What I Learned From My Consulting Internship in New York
This past summer, I interned as a Senior Consultant in Accenture’s Strategy Consultant Development Program in New York. It was my first time living in the city and my first opportunity to take the lessons from my first year at Goizueta Business School and put them into practice in a real-world setting. The experience challenged me in ways I did not expect and left me with lessons that I believe are valuable not just for consulting but for any student preparing to step into a new role or a new city.
1. Your network is your net worth, and your brand is your currency
Internships move quickly. I knew I had a limited amount of time to make an impression while also deciding if the firm and its culture were the right long-term fit for me. That meant I had to intentionally balance doing quality work with building relationships across the organization. Networking came down to quality and quantity. It was about showing people through my work what I stood for and then deepening those connections in conversation. I made a point to track who I met, what we discussed, and how I could follow up. Those relationships will matter far beyond the summer.
2. Every deliverable tells a story
From the first client deliverable to the last presentation, people are always paying attention. Each slide deck, document, or analysis becomes part of the story people tell about you when you are not in the room. I constantly asked myself: If someone only saw this piece of work, what would it say about my thinking, my attention to detail, and my ability to solve problems? Keeping that perspective pushed me to approach each assignment with intention, no matter how small it seemed at the time.
3. Your routine will determine your results
One of the most important lessons I learned was that we do not rise to the level of our goals; we fall to the level of our systems. Work in consulting can be unpredictable, so I built structure into my days where I could. For me, that meant 6 a.m. workouts, commuting from Brooklyn to Manhattan with a podcast or audiobook in my ears, and meal-prepping on Sundays so I would not have to worry about food during the week. Everyone’s systems look different, but if you do not design your schedule, it will end up designing you.
4. Curiosity plus initiative creates quality
Consulting projects come with steep learning curves. There are new industries, new terms, and new expectations. I found it helpful to lead with curiosity, choosing aspects of the client’s business to study more deeply so that I could bring informed questions and insights to the table. Pairing that curiosity with initiative—taking on tasks nobody had claimed, asking for feedback, and acting on it—helped me create work I could be proud of and helped me stand out as someone willing to go the extra mile.
5. Gratitude keeps you grounded
Consulting moves at a pace where it is easy to overlook progress. I tried to pause once a week and jot down a few things I was grateful for: a partner’s recognition, a client breakthrough, or a deliverable that finally clicked after several revisions. Those notes helped me stay grounded and reminded me that growth is not only about the big wins but also about the small steps along the way.
As I look back, I am thankful for the foundation Goizueta gave me. The coursework, the professors, and the countless case studies prepared me to thrive in a fast-paced consulting environment. For anyone preparing to start a new internship or career, my advice is simple: walk in with confidence, define what success looks like for you, and let your strengths shine through.
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