Recently elected President of Eurogroup ConsultingClaudia Montero (H.97) has built her career within the consulting firm. A look back at an exemplary career.
Why did you choose consulting?
Claudia Montero : When I graduated from HEC, I was interested in many fields. Consulting seemed to me to be a way of continuing to explore a multiplicity of environments and interlocutors. I also liked the idea of taking care of economic players, helping them to solve their problems: I chose this profession to have an impact. And because it's a lifelong learning process. At first, you learn by doing. Then you learn to learn by orchestrating teams that change with each assignment. Finally, you learn to become an ambassador for your firm.
Why Eurogroup Consulting in particular?
C.M.: When I joined the company in 1997, it was a small strategy and transformation consultancy with 70 employees, distinguished by its entrepreneurial project and independence: it was 100% % owned by its partners. Its aim was to become a benchmark consultancy in the French market. During my recruitment interviews, I met serious people who didn't take themselves too seriously. I liked that. I grew up at the same time as Eurogroup, which will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2032: adulthood (laughs).
The firm has developed along a chosen and sustainable growth path. It remains 100 % owned by its employees (95 % by its partners). It gave me a great deal of freedom and the opportunity to shape my career by developing the projects that interested me. That's why I stayed. Such loyalty may seem atypical in a sector and at a time when zapping is the order of the day. However, long-term career paths are not that uncommon. And they have their virtues: the opportunity to carry out more projects, to have an influence on the company's destiny. That said, I'm not advocating any particular model. The key to a successful career is to be fulfilled in the path you've chosen, whatever that may be.
"I chose this profession to make an impact. And because it's a lifelong learning experience. At first, through practice. Then you learn to learn by orchestrating teams that change with each assignment. Finally, you learn to become an ambassador for your firm."
What has been your career path with the firm?
C.M.: I started out as a consultant working on restructuring projects for players in industry, energy and transport. I worked in the private sector on an international scale. When I was appointed manager in 2003, I wanted to develop our business in a sector that was close to my heart: healthcare, both private and public. In the process, I developed a passion for supporting the public sector. From 2010 onwards, I worked with central and local government bodies struggling to modernize within the French model.
My career has also convinced me of the need to get our customers' teams on board, so that we can carry out our projects with them and not "against" them.
Since 2019, under my guidance, we have been developing collective intelligence practices, as illustrated by our participation in structuring and leading citizen conventions, such as the Citizens' Climate Convention. At the same time, I've always been involved with Eurogroup: I was an early employee representative, a member of the works council and then secretary of the CSE. Co-opted as an associate in 2010, I joined the Comex two years later, in charge of restructuring our human resources policy. Just after the Covid-19 pandemic, I was appointed General Manager, before being elected President for the period 2024-2027.
What's your roadmap?
C.M.: I'm inheriting a solid company. Our first objective is to strengthen it: to continue enriching our customer portfolio and expand our international development. This is the sine qua non for our second objective: to strengthen our social footprint. Employment is one of my main concerns. Along with finance, consulting is the leading employer of young graduates. As a recruiter, our role is to help boost the job market by attracting new profiles.
To this end, we have launched a scheme to combat age discrimination in recruitment in the consulting sector: the "parcours rebond". 10 % of our recruitments are open to new consultants over 45. This scheme will be supplemented by others, notably for disabled people. Eurogroup Consulting is also committed to ecological transition. We spearheaded a group of players who drew up a Charter of Commitments for the regenerative consulting community, following the Convention des Entreprises pour le Climat (CEC).
How does the consulting sector keep pace with economic and social change?
C.M.: The notion of utility is at the heart of our raison d'être, recently unanimously adopted by the associates: "Enlightening your challenges, shaping and transforming the future together." In a context of uncertainty and change, organizations are looking for performance, but not just any performance: responsible and sustainable performance, in line with the UN's Sustainable Development Goals, which implies thinking about eco-design, the circularity of activities, and so on. They also want advice on technological innovation, whether in artificial intelligence - which is already transforming the relationship at work - or, more broadly, information systems.
Our customers also want to be sure of the solidity of their ethical fundamentals, and to be supported in managing talent and diversity, with a view to inclusion. With the proliferation of regulations and standards, compliance issues are also a major concern, especially for VSEs and SMEs who do not have the administrative apparatus to navigate this complex system. Finally, our customers need to build business continuity plans to counter geopolitical, health and cyber risks.
What memories do you have of the HEC campus?
C.M.: My years at HEC were incredible. I have fond memories of classes in the Blondeau amphitheatre, BDE and JE campaigns, and especially the first inter-school women's rugby tournament. Encouraged and coached by the boys, we won the match against Polytechnique, even though their female students were far more experienced than we were!
What are your links with the HEC community?
C.M.: HEC is all about personal friendships and instant rapport with fellow alumni. Eurogroup Consulting is a member of the Club Campus and supports several student associations. I also work with HEC Alumni; I'm a regular speaker at HEC Life Project events. Last year, we sponsored the 50th anniversary of gender diversity at HEC, and we're currently working with HEC We&men on the next Trajectoires Prize.
Editorial published in HEC Stories by Marianne Gérard on 04/10/2024
