Brian Abbe
, PrincipalWhy did you choose Booz Allen?
I was very impressed by the Booz Allen employees I worked with in my previous position. I chose Booz Allen based on its reputation and on the impact I saw the firm had in a number of government organizations.
Why have you chosen to stay at Booz Allen?
I stay at Booz Allen because I’m continually being challenged by what’s coming next. I also find it rewarding that, while I began my career doing engineering work as part of a team, I now lead my own team and manage large projects. The challenges here are always changing and they are always good ones.
What type of work do you do at Booz Allen?
I lead teams of engineers as part of Booz Allen’s Army Team. We are building, or directly helping to build, electronics used in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other places around the world.
What excites you about your work?
A lot of things we’ve helped build have had a direct impact on the war effort, and that is very satisfying for me. The work we do directly helps our soldiers stay safe in combat zones—and what’s especially exciting for me is when these soldiers come back home and tell us about how they used the equipment we helped build.
Do you have a mentor at Booz Allen?
I serve as a mentor to several people at Booz Allen and feel that mentoring is a very effective and valuable tool. While I don’t have a formal mentor myself, I work with a lot of Officers and through them get advice on particular projects and issues as well as general career guidance.
What differentiates Booz Allen from other companies that you could work for—what makes Booz Allen special?
I think the biggest thing separating Booz Allen from other companies is its ability to deal with issues on a strategic level as well as a very tactical level. We get down to the nuts and bolts of a problem. At the same time, because the firm is organized laterally and communicates that way, we are able to see the bigger strategic picture. This allows us to bring much more added value to our clients. For example, where we’ve had success on projects in our market, we help other Booz Allen groups who are trying to solve similar problems, and vice versa. This creates a synergy we can build on to help clients of both groups and get problems solved in both areas.
How has Booz Allen helped you be ready for what’s next in your career?
The guidance I receive from the Officers I work with has prepared me well, and it has provided me with the tools I’ve needed to grow and excel at what I do here for the firm.
How does the work you do help your clients be ready for what’s next? How has your and your team’s work made an impact for your clients?
Our greatest impact stems from our ability to see the big picture. Because Booz Allen works across so many areas of the government and the military, we have a large strategic view that we can share with our clients.
Can you talk about a time that you saw one or more of our Core Values displayed?
I see the Core Value of teamwork all the time as I walk the halls of the office. We build products for our clients that further their mission and help save lives. Because of this, our deadlines are very real and often very short. I’ve seen any number of cases where folks on one team have pitched in to help another team meet an impending deadline and get the work done for the client. For me, that’s a great example of the teamwork this firm lives by.
