“Always go one step further than you think you can.”

Can you tell us a bit about your path to Level5? What brought you here?

I came to Level5 with zero consulting experience. All my internships had been in a completely different industry which I genuinely enjoyed, but deep down, I knew it wasn’t the right fit for me long-term. I was looking for something that would consistently challenge me and offer room to grow across multiple areas, not just within one specialized track.

Honestly, when I started in consulting, I wasn’t sure if this would just be a short-term learning experience or something I’d do for the rest of my career. I saw it as a space that would push me, give me broad exposure to different problems and industries, and help me build transferable skills that would be valuable no matter where my career ended up going.

What made Level5 stand out wasn’t just the work, it was also the culture. From my conversations during the interview process, I could tell this was a place that was genuinely focused on growth, development, and authenticity. The people I met were smart and driven, but they were also real, approachable, and genuinely seemed like people I’d want to spend time around. That combination felt rare, and it’s ultimately what made me say yes.

What surprised you most about Level5 when you first started?

I knew coming in that it would be a high-performance environment but for me that was part of the appeal. What I didn’t fully anticipate was just how steep the learning curve would be. The first few months were intense. I was trying to understand how projects worked, how teams operated, what “good” looked like, and most importantly, how I could actually add value rather than just complete tasks.

What I really appreciated, though, was that Level5 doesn’t expect you to figure it all out overnight. There’s an understanding that you need time to build a strong foundation before you can contribute at a higher level. That doesn’t mean the bar is low (it’s not) but there’s space to learn and ask questions without feeling like you’re constantly falling short.

Once I started feeling more confident in the basics, things shifted. I began thinking ahead, anticipating what the team might need, understanding where things were headed, and identifying where I could make a real difference. That transition from reactive to proactive was gradual, but it was a huge milestone for me.

Was there a specific moment when things “clicked” for you here?

Absolutely. The turning point for me was receiving some really direct, constructive feedback that essentially challenged me to step up and take ownership. It wasn’t easy to hear in the moment, but it was exactly what I needed. My people manager didn’t just give me the feedback and walk away, instead, he invested time in coaching me through it. We had recurring training sessions where we’d dig into the nuances of the role, talk through important skills, and work on how I could approach things differently.

The big shift was understanding the “big picture.” I went from being someone who took discrete tasks and executed them to someone who understood what we were actually building toward. I started thinking about the broader scope of the project, the client relationship, and how my work fit into that larger context. That’s when I stopped feeling like I was just checking boxes and started feeling like I was truly contributing.

That experience had a lasting impact on me. It inspired me to want to support others going through similar challenges. I developed a training session for new analysts to talk through these core skills, mindsets, and small details that people don’t think to teach you. Eventually, I helped revamp the entire onboarding process for new hires. I wanted to make sure other people had the same kind of support and clarity that made such a difference for me.

Around that time, I got a piece of advice from one of the partners at L5 that has really stuck with me: “Always go one step further than you think you can.” It’s become something I come back to regularly, especially when I’m tempted to stay in my comfort zone.

What have you come to appreciate most about Level5’s culture?

Honestly, the culture is one of the biggest reasons I’ve stayed at Level5. It’s authentic, supportive, and genuinely team-oriented.

I’m legitimately friends with my coworkers and I actually enjoy spending time with them outside of project work. I know the culture is strong because I prefer the days when I’m in the office to the days when I work from home.

It took me a little while to warm up and feel fully comfortable being myself. I think that’s natural when you’re new and trying to figure out the dynamics, but I soon realized that the team genuinely values people who are unapologetically themselves. You don’t need to put on a persona or be someone you’re not. People appreciate honesty, curiosity, and a willingness to learn, as well as the quirkiness that makes all of us unique and interesting. Those things matter more than trying to project some polished version of yourself.

What I also love is that we have such a flat hierarchy. The culture encourages ownership and initiative, regardless of your title. Even as an Analyst, you’re empowered to step up, share ideas, and take the lead on things that matter to you. That level of trust and autonomy doesn’t exist everywhere, and it’s made a huge difference in how engaged and invested I feel in my work.

What’s next for you – what are you most excited about?

Right now, I’m really focused on developing my leadership skills. I’ve been fortunate to have mentors here who invested in me, challenged me, and helped me grow, and I want to have that same kind of positive impact on others.

I’m excited to take on more responsibility on projects, not just in terms of workload, but in terms of how I can lead effectively, support my teammates, and drive positive outcomes for our clients. There’s so much I’m still learning about what it means to lead well, and I’m genuinely energized by that challenge.