officers, roll up our sleeves and help out. You get the sense of the Booz Allen “family” during that time.
