CONSULTING
Why Vanderbilt?
To prepare for a career in consulting, most students choose a primary concentration in Finance, HOP, Marketing or Operations and a secondary concentration in Strategy. The Owen Strategy concentration is designed to equip you with the core concepts, frameworks and techniques of strategic management—the art and science of managing an enterprise to achieve superior performance. Students learn how to identify the sources of profit available to businesses and to formulate and implement strategies that exploit these sources of profit. Courses in the concentration are analytical and focus on senior management decisions that enhance profit maximization while taking into account the competitive response to those decisions.
Curriculum Focus
A primary concentration in Finance, HOP, Marketing or Operations is usually paired with a Strategy Concentration.
Finance Concentration
Hours Required: 12
One of the most popular and largest academic areas of study at Owen, students take two required courses and choose their electives from an extensive range of course offerings.
Human and Organizational Performance (HOP) Concentration
Hours Required: 12
A very flexible concentration which provides a foundation of knowledge and practice for MBA students targeting careers in Human Capital Consulting or Corporate Human Resource Management.
Marketing Concentration
Hours Required: 12
A robust concentration which offers numerous courses in quantitative and qualitative marketing skills.
Operations Concentration
Hours Required: 12
With two required operations courses and a variety of electives, students may take classes in service operations, manufacturing operations and in supply chain management.
Strategy Concentration
Hours Required: 12
A concentration designed to equip MBA students with the core concepts, frameworks and techniques of strategic management, with a focus on real-world business application.
Career Opportunities
MBA consulting careers include Strategy Consulting, Human Capital Consulting, Technology Consulting and General Management Consulting.
Selected Companies That Hired Owen Students - Consulting (2008-09)
| Booz Allen Hamilton | KPMG Consulting |
| Capgemini | Kurt Salmon Associates |
| Deloitte Consulting | North Highland Company |
| Deutsche Post World Net | PricewaterhouseCoopers |
| ECG Management Consulting | Wipro Technologies |
Faculty
 Jim BradfordDean and Ralph Owen Professor for the Practice of Management |
 J. Dewey DaaneThe Frank K. Houston Professor of Finance, Emeritus Senior Advisor, Financial Markets Research Center |
 Luke FroebWilliam C. Oehmig Associate Professor in Entrepreneurship and Free Enterprise |
 Jon LehmanAssociate Dean for Health Care Management Associate Dean of Students |
 Salvatore MarchDavid K. Wilson Professor of Management |
 David ParsleyE. Bronson Ingram Professor in Economics and Finance |
 Gary ScudderJustin Potter Professor of Operations Management Faculty Director, International Programs |
 Mikhael ShorAssistant Professor of Strategy and Business Economics |
Resume-Building Activities
Owen Consulting Club
The Owen Consulting Club is targeted toward students with interests in consulting ranging from consulting firms, internal consulting and leadership programs. The group’s goal is to help students gain a better understanding of the skills required for consulting, career opportunities in consulting related fields and the recommended curriculum at Owen through which to build consulting skills.
More Resume-Building Activities
Case Interview Workshops
Alumni in the consulting industry return to coach students on case interview techniques.
Owen Operations Club
A student group that organizes trips, as well as hosting industry speakers.
Owen Student Government Association
OSGA helps to shape school policies and strengthen Owen’s sense of community.
Real-World Projects
Gain business strategy experience by consulting for a real company while in school.
Meet Students & Alumni
Patrick Allen
Vanderbilt MBA 2009
Senior Consultant, The North Highland Company
“Owen is a great place to get a generalist business education, which is exactly what I was looking for.”
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Paras Agarwal
Vanderbilt MBA 2009
Summer Associate (Strategy and Operations), Deloitte Consulting
“(At Owen) there are umpteen opportunities for students to learn, lead and leapfrog to success.”
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Erica Clements
Vanderbilt MBA 2010
Summer Associate (Human Capital), Deloitte Consulting
“Come to Owen to transform your mind from the perspective of an individual contributor to a holistic, game-changing mentality where anything is possible.”
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Ryan Conatser
Vanderbilt MBA 2009
Business Planning Intern, Dell
“(Owen has) the perfect combination of reputation, culture and location. There is a feeling of cooperation among students, faculty and staff that I found rare in schools of this caliber… I’ve learned more than I could have imagined.”
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Jeff Gowdy
Vanderbilt MBA 2006
Founder and Lead Consultant, J. Gowdy Consulting
“Owen is still a major part of my life.”
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Neeti Nanda
Vanderbilt MBA 2007
Senior Consultant (Human Capital), Deloitte Consulting
“(In my career) the biggest supporters are Owen alumni who champion my growth within the firm and provide another avenue for me to learn.”
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Industry News & Multimedia
Selected Faculty Research and News
Skills Companies Seek
Passion for tackling complex business problems
Financial/operational analysis
Synthesize analysis & make recommendations
Develop and deliver presentations
Leadership
Flexibility
Interpersonal & communication skills
Team skills
Project management
