Marc Tate
, Senior AssociateWhy did you choose Booz Allen?
I chose Booz Allen because of its top-notch work environment and culture, and I appreciate that we’re a known commodity in the consulting arena. Whenever I’m out and I have a conversation about work, I never have to explain what Booz Allen is. People just seem to know. Also, I had friends who worked here, and I felt I would be a good fit with the company.
Why have you chosen to stay at Booz Allen?
To be honest with you, it’s because I have fun, every day. The opportunity and challenge are part of it, but what really keeps me here are the people. I have a great team, and we produce high-quality work, which is very rewarding. The team, the environment, the culture, and the work make it fun
for me.
What type of work do you do at Booz Allen?
I’m the program manager of a large contract for an agency that has intensive contact with the American public. We provide support in information technology (IT) strategy, business case analysis, and other areas, mainly on the front end of their business processes. We sit down with the client, work to determine their needs, and develop solutions based on the agency’s mission. What have I learned from working on the requirements side of the business? Never over-sell, always over-deliver.
What excites you about your work?
What excites me is that we’re helping people with disabilities get their benefits more quickly. By enabling the agency to move from a paper to a paperless environment, we’re helping to move disability cases through the system faster, whether it’s for someone who worked for 25 years and became disabled or someone who has been disabled from birth.
Do you have a mentor at Booz Allen?
I have three mentors—an Officer, a Principal, and a Senior Associate. One of my mentors helps with questions like, “How do you shape an account?” Another helps me build my team and develop my career. And with my peer mentor, we’re comfortable going a little bit deeper into areas that are important to us both.
What differentiates Booz Allen from other companies that you could work for? What makes Booz Allen special?
The number one factor is the people. Booz Allen hires the best and brightest talent in the industry. Every day, you’re challenged by the thought leaders and out-of-the-box thinkers you work with. The second reason is that for 95 years we’ve lived and worked by our Core Values. It doesn’t get any better than that.
How has Booz Allen helped you be ready for what’s next in your career?
The 360-degree assessment process helps you shape your career, and the way we’re structured provides the autonomy and level of responsibility to grow personally and professionally without a lot of formal guidance. Much of what you need to know comes from listening to other Booz Allen people talk about lessons learned. There are so many avenues from which to learn and grow and so many opportunities to do things that aren’t in my comfort zone, that I think I would be over prepared if I ever went somewhere else.
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?
Right now, we’re working with a client embarking on a major transformation; to support that effort, we’re working in areas where no contractor has worked before. The agency wants a simplified and strengthened architecture and to become as nimble as possible. We’re providing the strategic thinking to help them move forward through 2014.
Can you talk about a time when you saw one or more of our Core Values displayed?
I continue to be amazed by my team’s professionalism, integrity, and diversity. One of our incredibly talented consultants is blind. Across the team, there’s a vast range of experiences and skill sets. Booz Allen’s commitment to diversity is something I’ve seen first-hand as a co-lead within the corporate Board Diversity Initiative, helping the firm to identify and attract qualified candidates with a wide array of backgrounds and experiences.
