Mahsa Salarvand
“I’m one of the few college graduates who actually ended up working in the same field I studied,” says Booz Allen Hamilton senior consultant Mahsa Salarvand, who earned a degree in business information technology from Virginia Tech. It’s a good thing, too, because Mahsa not only excels at what she does at the firm, but she also enjoys it.
Mahsa specializes in modeling, simulation, and wargaming. She builds process models that serve an array of diverse clients ranging from the Department of Defense, to commercial healthcare organizations, to educational institutions, and many others.
In fact, for her first project at Booz Allen, she was cast in a highly visible role as the sole modeler of a communications network for NASA that tested data latency. Mahsa has since moved on to other tasks, but still considers that first project a great learning experience.
She also helped develop the strategy design for the student services function of a university. “The offices had been silo-ed, there were communications issues, and different areas did not talk to each other,” she explains. “Our team designed a one-stop shop that merged the office operations and improved student services.
“I was given a lot of responsibility on that project,” she adds. “I had to thoroughly learn about each of several processes and their gaps and bottlenecks. I then created models to show current processes as well as new process designs. It was a great opportunity.”
The technology classes she took years ago were crucial when Mahsa first started at Booz Allen, but her marketing and management classes also came in handy. “You need a good business background to be an effective consultant,” she says. In November 2007, Mahsa received a master’s in information systems from Johns Hopkins University.
“As part of a partnership with Johns Hopkins, the masters program was held at Booz Allen headquarters,” she explains, “and that was very convenient for me. I’ve also taken other training courses that focused on communications, interviewing; and managing in a diverse environment. Because they only last a half or full day, they don’t impact my deadlines.”
Demanding Work Schedules Still Allow for a “Real Life”
After securing an internship at Booz Allen in 2003 with the help of a friend already employed at the firm, Mahsa joined full-time the next year.
Since coming onboard, she has taken advantage of every professional opportunity her busy schedule allows. She co-chairs the Junior Exempt Employees Forum’s (JEEF) Social and Networking Committee, which sponsors a variety of events throughout the year. “I learned a lot about firm through JEEF,” Mahsa says. “It’s especially helpful for new employees, who are sometimes shipped immediately to a client site and don’t have enough time at headquarters or at a regional office to be exposed to much of what firm has to offer.”
Mahsa also chaired Booz Allen’s popular volunteer golf tournament, the Pro-Am, in 2006. That was a natural for her: “I like planning events, and I love playing golf.”
She also likes the choice she made to join the firm. “Sometimes I feel like I’m a cheerleader for Booz Allen,” she says. “I love the culture here and the great work ethic. I can truly see how people can have a life outside of work, because I’ve been able to balance my career with my outside interests. Sometimes it may get challenging with a particular project and work becomes your life, but that’s only for a short period and then things get back to normal.”
She also stays active in the gym, and even joined a softball league with Booz Allen co-workers. “I don’t even like softball, but I really enjoyed spending time with my colleagues outside of work. Currently I’m in a kickball league. Working out every day is important to me, and with Booz Allen’s flexibility, I almost always can fit that in.”
profile posted September 14, 2007
